Xiao Xiao did not leave, because this was also his destination, and he was a little worried that the old man was here alone.
The old man's recovery does not look very good. I wonder if he is slightly ailing to begin with?
Seeing the light gradually disappearing in the old man's eyes, Xiao Xiao felt a little uncomfortable and depressed.
He pursed his lips, but didn't know what to say. He wanted to help the old man, but he couldn't find it without the mandarin duck actively appearing.
While paying attention to the old man, Xiao Xiao also raised his head and looked around. He could see the maple forest without maple leaves at a glance.
Therefore, it is clear at a glance whether the mandarin is present or not.
Xiao Xiao was helpless, but there was nothing he could do.
……
The old man couldn't help but smile when he noticed that Xiao Xiao was looking up for something in the maple trees all around like her.
"Young man, what are you looking for?"
Xiao Xiao was speechless for a moment, but the old man confirmed his guess, thinking that Xiao Xiao wanted to help him when he saw his actions, even though he didn't know what he was looking for.
"Thank you, young man."
The old man paused and finally said: "No need to look for it."
"Maybe it's the wrong time?"
"It's too late."
"The maple leaves have all fallen."
"But I don't have time anymore."
……
The old man's voice became softer and softer. Rather than talking to Xiao Xiao, it was better to say that he was admitting to himself: her fate with the monster ended long ago that autumn of that year.
With this fate in sight, what can I do?
"After all, it's fate that lasts only one day."
The old man smiled quietly, but still couldn't help but let out a sigh.
"Young man, the old lady is going back."
"I've been out all morning. If I don't go back, the old woman will be miserable."
The old man made a scared expression, but there was a smile in his eyes.
What a lovely old lady.
Xiao Xiao couldn't help but smile, but felt a little sad.
He knew that the old man was disappointed, and now it was just an unthinkable compromise.
Yes, what else can we do?
The old woman is getting older, and the long years have taught her to be restrained and let go.
Even if I feel a little sad, I won’t lose my temper like I did when I was young.
I just feel a little unwilling to do so.
The old man smiled on his face, but sighed in his heart.
And Xiao Xiao heard the sigh in the old man's heart.
However, after the old man rejected his offer, he was also helpless and could only stand quietly under the maple tree and say goodbye to the old man with a smile.
The old man's back is gradually fading away.
Xiao Xiao put his hands in his pockets, feeling the cold wind blowing, causing his hair to dance wildly, and some strands of hair stung his eyes.
Xiao Xiao turned his head to avoid the wind, but suddenly caught a glimpse of the bright red color.
In a dark and dark maple forest, it is dazzling and even a bit dazzling.
鸰颢?!
Without thinking too much, Xiao Xiao suddenly turned his head and shouted to the old man whose back was almost invisible: "Grandma, wait a minute!"
The sound was mixed with the whirring wind, and seemed to have a thrilling power.
Xiao Xiao shouted and started running.
When he called for the third time, the old man finally heard Xiao Xiao's call.
She turned back and saw that Xiao Xiao was almost running to her side, she was a little surprised and a little confused.
"What's wrong? What's the matter?" The old man's voice was still gentle and gentle, and it seemed that the result of returning without success had no negative impact on her.
"Grandma, follow me." Xiao Xiao walked to the old man's side. Even though he had just run over, he was still breathing steadily without panting. He gently held the old man's arm and led her back to where she came from. Maple Forest.
The old man was very strange, but she had a good impression of this kind-hearted young man.
Moreover, Xiao Xiao also listened to her recount her biggest secret and most fantastic experience, which made them seem to have a strange bond.
Therefore, the old man allowed Xiao Xiao to take her back to the place she just left.
She believed that the child had no bad intentions and would not harm her.
……
Phew, the bird is still there. Xiao Xiao breathed a sigh of relief.
"Grandma, look!" Xiao Xiao pointed in the direction of the turtle, and his voice was filled with smiles and excitement.
The old man looked in the direction of Xiao Xiao's finger and saw that it was just an ordinary maple tree, with a smooth and straight trunk, slender and strong branches, and only a few yellowed and dry leaves on it.
The old man looked at the tree and then at Xiao Xiao. She didn't understand what Xiao Xiao was telling her to look at?
The old lady's puzzled expression was like a basin of cold water poured on Xiao Xiao's head. Xiao Xiao's expression suddenly froze.
Xiao Xiao looked up at the mandarin duck standing on the branch of the tree, and seemed to see a flash of ridicule in its eyes.
It glanced at the old man casually, then turned its head and ignored him.
Xiao Xiao lowered his head slightly, the shadow cast by his broken hair blocking his expression.
"What's wrong?" The old man was a little worried.
"It's okay." Xiao Xiao quickly raised his head with a clear smile, slightly embarrassed, "I just saw a very beautiful bird, so I want you to take a look."
"It seems that it has flown away."
"I'm sorry for dragging you back."
"Was it wasting your time?"
The old man showed a clear smile: "It's okay."
"Thank you for still thinking of me."
……
The old man turned around and left again, but after taking a few steps, he suddenly stopped without turning around, and just stood there.
Xiao Xiao was a little confused and was about to step forward when the old man turned around.
"After all, I still want to ask." The old man's hands were clasped together tightly, his eyes were bright, but a trace of bitterness spread from the corners of his mouth.
"Did you see a red bird with a long tail?"
Xiao Xiao was stunned for a moment, not knowing how to describe the old man's gaze at this moment.
It is a sudden bright hope but also a faint and lonely despair.
"Yeah." Xiao Xiao decided to tell the truth.
The old man's lips trembled slightly, squirmed a few times, and wanted to open his mouth several times to say something. But in the end no sound came out, he just nodded his head, and there seemed to be tears shining in the corners of his eyes.
After a long time, the old man finally opened his mouth.
"...I see...it's not that it's not there, it's just that I can't see it anymore..."
"It's not that it broke the promise...it's that I broke the promise."
The old man's voice was hoarse and gloomy, revealing the confusion and loss of a child.
"Thank you."
"It's great, that day was not my fantasy."
"It's just that I still want to see you again. I promised to bring it cookies I made."
The old man tremblingly reached out and took out a flat red cartoon tin box from the cloth bag he carried with him, with a bird pattern on it.
"Can you please give it this box of biscuits?"
"It's already sixty years too late."
......
Xiao Xiao was a little sad. It was clear that no one had missed their appointment that day. It was clear that one person and one demon were close at hand, but they could no longer say hello to each other.
Because after the second day, the old man will no longer be able to see or hear the owl.
The old man came here so many times and searched for so long. If she hadn't met Xiao Xiao, she would never have known that the man she had longed for had been watching her and accompanying her.
Xiao Xiao took the tin box and looked at the old man's back slowly leaving, unable to regain his senses for a long time.
The fate between humans and monsters is wonderful, but sometimes it can be cruel.
The old man's low and hoarse voice seemed to be echoing in his ears.
"This is good, this is good..."
The old man's smile before turning around was peaceful and soothing, as if he had finally settled his worries.
Maybe the result is not perfect, but how many people in the world can get everything going as they wish?
"The old woman is very lucky to have seen the legendary monster."
"Not only have I seen them, but I have also chatted with monsters, even though it was only for one day."
......
"What a wonderful fate."
"Young man, you must cherish your fate with monsters."
"This is a rare fate."
"Maybe God will take back this fate sometime."
"So before that, don't live up to this specialness."