"Yeah."
"I feel a lot better now."
A hint of lightness crept into the girl's voice.
The old man smiled.
"It was just a small thing."
"I think that boy learned his lesson, too."
"He was already outmatched by your friend..."
The old man looked at Xiao Xiao. "He had him on the ropes."
The skinny boy had visibly lost some of his smugness.
"And then we saw through what he'd done..."
"He ran off in a panic."
"I think this will leave a deep impression on him."
"He deserved it."
The girl was still a little indignant.
That boy had wasted so much of her time.
And he'd been so arrogant toward them.
Even though he was the one with bad intentions...
Hmph!
Hopefully, this scared him enough that he'd never dare try anything like that again.
The old man smiled.
He understood why the girl was indignant.
"I'm sorry."
"I was wrong to apologize to that boy."
"Good thing I was right to apologize to you."
"I've wasted your time."
"N-no, it's fine."
The girl hurriedly waved her hands.
She understood that the old man had only meant well.
Who could have guessed that boy was so awful?
He hadn't shown the old man the slightest consideration.
He'd actually had the nerve to deceive him.
And the old man had stepped in on his behalf, trying to stop them for his sake.
The boy really had no conscience.
"All right."
The old man smiled and shook his head. "It's getting late. Hurry and take your watermelons home."
"I should get back to work, too."
"Okay."
The girl waved to the old man. "Goodbye, Grandpa."
"Goodbye, Grandpa."
Xiao Xiao smiled at the old man, who was looking his way.
"Ah."
"Goodbye."