The room was warm, gloves and scarves could be set aside for now.

Hannah obediently listened.

As soon as her hat had fallen, she remembered the fairy tale book she was holding and scampered back to Archer’s side.

Proudly, she said, "Archer, look, I got a fairy tale book."

The cover was colorful, depicting a blonde little girl with several dwarfs following behind her.

It was a beautiful princess.

Hannah hadn’t heard this story before.

Archer put down the soup spoon he was holding and turned to face Hannah. "Did you go out today just for this?"

A fairy tale book.

Hannah nodded, eagerly flipping to the first page.

There was text and pictures, which looked very interesting.

"I want you to tell me a story."

Hannah held the book up, covering her face, only revealing a pair of big, round eyes.

Archer said, "You don’t need a fairy tale book for me to tell you a story."

He had already memorized those stories after reading them just once.

Archer was somewhat angry, upset that under such harsh winter conditions, Hannah had ventured out just for a book, for a book that was not important at all.

But Hannah didn’t understand; she only remembered that in her memory, her mother used to hold a fairy tale book and sit by her bed to read her stories.

"I just want to hear a story," Hannah murmured, her upturned lips falling, and her eyes losing their sparkle.

The little girl lowered her gaze; her smile was gone too.

The mushroom soup in the pot was bubbling, emitting a sweet aroma.

Seeing Hannah like this, Archer regretted it.

Regretted that his tone had been too harsh.

He had always known that Hannah was different from other children, she was exceedingly innocent.

She could smile like the sun but also hide in a corner by herself, asking him why no one liked her.

"Hannah." Archer gently rubbed her head. "Do you really want to hear a story?"

Hannah nodded, her head still drooping.

Archer bent over, smiling at her, "How about I tell you a story every evening from now on?"

Rather than a blind apology, Hannah seemed to prefer promises.

The little girl, who had been drooping her head just moments ago, suddenly brightened up. "Really?"

Archer said, "Really."

Hannah jumped for joy.

She wanted to hear a story right away, but the mushroom soup was ready.

Hannah had to first put the fairy tale book away and change clothes to come have dinner.

Dinner was simple, but delicious.

Hannah ate slowly; Archer did not hurry her but instead warmed up the food that was nearly cold again.

While cleaning up, Archer realized that the pumpkin lantern Hannah had taken out was gone.

Hannah sipped her delicious soup, her dangling legs happily swinging. "I met a strange person on the road, he seemed to really like my pumpkin lantern, so I gave it to him."

"A strange person?" Archer came over.

Hannah nodded. "Yes, I reminded him the pumpkin lantern was not edible, he seemed very happy."

Although he didn’t laugh, Hannah could still tell he was pleased.

That’s probably just a child’s intuition.

Archer pulled out a chair, sitting next to Hannah on her right. "Do you know that person?"

Hannah shook her head, her soup bowl nearly empty. "No, I don’t."

She handed the bowl to Archer, blinking her eyes.

Archer stood up and served her another bowl, still admonishing, "Hannah, you shouldn’t talk to strangers."