A lot had happened this year.
It had completely disrupted the two elders' peaceful, orderly lives, throwing everything into disarray.
Some plans and things they should have done had been left undone.
The old woman froze.
"A medical checkup?"
She nodded.
"That's right. We're going to get checkups."
"We're getting older, so let's add a few more tests this year."
"Mm."
The old man naturally had no objections.
Whatever his wife said went.
Only...
He hoped there wouldn't be any more bad news.
The old man tightened his grip on his cane.
He squeezed so hard that he felt a faint ache in his palm.
"...Ah."
The old woman's soft exclamation broke the silence in the courtyard.
She looked at the young man before her.
"Look at me, going on and on about this and that..."
There was a hint of bitterness in the old woman's eyes.
"You came here to look for something."
"And yet I've spent all this time chattering away about things that have nothing to do with you."
The old woman shook her head.
It had been so long... She hadn't talked this much to anyone besides her husband.
What had gotten into her today?
All at once, she'd felt the urge to pour her heart out.
"Go on and look."
The old woman waved a hand.
"Take your time."
"There's no rush."
"Keep looking until you find it..."
"Don't worry. We won't make you leave."
The old woman seemed to want to smile, but in the end, she only managed to tug at the corners of her mouth.
It had been too long since she'd smiled.
She seemed to have almost forgotten how...
"All right."
Xiao Xiao smiled and nodded.
He turned and walked back beneath the Plum Tree.
He