Lola stepped near Harry and gave him a pinch secretly.
Harry purposely contorted his face with pain. Seeing his agony, Nicole put on a worried expression and asked, "What"s wrong with you, uncle Harry? Are you ill?"
Harry shook his hand, "I"m not sick. Your mommy was gonna kick me out! Help me, Nicole!"
His pitiful look astonished Lola. How could he be so childish?
"Mommy, show some mercy on him, please! Let him sleep with us, okay?" Nicole moved towards Lola and tugged at her clothes pitifully.
.....
At night, the three slept on the one bed, Nicole lying in the middle.
But at midnight, she was moved inside.
The others whispered. "Harry, stop it! Nicole"s here!"
"Relax. I just wanna hug you. Don"t mind me. Good night!" Immersing himself in her fragrance, he enjoyed the serenity at the moment.
Would Harry just hug Lola to sleep? Of course not!
The man got out the bed and carried her by the waist to the bathroom.
When they came out, Nicole was sleeping horizontally across the bed.
Harry laughed, put Lola on the edge of the bed and moved the sleeping Nicole aside.
Just as he settled Nicole, a m.u.f.fled bang was heard.
Harry looked back to find the woman absent. Lola rose up and glared at him, "How dare you kick me off the bed!"
The man held back his laughter and picked her up to the bed.
"I"m sorry! I forgot you, my sweetheart!" Harry helped her knead where it hurt. After a while, he felt into the mood again!
Lola quickly pulled the blanket to cover herself. "Time to sleep!"
As he decided to let her go, he tucked Nicole in, cuddled Lola in his arms and fell asleep safe and sound.
Next early morning, they set off for Echo Bay.
At Echo Bay Village.
Located in a desolate place with towering mountains surrounded, it was an old village with a history of a thousand years.
To reach Echo Bay village, they must pa.s.s a long and tortuous road. It had been narrow, but it was repaired to be a dual-lane road by the government.
The road was so zigzag that they went round to get to the other side of the mountain. With a wide open view, one could catch sight of the whole village with old houses orderly parting in two rows by the wide Echo Bay.
There were dozens of mossy stone bridges over the bay. Now and then a ship floated downstream.
Water streaming down along the steps could be found here and there among houses. Since it was summer now, the waterfall were all greeny under the verdant trees.
The overcast sky heralded the rain. The high mountains afar immediately were shrouded in the clouds and fogs. The drizzles stopped within ten minutes, as suddenly as it came.
Along the left of the asphalted road, they found the primary school with a board "Echo Bay Primary School" on the door.
The school comprised tile-roofed cla.s.srooms. Harry"s Maybach became a real eye-catcher.
They asked a pa.s.ser-by where Carl lived and got the answer immediately. The school only had three teachers -- two locals and Carl Li who was extremely famous across the village.
Harry drove the car towards the east. He found the shop mentioned by the pa.s.ser-by. Next to the shop was a shabby two-floor building. That was it.
Harry pulled over the car and carried Nicole out. Lola knew they arrived and got out of the car.
Harry and Nicole walked in the front, holding hands. After they walked off from the asphalted road, they found the road muddy as it had just rained.
He held the child up and asked Lola to wait by the road before going to knock on the door.
Upon hearing the car whizzing, neighbors rushed out to see who was coming. The car were immediately surrounded by children and adults. Some stared at the car, while some stared at the three strangers.
It was an old man who opened the door with rough hands. h.o.a.ry-headed and wrinkled, he wore a gray coat with patches.
"Hi, sir. Is this Carl"s place?" asked Harry politely.
The old man pointed at his ear, indicating that he couldn"t hear. Harry cast a glance at Lola, " Let"s go in!"
With mixed feelings, Lola walked into the yard where an old Chinese toon was erected on the left. A dog capered toward them, wagging its tail.
Nicole rejoiced at seeing the coming dog. Harry lowered Nicole down to the clean cement ground.
A man with gingham clothes came out. As he walked, he said, "Mother. I guess we have a guest. Let me see!" The familiar voice made Lola burst into tears.
Carl stood motionless at the sight of the guests. His lips quivered. After a long while, he said, "Lola!"
"Father!" Lola trotted towards Carl and hugged him who looked much older than before.
Four years had pa.s.sed. Lola choked with sobs and Carl"s eyes were wet.
"How could you leave me alone, father?" Lola gave vent to all her grievance all those years in tears.
Guilt filled Carl"s heart after he heard Lola"s complaint.
"Mommy!" Nicole"s low voice came from the back. Lola let loose Carl and wiped her eyes.
"Father, this is my daughter, Nicole Li."
Nicole Li? Harry slightly raised his thick eyebrows. "Thomas Herren would allow his daughter to take her mother"s name." he wondered.
"Your daughter? She is such a big girl now!" Carl was surprised to see the cute girl.
How time flies! His daughter now had a daughter.
"Grandpa!" Nicole greeted Carl sweetly.
Carl held Nicole up carefully. Nicole was so lovely and just looked like the little Lola. It seemed that he saw her daughter"s round face again.
Harry carried the presents from the car imperceptibly and presented them to the nearby elder. He walked towards Carl and said, "Nice to meet you, sir! I"m Harry Si and I"m chasing your daughter!"
"Chasing her daughter? Isn"t Nicole his daughter?" Carl was confused.
Lola"s face turned scarlet. He was brazen enough to blurt out everything!