Yu Yuer didn't want to doubt the old woman.
But...
"Old Granny, you heard us too."
"None of us saw Dongfang Qing arrive."
Yu Yuer spoke plainly.
"Since you say she's already here..."
"Then you must know her."
"Could you take us to meet her?"
"You know..."
"We've been waiting a long time for her."
Lu Xiaoxiao's heart was in her throat.
She stared fixedly at the old woman.
Waiting for her answer.
"She..."
The old woman spoke slowly.
She seemed not to notice how anxious the girls before her were.
"Far away, yet..."
The old woman suddenly lifted her skirt.
She gave an elegant curtsy.
"...near at hand."
A sweet smile that didn't suit her aged face appeared on the old woman's lips.
And her whole presence suddenly seemed light and graceful...
Lu Xiaoxiao was stunned.
Yu Yuer was stunned.
Yang Jialing was stunned.
They stared blankly at the old woman.
Their eyes held a trace of confusion.
This...
Lu Xiaoxiao clenched her hand.
"You..."
"What do you mean?"
Lu Xiaoxiao widened her eyes.
Far away, yet near at hand?
She didn't understand.
Or rather, she didn't want to believe it.
Instead of believing that absurd guess, she'd rather think...
"You're joking with us?"
Lu Xiaoxiao's words reminded Yu Yuer and Yang Jialing.
Yu Yuer's eyes lit up.
Right.
Given how familiar the old woman had been acting, a joke like this... wasn't impossible.
"Old Granny."
Yu Yuer said with something like a sigh.
"Please don't joke with us like that."
"We're serious about meeting Dongfang Qing."
After all, Little Deer wasn't in any condition to be joked around with.
"Mm."
Yang Jialing nodded.
The old woman had nearly fooled her too.
She had acted far too naturally...
As though it were