Venting and the Artist

"How is it?" Zixu asked, about a minute into the "walk". 

Due to how impossible it was for him to hold dog leashes and give a piggyback ride at the same time, Zixu unleashed the dogs. They followed by the side obediently for now, but Yujia could only hope that a rabbit wouldn't appear out of nowhere again.

"It's fine. Are you sure that you won't get tired?" she answered, eyebrows knitted.

"You're incredibly light," he assured. "I'm just concerned that it's not comfortable. I don't want to worsen your ankle injury."

She leaned in a little closer. "Don't worry too much."

The two of them were closer than ever now. She could see all the strands of hair on the back of his head, brushed up to make a simple top-knot. The thought that she could just lean forward and press a kiss on his cheek made Yujia's face heat up.

"Yu Zixu," she immediately blurted, to distract her thoughts, "thank you."