Stealing Your Heart

Lin Xinyan lifted her head and the little girl came into sight. She wore a red cotton jacket and her face was pink with cold.

“Aunt, what are you doing sitting here?”

Lin Xinyan looked at the little girl and then at the surroundings. There were no adults in sight. Her gaze returned to the little girl. “I don’t feel happy, so I am here. Why are you here and where are your folks?”

“My mother is there.” She pointed to the skewers stall not far away.

Lin Xinyan looked in the direction she was pointing. There was a barbecue stall by the roadside. A woman was there, wearing seasoned-looking cotton-padded clothes and an apron, helping guests with kebabs.

“I’m here to help my mother.” The little girl looked well-behaved. Lin Xinyan stroked her hair, saying, “You are a good girl.”

Perhaps, being a mother herself, she let her guard down around the little girl.

“Do you want to eat skewered meat? I’ll ask my mother to sell you at a lower price.”

Lin Xinyan didn’t like this type of food. Nonetheless, she took out some cash and gave it to the little girl, “I don’t want to eat but I’m giving you some money to buy food you like.”

The little girl blinked, seeing so much money. She did not dare to accept it. “Aunt, why are you giving me money?”

She looked at the little girl and through her, she saw herself in the past. When she was in country A with Zhuang Zijin, life was hard. Just like her, she stayed up late at night, braving the cold wind just to make some money to buy food.

So the little girl aroused her compassion.

“When I see you, I remember how it was when I was a little girl like you with my mother.”

The little girl blinked and asked, “Aunt, you sold kebabs too when you were little?”

Lin Xinyan shook her head, “No, but I was working for someone, helping to skewer and barbecue meat.”

The little girl smiled, showing a row of small white teeth. She took the money from Lin Xinyan and said, “I’ll get the kebabs for you.”

barbecue stall. As Lin Xinyan watched her

thought, after going through hard times, things

could not bear it any longer. In this cold wintry night, sitting

did

at him as if he couldn’t believe what he

very deeply? How could he be

that

once did Zong Jinghao’s

gave it a thought. He said, “It’s just a child. She’s curious seeing sis-in-law sitting

gave Su Zhan a look, “The child

understood what Zong Jinghao meant. This little girl might

he saw Lin Xinyan giving the little girl

thoughtful. When Lin Xinyan gave the money to the little girl, she looked as if

for sure this little girl must have jolted

little girl came running back to Lin Xinyan with some skewers in her

she wanted to take a bite. So she took them, picked a skewer and ate. It had the fragrance of

Xinyan

girl held her arm, “You gave me so much money; my mother wants to thank you. She cannot leave

your mother, don’t worry

to you.” Speaking, the little girl took out from her pocket the money Lin Xinyan had

Xinyan caught her hand, “I have given it to you. I will not take it back. Your mother can use this money to buy you a new cotton coat. It will be very warm so when you come out with her to the stall

your money. If I accept it, you need to accept my mother’s word

Lin Xinyan could not decline so she agreed. At this time of

there were still customers. The little girl’s mother was still busy. Seeing the little girl bringing Lin Xinyan,

her hand

that man likes you so much. He insisted that my daughter bring you here.” The woman wore her hair in a pony tail. She looked like a

Xinyan was puzzled and so