Thinking back to the conversation he'd overheard on his way here, Xiao Xiao's expression turned somewhat grim.
For some unknown reason, the old woman's heart gave a sudden jolt.
She reached up and pressed a hand to her chest.
She frowned slightly, puzzled.
But she didn't think too much of it.
She followed the young man's gaze.
Her eyes widened more and more.
Child Ghost ducked behind the old woman.
Xiao Xiao's gaze made it feel as if it were exposed to the sunlight, its whole body stinging.
It hated that feeling.
The unease in its heart slowly spread.
Its hand, clutching Grandma's clothes, tightened unconsciously.
Then it felt a warmth envelop it.
It froze.
It looked at its own hand... at the hand resting over it.
The old hand was covered with age spots.
It was wrinkled and not pretty at all.
But... it was warm... and the heart that had nearly leapt out of its throat slowly settled back into place.
Grandma...
It looked up at the old woman in a daze.
The old woman smiled gently at Child Ghost.
Her eyes crinkled.
The wrinkles at their corners relaxed.
Age spots were scattered across the old woman's face, just like on her hands.
Yet her face felt just as warm as her hands.
Seeing that the child had calmed down, the old woman turned to Xiao Xiao.
A trace of wonder showed in her eyes.
This young man was the first person she'd met, apart from herself, who could see the child.
That made her feel a little relieved.
The child wasn't fake.
It wasn't her imagination.
It truly existed.
As for why other people—no, why most people couldn't see the child, she didn't know.
Nor did she particularly care.
She was already nearly at