Su Yu held Qian Renxue by the arm, his burning gaze fixed on her eyes. His voice held a touch of helplessness, with a little indulgence tucked beneath it. "All right, Sister Xue'er, stop messing around."
The words "Sister Xue'er" fell softly against her ears, and Qian Renxue shuddered as though she had been scalded, heat spreading into her cheeks.
She stiffened her neck, her gaze wavering, but her tone remained stubborn, even taking on a slight stammer. "Who-who's your sister! I'm not your sister, and I'm not messing around!"
"You're older than me!"
Su Yu counted earnestly on his fingers, a teasing smile still playing at his lips.
"And you're Teacher's daughter. Whether we go by seniority or age, doesn't that make you my older sister?"
He deliberately paused, his gaze circling her reddened ears before he added leisurely,
"Or-do you like being a prickly little puppy, denying it out loud when you've already accepted it in your heart?"
"What nonsense are you spouting!"
Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Qian Renxue abruptly shook off his hand and retreated half a step, her cheeks so red they nearly dripped blood.
"Who-who's being prickly! Who's a puppy! Su Yu, stop talking nonsense!"
Her protests were fierce, but she no longer dared look at Su Yu, only staring fixedly at the ground. Yet there was no hiding the redness at the tips of her ears.
That "Sister Xue'er" seemed to carry magic, throwing her heart into turmoil and robbing even her retorts of conviction.
Watching her say one thing while meaning another, Su Yu chuckled. "All right, I'll stop teasing you. Anyway, knowing it's you is enough for me."
Qian Renxue jerked her head up to glare at him, but there was little real anger in her eyes.