"Old Grandmother, are you here by yourself?"
"Yes."
"Let me help you up."
"No, no. It was just an accident this time."
Xiao Xiao didn't say much more. He simply kept following behind the old woman.
"Hey, why are you following this old woman? Aren't you wasting your time? You should go on ahead."
"This old woman really is fine."
Xiao Xiao only smiled and didn't answer.
Seeing that, the old woman felt a little helpless and could only accept Xiao Xiao's kindness.
"Sorry for the trouble, young man."
"You really are a good person, young man."
"This should be the place." The old woman's expression was a mixture of daze and fond remembrance.
Hmm? Xiao Xiao looked around. What a coincidence—wasn't this where he'd come to find Ling Yao?
"Old Grandmother, aren't you going to the top of the mountain?"
"No. Besides, age catches up with you. This old woman doesn't have the strength for that." The old woman shook her head.
"I only came this time to..." Her voice grew fainter and fainter, almost a silent murmur. A hint of melancholy crossed her face, yet a few faint glimmers of light seemed to flicker in her eyes. Her deeply wrinkled face took on a different radiance.
Watching the old woman lost in thought, Xiao Xiao didn't disturb her. Something must have happened in this maple grove that had become a deeply cherished memory for her.
"Young man, would you like to hear a story?" The old woman came back to herself. Seeing Xiao Xiao standing nearby, she gave him a kind smile, though there was unmistakable brightness in it, like that of a young girl.
Xiao Xiao paused, then slowly broke into a smile.
"Of course."
"It would be my pleasure."
This was a story that,