He You:...
"I'm not a coward."
He defended himself.
"Mm."
Gu Xiao Tang nodded.
"You're not a coward."
He You's mouth twitched.
That sounded like something you'd say to comfort a child...
His rebuttal really had no conviction behind it.
He sighed inwardly.
"Master Xiao."
Gu Xiao Tang's expression grew serious. "So A You wasn't in any danger?"
"The other party was just playing a prank on him?"
As far as he was concerned, pranks were harmless.
Though A You had been scared out of his wits.
He'd been rather pitiful lately, too.
Of course, even pranks had to be kept within reason.
But clearly, A You had been so badly frightened lately that he'd become like a startled bird.
The slightest rustle could make him react strongly.
"Mm."
Xiao Xiao nodded.
"It was just playing around with He You."
"It was playing around with me?"
He You rubbed his ears.
Had he heard that right?
He'd been so scared that he'd had nightmares for several days in a row.
There hadn't been any particular people or things in his dreams.
Just darkness.
He stood in it, bewildered.
When he woke up, he'd felt awful.
His heart raced.
He was afraid.
"Maybe it didn't quite know where to draw the line."
Seeing how disbelieving He You looked, Xiao Xiao smiled.
"It actually likes you a lot."
At that, He You...
Scaring him was a sign of affection?
Was the other party some kid in elementary school?
What kind of childish behavior was that?
"Oh..."
Gu Xiao Tang unconsciously drew out the word.
The other party really liked A You.
He wished a monster liked him, too.
Of course.
It would be even better if it showed its affection a little more gently.
"It was also trying to grant your wish."