The old woman was visibly taken aback.
It seemed she hadn't expected the young man to ask her that.
But soon, she smiled faintly and nodded.
"Yes."
The old woman's voice was gentle and calm.
"I've been here for about..."
She tilted her head slightly.
"More than an hour?"
"I'm not sure."
"You know, when people are waiting, it's easy to lose track of time."
Xiao Xiao nodded.
"Yes."
He agreed with the old woman.
He turned slightly and pointed toward the child.
"May I ask if you remember that child?"
The old woman narrowed her eyes slightly.
That child...
She furrowed her brow and tried to remember.
Xiao Xiao considered when it might be best to speak up and let the old woman stop trying to remember.
"Ah!"
The old woman gave a quiet exclamation.
Hm?
Xiao Xiao paused, slightly taken aback.
Had she remembered something?
The old woman smiled, her eyes narrowing.
"I remember now."
"I remember that child."
"The child picked a button off their clothes, and it rolled over to my feet."
"I was the one who picked it up for the child."
"The child looked as though they were about to cry."
"Maybe they were worried their parents would find out they'd picked a button off their clothes and scold them?"
The old woman guessed.
"But the child was well behaved."
"Even though they were worried about being scolded..."
"They still remembered to thank me."
That tearful look had made her feel both sorry for the child and a little amused.
"I comforted the child."
"It was only a button."
"It could always be sewn back on."
"What was there to scold them for?"
"Besides, it wasn't necessarily the child who picked the button off."
"Maybe it hadn't been