She waited. In the spot she always sat. One the park bench that held memories of when she forgot about her own difficulties. The place she felt most safe in recent months.
"What happened to you? Come let's take you home." He said in worry.
Her eyes could only see his hazed figure, but it was definitely him. The stranger that somehow lowered her defences and made her want to trust him. She didn't know if it was because she had a fever or that she truly felt this way. But she was willing to surrender to it all. Even if it would be the wrong choice.
The man saw that she collapsed the moment she saw him and quickly reached for her. When he carried her, he realised the child had relaxed her expressionless face. He didn't need to feel to see that her flushed face and sweat between her brows were signs of a heavy fever. So he took her back to his home.
When she woke up, she saw that she had a drip on like in those medical dramas she saw the old man from the newspaper outlet loved to watch.
'Ah...I forgot. The old man must be angry.' She thought.
When she got up, she saw the man sitting on a reading chair turn to look back at her. He bookmarked his book and put it aside. Then walked over to her and felt her forehead with his large palm. Her eyes had never seen hands that could look as big and beautiful as his.
"Your fever is gone now. But you still need plenty of rest." He reassured her.
She simply nodded her head in understanding. The man then poured a glass of water from the pitcher next to her and handed it to her. She took it and slowly drank.
"It feels a bit weird asking now after all this time. But what is your name?" He asked shyly, unable to hide his embarrassment.
She didn't know how to reply. But felt it was best to be honest.
"I don't have a name." She said.
The man's contemplated on her answer before asking.
"Then what do you like to be called?" He asked.
This time, she didn't reply. She liked to be called big sister by Xiao Bai. But other than that, she was always addressed as child or brat.
"How about I give you a name?" He asked with hopeful eyes.
Seeing him like this, she was hesitant but nodded. If she trusted someone. She would trust him with her life.
"I always thought you always appeared out of nowhere. How about Ying Mi?" The man suggested.
The name was a bit unusual compared to her birth name. But she liked the name. So Ying Mi nodded.
"My name is...well you can call me Professor Zhang." He introduced himself casually.
Ying Mi felt it was a bit weird. But she knew that a child calling an adult by their first name also seemed a little inappropriate.
"Professor. Thank you for letting me stay." She said.
"Don't worry. It's good to have an extra person in this place. It won't be as boring. Stay as long as you want." Professor Zhang said happily.
Ying Mi shyly hid her blush by drinking the water.