She leaned in, almost pressing her nose to him, and seemed to evaluate his entire face with unconcealed curiosity. She looked him up and down, then moved her head from side to side to check each side of his face, and he stood there like a moron letting this kid scrutinize him. He had no idea why or what she was even doing. It felt like she was sussing him out for fear he had evil intentions, and her eyes were eating into his soul, making him feel guilty for god knows what.
After what felt like the most intense evaluation of his entire face, the kid stepped back, broke a tiny smile, and lifted her arms to him. It was such a trusting and automatic ‘up, up’ motion he found himself sliding his cell into his jacket to do it.
Kai shook his head, amused by this little diva, and stepped behind her to hoist her by the waist to the level she couldn’t reach. He kept her in straight arms away from him and towards the shelf. He had no experience lifting kids and glanced around in case someone thought he was doing something inappropriate. This felt like such a bad idea now he was holding the lightweight.
She motioned further left and higher with that little waving hand, wiggling fingers, and he obeyed. Sidestepping and straining further for her to reach a purple box containing the pinkest and glitter-spewed doll he had ever seen. She seemed satisfied with her choice, so he put her back on her feet and patted her head, relieved the task was over.
She turned to leave, paused, turned back, and tugged his sleeve again, motioning for him to come closer. That finger wiggle.
Kai had no idea what kind of magic this kid possessed, but he found himself leaning down to those large, almost black almond eyes in that dainty little face. Scooting to her height and coming close.
She blinked in the sweetest and most babyish way, those eyes so large and full of innocence, and bopped him on the nose with a chunky pointer finger. She had the grace and coordination of a puppy.
Catching him off guard with the adorable gesture of thanks, he half choked on a surprised laugh. She giggled and grinned at him before turning on her heel and running off, leaving him crouched over and smiling like an idiot.
A moment of interaction with a random brat had left him feeling weirdly cheerful.
Kai rolled his eyes and hung up on her, knowing she was only being her usual nosey self, and headed in the direction the kid went, hoping to find Anna and get out of there. He stretched up to look over the top of the aisles to see if he could spot her while walking up the center and encountered the kiddo again. Only this time, with some woman in tow, he assumed she was her mom.
Athletic, wearing a sports tee over khaki shorts and her hair in a high bun, looking harassed. She had no makeup or jewelry, and she was wearing flip-flops that didn’t match the color she wore. She had a black backpack on both shoulders and was carrying a pink mini one in her left hand.
She was the opposite of the little girl in her polished shoes and bows with sparkle in every possible place. He found it funny that a mom could be so boyish yet produce a completely girly girl in all her pink glory.
The kid spotted him walking by, broke into a smile, and waved. Without thought, he waved back in the same little finger wiggle she sent his way, mimicking her. Shaking his head that he was such a sucker for it, and carried on to find Anna.
“Who was that?” Suying pulled Yue back by her hand, eyeing up the tall, dark-haired man who smiled a little too familiarly at her princess and tugged her to face her. Concern tugged her brow down, and she turned on the serious doctor tone.
“The nice man who gave me my dolly.” Yue was too busy mooning at her new choice to care about Suying’s not-amused expression and haughty stance.
“I didn’t.” Yue was twirling under Suying’s arm and waving her doll in the air, eyes still glued to its pretty face. She stopped, let go of Suying’s hand, and pressed a finger to the center of her tiny lips. Locking them together in a comedic fashion before gazing up at her Aunt.
“Not one word.” She muffled through her little digit with a mischievous glint in her eye and then broke into a smile and returned to admiring her dolly. She was satisfied that she hadn’t broken any rules and that her aunt was being silly.
Suying was speechless.
It was getting dark even though it wasn’t too late, and she was enjoying this breathing space to think. Suying had sent her out to take a walk after Yue fell asleep and told her to take her time, seeing as the trip was almost over. They had been here for two days, and Yue was exhausted after a fun-filled day at the rides and building sandcastles with Suying.
She needed this. Time away from the city and work to reflect on the past few days and safely evaluate the bigger picture. She had been tired and working hard lately, letting it taint her emotions. Now she was safe where he couldn’t touch her, and she knew Ling was right.
Kai could only control what happened in OTS. The biggest thing he had to use against her was her career and reputation. As long as Yue was happy and safe, they were small sacrifices to make. She could take anything he threw her way as long as it didn’t affect her child.
He wouldn’t find out about her.. and if he came looking, Ling or Suying would tell him Yue was theirs. Maybe she could see the crazy similarity Yue had to him because she knew her so well and had every detail of her child’s beauty imprinted on her heart. And looking at her, he might not even see it. People generally never saw themselves in someone else’s face.
Resigning took her out of harm’s way, and if she did as soon as they flew home in a couple of days, he wouldn’t be able to do much damage. She could see that now. She just had to take away his opportunity to use her job.
She could deny her feelings daily for the rest of her life, but it didn’t make it true. She had never gotten over him; his reappearance in her world had brought that home with a giant slap. The devastating weight and extreme meltdown were all tied in with the fact she had never stopped loving him, even after everything. Even if he no longer deserved it.
She hadn’t allowed herself to think of him much in the past years as every time she did, it hurt so much she felt like she was dying. He left a huge gash of dark emptiness on her soul that she had never been able to fill. Yue put a bandaid on it so that she could live, but it was still bleeding underneath its dressings. Some wounds would never heal.