Martial artists came and went along the street, with noise everywhere.
Xue Baijin stood alone at the second-floor window, watching the street below. Niao Niao perched on the windowsill, bobbing its head nonstop, trying to catch Ice Lump's attention so she would feed it dinner.
After an indeterminate stretch of silence, soft footsteps sounded outside the room, followed by:
Knock, knock~
At the knocking, even Xue Baijin's eyelashes trembled. She drew a gentle breath, intending to pretend she hadn't heard, but an elegant, gentle voice soon came through the door:
"Baijin? I'm coming in..."
Creak~
With that, the door swung open. Hua Qingzhi, with her thoroughly scholarly air, walked inside and shut it behind her.
Niao Niao poked its head out beside Xue Baijin to greet her:
"Chirp, chirp~"
Xue Baijin kept her brows tightly knitted and did not turn around, merely saying coolly:
"What are you doing here instead of sleeping at this hour?"
Hua Qingzhi had come precisely to discuss sleeping. Seeing that Xue Baijin wasn't particularly pleased to see her, she wasn't annoyed. She leisurely walked over and sat at the table:
"We're all family. Why be so distant? I only came to chat."
After a moment's silence, Xue Baijin suppressed her displeasure and turned to sit at the table:
"Has Ye Jingtang explained things to you?"
Her eyes curving into smiles, Hua Qingzhi poured tea for her little sister Baijin:
"He has. I know you only did that sort of thing with Young Master Ye to help him train, without any romantic feelings involved."
?
Xue Baijin hadn't expected Hua Qingzhi to be so understanding. Even her icy expression softened somewhat:
"Good, as long as you understand. I..."
"However."
Hua Qingzhi interrupted and continued:
"A woman's chastity weighs more than the heavens. Whatever your intentions, you've