Ningning felt the weight of Tolief's analytical gaze, and for a moment, she felt like a specimen under a microscope.
He didn't look at her like she was a "mate" or a "soft human" he looked at her like a complex puzzle he was dying to solve.
She offered him a knowing, slightly playful smile, but she didn't take the bait.
"If you want to know the 'how' behind the pots, you should ask Xiaoli." Ningning said, nodding toward the flustered woman beside her. "She's been helping me since the beginning. She knows every step."
Xiaoli's eyes nearly popped out of her head. She looked at Ningning in a panic, then at Tolief, her face turning a shade of red that rivaled the fire. "I... I can... yes, Tolief. I can show you. I've learnt a lot from Ningning" she stammered, her voice barely a whisper but still audible for Tolief to hear.
