"Pfft—"
The atmosphere was already unbearably awkward when a tiny laugh broke the silence.
The little girl realized she had been rude and, biting her lip, ducked behind Kang Nian. In a muffled voice, she said, "Please don't blame me, Uncle..."
Her ears burned red with embarrassment. She wished she could dig a hole and bury herself in it.
At first, she had been afraid of this older cousin of her father's. His strange gaze had made her want to hide, but when she saw him flusteredly pick up the wrong Literary Heart Sigil, all her nervousness vanished in an instant.
Kang Nian said, "Miao'er isn't usually like this at home."
He wasn't blind. From Qi Shan's reaction just now, he could tell the other man was very fond of his daughter, and he immediately relaxed. His tone softened, losing its stiffness and taking on the familiarity of relatives chatting together. "Her mother keeps her on a tight leash at home. Getting out for once has brought out a bit of a child's nature. It's an unexpected delight."
Qi Shan forced himself to look away.
He glanced at the Literary Heart Sigil engraved with "Yuan Liang of the Qi Clan." His eyes welled with complicated emotions as he put it back on. Then he took off another Jade Pendant, plainly a precious one, and gave it to his cousin's daughter as a meeting gift before leading the father and daughter to the small reception room inside the tent.
The three of them took their seats, and Qi Shan poured tea for Kang Nian.
He said, "Children should be allowed to act like children. Those carefree years don't last long. Once they're grown, they'll learn that the world doesn't bend to their wishes, and it's hard to find the innocence of