Summer could not hold back her laughter. Softly touching the little girl’s hair, she asked, “Do you still remember me?”
The little girl nodded and plunged into Summer’s embrace with open arms. “Looking for Leonardo.”
Summer was startled by the hug. The little girl curled her hands around her neck and looked at her affectionately. Were all children this unwary nowadays? Women were often susceptible to beautiful things, especially such an adorable little girl.
The little girl spoke too rapidly just now, so Summer did not hear her clearly. “Who did you just mention?”
“Leonardo,” Rosie repeated the name matter-of-factly.
Summer was startled. After a while, she chuckled when she realized it was Leonardo. “What’s your name?”
“Rosie.” She was as honest as a polygraph machine.
Summer was worried when Rosie answered every question truthfully. She wondered why this little girl from the Emerson family was so honest; she should be more street-smart.
Summer carried her in her arms. “Did you come with your dad?”
Rosie shook her head, rendering Summer a little unsure of what to do next. Where should she find Leonardo for Rosie? Should she go to Emerson Corporation? But she did not even know where it was. Even if she could go there, there was no guarantee that she would see Leonardo.
They walked past a restaurant, and outside the entrance was an advertisement sign for French fries. Rosie’s eyes lit up as she pointed at the sign. “Fries!”
Summer knew she was drooling at the sight. Since it was about lunchtime, she carried Rosie into the restaurant.
She had not figured out how to find Leonardo and his family, so she thought she would have lunch with Rosie first. She ordered some French fries, fried rice, and soup for Rosie.
Summer had no experience looking after a child. Just as she picked up a spoon to spoon-feed Rosie, the little girl got hold of a pair of chopsticks and tucked in all by herself.
Her little left hand was clenched into a fist while her right hand held the chopsticks expertly, transferring the rice into her mouth. But it was not perfect; half of the rice dropped to the ground while a few grains remained at the corner of her mouth.
It was cuteness overload. Summer’s heart almost melted, and a smile spread across her face. She asked the waitstaff for an empty bowl, then filled the bowl with soup and stirred it cool before she gave it to Rosie.
When she saw children eating heartily, she always thought it was cute, more so when Rosie looked like a doll and was as pretty as a picture. Summer did not feel like eating because Rosie had totally captured her attention.
Summer tested the soup; it had cooled down to a comfortable temperature. She scooped up a spoonful and brought it up to Rosie’s mouth. “Eat slowly. Here, drink some soup.”
Rosie drank it at once and continued to eat. Summer sat there and did not eat much. Instead, she just stared at Rosie. Summer only asked the waitstaff to serve the French fries after Rosie finished the rice.
All children liked this snack, but too much of it was not healthy. Once she had her meal and felt full, Rosie would not be able to eat too much of the fries.
“Where should we find your daddy?” Summer asked, not expecting Rosie to know the answer.
The next moment, Rosie handed Summer the soft toy that she had been carrying with her. “Telephone.”
Summer glanced at the cute, soft toy which was a baby-blue tiger toy. She took it from her hand and asked, “With this?”
“Yup.” Rosie nodded her head and looked at her expectantly.
Summer held the tiger toy in her hand and frowned. Leonardo had probably used the tiger toy to josh her at home.
While she pondered, she squeezed the tiger toy in her hand and felt something inside. Unsure of what it was, she squeezed again, then undid the zip on the back of the toy and found a wooden chip inside. Taking out the wooden chip, she saw a name and a telephone number clearly written on it.
“Leonardo?” Summer read out the name written on the wooden chip.
Rosie heard it and tilted her head. “That’s Daddy.”
“Your daddy put this thing in the toy?” Summer held up the wooden chip and asked.
“Yeah, it’s Daddy’s telephone number.” Rosie nodded excitedly.
Summer was transfixed for a while. She thought of the day she was discharged and the man whom she unexpectedly caught a glimpse of. She could not imagine a man with a powerful character being capable of doing such a thoughtful thing, engraving “Leonardo” on the wooden chip.
Summer could see that Leonardo really loved his daughter; she had thought that he was a cold man. She glanced out of the restaurant and did not notice anyone looking for Rosie the whole time.
She entered “Leonardo’s” number into her phone as Rosie looked on expectantly, but she did not press the “Call” button. Her heart was pounding, and she did not know why. She felt nervous.
Rosie had finished her lunch. Seeing Summer holding the mobile phone in her hand, she leaned forward. “Have you called?”
“Right away.” Summer reached out to pat Rosie on the head, then pressed “Call”. While the call was connecting, she put it on speaker. Her heart was pounding as the calling tone rang. She had the same inexplicable feeling once when she saw Leonardo for the first time on the day she was discharged.
Rosie heard the calling tone and immediately called out, “Daddy”, thinking the call had gotten through.
Summer laughed. “Your daddy will answer in a while.”
Rosie replied with an “Oh”, staring at the phone screen eagerly. Summer’s heart melted when she saw her expression.
After four rings, the pleasant voice of a man answered, “May I know who this is?”
His voice was low and cold. Rosie recognized it at once. Holding the mobile phone in her hand, she called out, “Daddy!”
“Rosie?” Unlike a moment ago, his voice was now clearly filled with emotions.
“Daddy, where are you…” Rosie started to talk incessantly.
Leonardo listened on for a while. After he made sure that Rosie sounded natural, he said, “Pass the phone to the lady.”
Summer was startled. How did Leonardo know that it was a woman who helped his daughter make the call?