A Sense of Ritual

"We're not so familiar with each other yet." Xiao Ran kept moving to the side.

"We don't talk about feelings or the process. We only look at the results. It has nothing to do with familiarity," Ling Qing'er said.

Xiao Ran shook his head vigorously and retreated to the corner.

Ling Qing'er crossed her arms and looked at him teasingly.

Reaching out, she held his chin with two delicate smooth fingers as fair as white jade. "You're resisting so hard. Am I not pretty enough?"

"It really has nothing to do with being pretty or not."

"You already have someone that you liked?" Ling Qing'er asked again.

Xiao Ran shook his head.

"Isn't that settled? I don't even dislike you, so why are you still making excuses?" Ling Qing'er asked.

"When we got here, we had a deal. I was just here to play along with your charade."

"I want to make the charade real."

"That was too rash," Xiao Ran said.