Walking out of the Yin Hai Tower, Louis waited for quite a while by the roadside before finally flagging down a taxi. Getting into the cab, the driver joked that only rich folks worked around here, and usually taxis didn't bother coming here, so Louis must have been lucky to catch one.
Louis shrugged, feeling somewhat helpless. He was here to ask for a favor, after all. But this only strengthened his resolve to buy a car. Getting around was just too inconvenient; waiting for a cab wasted half the day.
As the car drove towards the hotel, Louis checked his flight back home. He planned to return to the hotel, freshen up, grab lunch, and head back to Jiang City. Despite having left home just yesterday morning, he found himself oddly homesick already.
Louis wasn't sure what was happening to him. In his original world, he never felt homesick even after being away for so long. But coming to this world had changed things.
Before he could decide on a flight, Bailey called.
"Hello, Mr. Louis, I'm really sorry about my dad's tone. Let me apologize on his behalf."
Bailey sounded apologetic, but her tone was somewhat cold, as if she was still upset with someone.
Louis was surprised. He hadn't taken the matter to heart, and she 's expression had been quite diplomatic. As a capital tycoon, he had already shown plenty of face!
As for any ulterior motives? Non-existent. It was just a fair trade.
Having encountered all sorts of characters in the capital market, Louis was well aware of this.
"Oh? No worries, I didn't think there was anything wrong. You don't need to worry about it."
Hearing Louis's words, Bailey's tone softened slightly.
"As long as you're not bothered, by the way, are you on your way back to the hotel now?"
"Yeah! I'm already in the car. I plan to go back to the hotel, pack up, and head back to New York City."
Louis replied, but there was a moment of silence on the other end of the line. Then Bailey's voice came again.
"Actually, Mr. Louis, it would be best if you wait for two more days. If your lyrics are selected, Hua Yin might still need your assistance. After all, you wrote the lyrics and music for this song, so you understand it best."
"I've booked a few more days for you at the hotel. You don't have to worry."
Hearing Bailey's words, Louis's plans to go home immediately fell through, and he felt disappointed.
But what she said made sense. If there were any follow-up tasks, flying back and forth between the two cities wouldn't be ideal.
"Alright, I understand. Then I'll stay a few more days. Thanks for letting me know."
"You're welcome!"
After hanging up with Bailey, Louis regretfully put down his phone and looked out the window at the passing scenery. He was starting to miss his little one at home.
Thinking of Cicc, Louis couldn't help but smile unknowingly spread across his face.
As if they were connected by telepathy, as soon as Louis returned to the hotel, his phone rang, and Anna was calling.
Answering the phone, Louis immediately heard Cicc's voice on the other end.
"Daddy? Is that you?"
It was his little one! Even though Louis couldn't see Cicc, his face still lit up with an auntie-like smile.
"Yes, it's Daddy! Does Cicc miss Daddy?"
"Yes! Daddy! Mommy asked when you're coming back!"
At home, Cicc held the phone in her hands, nestled in Anna's arms, sweetly speaking.
Anna's face immediately blushed, and she helplessly gave Cicc a glare. Clearly, it was Anna who insisted on calling Daddy, but now it somehow involved her?
Did she ever ask that question?
"Then tell Mommy, Daddy will be back in a few more days!"
Louis chuckled secretly. He guessed that Cicc must have wanted him to come back, but now she was bringing up Anna.
Cicc seemed a little unhappy at hearing this, humming softly over the phone.
With a slight smile on his lips, Louis shifted into a more comfortable position and lay back on the bed.
"Did Cicc eat well today?"
Hearing this, Cicc immediately looked up at her mommy, then, as if behaving like a little thief, lowered her head and whispered softly, "Yes! But Cicc wants to eat Daddy's cooking more!"
The little one sounded extremely serious, so much so that even Anna, who was "eavesdropping," couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Such a young age and already telling tales, huh? Pretending that her cooking wasn't good?
Then Anna heard Louis's hearty laughter on the other end of the phone. In that moment, Anna's face reddened even more, and she snatched the phone away.
"That's enough! Today's chat with Daddy ends here!"
"Hey! That's not what I asked!"
"Um... I know. Is everything okay at home?"
Hearing Louis's response, Anna only felt more annoyed! Was he holding back laughter?
"Everything's fine! You've only been out for a day! What could possibly happen? Okay, I'm hanging up! I need to make lunch!"
"Hey! Hey! You can't do that! I haven't finished talking to the little one yet!"
"Goodbye!"
But Anna didn't give Louis a chance and hung up the phone directly.
Her face was now burning hot, and if they kept talking, she feared she might lose her temper!
Seeing little Cicc still looking regretful staring at the phone, Anna decided to make the least favorite vegetables for Cicc's lunch today!
That's right! Children shouldn't be picky eaters!
Louis heard the dial tone coming from the receiver, feeling regretful but still wearing a smile on his face.
This was the first time he had seen Anna display such a small emotion, which was pretty good! Previously, she always gave him a sense of suppression, as if she had no emotional self, so gentle that it bordered on weakness.
How should he put it? Louis referred to it as a person lacking an independent soul.
And now, this situation was slowly improving, she was becoming herself again, which was good!
The waiting time was long.
Unconsciously, the end of July arrived, and in a few days, it would be August.
Louis had been in New York for two days, during which he had talked to Bailey several times, and their relationship was no longer so unfamiliar.
At least now Bailey didn't call him "Mr." every time, which made Louis feel uncomfortable.
Clearly, he was still young, and being called "mister" felt weird!
These two days, Louis still got up early to jog. Everything seemed calm, and there was still no news from Hua Yin. Louis could only wait patiently.
On the evening of the third day, Louis received a call from a familiar yet unfamiliar number.
"Hello! Is this Louis? It's Andrew!"
Andrew?
Louis didn't expect to receive this call. He quickly sorted through the memories of the original owner and, after a moment, remembered that this was the original owner's best friend from college!
After graduating, the two went their separate ways, with the original owner joining a boy band audition, while his best friend Andrew was forced to return home to take over his family's small supermarket.
Returning home wasn't Andrew's intention; his aspirations lay elsewhere. Louis remembered that he had always wanted to enter the animation industry because they both graduated from a media university, and Andrew specialized in animation production and the like.
"Andrew? Long time no see!"
Thinking of their shoulder-to-shoulder days in college, Louis smiled and asked. He didn't have any friends in this world yet, but thinking of the character and personality of Andrew from the original owner's memories, Louis's smile grew wider.
Having a genuine friend, well, that seemed pretty good!