The voice was so faint that Louis had to strain his ears to hear clearly. Louis didn't respond but instead started unpacking the phone box on the table.
He took out the White-colored phone new phone, removed the protective cover, powered it on, and the pleasant startup ringtone chimed. Louis quickly set it up and handed it over to Anna.
"This phone is for you. You'll need to get a SIM card yourself. I've already saved my number in it. If I'm not at home, you can call me if there's anything."
As Louis spoke, he took out a stack of money from his pocket and placed it in front of her.
"This is cash I just withdrew. Take the kids out for a stroll this afternoon. It's not good to stay at home all the time. Buy whatever you want, especially clothes. I've noticed that both of your clothes have become too small. Also, get a bank card. Carrying cash isn't safe or convenient..."
Louis rambled on, expressing all his thoughts in one breath. Anna raised her head, staring tightly at the man in front of her, listening to his rambling, her eyes slowly turning red.
Seeing Anna hesitating to take the phone, Louis awkwardly rubbed his nose.
"Do you not like this phone? I thought the color was nice, and it's the latest model. If you don't like it, you can get another one."
Anna shook her head and looked deeply at Louis again.
"No, I quite like it. Thank you."
Her voice was still soft, slightly choked, with a slight tremor.
Their eyes suddenly met, Louis glanced away unnaturally, but he felt relieved inside.
"As long as you like it, no need to thank me. Alright, I'll go eat first."
With that, Louis stood up and quickly went to the dining table to eat.
Actually, Anna was still wondering where Louis got so much money to buy these things, but since Louis didn't say anything, she naturally wouldn't ask.
She picked up the new phone on the table and took a glance. The white phone shell felt textured, and there was even a dedicated charger in the phone box. Louis had even bought earphones and put them aside, a pair of pure white in-ear headphones.
On the side, Cicc, who had been playing with toys, also put down what he was holding and curiously leaned over to look at the new phone in his mother's hand. Anna reached out to touch the little one's head, and the two of them, one big and one small, began to study the phone.
Because Louis had sweated a lot in the morning, after finishing his meal and washing the dishes, he wanted to take a hot bath. However, the two of them had been in the living room all day, which made him feel embarrassed to take a bath at this time, so he could only reluctantly return to the side room.
Five o'clock in the afternoon.
The weather outside was finally not as hot. Anna sat on the sofa hesitating for a while, then picked up the money on the table and led Cicc out of the house.
Cicc hadn't been out for a long, long time. She loved playing outside, but her mother never took her out before, and her father didn't allow them to go out either. So this time, going out made her exceptionally happy.
With a doll in one hand and her mother's hand in the other, she bounced along the way, her big round eyes looking around everywhere.
Everything outside was filled with freshness to her.
However, Anna felt a little reserved. Her steps quickened unconsciously as she looked at the pedestrians on the road. She inexplicably felt a bit inferior, especially in these ill-fitting clothes she and Cicc were wearing, making her feel like people would always glance at them inadvertently.
The mall wasn't far away; she vaguely remembered it was just across two streets.
There seemed to be quite a big change here compared to her memory of the mall; it had become more exquisite in just two years.
As soon as she entered, she saw a phone shop with a counter for SIM cards. Anna hesitated for a moment, then led Cicc into the shop.
There were quite a few people in the store, and the clerks all seemed busy. Anna, who hadn't communicated with anyone for a long time, stood there somewhat dazed.
Fortunately, a female clerk noticed her and Cicc and walked up with a smile, first patting Cicc's head and then smiling at Anna, saying, "The little one is so well-behaved. Miss, are you here to buy a phone?"
Hearing someone praise Cicc, Anna smiled too, shaking her head.
"No, I already have a phone. I want to get a SIM card. Can I get one now?"
The female clerk continued to smile and guided Anna to the counter as she spoke.
"Sure, this way please. We have several packages for you to choose from. May I ask which brand of phone you have? If it's our store's brand, there's a discount for getting a SIM card!"
Upon hearing about the discount, Anna's eyes lit up. She quickly took out her phone from her pocket and handed it to the female clerk, asking softly, "Can I use this? It seems to be your brand, and I just bought it this morning."
The female clerk was taken aback, and she took another careful look at Anna.
There were only two of the latest model phones sold today, and now someone was here to get a SIM card. The female clerk naturally thought of Louis from the morning.
So, these two, mother and daughter, were the wife and child of the handsome guy this morning? But why were they both so thin? And their clothes clearly didn't fit properly.
That handsome guy didn't seem like someone who mistreated his wife and daughter, right? And this pair was so beautiful, it didn't make sense!
The female clerk couldn't quite figure it out, but she didn't ask further. She still had a smile on her face as she exclaimed, "Wow! So the handsome guy who came to buy a phone this morning was your husband? You're really lucky! This is our latest phone! With this phone, you can get this package, top up a hundred and get another hundred, and get six hundred minutes of free talk time..."
The enthusiastic service continued, but this time, the service was directed at Anna instead of Louis.
Anna handed over the money and successfully got the SIM card. Even as she walked out of the phone shop, she still heard the enthusiastic voice of the female clerk echoing in her mind.
Too scary!
But she actually said Louis was a good man!
Anna really wanted to tell her, why don't you take such a good man home with you?
After getting the SIM card, Anna also got a bank card and deposited all the money she had in hand. After deducting the money for the SIM card, she had four thousand nine hundred left, and Louis had given her exactly five thousand this time.
Walking out of the bank with the phone and bank card, Anna looked at the tall buildings around her and suddenly felt alive.
Now she could leave with her child, find a job to support herself and her child with the money in her hand, and even pursue her dreams again.
The sudden freedom made Anna stand still for a long time.
Until a childish voice sounded in her ears.
"Mommy, mommy, can Cicc have an ice cream?"
She instantly snapped out of it, and Cicc beside her was still holding her hand, her round eyes staring eagerly at the ice cream shop not far away, drool almost dripping from her mouth.
Anna smiled, a bright and brilliant smile.
"Sure, but you can only have one! Otherwise, your tummy will ache!"
"Okay! Cicc loves mommy the most!"