The expected pain never came.
The girl opened her eyes, which she had squeezed shut in fear.
She found herself sitting firmly on the piano bench.
It was as if nearly falling just now had been nothing more than an illusion.
"Are you all right?"
Xiao Xiao crouched down and met the gaze of the bewildered girl, who was still somewhat shaken.
The girl had nowhere to escape.
Her eyes met Xiao Xiao's directly.
The girl nervously swallowed.
"W-Who are you?"
"I didn't touch the piano on purpose."
The girl gave a somewhat incoherent explanation. She spoke very quickly, stumbling over her words.
"I only played it a little."
"I..."
"...I'm sorry."
The girl lowered her head.
"It's all right."
Xiao Xiao blinked at the girl.
"Linlin only played for a little while, right?"
"Mm!"
The girl nodded hurriedly.
"I only—"
The girl froze.
"Linlin?"
Xiao Xiao's eyes curved slightly.
"You..."
The girl swallowed.
"Big brother, how did you know my name was Linlin?"
"Yeah, how did I know?"
Xiao Xiao wondered whether he should say his luck was good.
This dramatic turn of events...
"Linlin... is that right?"
"Mm."
The girl nodded honestly.
"My name is Linlin."
"Big brother, I've never seen you before."
"Do you also have an older brother?"
Xiao Xiao smiled.
"His name is Luo Xialang."
The girl's eyes widened.
She blurted out, "How did you know?"
Then her entire face crumpled.
The moment he mentioned her brother... she remembered that frightening experience.
The girl unconsciously touched her neck.
Her smooth breathing made her relax slightly.
"...I hate my brother."
So much had happened that day that the girl had not had time to think carefully about what her brother had done to her.
Now that she