The white monster nodded blankly.
Talking this way really was much more convenient.
"Your friend didn't come?"
Xiao Xiao's eyes curved slightly. "It usually comes to see you around this time, doesn't it?"
Spirit Maple nodded.
"It likes red maple leaves."
"It comes every year around this time."
"Spirit Maple really likes that friend of yours."
Xiao Xiao sounded a little wistful.
Spirit Maple's earlier remarks, so rational they had bordered on coldness, had left a deep impression on him.
Now, seeing Spirit Maple like this, he couldn't help feeling a little surprised.
Spirit Maple glanced at Xiao Xiao, then lowered its eyelids slightly. "No."
"It's annoying."
"Always making a racket."
That morning, while it was half asleep, a sudden burst of shouting had jolted it awake.
It opened its eyes and saw that fellow staring at the red maple in open amazement.
It hadn't wanted to pay any attention, thinking the fellow would leave after a while.
But, to its surprise, the other one came over.
So loud and boisterous, it was a real nuisance.
But that fellow just wouldn't leave, no matter how much it tried to shoo it away.
Only after the red maple had lost its gorgeous colors did the fellow finally leave, saying it would come back next year.
Then, the following year, that noisy fellow really did come back.
By then, it had almost forgotten about the fellow.
The third year, the fourth year... that fellow came, too.
Last year, the fellow still came.
But this year, even though the maple leaves had been red for several days, it still hadn't seen that familiar figure.
"It just always comes around this time."
"I was a little curious, that's all."
"Is that so?"
Xiao Xiao couldn't help smiling. "But Uncle