"...Little One woke up for a little while, then fell back asleep."
The boy nervously pressed his lips together.
Was waking up early bad for Little One's recovery?
He hadn't quite dared to ask.
Because the answer... he already knew it.
"Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't."
Xiao Xiao's soothing voice calmed the boy's nerves.
"There's no point dwelling on what's already happened."
"Since you're worried about this..."
"Then what you can do now is get your emotions under control."
"Don't worry too much."
"Right?"
"Don't overthink it."
Xiao Xiao smiled. "It's a good thing Little One woke up."
"Give it a little more time, and it'll wake up again."
"And next time, it'll stay awake longer."
"Mm."
The boy nodded. "I understand."
He took a deep breath.
"I won't make Little One worry anymore."
He'd already said what he wanted to say and apologized when Little One woke up earlier.
Little One's familiar attitude had put his mind at ease.
The past was already behind them.
He couldn't keep regretting it, blaming himself, and feeling down.
He had to look ahead, too.
He wouldn't make the same mistake again.
"Thank you, Master Xiao."
The boy was truly glad he'd met Master Xiao.
He'd helped him so much and had always listened to him pour his heart out.
If not for Master Xiao, things would have turned out very differently for him, wouldn't they?
The boy tightened his grip on his phone.
Whenever he thought about that possibility, he felt afraid.
"You're welcome."
Xiao Xiao smiled. "I suppose this also makes up for trespassing in your home last time."
The boy was briefly taken aback.
Then he smiled, too.
No.
By now, he felt nothing but gratitude toward Master Xiao for "trespassing." He didn't resent him