"Tong Hua, do you want to find Little Black?"
Xiao Xiao didn't pressure the boy too much.
It was enough for the boy to realize the contradiction in his actions.
"...I do."
The boy froze. His excitement cooled a little, and he nodded.
Of course he wanted to find Little Black.
How could he not want to find Little Black?
"Then are you prepared?"
Xiao Xiao asked seriously.
The boy's eyes widened.
Prepared?
Prepared for what?
"As you said, you and Little Black were very close."
"Normally, it shouldn't have left."
The boy couldn't help nodding.
"But it did leave."
The boy pressed his lips together.
"Why?"
Xiao Xiao's sudden question left the boy bewildered.
Why?
He wanted to know, too...
"Maybe something happened suddenly, and it left on its own."
Xiao Xiao didn't need the boy to answer. He continued, "Or maybe..."
"Something happened to it."
Xiao Xiao looked into the boy's eyes. "Do you understand what I mean?"
The boy's face turned pale.
He knew what the older brother meant.
When he'd searched everywhere and still couldn't find Little Black, he'd thought the same thing.
Because he didn't believe Little Black would leave without saying goodbye.
But whenever the thought came to him, he would deliberately and fiercely force it down.
He didn't believe Little Black would leave without saying goodbye, and he believed even less that something could have happened to it.
Because... Little Black was such a clever cat.
Little Black had even saved him before.
How could such a handsome, majestic Little Black... have an accident?
The boy's eyes reddened.
But his expression remained stubborn.
"Little Black... won't get hurt."
His tone was defiant.
Like a willful child.
He was a child, after all.
"Tong Hua."
Xiao Xiao knew that possibility was