Zheng Qing stood by the pool.
Silently looking toward the outside of the wall, into the deep night, his heart a tangled mess of emotions.
Behind him.
The Yellow Flowered Cat and the Little Green Snake that somehow slipped off his ear were whispering to each other in a voice just loud enough for a boy to hear.
"—Do you know who the Jiang Family little girl was scolding?"
The Flower Cat's tone carried a trace of confusion.
The Little Green Snake pondered for a moment, ultimately shook his head uncertainly: "—It's not me anyway."
"You mean she might be scolding me?" The Flower Cat instantly became somewhat indignant: "I can understand her scolding Little Susu, and accepting her scolding Little Scum... But what's the meaning of her scolding me?"
"Means you failed to act when you should have."
