The Apothecary Diaries: Volume 14

“Okay, buddy. Here, have one of these.” Lihaku tossed a rice cracker into Basen’s mouth. He looked shocked for a moment, but didn’t spit it out; instead, he started chewing.

En’en’s a good cook, isn’t she? What vegetables do you think I could whip up that would make her happy?” Lahan’s Brother asked Maomao

Jinshi gazed at Maomao, then gently reached toward her. He looked like he was going to take her hand, but he stopped just short.
“You’re not going to touch me, sir?” Maomao asked, and he looked awkward.
“I want to. More than that. I want to hold you close, as tight as I can.”
“And yet you don’t,” she said teasingly. This from the man who had never hesitated to put his hands on her no matter how many times she told him not to.
Then again, lately, he’d almost seemed to avoid her, if anything. Even when he’d been hauling her around like a sack of rice earlier that day.
“I’m holding back. Otherwise I fear I won’t be able to control myself.”
“You won’t, sir?”
“No. It won’t stop at holding you close—I’d bite you, I’d lick you.”
“A chill just went down my spine...” Maomao gave him a mild glower. She had goosebumps.