CHAPTER 4: CHAPTER 4: I GOT SEPARATED FROM MOMMY

Ethan Sterling paused, frowning as he looked at the little figure on the ground—a little girl of three or four, as delicate as a sculpture, with a tiny duck-shaped backpack, currently rubbing her bumped forehead with teary eyes.

Usually, he would leave such things to his secretary, but in the next moment, meeting those doe-like, pitiful eyes, the man froze in place.

An inexplicable sense of familiarity overwhelmed him.

Years ago, someone else with similar eyes, imbued with moisture, looked pitifully at him.

A sudden unease rose in his heart, deepening his frown as the man crouched down and touched Honey’s forehead: "Did it hurt?"

Feeling the man’s cool fingers upon her forehead, Honey paused, then spoke in her childish voice: "No problem, it doesn’t hurt, I bump it often, it will be fine soon!"

As the little hand moved away from her forehead, the man noticed the swelling.

Ordinarily, a bump wouldn’t bruise so quickly, but perhaps children’s skin is more delicate, Ethan Sterling frowned and instructed his secretary: "Find an ice pack."

The secretary left with a nod, and Ethan Sterling helped Honey up: "Where are your family?"

A child left alone here seemed rather irresponsible.

"There are too many people; I got separated from Mommy shortly after getting off the plane!" Honey pouted.

"Do you remember your mommy’s phone number?" Ethan Sterling rarely exhibited patience.

Honey nodded: "I do! But there’s no need to call Mommy; she said if I get lost in a public place, I should go to the information desk to find a pretty lady, and Mommy will find me there!"

The man nodded, received the ice pack the secretary just brought back, and applied it to the girl’s forehead: "Hold it there."

"Okay," Honey obediently replied, holding the ice pack, then looking at Ethan Sterling with sparkling eyes: "Uncle, you’re so handsome, as handsome as the uncle on the big screen just now!"

Ethan Sterling instinctively looked up at the big screen, and the next moment saw his own interview being broadcast...

What do you mean as handsome, it’s clearly the same person...

"Did you bump into someone because you were watching the big screen?" the man asked, his voice somewhat stern.

Teaching kids to watch the road while walking seems to escape some parents’ minds.

However, Honey seemed unfazed instead a bit shy: "I didn’t do it on purpose; the uncle on the screen was just too handsome! Uncle, promise me you won’t tell Mommy when you see her later."

Ethan Sterling helplessly glanced at her, wondering what kind of parents raise such a fan-girl daughter?

"Uncle," Honey said with pitiful eyes, tugging on Ethan Sterling’s sleeve: "You’ll accompany me to the information desk, right?"

He wouldn’t.

Ethan Sterling almost uttered the refusal but swallowed it upon meeting Honey’s big eyes.

He sighed, finding himself breaking rules repeatedly for a little girl.

"Let’s go." He stood up.

Honey noticed his compromise and flashed a big smile, grabbing Ethan Sterling’s hand directly.

The soft touch made Ethan Sterling relax his brow.

It turns out children’s hands... are this soft.

Ethan Sterling had already instructed the secretary to broadcast an announcement, just waiting for Honey’s parents to come. Suddenly, his hand was tugged. Looking down, he saw Honey clutching him, her eyes fixed on the ice cream on the other side.

"Uncle, do you think that might be very sweet?" Honey swallowed, envy in her eyes, "Mommy never lets me have it, I really want to try it..."

Perhaps too disappointed, the little girl’s voice was much lower, which tugged at Ethan Sterling’s heart, prompting him to order the secretary who had just run over: "Ice cream, go buy."

The secretary had just finished his tasks, panting: "How many, President?"

Ethan Sterling thought for a moment, saying a number: "Twenty."

Ten minutes later, Honey found herself faced with the largest pile of ice cream she had ever seen, lost in thought.

Strawberry, apple, peach, banana, watermelon...

Various flavors, different colored ice creams.

So many... Which one to eat first?

The secretary trembled with fear looking at the ice cream mountain, then at their CEO’s rare carefree expression, ultimately swallowing the advice, "Eating so much cold stuff isn’t good for kids."

"Excuse me, the five-year-old girl you mentioned earlier is now at..."

A woman’s anxious voice sounded from behind, as Ethan Sterling was about to turn, Honey suddenly jumped down happily exclaiming: "Mommy—"