However, upon finishing her purchase and loading the goods onto her tricycle, Clara discovered that one of the tricycle's tires had been removed. Two seemingly sincere young men approached her and said, "Oh no, your tricycle is missing a tire? You can't ride it like this. There's a repair shop nearby. Why don't we help you take your tricycle there to be repaired?"Clara immediately recalled that earlier in the market, some shopkeepers had mentioned that there had been a lot of incidents lately where tricycles and electric bikes outside the market had their tires deflated or removed completely, which led to increased business for the repair shop nearby. The people who visited the shop were then grossly overcharged.There were suspicions among the market-goers that the repair shop was behind these incidents. Unfortunately, the surveillance camera outside the market wasn't working. Every time it was repaired, it would break down again after a few days.Clara firmly replied, "No, thanks
"You'll get the hang of it after doing it a few more times. If you're still having trouble, I can teach you," Clara suggested."Sure, I'll be grateful for that," Peter replied with a smile. He added, "Those two people earlier probably removed the tire from your tricycle. I can't believe some of these shops. But don't worry, shops like that usually won't last long. Let me give you a ride back.""But what about my tricycle...""Give me the key. I'll have my coworker fix it for you. I'll deliver it back to your place once it's done," Peter offered. "I have a tire shop right here in the market.""That would be very kind of you," Clara said, handing over the electric tricycle key to Peter.Peter called over a coworker, gave him some instructions, and then helped Clara load all her goods onto his car. He then drove her back to her convenience store.Along the way, Clara learned that Peter used to have a business partnership with a friend, but they had since disbanded. He now rented a s
When the weekend arrived, Peter drove to the convenience store to pick Clara and Yanny up. The children sat in the backseat, while Clara joined Peter in front.During the drive, Yanny took care of Riley like he was an adult. Riley sat in a booster seat, chatting incessantly with Yanny about things like the cartoons she had been watching, her drawings, and how much she looked forward to attending kindergarten."Is kindergarten fun, Yanny?" the little girl inquired.Yanny's expression dimmed at the mention of kindergarten. He didn't have pleasant memories of it. At that time, his mother's case hadn't been overturned yet, so he faced a lot of mockery and insults from other children and their parents.Although he was young back then and didn't completely understand it, he now had a better idea of the conflicts among adults and the injustices prevalent in society. Even though his mother's case had been overturned, he was still subjected to various prejudices due to his disability.
Clara was slightly taken aback. She asked without thinking, "Your friend? Is he the business partner you mentioned before?""Yes, that's right. That's why I left to open my own shop. I couldn't face them anymore," Peter explained."He was never truly your friend then. A true friend would never have done that to you. Look at it this way – at least now, you've seen their true colors," Clara offered words of comfort."Yeah, you're right," Peter muttered. He then turned to Clara and asked, "What about you? How's it going between you and Yanny's father? Why are you running a small convenience store?"He knew that Yanny's father was Wilson Birch, the rich CEO of the Birch Group. He also knew that Wilson had donated his liver to Clara.Before this, he ran into Clara again, he had assumed that Clara must be living a life of luxury with Wilson Birch, but it appeared that she was relying on a small convenience store for her livelihood."We have nothing to do with each other. I'm able to su
"I can't hear without a cochlear implant like normal people can. That's why I'm deaf," Yanny explained calmly, and his indifference struck a chord in Clara's heart.It was as if her son had become numb to the discrimination he had to face since he was born, causing him to accept his identity as a deaf person with resignation."Then I'll be deaf too so I can be like Yanny!" the little girl exclaimed, her teary eyes filled with determination.Hearing that, Yanny's heart skipped a beat, as if something deep within him had been touched.She was only three years old. She probably didn't even fully understand what being deaf meant.If he removed his hearing aid, the whole world would go silent – a complete silence that could induce panic!It felt as if he was the only one left in the world!"No, you shouldn't be like me. People will look down on you too if you're like me," Yanny said."I'm not scared. If anyone tries to bully you, I'll fight them!" little Riley declared fiercely, des
That warmth... She had no idea how much he yearned for it! She used to look at him that way too before they became enemies, before he misunderstood her.But after that, when she looked at him, all that remained in her eyes was coldness.Wilson stared intently at the photo of Clara on his computer screen, reaching out to gently touch her face in the picture. "You said we're even, that we don't owe each other anymore, but... are we? If we're even, then tell me, why can't I move on from you?"The woman in the photo had an affectionate gaze, but that gaze wasn't directed towards him.After the incident at the amusement park, Peter had visited Clara's convenience store a few times. Each time, he brought little Riley along, as she always insisted on seeing Yanny."I don't know why, but Riley really likes Yanny. At home, she keeps telling me that she wants to see Yanny. I'm sorry for bothering you so often," Peter said somewhat awkwardly."There's no need to apologize. Yanny seems to e
Clara turned to her son and asked, "Do you like Riley?""I do. She's cute, like Jackie," Yanny replied. "I think if Riley and Jackie meet, they'll become good friends.""Maybe. Alright, you haven't finished your homework yet, have you? Go and do it," Clara urged. After Yanny went to his room to do his homework, Clara's mother approached her daughter and said, "Peter is a good man. It's not easy for a man to take care of a daughter by himself. Actually, you two...""Mom, are you trying to play matchmaker again? Is that why you asked Peter to stay for dinner?" Clara interrupted, seeing through her mother's intention."I just wanted you two to spend more time together. Relationships need time to develop, you know," Clara's mother explained.Clara gently smiled. But she fell in love with Wilson at first sight! She had always believed that, if the man was someone she would fall in love with, she would fall in love with him at first sight. Otherwise, she would never fall in love with
The sharp sound of the slap reverberated in the car. Wilson's face was jerked to the side, while Clara felt a searing pain in her palm."Wilson, I thought we had reached an understanding and agreed not to interfere in each other's lives anymore. What's the meaning of this?!" she exclaimed."What's the meaning of this?" Wilson smiled bitterly. "It means I love you too deeply! It means I can't let you go!""But I don’t love you anymore! I've already moved on!" Clara tried her hardest to push him away, but he refused to budge."So you're going out with Peter Wall now, are you?" he asked.She looked him right in the eye and remarked, "That's none of your business!"His eyes narrowed, and his expression turned icy. "What do you even see in that guy?! What can he give you that I can't?!""What's wrong with him? At least he wouldn't hurt me or send me to prison!" she blurted out.His face instantly turned pale, and his grip on her loosened.Seizing the opportunity, Clara pushed Wilso