"Don't let go!" Shen Qingqiu yelps, grabbing Siebren's wrist and holding it just on the safe side of too tight. "I'm sorry," he babbles, "of course you can tell me anything, I'll listen to whatever you want. Just don't let go. Please."

He makes himself take a deep breath. "I feel as though, if I don't keep an eye and a hand on you, you'll float off somewhere and I'll never see you again..."