[To change the way things stand, I have to start by changing how I address her. This should be intimate enough, right?]
At that thought, Chu Youning smiled, her eyes curving even more.
Chu Youning's unexpected "Little Xue-Xue" startled Qing Qianxue into taking a step back, goosebumps springing up along her arms.
"You... didn't poison this, did you?"
"What are you saying, Little Xue-Xue? How could I possibly poison you?" Chu Youning fluttered her lashes furiously at Qing Qianxue, convinced she was radiating charm. "I just think we've been good friends for so long, yet I still call you National Preceptor, and you call me Your Highness the Elder Princess. Doesn't that make us seem awfully distant? Don't you... agree?"
[Just you wait. Other women can send a whole crowd of men swooning with a casual flirtatious glance. I've practically blinked my eyes into ruin-I refuse to believe I can't win you over!]
"..."
Hearing Chu Youning's thoughts put the alarm bells in Qing Qianxue's heart to rest.
It was just that...
Her feelings at that moment were even more complicated than this Ice Lake tonight.
What pleased her was that, judging by the young woman's words, her efforts today had not been wasted.
What troubled her was... where on earth had Chu Youning learned all this nonsense?
She looked at her helplessly and gently tried to negotiate. "You want to change how we address each other? Ningning, you can call me Qianqing or Qian Xue in private from now on. But Little Xue-Xue... let's forget that one. Besides, I haven't lost my memory. Didn't the Elder Princess complain not long ago that I was too old?"
"Huh? Did I? Little Xue-Xue, you're in the prime of your life. How could I possibly complain that you're too old?"
Chu Youning