Tao made room beside her and invited him to listen. May I stay here a little while? Ahe asked. Tao nodded. This time he had let the question out before deciding for himself.
They stood by the door and waited for the wind. The bell chimed softly. Ahe neither covered his ears nor reached for the bracket. He could enjoy the same lovely sound without hiding.
Liking something does not make it yours. Refusing to hear a fact does not make it disappear. Ahe remembered: ask the owner first, and admit it when you are wrong. There was no need to hide his ears or his heart.
Adapted from a fable in The Annals of Lü Buwei and this series' film. The original large bell becomes a small door bell; the familiar characters and apology are a children's adaptation. Curved lines represent sound; the page plays no audio.