Qi Xiao peeled another grape, held the translucent green flesh between his fingertips, and brought it to Qi Yu's lips. Qi Yu opened his mouth to take it, one cheek bulging as the cold juice burst over his tongue. He narrowed his eyes, chewed twice, and spat the seeds into his palm. Qi Xiao casually took the seeds and dropped them into the empty dish beside him, then picked up another grape to peel.
"There's a Qingliang Terrace at the Western Suburb Palace, built halfway up the mountain. It's warm in winter and cool in summer. I went a few times when I was young. Even on summer nights, you need a light quilt." He kept his head lowered as he peeled the grape.
Qi Yu was lying on his stomach at the edge of the couch, swinging his feet. His eyes lit up at those words. He rolled over and brought his face close to Qi Xiao's, his nose nearly brushing his chin. "That sounds lovely! We'll grow old there together!" His voice rang clear and bright, and he had no idea what a momentous thing he had said.
The grape in Qi Xiao's hand paused. He raised his eyes to the face so close to his own, to those sparkling eyes. The boy probably had no idea how much weight the words "grow old" carried. He had only said it in passing. But he had said "we." Qi Xiao dropped the grape seeds into the dish, slipped the newly peeled grape into Qi Yu's mouth, and smoothly caught the seeds he spat out. The movements flowed without a hitch.
As Qi Yu chewed the grape, he suddenly lowered his head and gave Qi Xiao's fingertip a gentle lick. His tongue touched the thin callus on the pad of