"Mm, don't touch me."
Tang Qian'er pushed away Su Qing's outstretched hand as she spoke.
"Feeling shy?"
Su Qing crouched beside Tang Qian'er and teased her.
"I am not!"
Tang Qian'er protested.
"Then why are you burying your head?"
Su Qing kept teasing her.
"Because you're such a meanie!"
"Hm? What have I done to you?"
"You're still doing it!"
Seeing the tips of her ears grow so red they seemed ready to drip blood, Su Qing stopped teasing her, stood up, and headed down the stairs.
Listening to his footsteps fade into the distance, the girl cautiously raised her head. Once she was sure he had gone downstairs, she let out a breath of relief.
Tang Qian'er pouted toward the doorway, touched her still-burning cheeks, and gave a soft huff.
Su Qing went downstairs and returned to his room. A sweep of his sleeve raised a breeze that carried away the dust inside, then he made the bed and lay down on it.
Although a bed had already been provided, he still preferred sleeping on his own sheets and pillow.
Su Qing rested his hands behind his head and stared blankly at the ceiling, his thoughts tangled.
Remembering the girl's bashful expression brought a smile to his lips, but that smile soon turned wry.
He knew Tang Qian'er liked him, but he did not know whether he liked her.
More precisely, he could not tell whether his feelings for her were familial affection or romantic love.
As a hopeless novice in matters of the heart who had been single for over thirty years across two lifetimes, he did not really understand what it felt like to like someone.
Nor did he know how to handle his relationship with Tang Qian'er.
Dating someone before he had even sorted out what