Giddy Up Horsey!

"Bye, bye," called Tan Bowen to the greeter, rushing Mei Meili out of Soulmate.

They headed off down the canal street. Mei Meili could barely walk, and the pair meandered slowly from side-to-side.

"Here Mei Meili," he said, crouching down. "We'll never make it at this rate. Hop on my back."

"Oh yes, hooray!" she cried, clapping with delight.

Suddenly agile as a gazelle, she leapt onto his back and wrapped her arms around his neck, clasping her hands across his chest.

He was acutely aware of the pillowy softness that was pressing against his back, and he groaned as his body was suffused with unnatural heat.

"Why do you trust me so much Mei Meili? I've told you; I am but a mere man…"

"No, you're not!" she cried merrily. "You're a horsie! Giddy up horsey! Faster, faster!"

She smacked his bottom.

"Nooo!" He shouted. "You mustn't do that! Naughty girl! If you do that again I'll put you down and you can make your own way home."