The old woman had made up her mind.
Moreover...
The old woman looked up at the sky.
Half the sky was covered in the evening glow.
It was gorgeous and brilliant.
But the daylight was indeed growing slightly dimmer.
Clearly.
It was getting late.
She had actually spent so much time forcing her blank mind to come up with some sort of explanation...
The old woman smiled bitterly.
She should have given up long ago.
It wasn't too late to give up now.
The old woman did not waver at the anxious, hesitant expressions on the two children's faces.
"Go back."
The old woman smiled at the young man before her.
"Sorry for making you, a stranger to me, waste so much of your time."
The old woman borrowed the young man's earlier words.
She and this young man were strangers to each other.
The young man had patiently let her slowly recall things...
He had not urged her.
Nor had he complained or shown any dissatisfaction.
He really was a good child.
So, for wasting so much of his time for no reason, the old woman felt increasingly apologetic.
Xiao Xiao shook his head slightly.
"I'm just helping others for the joy of it."
Xiao Xiao was utterly serious.
A faint smile surfaced in his eyes.
"You don't need to feel too burdened."
The old woman couldn't help laughing.
"Thank you for helping me for the joy of it."
"I enjoyed it too."
"Thank you."
Xiao Xiao shook his head.
"You're too polite."
The old woman's mood eased somewhat.
She waved her good hand at Xiao Xiao.
"Go back, young man."
"Grandma..."
The two children sat askew in their chairs, leaning against the old woman.
They grabbed her arms, and the displeasure