Xiao Xiao caught the child as they threw themself into his arms.
The child looked up.
"Big Brother!"
The child's eyes were red.
Their nose was red, too.
They looked utterly pitiful.
But when they saw him, it was as if they'd found their savior. A huge smile spread across their tear-streaked face.
They were the two children he'd met that day when he went to visit Auntie Zhou with Xiao Jin.
He looked up.
"Little sister!"
The little boy came running right after her.
"Hey, stop right there!"
A young man who looked like a store clerk and wore an apron was chasing after the little boy.
He looked furious.
"Big Brother!?"
The little boy recognized the adult his sister was clinging to.
His eyes immediately lit up.
His sister had suddenly run off, startling him.
He hadn't had time to think and had chased after her on instinct.
The fierce shouts behind him made him run even faster.
"Stop right there, you two!"
The clerk was a little out of breath.
He truly hadn't expected these two seemingly well-behaved children, whom he'd intimidated into submission, to actually run away!
He'd been stunned for a moment before taking off after them.
"You actually dared to run?!"
He pointed at the two children, his expression dark.
The little girl abruptly hid behind Xiao Xiao.
One hand clutched his clothes tightly.
The little boy hid behind Xiao Xiao, too.
He recognized the big brother at once.
That was because the last time, Big Brother had given him and his sister some delicious, pretty candies.
It was his first time eating square-shaped candy.
So he'd been especially impressed by the big brother who gave him those square candies.
He knew Big Brother was a