Chapter 54: The Story

“Grandma, are you here alone?”
“Yes.”
“Let me help you up.”
“No need, no need. This was just an accident.”

Xiao Xiao said nothing more and simply followed behind the elderly woman.

“Hey, why are you following this old lady? Isn’t this just a waste of time? You should just go ahead.”
“She’s really fine.”

Xiao Xiao only smiled and did not respond further.

The old woman seemed a bit helpless at this and finally accepted Xiao Xiao’s kindness.

“Thank you so much, young man.”
“You truly are a good person.”

...

“This should be the place,” the old woman said, her expression a mix of absent-mindedness and nostalgia.

Hmm? Xiao Xiao glanced around. What a coincidence—this was exactly the place he had intended to visit, where the bird was.

“Grandma, aren’t you going to the mountaintop?”
“No, no. Time doesn’t spare anyone, and this old body no longer has the strength.” The old woman shook her head.

“I came here just to...” Her voice grew softer, almost a whisper, her face tinged with melancholy, yet a faint glimmer flickered in her eyes. The wrinkles on her face seemed to glow with a different kind of spirit.

Watching the absentminded elderly woman, Xiao Xiao did not interrupt. It was clear that this maple forest held memories both precious and unforgettable for her.

“Young man, would you like to hear a story?” The old woman snapped back to reality, turning to Xiao Xiao with a kind smile that held a youthful brightness.

Xiao Xiao was taken aback for a moment, then slowly smiled.

“Of course.”
“It’s my honor.”

...

This was a story that, to most people, might sound like the fanciful dream of a girl in her youth.

Yet Xiao Xiao knew it to be true.

The old woman’s voice was calm, but when recounting that strange and wonderful day, a clear joy surfaced in her tone.

...

It was the year when the maple leaves turned red. Xu Yuan, a ninth-grade student who had planned to visit Fragrant Hills with her classmates, was stood up, leaving her in a sour mood.

Walking alone among the maple steps and trees, despite the beautiful scenery, Xu Yuan’s heart remained heavy.

“Ah!” she suddenly shouted, frustrated. How annoying! They had all agreed, yet they didn’t keep their word—nothing is more frustrating than that!

As Xu Yuan was catching her breath, she suddenly heard a soft snicker.

...

“Idiot.”

Xu Yuan bristled immediately. “Who are you calling an idiot?”

Looking in the direction of the voice, she met a pair of lazy, disdainful eyes.

Her eyes widened in disbelief—was this... a bird?

Such a beautiful bird! Xu Yuan’s face was full of astonishment.

Then it struck her—was the voice just now from... this bird?

Ha! Impossible. It’s not a parrot; how could it talk?

So who was it? Come out, she promised she wouldn’t hurt them!

Xu Yuan looked around but saw no one nearby. The “idiot” voice clearly came from close by.

Moreover, thinking carefully, it seemed to come from above.

Xu Yuan was bewildered.

Taking another close look at the bird, she realized it was indeed beautiful but looked very different from common birds.

Though she didn’t know much about birds, just the usual sparrows, orioles, and crows.

She swallowed nervously and looked up at the bird resting among the maple branches. The slanting sunlight dazzled her eyes. Tentatively, she asked, “Was that you speaking just now?”

Whether it was her imagination or not, she seemed to catch a flash of surprise in the bird’s eyes.

Xu Yuan was cautious but her eyes sparkled with excitement.

Mainly because the bird was so stunning, she wasn’t afraid but thoroughly intrigued.

Then, for reasons she couldn’t explain, perhaps feeling this was all a dream too unreal to be true, Xu Yuan instinctively reached out and grabbed the long tail feathers hanging before her eyes.

The tail, like burning flames, was so vivid in color it almost seared her gaze.

The warmth she felt was real. Xu Yuan was a bit dazed.

The bird flicked its tail lightly, causing Xu Yuan to lose balance and fall backward, her hand instinctively letting go.

She landed on her backside, not hard, but stunned by the unexpected event.

“Humph, human.” The strange, melodic tone brought Xu Yuan back from her daze.

She dashed to the maple tree where the bird perched, her eyes shining like countless stars, so bright they outshone the sunlight.

...

That day felt like a beautiful dream, almost too surreal to be real.

She had met a beautiful spirit and spent a wonderful day with it.

The memory of that day never faded.

Regrettably, she never saw that spirit again.

She clearly remembered her eager dash to Fragrant Hills the next day, only to find no trace of the spirit, her heart filled with confusion and disappointment.

Why?

Hadn’t they made an appointment?

She was puzzled and saddened.

All around were similar maple trees, their fiery red almost blinding, yet none bore the shade she longed to see.

Xu Yuan stood motionless amid the maples, looking everywhere, tears suddenly welling up and spilling down her cheeks.

Afterward, she came back again and again, only to be met with repeated disappointment.

Later, she left for school elsewhere, got married, had children; a busy life made her forget the stubbornness of youth.

...

But now, old and nearing the end of her life, just yesterday, she awoke in her sickbed, vividly recalling the dream of that day, so beautiful it almost brought her to tears.

Indeed, her eyes were moist.

So, secretly, hiding it from her children, nurses, and doctors, she embarked on one last adventure in her life.

One final act of willfulness.

Despite her age, she still dared to dream like a young girl. The old woman smiled wryly, helpless yet obedient to her own heart, returning here after so many years.

She never thought she would remember so clearly the place where she first met that spirit.

Perhaps the day’s experience was too incredible and fleeting, or maybe her regret, unwillingness, and even a touch of grievance made every detail etched vividly in her memory, cherished and unforgettable—etched deeply into her soul.

...

It seemed the old woman only wanted someone to share her story with, not caring about Xiao Xiao’s reaction.

Thus, she did not notice that Xiao Xiao’s expression was not one of dismissive amusement or scorn as she might have imagined.

On the contrary, a look of understanding flickered across Xiao Xiao’s face.

The old woman, slightly stooped, had silvery hair neatly tucked under a beautiful knitted cap. Her gaunt cheeks bore age spots but were kept very clean, and her floral clothes seemed carefully chosen and tailored.

Anyone who saw her would smile knowingly—she was a charming, tidy little old lady.

Step by step, she walked steadily.

She stretched out her now thin, aged hands, dry and shriveled like bark on an old tree. Age spots were scattered across the backs of her hands and wrists hidden by her sleeves. The deeply wrinkled skin spoke of her frailty.

Her nails were neatly trimmed but showed an ominous bluish tint.

The old woman brushed her hand across the maple trunk, caressed scattered dead leaves on the branches, her head slightly raised, searching through the interlaced boughs.

Her face was a mixture of joy and sorrow, her eyes’ faint light dimming with time.

Her back seemed even more bent.

“It really still doesn’t work...” A bitter sadness mingled with reluctant acceptance showed between her furrowed brows.

...