Xiao Xiao heard footsteps coming from the stairwell.
They were different from the hurried footsteps before.
These footsteps sounded heavy.
Xiao Xiao looked toward the stairs.
After a while, two children appeared at the stairwell, their heads drooping dejectedly.
When they had come a little closer, Xiao Xiao asked, "Grandma isn't home?"
The two children nodded.
Their eyes were faintly red.
"She's not home."
The little girl looked aggrieved.
"Grandma isn't home."
"Grandma hasn't come back."
"Grandma..."
The little girl grabbed Xiao Xiao's clothes.
"Where did she go?"
Xiao Xiao crouched down.
He gently patted the little girl on the head.
"Do you know where Grandma might go besides the little plaza?"
The little girl tilted her head.
She looked at the little boy.
"Big Brother?"
The little boy looked conflicted.
"...Don't you spend more time with Grandma?"
Grandma helped the little girl put on pretty clothes and tied her hair into lovely little braids.
After the little girl took a bath, Grandma would also carefully blow-dry her hair.
The little girl was always reluctant for it to end.
He was different.
He didn't wear such fussy clothes.
His hair was short, too.
It didn't need blow-drying.
He just had to dry it with a towel and let it air out for a while.
So when it came to time spent with Grandma, the little girl definitely spent more time with her.
By rights, the little girl should know more about Grandma, too.
After a moment's confusion, the little girl nodded.
Mm.
Compared with her brother, she did spend more time with Grandma.
She liked having Grandma dress her in pretty clothes and tie her hair into pretty little braids.
She also loved having Grandma blow-dry her hair after she washed it.