Chapter 18: Bonding

"Are you sure you're fine living with Hazel?"

Neil Mo kept his eyes on the little girl who stood not far away from him. She was wearing her pastel-colored cotton dress and a white sandal. Her hair was tied into a messy ponytail and the ribbon was slightly crooked as he was the one who had helped her to tied her hair earlier.

At this time, his niece, Hazel Mo stood in front of her parents' tomb and there was a tall glass jar of paper cranes in front of it.

Neil could still remember when his niece had brought home that glass jar from her kindergarten. He had asked about it, and she had only told him that the paper cranes was for her parents.

It was then that he learned that previously, Hazel's mother was the one who taught her how to fold the paper cranes, and Hazel had wanted to give the paper cranes to her parents and tell them that she was living fine.

"We're fine, " he spoke to his mother. "Mom, why are you asking the same question every week?"

It has been a few weeks since the last time he took his niece to visit her parents. It was after Hazel's teacher's reminder that he finally told his assistant to clear up his schedule so that he will have time to accompany Hazel.

The expression she showed him this morning when he told her that he's taking her to the grave was adorable.

Sophie sighed in the other line. "You're a bachelor with no experience in looking after a child. How can I not worry?"

"Isn't Auntie Ann and the others are around to look after Hazel?" Neil Mo said. "Besides, Hazel is a good girl. She didn't throw tantrums or cause any problem at all."

"How about I come over next week?"

"Mom, you don't have to come. It'll be tiring for dad and you to travel back and forth." Neil straightened up his posture when he saw Hazel walked towards him. "Mom, Hazel finished talking to her parents. Do you want to talk to her for a while?"

"Pass me the phone to Hazel."

Neil handed his phone to Hazel when she approached him. "Grandma wants to talk to you." He watched the little girl spoke to her grandma and occasionally replied with a few series of 'en'. After a while, she handed his phone back to him.

He stared at the phone screen and saw that his mother was still on the line. Neil Mo pressed the phone to his left ear, and said, "Mom? Is there anything else?"

"Since you're out with Hazel, take her out for lunch and buy her a few things," Sophie said. "Living together with Hazel is not enough. You have to spend some time bonding with her. Don't forget what the doctor said."

"I know." After saying goodbye, Neil Mo hung up his phone and went back to his car with Hazel. He helped her to the passenger side before he went to the driver's seat. He put the car in the ignition and drove away.

After a few minutes of driving, Neil Mo glanced at his niece. "Did you tell your parents everything you wanted to say to them?"

"En." Hazel nodded. Her eyes were looking at the scenery outside. "Uncle, are we going somewhere?"

"Since Nanny Ann and the others are not at home, let's have lunch somewhere," he said. "Is that okay?"

"Okay."

Neil Mo stopped his car at the shopping mall's entrance and quickly, a valet approached him. He handed his keys to the valet and helped Hazel out. "What do you want to eat?"

Hazel thought about it for a while and said, "Anything is fine."

Neil Mo felt the corner of his lips twitched. He found the little girl's answer to be troublesome. He didn't know what the kid likes to eat. What if he just walked in into a random restaurant and Hazel find that she didn't like anything?

"Uncle," Hazel tugged the hem of her uncle's shirt. "Let's walk around first and decide later."

He nodded and led the girl to pull him around. Occasionally, they would stop at a restaurant to study their menu before they walked away when Hazel didn't find anything she likes.

Neil frowned when Hazel inched closer to him. It was then that he realized a few people around them were staring at them. He may find it normal to have people staring at him wherever he went to, but not for Hazel.

Noticing the little girl's discomfort, Neil tightened his grip on her hand and said, "Come on. Let's go to that cafe."

He was immediately satisfied once they stepped into the cafe.

It was a quiet place with a small crowd. The way it was designed gave the patrons their privacy. Neil was about to lead Hazel to an empty seat when he felt the little girl's hand slipped away from his.

He was alarmed when Hazel ran from his side to another table. He was about to say something to her when he noticed that Hazel was talking to the person at the table.

"Teacher Qian!" Hazel said enthusiastically.

Edith Qian was going through her study materials while drinking her coffee when she heard someone calling out her name. She looked up and saw that Hazel was heading towards her with a big smile on her face. The coffee in her mouth nearly spilled out.

She put the coffee cup back on its saucer and stood up. "Hazel? What are you doing here? Why are you alone?"

Hazel shook her head. "I'm not alone, Teacher Qian. I came here with my uncle." She turned around and smiled when she saw her uncle stood right behind her.

"Hazel," Neil called as he approached. "You can't run like that!"

The little girl bit her lips and bowed her head down. "Sorry."

Neil heaved a sigh. He wanted to scold the little girl for her abrupt action, but he realized that he could not get angry as he saw her adorable expression. Suddenly, he did not know what he should do. He patted her soft hair and said, "Don't do that again next time."

Hazel nodded. "En. I won't do it again next time."

Neil Mo lifted his head. It was then that he recognized Hazel's kindergarten teacher. She would usually style her hair into a messy bun, but this time, she had let her hair down, causing him to almost unable to recognize her.

"Teacher Qian?" Neil Mo said. He glanced at the books and notes on the table and frowned. "I'm sorry if Hazel has disturbed you."

Edith waved her hands. "No. She's not."

In fact, Edith was not there to study. The only reason why she was at the cafe was killing some time before she was going to meet her friend, Lily, and her son. She had promised to accompany her friend to go shopping later.

She looked at the two people before her. "Are you guys here to have lunch?"

"Un." Neil Mo nodded. He held Hazel's hand in his and spoke to the little girl, "Hazel, be good. Let's not disturb Teacher Qian."

Hazel nodded obediently. She then waved her teacher goodbye and followed her uncle and stopped after a few steps. "Uncle. Wait for a second."