"My sense of direction isn't very good, actually."
Xiao Xiao had "confessed his own shortcomings."
"Really?"
Old Gu was a little surprised.
"Yeah."
Xiao Xiao smiled. "Whenever I go somewhere new, it takes me a while to find my destination."
"Ha—cough—"
Old Gu pressed his lips together and glanced around.
When he saw no one was paying attention, he grinned. "Isn't that perfectly normal?"
"Everyone takes a little time to find the place they're looking for when they go somewhere new."
"What's so unusual about that?"
Old Gu had almost thought the boy was saying he was hopeless with directions.
He'd been wondering, since he'd never noticed this about him before.
Old Gu had tea at the teahouse for a while, then went home.
It was getting late. He had to go back for lunch.
On Monday, Xiao Xiao went to Linlin's home as promised.
Linlin's parents were both there.
"Teacher Xiao."
Linlin's parents greeted him with smiles.
Linlin's mom drew him over. "Linlin, say hello to your teacher."
"Hello, Teacher."
Linlin obediently greeted Xiao Xiao.
"Hello, Linlin."
Xiao Xiao smiled.
"Teacher Xiao, we'll be leaving Linlin in your hands."
Linlin's parents were getting ready to head to work.
"If anything comes up, just call us."
At first, they'd wondered what kind of suitable tutor Great Grandfather could possibly know.
Now, though, they were glad he'd introduced them to someone.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have felt comfortable leaving for work like this.
Someone Great Grandfather had introduced...
Thinking of how confident Great Grandfather had looked...
They felt reassured, too.
Surely nothing would go wrong, right?
"Linlin, listen to your teacher."
Linlin's parents gave him a few reminders.
Seeing that they really were running out of time, Linlin's mom pulled him close and whispered, "Do you remember what