"Okay."
Xiao Xiao saw what the middle-aged man was thinking at a glance and smiled as he agreed.
"Tomb Ghost, come with me."
Xiao Xiao looked at Tomb Ghost, who was still poking its head around inside the car.
"I'll take you home."
Tomb Ghost was about to shake its head, but Xiao Xiao's next words made it freeze. "Before I take you back to the cemetery, I'll help you find the little flower basket."
"The little flower basket isn't in the car."
Xiao Xiao explained to the youkai, "So the only place it could be is somewhere along the route Uncle Chen took after he found the little flower basket."
"We just have to retrace Uncle Chen's route. Maybe we'll find it."
Tomb Ghost glanced at the middle-aged man, then at Xiao Xiao.
Then it glanced at the middle-aged man again...
The cycle continued.
At last, Tomb Ghost made up its mind.
It left the middle-aged man's side and came to stand behind Xiao Xiao.
Xiao Xiao turned around, thinking with some amusement, Why does this youkai like being a 'guardian spirit' so much?
He smiled at Tomb Ghost, then looked at the girl. "Nini, do you want to play with Xiao Yi a little longer, or go home?"
"Big Brother, I want to go with you."
The boy called out loudly, "I want to take Auntie home too."
"Me too."
The girl chimed in, unwilling to be left out.
The two children gazed up at Xiao Xiao with their big, bright eyes, their faces full of entreaty.
Xiao Xiao crouched down to meet their eyes. "No."
Seeing the children about to protest, he gently placed one hand on each of their heads.
Little White Fox had already sprung nimbly onto Xiao Xiao's shoulder before he even moved.