... This is sounding a little like Nie Huaisang, and if it is he is giving himself permission to laugh about that. "So you'll want to try and appear competent around them, while not looking like you think they are incompetent."

"I... can look competent?"

"I believe in you."

"I don't know how to not insult people!!!"

"I think you can manage 'competent' though."

"Right. But I'm pretty sure I'm going to imply they're incompetent while I'm doing it. Because they are."

...it's definitely Nie Huaisang. "...well, first step, don't say that to them."

"Okay, but it seems kind of weird not to acknowledge it when we both know I'm better at magic than they are."

"Presumably they are better than sewing than you? And you like wearing clothes that aren't mostly hole?"

"They could tell me I'm incompetent at sewing! I wouldn't mind."

"Which is very nice of you, but seeing as I don't know who you are crushing on, I can't assume they would be as fine with it? --This would be a whole lot easier if I could tailor the advice more."

"Okay, I should-- lie and pretend they're not incompetent at magic?"

"...If you were someone else, I would suggest that, but I don't think you could lie without it being really obvious, so I'm going to suggest you just... ignore it."

"Okay. I should give them compliments and protect them and ignore them being incompetent."

"...Yes. Yes you should." He is going to get this wrong somehow, but there's only so much you can fix someone's awkwardness in one conversation.

"...do you have any other advice? Maybe I should give them a gift."

"Gifts are good! ... Do you know what they like?"

"... ... Um."

"... That would be a flaw in that plan."

"How do I find out what they like?"

"I'd suggest observation, in your case. You can also subtly ask them what they'd like-- but that would be an advanced move for you."

"Okay. Observation. I can do that."

"...Don't stare at them."

"Observe them... out of the corner of my eye?"

"Observe them by being in the same general places they are. This is going to be easier if they're in Shanghai or one of your classes, but you-- we can figure something out if not."