After realizing this, the boy's heartbeat quickened.
He swallowed hard.
His hands clasped tightly together.
"Um..."
The boy wanted to explain something.
His mouth opened and closed several times.
Yet he could not say anything.
He did not know what he wanted to explain.
Was he supposed to apologize for sounding too rude just now?
Would that be... showing too much weakness?
In the end, after hesitating for a long while, the boy repeated himself.
"This maple leaf is mine."
His tone was much gentler than before.
It was no longer so aggressive.
The boy pinched his fingers.
Was that... still too weak?
He wanted to take the maple leaf back...
He raised his eyes and stared at the man half a head taller than him.
But for this matter alone...
He would not back down.
Xiao Xiao raised his brows slightly.
"Your maple leaf?"
"Mm."
The boy nodded hard.
"My maple leaf."
The boy held out his hand.
"Sorry for the trouble, but please give it back to me."
The boy's gaze burned brightly.
His other hand, hanging clenched at his side, tightened even more.
The next second, the boy froze.
Huh?
Xiao Xiao extended his hand toward the boy.
Facing the boy's startled, confused gaze, he curled his lips. "Here."
The boy was a little dazed.
He looked at Xiao Xiao, then at the maple leaf within arm's reach.
After going back and forth several times...
The boy finally slowly reached for the maple leaf.
Just as the boy's fingertips were about to touch the maple leaf—
A seemingly careless gust of wind sent the maple leaf flying past his fingertips.
The boy instinctively reached out to grab it.
Yet every time, he missed the maple leaf by the