Xie Xinghan smiled and asked no more questions. Instead, she rose to feed the rabbit.
The little gray rabbit knew how to behave, too. It had been eating lazily, as though on vacation, but the moment its mistress's delicate hand approached, it hurried forward, rested its little paws against her, and put on an obedient look as it waited to be fed.
Watching the rabbit hold the tender green leaves and grass and munch away, Little Xie's eyes curved into lovely crescents.
The autumn breeze stirred, the vines swayed gently, and the rabbit's faint nibbling sounds drifted softly into their ears.
Wang Yang sat there, quietly watching the scene.
The tension from his recently activated defenses quietly ebbed away. All he felt was the light shade of the vines and the drifting steam of tea. Leaves rustled softly; Xing Han looked lovely.
Time seemed to circle back here, unwilling to move forward...
"I heard an interesting story recently. Would you like to hear it, Young Master Wang?"
Xie Xinghan spoke as she fed the rabbit.
Wang Yang left his seat as well and walked over to watch by the rabbit cage.
"Sure. I like stories."
"Someone raised an eagle. As it grew bigger and bigger, it refused to obey its master and planned to peck him to death and take his place. It began recruiting helpers far and wide, and approached a cunning rabbit, too. Do you think the cunning rabbit should agree?"
Xie Xinghan sounded relaxed and casual as her fingers nudged the rabbit's ears.
Wang Yang considered this.
"Hang on. A rabbit is a rabbit. Why call it a cunning rabbit? You didn't call the eagle an evil eagle, so why does the rabbit get an extra word?"
Xie Xinghan raised her eyes to Wang Yang, her voice