"Xiao Xiao."
Old Gu waved cheerfully at the young man entering the teahouse.
But his voice instinctively softened.
Anyone in the quiet, serene atmosphere of a teahouse would be mindful of how loudly they spoke.
Xiao Xiao smiled and walked over to the two old men.
"Grandpa Gu, Grandpa Cao."
"Good day, young master."
Grandpa Cao's distinctive way of addressing him brought a hint of helplessness to Xiao Xiao's eyes.
Grandpa Cao deliberately misread Xiao Xiao's reaction and teased him. "Are you annoyed to see the two of us old men?"
"I even told Old Gu not to call you over."
"But the old coot wouldn't listen."
"Look, what young person likes chatting with old men?"
"Wouldn't that just make us a nuisance?"
Old Cao rolled his eyes at Old Gu, his words carrying a hint of reproach.
Old Gu returned the eye roll without hesitation.
"Xiao Xiao would never do that."
"When he was still so little..."
Old Gu held out a hand to show how tall the boy had been back then—only about as high as his knee. "Xiao Xiao would sit beside us old coots, holding a cup of tea, and chat with us."
Back then, the old men had especially enjoyed chatting with Xiao Xiao.
The little boy's serious expression had been utterly amusing.
What was remarkable was that a child so young could actually sit still. He had kept them company until they went home.
He never made a fuss while listening to them talk.
He was very quiet.
When they asked him about it, they were astonished to discover that the boy had genuinely been listening to what they were saying.
At such a young age...
At the time, the old men and women had thought he was simply "extraordinary."
Though later, they