It was the frog, you blamed the frog. One minute it was on your head, the next you were flailing, falling, and...landing. Landing very, very awkwardly. Your hand had found purchase on something decidedly not amphibian.

"S..sorry, but could you move your hand? It's making things rather difficult..." Jinshi's voice was strained.

You scrambled off him, but Jinshi caught your shoulder, pushing damp strands of hair away from his face.

This was it. The big secret. You, armed with nothing but your knowledge of herbs and a rapidly dwindling supply of wit, were about to be caught in the aftermath. Jinshi was not a eunuch.

There was only one option: feign ignorance.

"I'm terribly sorry," you blurted out, "I think I squished a frog."

His eyebrows shot up. "...A frog?"

"A frog fell on my head and made me lose my balance!" you continued, desperately trying to keep up the charade.

Jinshi looked genuinely bewildered. He grabbed your wrist while his other hand found the small of your back, pulling you closer until you were straddling him. "Who did you just call a frog!?"

You trembled, clinging to your stupid act like a lifeline. "If that wasn't a frog just now, then what was it?"

"Frogs are much smaller than that, aren't they?" he retorted.

"Why, I would say frogs can get kinda large during this season," you countered as you yanked your hand free, scrubbing it dramatically against your long skirt. "If that was not a kinda big frog, then what kinda thing was that?"

Jinshi gasped, "Hey! Why are you wiping your hand off like that?!"

"Well, frogs are rather disgusting, you know? They're slimy."

"Dis...who are you calling slimy?!" Jinshi sputtered. He visibly struggled for composure before finally letting out a sigh.

Then with a swift, unexpected motion, Jinshi pushed you onto the cave floor. He hovered above you, one hand propped beside your head. He lifted your thigh, his hand settling on the back of your leg, just below the bend of your knee.

"Do you want to make sure?" He murmured with a flustered expression.