"Big brother Ming doesn't kiss me often. He once in a while kisses my forehead. But big brother Yuan kisses me a lot." Han Luo rubbed her flushed cheeks.
Noah questioned her, "Did you ever ask him why he kisses you?"
She slightly shook her head. "…No, doesn't he kiss me because he likes me a lot?"
"He certainly likes you or he wouldn't talk to you. However, there must be a reason why he is being too close to you after not contacting you for six years." He frowned. "Why don't you ask him why he is acting so differently now? Does he think of you as his sister or friend or someone else?"
"It has to be someone else." Her voice sounded so weak that Noah could barely hear her.
He was surprised. "Why do you think so?"
Han Luo played with her fingers and couldn't look at him in the eye. "Because, big brother Yuan said that he doesn't see me as his sister nor his friend."
"Then what? Does he see you as his girlfriend?" Noah didn't want to show it, but he was irritated.
"How can that be? He never said that!" Han Luo exclaimed.
"Then he at least said something."
"He… he said that he would tell me four years later."
'Cheeky brat! You eat tofu but won't even claim it as yours.' Noah controlled his temper and asked, "Do you know when a boy becomes intimate with a girl?"
"When they are close, right?"
"When a boy sees a girl as his lover, he asks her to be his girlfriend. Did your big brother Yuan ask you to be his girlfriend?" Noah wanted some clarification.
"Not at all! Then, what we did… is it wrong?" Han Luo's face was turning pale. Her eyes quickly became red. She was afraid that she made a big mistake and she also felt wronged because she did nothing; she understood nothing but still felt guilty.
Noah stroked her head while saying, "It's all right. It's normal that you don't know. Young Master Mo doesn't know either. That's why it's none of your fault. That's what an adult's for. We are experienced so we can tell what's wrong and what's right more accurately than those who are less experienced." He caressed her head till she stopped crying. "Don't be afraid. I got you."
Han Luo sniffed. She wiped her tears and asked, "What should I do now?"
Noah sighed in relief. Most times, teenagers don't listen, and she wasn't even a teenager – she was a pre-teen. Yet Han Luo was wise enough to realize that she needed to take Noah's advice.
Han Luo asked innocently, "What do lovers do?"
"I knew things would come to this, so I asked your teacher Mei for some guidance. She sent you a book." Noah pulled the bedside table's drawer and gave her a package.
Han Luo's expression instantly lightened up upon hearing Miss Mei's name. Miss Mei was Han Luo's first ever teacher who taught her everything a mother should have taught her.
That's why Noah could rely on her. As a man, he couldn't help a girl every time. He called her immediately when he noticed that Mo Yuan wouldn't let her go home whenever she was in the Mo Mansion. Thankfully, Miss Mei sent this book. He hoped that this book would help her.
"I'll start reading this book right now!" Han Luo happily opened the book.
"I'll bring the bowl then." Noah smiled and went out. He came back with a huge bowl of lukewarm water.
It was for Han Luo's feet. Since she danced every day, her feet hurt at the middle of the night. He put the bowl under the table. Han Luo sat on the chair and soaked her feet in the lukewarm water.
Before leaving, Noah asked, "Do you need anything else?"
"Nope, just call me when it's time for dinner." Han Luo immersed herself in the book.
"Sure thing. I'll be off then." He opened the door and was about to leave when she called him back.
"Hey Noah."
He turned around and asked, "What's up?"
"Thank you!" She was grateful that there was someone who could guide her well.
Noah frowned. "Why are you acting so cutely in front of me? So suspicious!"
"Oh, get out!" Han Luo shouted.
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The next day, Beth suggested during breaktime, "Let's go to the library."
Han Luo scratched her head. "Um… I don't feel like going to the library today. I'll head over to the dance club." It wasn't that she wanted to avoid Mo Yuan, she just didn't know how to face him alone. She was trying to clear her head to prepare what to say to him.
"Are you okay?" Beth looked concerned. As far as she knew, Han Luo always went to the library on break. However, it was different today.
Han Luo lied, "Yes, I'm fine. It's just the competition is drawing near, so I wanted to practice more."
Beth patted her shoulder. "Do whatever you want to do but make sure you rest enough. Don't stress over a competition like that. Did you see your eyes today? In just one night, you have turned into a panda!"
Han Luo replied, "It's because I was reading a book given by my teacher. I couldn't sleep before finishing it."