Cao Xuan wore an amused expression. "Because I felt sorry for that animal."
"After all, I received quite a few Christmas presents, while it didn't get a single one."
"So, I decided to give it one of the Christmas presents I'd received."
At that point, Cao Xuan's voice abruptly stopped.
His face showed hesitation and uncertainty. "Wait, did I... actually give it the present in the end?"
"I can't quite remember..."
Cao Xuan rapped his knuckles hard against his head. "Right, I didn't give it to it!"
"I got tired after playing with that animal."
"Children have limited energy, after all. I probably fell asleep afterward."
"After I woke up, I told my parents about it."
"But an animal that looked like a reindeer had crouched at the sixth-floor window... However you put it, it sounded like the kind of childish nonsense a kid would say."
"Naturally, my parents didn't take it seriously."
"Besides, when they came back, they saw me sleeping, so they were even more convinced that I'd probably mistaken a dream for reality."
Cao Xuan spread his hands. "At first, I didn't believe it had been a dream, but I couldn't find that reindeer-like animal."
"There wasn't any evidence that it had ever come to our house, either."
"After trying several times without success, I started doubting myself, too."
"Maybe that reindeer-like animal really had only been a dream."
"I also told my parents that I'd promised to give that reindeer-like animal a present on Christmas Day."
"Then my mother teased me, saying that she'd originally planned to take me out that day, including treating me to a big meal. Since I'd said I wanted to give that animal a present, we'd stay home instead."
"I immediately refused."
"Kids are like that. If they have the