Chapter 55 Fate
Xiao Xiao did not leave because this was also his destination, and he was also a little worried about the old man being here alone.

The old man doesn't look very well. I wonder if he has been feeling a little unwell?
Watching the light in the old man's eyes gradually fading, 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 the duck without it showing up.

While Xiao Xiao was paying attention to the old man, he also looked up and around. The maple forest without maple leaves was in full view.

Therefore, it is easy to tell whether the duck is there or not.

Xiao Xiao was helpless, but there was nothing he could do.

……

The old woman couldn't help but smile when she noticed that Xiao Xiao was also looking up at the maple trees around him, just like her.

"What are you looking for, young man?"

Xiao Xiao was speechless for a moment, but the old man confirmed his guess, thinking that Xiao Xiao saw his actions and wanted to help him, even though he didn't know what he was looking for.

"Thank you, boy."

The old man paused, and finally said, "No need to look for it."

"Maybe it's the wrong time?"

"Too late."

“The maple leaves have all fallen.”

"But I don't have time anymore."

……

The old woman's voice became softer and softer. It was more like she was admitting to herself that her fate with the monster had ended in the autumn of that year rather than talking to Xiao Xiao.

The relationship ends here, what can I do?
"After all, it's just a one-day fate."

The old man smiled quietly, but still couldn't help but let out a sigh.

"Young man, the old woman is going back home."

"I've been out all morning. If I don't go back, I'll be in trouble."

The old man made a frightened expression, but there was a smile in his eyes.

What a lovely old lady.

Xiao Xiao couldn't help but smile, but he felt a little sad.

He knew that the old man was disappointed and now there was no other way but to compromise.

Yes, what else can we do?

The old woman is old, and the long years have taught her to be restrained and let go.

Even though I feel a little disappointed, I won't lose my composure like I did when I was young.

But I really feel unwilling to accept it.

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 refused his farewell, 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 was gradually disappearing into the distance.

Xiao Xiao put his hands in his pockets. The cold wind blew his hair wildly, and some of the strands of hair stung his eyes.

Xiao Xiao turned his head to avoid the wind, but suddenly caught a glimpse of the bright red.

In the dark and withered maple forest, it is so dazzling that it is even blinding.

Duck?!
Without thinking too much, Xiao Xiao suddenly turned around and shouted to the old woman whose back he could no longer see: "Grandma, wait a minute!"

The sound mixed with the whistling sound of the wind, and seemed to have a touch of 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 around and was a little surprised and confused when she saw Xiao Xiao was almost running to her.

"What's wrong? Is there anything wrong?" The old woman's voice was still calm and gentle, as if the result of returning empty-handed had no negative impact on her.

"Grandma, come with me." Xiao Xiao walked to the old woman's side. Even though he had just run over, his breathing was still steady and he didn't gasp for air. He gently held the old woman's arm and led her back to the maple forest along the same route.

The old woman was very surprised, but she was very impressed by the kind young man.

Moreover, Xiao Xiao also listened to her telling her biggest secret and the most fantastic experience, which seemed to have created a wonderful bond between them.

So, the old woman let Xiao Xiao take her back to the place she had just left.

She believed that the child had no bad intentions and would not harm her.

……

Phew, the eel is still here. Xiao Xiao breathed a sigh of relief.

"Grandma, look!" Xiao Xiao pointed in the direction of the elk, and his voice was filled with laughter and joy. The old woman looked in the direction of Xiao Xiao's finger, and saw only an ordinary maple tree, with a smooth and straight trunk, slender and strong branches, and only a few yellow and dry leaves on it.

The old woman looked at the tree, then at Xiao Xiao, not understanding what Xiao Xiao asked her to look at.
The old lady's puzzled expression was like a bucket of cold water poured on Xiao Xiao's head. Xiao Xiao's expression froze for a moment.

Xiao Xiao looked up at the duck standing on the branch of the tree, and seemed to see a hint of mockery flash across its eyes.

It glanced at the old man casually, then turned its head and ignored him.

Xiao Xiao lowered his head slightly, and the shadow cast by his hair blocked his expression.

"What's wrong?" The old man was a little worried.

"It's okay." Xiao Xiao quickly raised his head, smiling brightly, a little embarrassed, "I just saw a very beautiful bird, so I wanted to let you take a look."

"It looks like it has flown away."

"I'm sorry to have to drag you back."

"Did I take up your time?"

The old man smiled knowingly: "It's okay."

"Thank you for still thinking of me."

……

The old man turned and left again, but after walking a few steps, he suddenly stopped and just stood there without turning around.

Xiao Xiao was a little confused and was about to step forward when the old man turned around.

"I still want to ask after all." The old man clasped his hands tightly together, there was light in his eyes, but a hint of bitterness spread from the corners of his mouth.

"Is that a red bird you see with a long tail?"

Xiao Xiao was stunned, not knowing how to describe the old man's look at this moment.

It is a sudden spark of hope and also a faint despair.

"Yeah." Xiao Xiao decided to tell the truth.

The old man's lips trembled slightly, and he moved a few times, trying to open his mouth to say something several times. But in the end, no sound came out, he just nodded his head, and tears seemed to be flashing 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 gone, it's just that I can't see it anymore..."

"It wasn't him who broke the promise...it was me who broke the promise."

The old man's voice was hoarse and deep, revealing a childlike confusion and loss.

"Thank you."

"That day wasn't just my fantasy."

"It's just that I still want to see it again. I promised to bring it the cookies I made."

The old man reached out his hand tremblingly and took out a flat red cartoon tin box with a bird pattern on it from the cloth bag he was carrying.

"Could you please give it this box of cookies?"

"It's sixty years too late."

Xiao Xiao felt a little sad. No one had broken the appointment that day, and the man and the demon were very close to each other, but they could never say hello to each other again.

Because after the second day, the old man could no longer see the duck or hear its voice.

The old woman came so many times and searched for so long. If she hadn't met Xiao Xiao, she would never have known that the eel she had been thinking about was always by her side, watching over her and accompanying her.

Xiao Xiao took the tin box and looked at the old man's back as he slowly left, unable to come back to his senses for a long time.

The fate between humans and demons is wonderful, but sometimes, it is cruel.

The old man's hoarse voice seemed to still echo in his ears.

"That's good, that's good..."

The old man's smile was peaceful and soothing before he turned around, as if he had finally put his mind at ease.

Maybe the result is not perfect, but how many people in the world can have everything they want?

"I am very lucky. I have even seen the legendary monster."

"Not only have I seen it, I've also chatted with it, though only for one day."

“What a wonderful fate.”

"Young man, you must cherish your fate with the monster."

“This is a rare fate.”

"Maybe God will take back this fate someday."

"So before that, don't let this special moment go to waste."

……

(End of this chapter)