Both Edith and Assistant Shawn felt their lips twitched upon seeing the awkward smile on President Mo's face.
His niece, Hazel had a big bright smile, while Neil…
It was better to say that this was not a smile at all.
For this reason, both Edith and Assistant Shawn hesitated to press the button, knowing that this would not turn into a good photo.
Assistant Shawn glanced at Edith as if asking her if she could come up with a way to resolve this situation.
Of course, Edith did not disappoint him. She lowered her phone and came up with another instruction. "Hazel, how about you put your right hand on your uncle's shoulder?"
Hazel obediently lifted her hand and followed her instruction. "Like this?"
"Right. Right." Edith nodded.
Just then, the uncle and niece turned to look at each other, and gradually, the iceblock expression on Neil's face disappeared and his gaze on Hazel turned into something warmer.
Seeing this picture, Edith took the opportunity to shot a few pictures.
Neil and Hazel turned around to look at the same time when Edith did not give them further instruction and Edith managed to snap a few more acceptable photos of the uncle and niece.
"Alright, it's done."
"It's done?" Neil frowned, apparently, he did not believe in Edith's words that she had taken their pictures. Shouldn't she count one, two, three, and let them be ready before she snapped the photo?
Edith smiled. She walked over to both Neil and Hazel and showed the pictures that she had taken.
Neil froze the moment he looked at the photos and was surprised that he had such an expression on his face. He might be unprepared while Edith snapped the photos, but Neil could not deny that the photos looked good.
"Send those photos to me later," Neil said.
"Alright." Edith nodded and quickly transferred the best-looking pictures to Neil's number. Just then, Hazel tugged at her shirt and looked at her with her big eyes. "What's wrong?"
"Teacher Qian, let's take some photos together," Hazel said.
Edith giggled at the little girl's request. Assistant Shawn stepped up at this time and offered to be the photographer snapped a few pictures. When he handed her phone back, there were a few adorable shots of Hazel and Edith together.
Neil stood at the back to peek at the photos and his expression softened upon seeing Hazel's bright smile on those photos. A hint of jealousy tugged at his heart. Although his photographs with Hazel were lovely, they were not as good as the photo of his niece and her teacher together.
He wanted a picture of Hazel with a bright smile with him too…
"Alright. Let's not waste our time," Edith said. "We should go and look around while there was still no one around and catch up with the show later."
Hazel nodded enthusiastically. She held her uncle's hand tightly and the four of them walk further into the aquarium.
"Teacher Qian," Assistant Shawn called as the two were walking behind President Mo and his niece.
"Hmm?"
"You were good back there," Assistant Shawn raised his thumb, and whispered, "I wouldn't know what do if I have to snap those pictures."
Edith chuckled. "Thank you. But I picked up this skill after going out with my girlfriends a few times. One of us would ask to snap a few pictures and giving instructions on how to pose has become something that I'm used to."
"I did not think that President Mo will listen to your instruction." He saw her puzzled look and continued. "Teacher Qian, don't you think that President Mo is a scary person? In the office, most employees did not have the courage to say a word to him."
Edith quickly understood his meaning.
Neil Mo always had that expressionless look on his face and people would usually get frightened by it.
"It was awkward at first," Edith admitted. "But I worked with him. If I did not talk to him, then how am I supposed to discuss anything regarding Hazel. Moreover," she smiled. "I met a few scary-looking people than President Mo."
Assistant Shawn blinked. "Ah?" There were people scarier than President Neil Mo?
Edith laughed and left the dumbfounded assistant behind.
As they were the first few guests in the aquarium, Neil let Hazel run around the place to look around.
Hazel looked at her surroundings and took a step back when a big shark passed by. Her grip on her uncle's hand subconsciously tightened.
"What's the matter? Are you scared?" Neil asked.
Hazel tilted her head up and shook her head. "I'm not afraid." She then approached the large tank again and took a deep breath to gather her courage. Her gaze wandered around to look at the various fishes inside and soon, she was hypnotized by the view.
A while later, the other patron entered the area, and the sounds of kids laughing voice filled the area.
Edith glanced at the man beside her and asked, "President Mo, do you find this kind of activity boring?"
Neil heaved a soft sigh. "Hazel looked happy."
President Mo was someone who managed MH Group and under this company, there were a lot of other businesses. To visit the aquarium to look at the fishes were of course, not something that he would enjoy to do. Even so, as long as it was something that will make Hazel happy, Neil thought that it was worth it.
"If you wanted to get closer to Hazel, now would be a good chance," Edith said. "Stay by her side and try to talk to her about those various fishes in there."
Neil turned to look at his niece and hesitated. "I don't know how." A helpless sigh escaped him. "What do I talk to her about?"
A small smile appeared on her lips and at this time, Edith thought that a helpless Neil was kind of cute. "For instance, you could ask her what she was looking at and what she is interested in. Then, you can continue your conversation from there."
Neil thought over her suggestion and took a step towards Hazel. Then, he stopped and turned to Edith again. "What if Hazel did not want to talk to me?"
"Hazel is a child who might be quiet, but once she was familiar with that person, she will become talkative," Edith said. "President Mo, you have to try. Perhaps she will not talk too much with you this time. But after a while, when she was more comfortable and closer to you, she will talk to you more."
Neil stood in silence for a few seconds before he stepped towards Hazel again. Then, he crouched down beside his niece and the two of them turned to look at each other. A few seconds passed and Neil opened his mouth to ask, "Hazel, what are you looking at?"
The little girl pointed in a direction. "Uncle, look. It's Nemo."