Call her sweetheart. Trust me. If you want it to go on the you must use the opportunity. Me as a girl (mild shock) would say that she definitely likes you as a person or rather doesn’t dislike you, that’s all one should gather.
However I would say that she is indeed trying to form a bond to you in a friendly and humorous way. She finds you sympathetic, that’s it. Now it’s up to you to call her by an endearing name in a subtle manner.
Everytime you start an interaction with her you should eye check if she is alone or at least not too close to someone else, then just call her sweetheart. This way you offer a friendly response without having an impact on other possible things she might have going on. A polite way to encourage her to continue.
It's not even a cute nickname, it's just a friendly term used up North, esp in the Midlands.
In Cornwall it could be Bird or Cock, neither of which are gendered or mean anything other than mate.
At my work a girl gives me candy. At first I ate it alone in a safe place, in case it is drugged and I pass out, so she doesn't see it and can't take my kidney. But since I figgured out they're clean, I don't care what she wants. Ain't gonna say no to free candy.
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