Xu Huo didn't answer. He smiled, then stopped a passing street vendor and, after negotiating with the owner, took a sugar figurine and turned around.
"Thank you, Uncle!" The little girl ran over happily, only to watch him pop the sugar figurine into his mouth and bite its head off with a crunch.
The little girl was shocked and confused, but managed not to make a fuss. She sneaked a glance toward her parents and tried to quietly communicate with the vendor.
"Xiao Qing!" someone called from up ahead. The little girl immediately backed away and loudly protested, "I'm just smelling it!"
Her words embarrassed the adults. A few other children ran over, looking tempted.
Xu Huo took five more sugar figurines from the vendor and handed them out. "Vegetable-themed sugar figurines. Worth a taste."
The children saw the various vegetable leaves shaped inside the thin sugar shells and suddenly lost all desire for sweets. They refused with righteous indignation, insisting they weren't hungry at all.
The adults didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but still let them take the figurines and thank him.
Unlike the other children, who looked glum, the little girl happily chewed her sugar figurine. "I like vegetables, and I like sugar figurines too."
"Then eat mine for me," her older brother said, turning his head. Unfortunately, their parents stopped him before he could get his way.
The children were unhappy, while the adults burst into laughter.
The little girl ate her sugar figurine and murmured, "When I grow up, I'll buy as many sugar figurines as I want."
After a pause, she looked at Xu Huo again. "When I'm older, I'm going to trick kids just like you do."
Xu Huo chuckled and casually bought a little trinket. "Here, this is for you. Will