Perhaps knowing that a little guy was waiting for her made Thelma work extra quickly. When she returned to the kindergarten, he was still standing there. As soon as he spotted her, he smiled brightly.
Thelma walked up to the fence and squatted down. “Is your dad in another meeting today?”
“Mm,” he replied in his clear, childlike voice. Then his gaze fell on her hands. After a moment, he asked, “Auntie, can you give me your hand?”
For some reason, his tone sounded a little cautious to her.
Without thinking much, Thelma readily extended her hands.
She noticed his eyes light up, as if he were delighted. He reached out with his chubby little hands, took hers in his soft palms, and blew a warm breath onto her fingers. “Auntie’s hands are cold. I’ll warm them up for you.”
Oh my gosh, was this little boy trying to melt her heart?
He clumsily rubbed her hands with his tiny, warm ones. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, he pulled her hands toward his face and pressed them against his soft, warm cheeks. The warmth from his skin instantly flowed into her heart.
This was too much. She couldn’t handle it.
Afraid of overreacting and embarrassing herself, Thelma steadied herself and said, “How are you so thoughtful? If your mom had a child like you, she’d wake up smiling every day.”
But upon hearing this, the little boy’s head drooped, and his expression darkened. His voice was muffled as he said, “Mommy didn’t like me. She never let me get close to her.”
“What?!”
Thelma was stunned by his response. She couldn’t understand. “How could that be? You’re so well-behaved. Why wouldn’t your mom like you?”
He immediately lifted his head. A glimmer of hope replaced the gloom in his eyes. Cautiously, with a hint of expectation, he asked, “Does Auntie really think I’m well-behaved?”
Well-behaved? He was beyond well-behaved! Without hesitation, she nodded and couldn’t resist ruffling his hair. “Of course! Tyler is very well-behaved!”
He seemed satisfied, laughing softly. Then, instinctively, he nuzzled her palm.
This was too adorable. Thelma couldn’t resist ruffling his hair a few more times.
The little guy giggled, then suddenly looked past her and said, “Daddy’s here.”
Thelma instinctively turned her head to look.
Across the road, a sleek black SUV was parked. A man in a suit got out from the driver’s seat and quickly jogged to the back, opening the rear door. A tall, imposing man stepped out gracefully.
He was wearing a brown overcoat over a sharp black suit, complemented by a crisp white shirt and a black tie. His attire was simple yet exuded elegance. Even someone like Thelma, who didn’t have much concept of luxury brands, could tell that the materials of his clothes were of exceptional quality—not the kind you’d find on just anyone walking down the street.
Since her parents’ divorce, Thelma had lived with her father, who later became quite successful. He was particular about his appearance, but his sense of style always carried an air of flashy nouveau riche. This man’s style, however, was different—subtle and natural, as if elegance was innate to him. His poise and confidence seemed unpretentious and impossible to imitate.
His hair was neatly styled, with gel-combed bangs accentuating the length of his face, making him look even more spirited. He was strikingly handsome—not the delicate kind, but with a bold, sharp masculinity. His thick, angular eyebrows, deep-set eyes, straight nose, and thin, blade-like lips, along with his chiseled facial structure, gave him an air of unapproachable perfection.
He walked over gracefully. The kindergarten teacher spotted him and immediately greeted him respectfully at the gate. “Mr. Sam, you’re here?”
He responded with humility, “Sorry I’m late. Thank you for your hard work.”
The teacher quickly replied, “You’re too kind, Mr. Sam.” Then she turned to Tyler and waved. “Tyler, your dad is here. Come on over.”
Tyler ran over on his little legs, greeted his father, said goodbye to his teacher, and then pointed towards Thelma. “Daddy, that’s Aunt Thelma. She bought me steamed cake yesterday. You have to thank her properly.”
Following his son’s finger, the man looked over. His face carried a warm smile, and his gaze was sincere, exuding a sense of trustworthiness. Yet, for some reason, when his eyes swept over to her, Thelma felt a chill run down her spine, making her shiver involuntarily.
This man seemed humble and courteous, approachable even, but there was an invisible aura about him—a quiet authority that commanded respect. The more approachable he appeared, the more people felt compelled to revere him. The contrast was paradoxical yet seamless.
He nodded slightly at her with a smile. “Miss Thelma, hello.”
Thelma quickly steadied herself and returned the smile. “Hello, Mr. Sam.”
“Thank you for staying with Tyler yesterday and buying him food. To express my gratitude, how about my son and I treat you to a meal?”
Thelma waved her hands hurriedly. “No need, Mr. Sam. You’re too kind.” She was about to excuse herself and leave, but Tyler quickly ran over, grabbed her hand, and looked up at her with his big, pleading eyes. “Auntie, please say yes? I want to have dinner with you.”
His little brows furrowed, and his eyes held a longing that tugged at her heartstrings, making her feel as if he were yearning for a mother’s love.
Thelma thought about how young he was to have already lost his mother. She also recalled how thoughtful he had been, warming her hands earlier.
Thinking of all this, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse. She glanced at the man, who was still watching her patiently, his faint smile unwavering as he waited for her response.
In the end, Thelma relented. “Alright then.” But as she looked at her scooter, she hesitated. The man seemed to notice and signaled to his driver, who promptly loaded her scooter into the spacious trunk of the SUV with ease.
The man had already walked to the backseat, opened the car door, and gestured towards her. “Miss Thelma, please.”
Without overthinking it, Thelma thanked him and got into the car.
He gently closed the door for her before walking to the other side, where he lifted Tyler into the car with practiced ease.
From his attire and demeanor, Thelma could tell this man wasn’t just anyone—he was either very wealthy or very influential. Yet he handled all these small tasks himself, tasks he could easily delegate to his driver. His actions were graceful, his gestures exuding refined manners. This level of etiquette, rather than closing the gap between him and others, created an intangible sense of distance—a noble aura that felt unreachable.
They arrived at a nearby restaurant. Judging by its luxurious decor, the place was clearly expensive.
The man and his son sat across from her. He handed her the menu with a polite smile and said, “Miss Thelma, please order whatever you’d like.”
