Chapter 28

It was already noon, and Qin Yi wasn’t in a hurry to go home. He drove around for a few circles and stopped in front of a restaurant called Mary’s, deciding to have lunch before heading back.

Pushing the door open, there weren’t many people even at midday. Out of the dozen or so tables, only half were occupied. Qin Yi chose a seat by the window, and a fair-skinned waitress in her thirties came over to greet him.

“Sir, what would you like to order?”

“Black pepper pasta, coffee, thank you!”

The food came quickly. It was Qin Yi’s first time eating pasta, and he couldn’t help but comment that it was pretty similar to the mixed noodles back home! After tasting it, Qin Yi couldn’t say whether he liked it or not. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t as good as the stir-fried noodles he made himself!

After finishing his pasta and resting with a cup of coffee, he gave the waitress a $10 tip and left. Once outside, the lazy Qin Yi had no interest in sightseeing and drove back to the ranch.

On the way, looking at the vast fields of grass and corn, Qin Yi felt a sense of nostalgia, reminiscent of his childhood strolls in the fields back home. However, the road signs and the occasional passing cars with blonde-haired, blue-eyed drivers constantly reminded him that he was in a foreign land, thousands of miles away from home!

Driving silently, immersed in the loneliness of not finding a kindred spirit, he unknowingly arrived in Augusta. Qin Yi shook his head and chuckled to himself, somewhat self-deprecatingly, “I didn’t expect to have such feelings!”

Qin Yi used to be a gamer, staying at home all day, and rarely spoke to anyone except when buying groceries. He hadn’t felt lonely for over a year and thought he was strong enough. But being alone in a foreign country, he felt lonely in less than a month!

In the end, he hadn’t adapted to his new environment!

Alright, he would call Ryan over when he got home and have him introduce him to the neighbors, so he could visit them!

Qin Yi didn’t stop in Augusta but continued on his way home.

At 1 PM, Qin Yi was very close to home. After passing the next small farm, he would reach his own ranch. This was a family farm adjacent to the Sun River Ranch, currently growing corn. Each ranch had a small road connecting to the main road, and this one was no exception. A small road ran through the tall cornfields, leading deep into the ranch. As Qin Yi drove past the intersection, he caught a glimpse of a wooden villa at the end of the small road, with a strong rustic charm, quite beautiful.

Moreover, a few meters inside the intersection, there seemed to be a little girl standing there?

Qin Yi immediately backed up his pickup truck and stopped at the intersection, looking down the small road.

Indeed, there was a little girl, wearing a white short-sleeved dress, holding a brown teddy bear to her chest, with golden shoulder-length hair and a neat fringe. Her face was a bit pale, and when she saw the car backing up, she hugged the teddy bear even tighter, looking at Qin Yi with big, watery eyes, timidly.

“Hello, I’m Yi. What’s your name? Why aren’t you going home? Where’s your mom?” Qin Yi got out of the car but didn’t approach, just trying to talk to the little girl from a distance.

Qin Yi was very puzzled. It was midday, and a child was wandering in the wilderness. Wasn’t she afraid? Where were her family? How could they let a child stay in a cornfield where no cars passed for half a day?

The little girl didn’t speak, just looked at him timidly, taking a small step back with one foot, as if ready to run away at any moment!

“Why aren’t you going home? Your mom will be worried if she can’t find you!” Qin Yi’s voice became even gentler, afraid of scaring the poor child.

After another minute, the girl still didn’t speak. Qin Yi wasn’t bothered; some children are afraid of strangers. But since the girl didn’t speak, Qin Yi didn’t know how to handle the situation. He couldn’t just leave, could he? Qin Yi was worried. Even though he didn’t know her, he couldn’t bear to leave such a cute little girl here.

“Why don’t I stay with you? I’ll just stand here and wait with you for your mom to come pick you up!” Qin Yi could only think of this solution. Besides, he had nothing else to do, so he could wait.

The girl blinked her big eyes and said in a very small voice, “Mom’s not home...”

Huh? Qin Yi wasn’t sure if he hadn’t heard clearly or if he was surprised by the girl’s response. He repeated uncertainly, “Not home?”

The girl didn’t speak but nodded slightly, her big eyes showing less fear and more curiosity.

“What about your dad?”

The girl immediately lowered her head, looking at her toes, her voice tinged with sadness, “No dad!”

Qin Yi was stunned. So young and without a dad?

Poor little thing!

“Why don’t I wait with you for your mom to come back? I’m Yi. What’s your name?” Qin Yi looked at the little girl, feeling a bit sorry for her, afraid to ask more and upset her!

The girl nodded, her big, watery eyes looking at Qin Yi, “I’m Angel.”

Qin Yi wanted to chat about something else to distract the girl, smiling and greeting her, “Hello, Angel!” He paused, speaking as if to an adult, to shift her attention, “Angel, can I chat with you?”

Angel, hearing Qin Yi’s words, felt treated like an adult, felt happy, and forgot the previous topic. Her voice returned to normal, “Of course, what do you want to talk about?”

“Let’s talk about your mom first. Why isn’t she home to play with you?” Qin Yi was very curious about this single mom, wondering why she went out alone at midday.

“Mom went to see the doctor.” Angel tilted her head, pouting.

“Is your mom sick?” Qin Yi was puzzled. She could have taken the child with her, which would be better than letting the child wander around.

