Chapter 92

When Jowan Xian met Cheryl and Lucy again, it was already the next day, December 25th, Christmas Day. The location: Texas, USA.

The United States has the most festive Christmas atmosphere in the world, much like the Chinese Spring Festival, which is captivating and enchanting. Especially on Christmas Eve, the streets were filled with children in new clothes and Santa hats, running around, chasing a red bus that was distributing free Christmas gifts.

The bus moved slowly, and a charitable old man dressed as Santa Claus kept throwing gifts to the children. The gifts were cheap—candies, gloves, chocolates, a lucky star...

But at this moment, money could not represent the pursuit, nor could it replace the joyful atmosphere. Countless children rushed forward, their laughter echoing throughout the street. Cheryl and Lucy had never seen such a scene in the UK; they were both excited and very curious.

Jowan Xian patted Cheryl's arm and smiled, "You're already a big star, and you're still interested in those little trinkets?"

"That's different, these are from Santa Claus!" Cheryl huffed.

Jowan Xian smiled slightly, "Alright, I'll wait for you here. You and Lucy go get the gifts. Keep an eye on her, don't let her get lost..."

"Okay!" Cheryl smiled and called Lucy, who happily ran towards the bus distributing the gifts.

Seeing the two of them bouncing around, Jowan Xian couldn't help but laugh. But then he thought, they were only 21 years old. If they were in China, they would still be the age where they would be pampered by their parents...

At that moment, he noticed a little girl of about eleven or twelve standing by the street, tears in her eyes, watching the bus drive away. She pouted and sobbed softly. Jowan Xian looked around but didn't see any adults. He approached her curiously, "Little girl, why are you crying? Where are your parents?"

The little girl was very pretty, with bright eyes, a delicate nose, and cherry lips. Her long, curly eyelashes made her look like a little beauty. She glanced at Jowan Xian but ignored him, continuing to sob softly.

Jowan Xian saw her eyes following the bus and knew she was sad because she hadn't received a Christmas gift. Her adorable crying made his heart ache. He noticed a stall selling trinkets nearby and sneaked over to buy something for her.

The stall was full of cheap items like bracelets, earrings, and hair flowers. Jowan Xian, with his refined taste, took a while to choose and finally spent 2 dollars on a silver-plated ring with a fake pearl.

"Little girl, look what I have," Jowan Xian held the ring in front of her.

"Wow! Is it a Christmas gift?" The little girl's eyes lit up, her face showing surprise, and she cheered.

Jowan Xian blinked, "Yes, I found it on the ground just now. It must have been thrown by Santa Claus when he passed by. Didn't you notice?"

"Really?" The little girl, seeing the ring, excitedly grabbed it and looked at it lovingly. From her clothes, it seemed her family was well-off, and she shouldn't be interested in such a cheap item. But this gift was special; it was her 12th Christmas gift.

Seeing the little girl stop crying, Jowan Xian felt much better. Giving roses to others leaves a lingering fragrance in one's hand. He squatted in front of her and smiled, "Little girl, what's your name? Where are your parents?"

The little girl tightly held the ring and pouted, "I'm Selena Gomez. My parents are arguing, and they seem to be getting divorced. They don't have time for me..."

"Ah... It seems the troubles of a broken family again!" Jowan Xian sighed, intending to comfort her, but as soon as he said "Selena" and saw her youthful and charming face, he was stunned.

No wonder she seemed familiar, no wonder she was so beautiful at such a young age. It was Selena! The famous Selena!

Selena Gomez, the future global sensation known as the "American Sweetheart," who later became a queen of pop, replacing the "Sweetheart" Britney Spears!

Jowan Xian was a bit distracted, but Selena tilted her head and smiled sweetly, "Uncle, thank you. I'll never forget this Christmas! You're even cuter than Santa Claus!"

Jowan Xian sighed, his expression changing, and he said earnestly, "Selena, you're still young. Don't worry too much about your parents' issues. Just live happily and grow up with joy, okay?"

Selena, at her young age, couldn't fully understand, but she could see the concern in Jowan Xian's face. She blinked and nodded, "I understand, thank you, Uncle."

"Uncle? Am I that old..." Jowan Xian touched his face and laughed bitterly.

Running far away, Selena turned back, waving and bouncing, "Uncle, thank you!"

Back home, Selena's father, Ricardo, and mother, Mandy, were still arguing. Influenced by Jowan Xian, Selena didn't cry as she usually would; she just walked obediently to her room.

Mandy noticed Selena's unusual behavior and went to her room, hugging her thin body and asked softly, "Sweetie, did you get a Christmas gift?"

Selena smiled sweetly and proudly showed her right hand, where a shiny pearl ring was on her ring finger.

Mandy, seeing the ordinary ring on her daughter's delicate hand, suggested, "Sweetie, that's just a very ordinary ring, not more than 5 dollars. Take it off, or it might hurt your finger."

Selena's face immediately turned serious, and she pouted, "Mommy, this ring represents a promise I made to myself and to God!"

"Promise? What promise?"

Selena stubbornly said, "I will never take it off! I'm already 12 years old!"

Mandy, holding Selena lovingly, her voice choked, "Mommy and Daddy will file for divorce tomorrow. You'll live with Mommy from now on..."

Selena thought of Jowan Xian's words, "Don't worry too much, just live happily and grow up with joy," and nodded lightly. She touched the ring on her hand and bit her lip, "At 12, I met a strange uncle, at 12, my parents divorced, at 12... I put on my purity ring!"

From the age of 12, Disney's child star Selena Gomez started wearing a purity ring. No one knew why, not even she herself.

Who was that yellow-skinned uncle? She didn't know. She only knew that on that cold Christmas night, when she was in pain and helpless, a kind and warm uncle gave her a ring, making her happy again.

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