"Can you get up?"
Xiao Xiao got to his feet first.
He held out a hand to the girl.
The girl looked up.
She stared blankly at the hand in front of her.
After a long moment, she slowly reached out her own hand.
As soon as she touched his, she felt him pull.
Before she could frown at her legs, which had gone a little numb from crouching for so long, he had already pulled her steadily to her feet.
The girl blinked.
"How are your feet? Still sore?"
Xiao Xiao asked.
The girl tested her feet.
The soreness from crouching for so long had almost completely faded.
She shook her head.
"I'm fine now."
Xiao Xiao let go of the girl's wrist.
"Big Brother."
The girl lowered her head and twisted her hands together.
She looked rather flustered.
"I'm sorry... I keep telling you about these things..."
Now that her emotions had settled, the girl couldn't help regretting how she had acted earlier.
She worried that Big Brother might find her annoying.
It made sense.
If someone she'd only met a few times kept telling her unpleasant things, even if she didn't show it at the time, she would distance herself from that person afterward.
After all, who didn't like being around cheerful people?
Xiao Xiao lightly flicked the girl on the forehead with a finger.
When she looked up at him, Xiao Xiao smiled. "Wait here a moment."
The girl watched Xiao Xiao walk away, puzzled.
Her mouth fell open without her realizing it.
Xiao Xiao was back in no time.
He handed the girl a bottle of water.
"Have some water."
The girl had talked quite a bit, and it was so hot out. Her mouth must have been dry.