CHAPTER 22: CHAPTER 22: THE PERSON OF A FLEETING GLANCE

Nash Spencer, seeing this, quickly asked from behind, "Sir, where are you going?"

The man didn’t respond, just walked out on his own, leaving only a glimpse of his dignified back.

After leaving the café, he headed over to the cake shop next door, in front of little Zara.

Then, he tapped the table twice with his distinct, knuckled fingers.

The Buddha beads on his wrist swayed slightly with the motion, passing right before Zara’s eyes.

The little girl’s gaze was instantly attracted, and she instinctively looked up.

When she saw this uncle before her, a bit of emotion welled up in her clear eyes.

It seemed she recognized him as the handsome uncle who had helped her the other day.

The man noticed the change in her expression, his voice like frost and snow weighing down on a branch, cold yet gentle.

He asked, "Do you remember me?"

Zara instinctively nodded her little head.

The man curled his lips into a smile and softly said, "We meet again. Is the cake tasty?"

Zara nodded again, her small hand subconsciously pushing her little cake towards him.

Though she didn’t speak, the meaning was clear; she wanted to share it with him.

"I don’t eat cake."

The man’s refined brow showed a gentle amiability. After politely declining the girl’s goodwill, he raised his hand to ruffle her head and said, "You eat it yourself. I’ve come to give you this..."

As he finished speaking, he placed the item in his hand in front of Zara.

Curiously, Zara looked over, and in the next second, her gaze was captured by the painting.

The little girl recognized that the figure in the painting was herself.

Beside her were little flowers, sunshine, fluttering pigeons, and even balloons!

Zara’s eyes instantly sparkled, shining brightly as if infused with sunlight fragments, making her appear completely alive.

She even asked in a soft, baby-like voice, "Is this... me?"

The man nodded with a smile, "Yes, this is you, and those beside you are your friends."

He gently guided the little girl, saying, "And not just them, there are many things in the world you can be friends with! For example, the little plant on the table, cats, dogs, and so on... In your free time, you can interact with them, talk to them!"

Zara seemed to somewhat understand, yet she was very happy, earnestly picking up the painting to continue looking at it...

The man didn’t disturb her further.

Upon first meeting this little girl, he had noticed that she had autism.

However, he didn’t intervene at the time.

Today, he considered it a gesture of gratitude for the inspiration she gave him to complete a perfect artwork.

Moreover, one simple meeting could only guide her appropriately; too much might not be beneficial!

Therefore, after giving the painting to the little girl, the man didn’t linger and quickly turned back into the café.

Soon after he left, Sabrina Hayes returned with the balloons she had bought.

Her steps were somewhat hurried.

Earlier, across the street, she had vaguely seen a tall figure standing beside her daughter’s table.

At a fleeting glance, Sabrina was almost scared out of her wits.

She was worried the person might be a bad guy who would harm her child, so she rushed back anxiously.

Unexpectedly, in the blink of an eye, the person had disappeared...

"Zara!"

Sabrina called out to her daughter with concern.

It wasn’t until she saw the little girl safe and sound that her heart gradually eased from the false alarm.

The little girl, hearing her mommy was back, was very excited, as if she was offering a treasure, handing over the painting she cherished dearly.

Then, with a sweet, childlike voice, she said, "Mommy... this is Zara, you see..."

"What?"

Sabrina asked in confusion, glancing at the item the little girl handed over.

When her gaze focused on the paper, she was immediately engrossed by its content.

She instantly recognized that it depicted her daughter.

However, the Zara portrayed in the painting was a side of her daughter she had never seen before.

The little figure in the painting had clear, flawless eyes filled with vitality, and a sweet smile graced her lips. Under the sunlight and surrounded by flowers, she resembled a celestial sprite from the heavens, making it hard not to adore her.

Looking at the painting, Sabrina was overwhelmed by an inexplicable emotion.

Her nose tingled, and tears filled her eyes.

She had thought that in this world, aside from herself and Tessa Hughes, no one could view her darling Zara with such normal, appreciative eyes.

Though Zara had autism and her emotional expression seemed a bit delayed, as a mother, she deeply understood her daughter’s inner world.

In Sabrina’s eyes, her darling was just like what’s shown in the painting.

She is the most well-behaved, cutest angel in the world, and a vibrant canvas full of life!

She just hadn’t had the chance to paint colors on it yet.

Sabrina never expected that someone could so vividly present the Zara in her heart in such a unique way.

Her heart was filled with surprise, and she recalled the fleeting shadow next to Zara just now.

Sabrina hurriedly asked her, "Sweetheart, who drew this painting for you?"

Zara replied with her sweet, childlike voice, "It was the handsome uncle... who gave it to me..."

"Handsome uncle?"

Sabrina continued to ask, "Where is he?"

She meant no harm, she just wanted to thank the person.

From this painting, she saw that the artist’s skill was exceptional.

Although only with a handful of strokes, it showed extraordinary artistic value.

Most importantly, she painted her darling so wonderfully, and she was genuinely grateful!

Zara, however, tilted her head in confusion, as if just realizing that the uncle who drew it had disappeared.

The little girl looked around, confirming that he was truly not around, then looked at her mommy and replied, "Uncle... is gone..."

"Alright then."

Sabrina felt a bit regretful, but she didn’t obsess over it.

Could he be a street artist who happened to be nearby?

Maybe he had already left!

Sabrina adjusted her mood and helped Zara put away the painting.

Then, she handed over the balloon she had just purchased, "Look, Mommy got the little fox for you!"

The little girl’s attention returned to the pink fox balloon, happily holding onto the balloon string.

Sabrina was afraid she wouldn’t hold it steady and it would fly away, so she tied a loose knot on her wrist.

On the way back, Zara held her mommy’s hand with one hand, while swinging her arm with the other.

Watching the balloon sway up and down made her particularly happy, her little mouth slightly pursed, showing a cute smile, making her steps seem even more cheerful!

Sabrina noticed it all.

Later in the evening, when the mother and daughter returned home, she specially found a fitting frame to mount the painting.

Zara seemed to really like it, holding it in her arms, reluctant to let it go.

Even when it was time to eat or bathe, she didn’t want to put it down!