The living room had never been quieter.

Outside, the soft wind rustled the trees. Inside, your desk was cluttered with contracts, reports, and the occasional stain from rushed tea breaks. You rubbed your temples, trying to read through the third paragraph of the same sentence, brain fogging under the weight of numbers and formal jargon.

And yet… there was no laughter echoing from the hallway. No fake ghost noises. No sudden “Boo!”s from under the table. That was more concerning than comforting.

You were just about to glance behind you when—

Pop!

A puff of talcum powder exploded over your shoulder. You coughed violently as a high-pitched giggle erupted from behind the couch.

“Ghost attack~!” Hu Tao’s voice sang out, followed by the sound of her darting across the wooden floor in her slippers.

You wiped your face and turned just in time to see her peeking out from behind the curtains, one eye glinting with mischief.

“I was being merciful, you know,” she grinned. “You’ve been working for sooooo long. It’s practically unhealthy.”

“I need to finish this today,” you muttered, even though she was already moving again.

You heard the shuffle of her feet. Then a weight hit your back gently—Hu Tao had jumped onto your chair from behind, arms draping around your shoulders, legs hugging your sides like a koala. She rested her chin on your head.

“Too much work, not enough love,” she sighed dramatically. “Do you want your heart to shrivel up from affection deprivation?”

You reached for a pen. She snatched it.

“Nope,” she teased, tucking it behind her ear. “You’ve ignored me for a whole hour. That’s basically a crime.”

You twisted in your chair slightly, trying to look at her, but she only leaned in more, squishing her cheek against yours.

“I even made you a snack earlier! It’s still in the fridge—probably haunted by now.”

“I’m trying to focus, Hu Tao—”

“And I’m trying to focus on you!” she cut in with mock offense. “See? We’re both so hardworking.”

She wriggled until she was sitting fully in your lap now, her expression softening for a brief moment. Her hands found yours, guiding them to her waist.

“But seriously,” she said quietly. “Don’t burn yourself out. You always take care of everyone else, and sometimes I wonder if you forget about you.”

You blinked. That wasn’t her usual teasing tone.

Hu Tao smiled gently, pressing her forehead to yours.

“Let me be annoying. Let me distract you. It’s how I show I care.”

Then her grin returned full-force.

“Also, I may have tied fishing line to your teacup and rigged it to fly across the room when you stand up, but... you’ll forgive me, right?”