"Hi, Mr. Roberts. I'm Shirley Smith. I'm..." Shirley fumbled for words to describe herself. She didn't expect her name to be remembered by a big shot.

Even though they had just talked in the daytime...

"I know. Go ahead." Johnson interrupted.

Shirley calmed herself down and went straight to the point, "Master Tom suddenly went to my home and said he would stay here for several days. He..."

"I know," he said.

"..."

He knew it?

Then why didn't he stop it?

Besides, what didn't he know?

Shirley complained in her heart. After a few seconds, she asked, "Then..."

"My meeting is over at nine," he said.

Then?

Why couldn't he say a few more words?

"Then?" Shirley asked helplessly. Please forgive her slowness. She really didn't know what he meant.

Perhaps he also thought she was stupid. Only after a moment of silence did he reply, "Then I'll go over there."

So he would pick Tom up in person?

Heavens! Why didn't he just send a driver here? He didn't need to show up in person. Her house was too humble to greet this great man!

But how dare she stop him from picking up his son. "Okay, I see."

She had no other choices but to agree.

She found she had lost the ability to say "no" in front of this man and his son. Before hanging up the phone, she told Johnson her address.

Knowing he would come here, Shirley didn't have the mood to taste the fried chicken.

She had a glance at the messy house where most things were Alice's.

There were all kinds of toys and books and also a pile of clothes strewn on the sofa.

But the house was small. She had no idea of where to hide these things.

"Mommy, what are you doing?" Alice felt it very interesting to see Shirley pacing about in the house.

"There will be a guest here. I have to make our home cleaner to show respect to him." Shirley took the opportunity to educate Alice.

Tom also looked at Shirley.

What a special woman!

She was so neglectful of her appearance. What was messy was not only her house but also herself.

The T-shirt on her was obviously too loose. Her hair was casually tied up, and a wisp left was tucked behind her ear.

From this angle, she was distinct from those with a lot of makeup.

Every time those women approached him, their perfume always made him feel like vomiting. But Shirley wasn't like them.

She didn't wear any disgusting perfume. On her body was only a faint, sweet smell of shower gel.

He observed her quietly and didn't want to go home.

Helpless with the chaotic house, Shirley decided to begin with psychological guidance for Tom.

She wanted to teach him how to get along well with his father, or nothing would change after he went back home.

She placed a chair between Tom and Alice. Since there was only one children's seat at home, Tom had to sit on an uncomfortable chair designed for an adult.

But he sat straight in a good manner rather than kneeling or squatting like most children.

Shirley found this little guy more and more adorable.

He must have received many severe reprimands to become so self-disciplined.

To show care for him, her voice became gentle involuntarily. "Tom, your father will take you home in person."

"I see," he replied in a flat tone.

"Your father loves you very much. When you fainted, I could feel his worry." Seeing that he also liked eating fried chicken with tomato sauce, she squirted more into his plate.

No matter how mature he was, he was still a four-year-old child.

He needed patience, care, and education from the family to grow up healthily.

Tom fell into silence. Shirley also didn't speak much for Johnson for it might be counterproductive.

After a long while...

Tom sighed. "But he even forgot my birthday and doesn't have time to accompany me. I can meet him only once a week."

His handsome face was filled with sadness.

It pained Shirley to see that. For a moment, she didn't know how to comfort him.

Should she say that Johnson was a great man with a business empire and that he was busy because he had to support thousands of families?

But Tom wouldn't accept such an explanation.

After eating with the children for a while, Shirley went into the kitchen to make herbal tea for them.

She watched them finish the herbal tea and let them watch TV on the sofa. Then, she began to clean the house.

It was impossible to do a real cleaning. The only feasible way was to throw all the things into the bedroom. After all, Johnson wouldn't stay long here or notice the hidden mess inside the room.

Seeing how she cleared away the things, Tom felt that she was more interesting than he thought.

When Shirley finished the work, it had been nine o'clock.

Twenty minutes later, the doorbell rang.

She pulled the inner door open.

"Miss. Smith," Flynn greeted enthusiastically.

Although Johnson was silent behind Flynn, his existence was too strong to be ignored.

Since the light in the corridor was broken, he was half in darkness. At this moment, this tall man was wearing an iron-gray suit, which on him was as impressive as an imperial robe.

Shirley opened the iron outer door. "Hi. Tom is watching TV."

"Tom?" Johnson noticed the change in how she called his son.

It was a slip of tongue. She hesitated over whether she should explain.

But then, she saw Johnson walk in without accusation or dissatisfaction. Secretly, she sighed with relief.

Just then, she found Flynn holding six boxes of toys!

And they were all pink! From the transparent sheeting of the first box, she saw two Barbies inside.

It went without saying who these gifts were for.

"Mr. Harris, these..." Shirley was shocked.

She had thought they would take Tom away immediately. What a surprise that they even brought gifts to Alice!

They were just like gods living above the clouds–how did they know the custom in the mundane world?

Flynn explained, "Mr. Roberts asked me to buy the toys. I hope Alice will like them."

Having been peeking on the sofa, Alice couldn't resist the temptations anymore. She ran to the door and held Shirley's leg, looking shyly up at Johnson with her bright eyes. She exclaimed, "There are so many gifts!"

Johnson stroked her head exceptionally gently and asked, "Do you like them?"

She nodded very firmly!

Because words had failed to convey her excitement!

"Well..." Shirley was too much flattered!

"Have a seat. The house is not that big. I'll get tea for you." Shirley could only entertain them. She went into the kitchen and prepared the tea.

Kevin was a man who pursued a delicate life. When he was free, he liked to drink a cup of Earl Grey which was quite expensive.

She fumbled out his tea to treat the two distinguished guests.

But she believed that it was merely nothing in Johnson's eyes.

Alas, she should have had him leave with Tom. Why did she bother to make tea for him?

Why did she keep him here? That was literally shooting herself in the foot!