"Did something happen?"
"Huan Huan, why are you thanking Big Brother?"
Lele spoke rapidly. "Ah, did Big Brother help you?"
"Did something really happen to you just now?"
"Why didn't you say so sooner?"
"Are you hurt?"
"Y—"
"Lele."
Huan Huan called out helplessly.
"Hmm?"
Lele opened her eyes wide, looking as if she were waiting for her older sister to answer.
Huan Huan frowned.
"I got distracted just now and didn't notice the thief... mister running toward me."
"I made the thief mister fall."
"The thief mister got angry."
"That's when this big brother stopped the thief mister from taking his anger out on me."
"So I'm grateful to Big Brother."
"Oh, oh."
Lele nodded in sudden understanding.
Then she smiled at Xiao Xiao, her eyes narrowing. "Big Brother, thank you for helping my sister."
"Otherwise, my sister would definitely have cried."
"Lele!"
Huan Huan shouted.
Lele rubbed her ears.
"Sister, you're so loud today."
Huan Huan pressed her lips together.
She couldn't help glaring at the innocent-looking girl.
Whose fault was that?
"Big Brother, thank you."
Huan Huan thanked him again.
She'd expressed her gratitude before, but then Lele had interrupted her, and somehow it felt incomplete.
She earnestly expressed her thanks once more.
"You're welcome."
Xiao Xiao smiled.
"But—"
He looked at the girl in front of him. "Don't get distracted while crossing the road next time."
"It's dangerous."
"That's right, Sister."
Lele chimed in. "It's dangerous."
Huan Huan lowered her lashes and replied softly, "Mm, I know."
"I'm sorry."
"Be careful on your way home."
Xiao Xiao reminded the two girls, then waved to them. "Goodbye."
"Goodbye, Big Brother."
"Goodbye, Big Brother."
Lele's clear, bright voice almost completely drowned out Huan Huan's quiet one.
Xiao Xiao smiled at the two girls.
He watched