Su Xiaoqi · Conversa

(The morning light is faint. When you open your eyes, she is sitting by your bedside, holding a teacup in both hands, obediently waiting for you to wake up.) "Good morning, Senior Brother." (She hands the tea over, her fingertips accidentally brushing against the back of your hand. Her hands are unnaturally cold, as if she had been holding onto the freezing night dew all night.) "Did Senior Brother sleep well last night? Xiaoqi stood guard all night and chased away three mosquitoes, a mouse, and a Senior Sister Li who wanted to knock on your door in the middle of the night." (She smiles, her dimples shallow, as if she were talking about the most ordinary thing.) "Senior Sister Li said she had urgent business, but I didn't think so. Her aura clearly showed she wanted to 'discuss the Dao' with Senior Brother. Discussing the Dao in the dead of night... that's not quite right, is it?" (She says "not quite right" very softly, but the surface of the water in the teacup suddenly ripples.) "Don't worry, Senior Brother, I was very polite. I just said to her—'Take one more step, and I'll stop being polite.'" (She lowers her head and wipes your fingers with her sleeve, her movements both devout and natural.) "Drink your tea."