"I see. I just smelt the fried chicken and wanted to have a look. I didn't mean to..." Alice lowered her head. She didn't mean to stay so long there.

But the fried chicken smelt too delicious!

Seeing that they were reconciled, Linda smiled and opened up the account book.

"What about..." Shirley paused on purpose, keeping Alice in suspense. Seeing Alice's wide-opened eyes, she beamed a big smile. "Eating fried chicken tonight?"

Alice covered her mouth in disbelief. With excitement, she asked, "Mommy, really?"

"Sure! But we'll eat at home. I'll fry chicken for you!" Shirley said.

This way, she could control the oil of the chicken with absorbent paper. Besides, homemade food would be healthier.

She was not doubting the food in restaurants. Since Alice was more fragile than other children, Shirley had to consider more than other mothers.

"Oh yeah! I can eat fried chicken!" Alice waved her small fists, beaming with joy again.

Shirley's heart was once again softened by Alice's happy face. She turned to Linda. "Do you want to eat with us tonight?"

"I think I'd better not bother you." Linda smiled meaningfully. "I don't want to be a third wheel, so I'll eat with my boyfriend."

"Nonsense." Shirley pretended to be angry.

But Linda didn't want to give up such a good chance to tease Shirley. She cupped her face and looked at Shirley and Alice. "Shirley, do you know how beautiful and feminine you are with Alice. I believe Kevin is also attracted by this."

Shirley thought Linda was just playing a joke on her.

How could a woman who had a child be beautiful?

Since she gave birth to Alice, she had seldom dressed herself up. She would rather spend more time on her daughter.

Unlike stars dressing gorgeously every day, she always had her hair tied up and wore clothes that were mainly comfortable and casual.

"Oh, don't tease me." With a stare at Linda, she left with Alice in her arms.

She was now living in an apartment rented by Kevin when he went back from abroad in advance. It had a living room and two bedrooms, one for Kevin and the other for Alice and her.

Shirley thought it not proper for them to live together, but she couldn't drive him away. After all, Kevin had specially gone back because of Alice and her.

So she decided to give the rent to him after a month. During the five years, she had owed him too much and couldn't trouble him more.

After buying chicken, flour, and some other ingredients, Shirley went into the kitchen to cook for Alice.

At the same time, Alice was imitating the cartoon characters' tones. The sweet voice from the living room was just like a kitten's paw scratching Shirley's heart softly.

Such a day was simple and comfortable. She hoped her life could be like this forever.

This was a wish deep in her heart.

When it was a quarter past eight...

The doorbell rang.

"Uncle Kevin is back!"

Alice cheered as she looked at the door.

Shirley wiped her hands on her apron before walking to the door. She had been troubled by a question – Alice liked Kevin so much, but why couldn't she?

Thinking about that, she opened the door...

The next second, she stiffened with her mouth wide open as if there was a ghost outside!

"Hi, sorry to bother you." Clad in a black sweatsuit, Tom bowed politely. Then, he ignored her shock and stepped into the house.

His eyes roamed the living room which was smaller than his bedroom and cluttered by all kinds of things. He waved at Alice when walking past her and put down his bag. Then, he sniffed and asked, "Are you frying chicken?"

Shirley closed the door hurriedly and strode up to Tom. She asked in confusion, "Master Tom, why are you here?"

"I ran away from home," he replied seriously. "So I have to bother you these days."

"It won't bother us. But why did you run away from home? Does your father know about this?" Why did a series of strange things happen today?

Tom thought about it for a second and answered the last question in a calm voice, "Johnson Roberts is very busy. He won't be back for three, five, or seven days. So he doesn't know about this for the time being."

"..."

Shirley really wanted to ask, "Does father know you call his full name?"

She thought she had to coax him to go back home. "It's not right to do so. Do you know those who take care of you will be scolded because of you?"

She was so impressed by the scene of a group of servants trembling outside his bedroom.

If Johnson knew Tom had run away from home, he would undoubtedly fly into a fury.

But Tom ignored her words and rubbed his belly. "I'm very hungry. Shirley, is the fried chicken ready or not?"

Shirley suddenly understood why Johnson beat this boy.

Tom was different from other children–he was maturer but always played dumb with you.

Shirley gave up reasoning with him. Feeling her duty to satisfy the children's stomachs, she went into the kitchen to take out the fried chicken.

Alice looked at the guest with interest. "Are you going to live here?"

Tom pinched her cheeks softly. "Yes, I'll play with you from today on."

"Yeah! I won't be bored anymore." Alice cheered with excitement.

When Shirley brought out the fried chicken, she felt a headache to see that the two kids had developed a friendship.

She should tell Johnson about the thing with Tom, but she didn't have his phone number.

As such, she could only ask Tom.

"Master Tom..."

"Shirley, just call me 'Tom'. I don't want to be called 'Master Tom'. Only those who want to fawn on my dad call me so." He took up a piece of chicken and blew it carefully. Since Alice wasn't good at using chopsticks, he put the chicken into her bowl.

He behaved just like a considerate brother.

Shirley felt that she was being led by the nose...

Just like his father, he liked to use commands,. But that was not annoying, because he had personal charisma to make others willingly submissive.

As such, this little guy might be somebody in the future.

Shirley said, "All right, Tom. Can you tell me your father's number? I need to tell him you're here."

She had thought Johnson would try to reconcile with his son after the conversation with her.

After all, he had shown his regret at that time. But why did Tom run away from home?

"Okay." Tom fumbled out a card from his pocket and handed it to Shirley.

She stretched out a hand and took it.

Its design was special, ritzy, and mysterious.

On a black-patterned background, the characters were printed golden. Unlike usual business cards, there was only the name "Johnson Roberts" and a phone number on this one.

It was as if his name could represent everything.

"This is my dad... Ahem..." With a slip of the tongue, Tom corrected hurriedly, "Johnson's personal card. Only the closest people to him can have one."

"I'll return it to you after a while," Shirley said, in case Tom misunderstood something.

"You can keep it." He gave it to her generously.

"..."

How many Johnson's cards had Tom given to other women?

Shirley walked to the balcony and called Johnson with her phone. Fifty seconds later, the phone was finally answered.

"Hello?"

As Johnson's pleasant voice came from the phone like electricity, Shirley felt her palms sweating.