“Mom’s not sick. Mom said Angel is sick, but Angel isn’t sick. Angel doesn’t want to see the doctor!” Angel pouted, mumbling. Angel wasn’t sick, but Mom insisted she see the doctor!

Qin Yi was even more puzzled. If the child was sick, take her to the hospital. Why go to the hospital alone?

Qin Yi scratched his head, unable to understand! But looking at Angel’s current state, she didn’t seem sick at all.

Shaking his head, Qin Yi decided to change the topic, “Angel, why aren’t you waiting at home? If you run out, your family will be worried!”

“No one’s home. Angel’s all alone and has no one to play with!” Angel was a bit sad. No one was home to play with her!

No one? Qin Yi was stunned again. What was going on with this family? It was full of surprises! And Qin Yi had a very bad impression of this single mom he hadn’t met! If you want to take your daughter to the doctor, don’t leave her alone at home. What if something dangerous happens?

“Did your mom say when she would be back?” Qin Yi was even more determined to wait with Angel for her mom to come home.

“Mom said she would come back to cook lunch for Angel, but Mom hasn’t come back yet!” Angel was even more sad, her little stomach was empty!

Qin Yi almost wanted to curse. What kind of person is this? How do you take care of a child like this?

Taking a deep breath, he couldn’t let Angel go hungry. But the duck and sausage in the car were raw... Hmm, there were fruits in the space. A batch had just ripened a few days ago. He could go into the car and get some for Angel. The car windows weren’t transparent, so no one would see him enter the space!

“Would you like some fruit?” After saying this, he left Angel, who was looking at him expectantly, and got into the car. He found a plastic bag, entered the space, took a few fruits, got out of the car, and slowly walked to Angel, handing her the fruits.

Angel looked at the big, fragrant red apple, her eyes showing expectation. She wanted to reach out to take it, but remembered her mom’s words that she shouldn’t take things from strangers, as it was impolite. After hesitating for a while, she shook her head, “Mom said not to take things from strangers, it’s impolite!”

Qin Yi, seeing Angel’s red face from her growling stomach, smiled, “But we’re not strangers. I’m Yi, and you’re Angel. We’ve already met, haven’t we?”

Angel, hearing this, her face became very conflicted. Her small, white hands tugged at the teddy bear’s ears, her eyes full of doubt. If we’ve met, we’re not strangers, right? But we just met, are we still strangers?

Qin Yi, seeing Angel’s conflicted expression, found it amusing. She was still a child, no matter how much she tried to act like an adult! But Qin Yi didn’t show any other expression, still firmly believing he wasn’t a stranger.

If we just met, we’re still familiar, so we’re not strangers!

After thinking for a long time, Angel finally decided that they were indeed familiar, so they weren’t strangers. If they weren’t strangers, she could eat the fruit. Clearing her thoughts, Angel was very happy, “Yes, then we’re not strangers. Thank you, Uncle Yi. Can I call you Uncle Yi?”

“Of course, I’m very happy if Angel wants to call me Uncle Yi! Come, let’s eat the fruit.” Qin Yi was very happy. Having such a cute little girl call him Uncle Yi made him very happy, and he wouldn’t refuse!

Qin Yi handed the fruit to Angel, who took it, picked out a big apple, smelled it, and was about to take a bite. Then she remembered something and held the apple out to Qin Yi, “Uncle Yi, you should eat too!”

Qin Yi was overjoyed, “Angel is so well-behaved. Alright, let’s eat together!”

He took a big bite, and the juice splattered, making Angel giggle. Thus, a strange scene appeared on the road: a big and a small person, sitting by the roadside, each holding a big apple and eating happily.

After finishing a big apple, Angel took out a plum and handed it to Qin Yi, taking one for herself, peeling it as she ate.

“Uncle Yi, is your home far from here?” Angel remembered she didn’t know where Uncle Yi lived.

“Just over there.” Qin Yi pointed in the direction of the ranch and continued, “We’re neighbors. This is your family’s farm, and the one next to it is mine.”

Angel was very surprised to hear this. She didn’t expect Uncle Yi to be her neighbor! “Uncle Yi, can I come to your house to play?” Angel’s face was full of expectation. Uncle Yi was the best, playing with her and making her food. She really wanted to go to Uncle Yi’s house!

“Of course, Angel can come to Uncle Yi’s house anytime. Uncle Yi will make delicious food for you!” Qin Yi really wanted Angel to come to his house to play. Having such a cute little girl around would make ranch life more interesting!

Angel exclaimed, “Wow, I can go to Uncle Yi’s house, and there’s delicious food too!” The little girl was overjoyed, thinking that Uncle Yi, who played with her and made her food, was the best person in the world! Of course, her mom was also the best!

The little girl was filled with happiness, but it would be even better if her mom were there! But why wasn’t her mom back yet? Angel turned to look at the road, but it was empty, with no cars coming this way!

The little girl was a bit disappointed, and Qin Yi felt it and quickly comforted her, “Angel, don’t worry. Your mom might be delayed. She might be back soon!”

Angel nodded, looking at Qin Yi hopefully, “Uncle Yi, is Mom delayed?”

Qin Yi’s heart trembled, understanding why Angel was waiting for her mom on the road. A child without a dad, seeing her mom not return for so long, was worried about losing her mom!

Qin Yi patted Angel’s head and said firmly, “Your mom must be delayed!”

Just as he said this, the sound of a siren came from the distance. Qin Yi felt puzzled and had a bad premonition!