Because she was worried about Zhang Hongmei, Annie got up very early and went to the yard after washing up.
Just as Dad said, my sister was practicing Tai Chi.
Zhang Hongmei also noticed Annie coming out, smiled at her, and continued her unfinished action.
After a short walk, I was slightly sweaty, so I squatted down and said, "Annie, good morning."
"Sister, I'm relieved to see you're alright." Annie sighed like a little adult.
"Hehe, don't worry about me. I'm an adult now. You just need to focus on growing up healthy."
"But you always have something going on, of course I worry about you." After saying that, he gave Zhang Hongmei a helpless look, as if he were looking at a troublesome child.
"Hehe, thank you for your concern, Annie. I won't let you worry about me anymore. Would you like to come over for breakfast?"
“Okay, I’ll go call Daddy to come with me.” Annie ran happily into the house.
At the dinner table, Zhang Hongmei once again solemnly thanked Carlos McKen.
"Ms. Zhang, you really don't need to be so polite. The officers in this police station will take care of you from now on, so don't worry."
"Sister, it's only right that my dad helps you."
“Annie, how can it be something you should do? Even if your dad helps you, it's not something you should do. Remember that.”
"Why? He's my father, he's my family."
“Yes, that’s right, but you two are both individuals. You’re relying on family ties, but it’s also your father taking care of you, and you can’t take it for granted.” Annie nodded blankly after hearing Zhang Hongmei’s words. Zhang Hongmei didn’t know how much she would remember.
After everyone finished eating, Carlos McCann took Annie's hand and said, "Ms. Zhang, Mr. Zhao, my daughter and I are leaving today. This is my phone number. If you need anything, just call me. If I'm not here, my assistant will relay the message."
Zhang Hongmei also gave him her home phone number. Annie snuggled into Zhang Hongmei's arms reluctantly, saying, "Sister, why don't you come to my house for a visit? Really, my house is so nice."
Zhang Hongmei shook her head and kept stroking Annie's back. "Baby, I don't have time right now. If you come back on a Saturday or Sunday, I'll be waiting for you at home."
"That's all we can do," Annie said, sounding aggrieved.
Carlos McKen watched the two reluctantly part and found it quite amusing. Was this what the Chinese called fate?
After seeing the father and daughter off, Zhang Hongmei began editing the game with peace of mind.
But Annie in the car was throwing a tantrum.
“Annie, why aren’t you saying anything? Daddy really didn’t mean it,” Carlos McKen explained helplessly as he looked at his daughter in the rearview mirror.
But Annie just wouldn't say anything, and there was really no way to deal with her. "Daddy promises that he will definitely send you over to play for the first three days of school. It's just that I don't have time, so I will ask Miss Zhang for permission to let you stay at her house, okay?"
"Hmph! You said it yourself, so don't go back on your word."
"Definitely, definitely." It was finally coaxed into speaking. It was really not easy. Looking at his awkward daughter, Carlos McKen couldn't help but say again, "Annie, your sister will be leaving here and going back to her country in a few years. Then you will see her even less."
"Hmph, then I'll go to her country with her, and Grandma will come too." Annie was very dissatisfied with her father's words. Really.
Carlos McCann was helpless; this Miss Zhang was truly charming, and she managed to abduct his daughter.
“Annie, think about it. Grandma is getting old, and it’s too far for her to go back to her homeland. Do you think you can find a way to keep Miss Zhang here?” Carlos McCann guided his daughter step by step toward his idea.
Anne fell into deep thought. Yes, she could let her sister stay, but what could she do? Her sister must really want to go home.
“Annie, don’t rush. Take your time thinking. You have several years to go. Don’t worry, I will take you to see Miss Zhang every week from now on. You can call her in advance to make an appointment. Even if I don’t have time, your grandparents’ driver can take you there.”
Annie nodded. "Dad, I understand. I need to think of a way to get my sister to stay."
"Okay, you can do it. Dad believes my Annie is the smartest."
"Annie, I just don't understand, why do you like Miss Zhang so much?"
"I just like it, I liked it at first sight," Annie said matter-of-factly.
Just like my previous answer, it can only be attributed to fate.
"Annie, have you ever liked anyone else like this?"
"No, I don't feel comfortable with other people's liking."
Carlos McKen knew that the "others" Anne was referring to were those women who had ulterior motives towards him.
“Annie, it’s different. Miss Zhang didn’t have any designs on me. She didn’t want to be your mother,” Carlos McKen guided Anne little by little.
“My sister can be a mother too, but I don’t think she likes you very much.” Annie didn’t realize that saying this was like stabbing her father in the heart.
Why do I feel this way?
"Your sister hasn't shown any special affection for you, and she seems reluctant to be with you. Dad, do you want your sister to be your wife?"
"Do you think it's okay? Can Miss Zhang be your mother?"
“I’m willing. If I had to have a mother, I’d prefer my older sister.” Annie nodded. She wasn’t quite sure about the relationship yet, but she was happy to call Zhang Hongmei “Mom.”
This is something only in the US, within the McCann family, would allow a five-year-old to discuss things like this, while other children that age would probably still be throwing tantrums.
"Dad, do you like my sister?"
"Hmm, I have a very good impression of Miss Zhang. Don't you think she's very beautiful? And intelligent?"
"Yes, my sister even plays games for me. Of course, she's the smartest one. But I think I'll be even smarter in the future!"
"Haha, my baby is definitely the smartest person, I firmly believe it."
"Dad, Grandma will be happy."
"Yes, your grandma will be very happy. You can go back and share with her what happened between you and Miss Zhang these past few days."
“Great! I think Grandma will really like my sister. Most importantly, Grandma will definitely love the food at my sister's house. I just don’t know if she’ll come over to eat there. I think it’s much tastier than Grandma’s cooking, and much better than restaurant food.”
"Hehe, will Grandma be sad if you say that?"
Annie's mood had improved, and the two of them chatted and laughed all the way, their conversation revolving entirely around Zhang Hongmei. Carlos McKen had also planted a seed in his daughter's heart—the desire for Zhang Hongmei to be his wife—and this seed would slowly sprout and grow.
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