The helicopter's blades slowed to a gentle whir as it settled on the uneven grassy ground.
The noise had already drawn attention from the nearby townspeople, who had gathered in a loose crowd at the edge of the clearing. Their modest and everyday clothing and curious expressions reflected the simplicity of their lives, starkly contrasting the sleek, grey helicopter.
As Mo Fan and Qin Yu'er stepped out, the murmuring among the townspeople grew louder. A few children, eyes wide with wonder, darted closer, their excitement uncontainable.
"Is that a helicopter?" a young boy whispered to his friend, his voice filled with awe.
"Of course, it is! Look at how shiny it is," his friend replied, tugging on his sleeve.
An older woman in the crowd nudged her neighbour. "Who are they? Have you ever seen anyone like them around here?"
"No," the man replied, squinting at Mo Fan and Qin Yu'er. "They look... important. Maybe they're here for business?"
"They look like movie stars!" another woman added, her eyes lingering on Qin Yu'er's glowing appearance. "Look at her skin. I've never seen anyone so beautiful!"
Meanwhile, the children, emboldened by their curiosity, had ventured even closer. A boy no older than ten pointed at Mo Fan. "Hey, mister! Is that your flying machine?"
Mo Fan crouched slightly, a playful grin spreading across his face. "It's not just a flying machine—it's a cloud chariot. Ever seen one up close?"
The boy's eyes widened, his mouth forming a perfect O. "A cloud chariot? Can it go above the clouds?"
"Absolutely," Mo Fan replied, ruffling the boy's hair. "One day, you might get to ride in one too."
Another child, a little girl of the same age clutching a doll, looked up at Qin Yu'er with shy admiration. "Miss, are you a princess?"
Qin Yu'er, caught off guard, blinked before letting out a soft laugh. "A princess? No, I'm not. Why do you ask?"
"Because you're so pretty," the girl said earnestly, holding her doll closer.
Qin Yu'er smiled, kneeling to the girl's height. "Well, thank you. What's your doll's name?"
"Her name is Mei-Mei," the girl replied, her cheeks turning pink.
The older townsfolk watched the exchange, their whispers turning to cautious smiles. One man, wearing a tattered jacket, stepped forward and called out, "Excuse me, are you here for the mayor? Or maybe for the new factory?"
Mo Fan straightened, his tone firm. "We're here to look at the land. But we'd like to get to know the people here too."
"The land?" another woman asked, her brow furrowing. "Are you buying it? What will happen to us?"
Qin Yu'er stood beside Mo Fan, her gaze softening as she spoke. "Don't worry. We're not here to take anything from you. In fact, we hope to make things better for everyone."
The crowd murmured again, this time with a mix of scepticism and hope.
A bold teenager piped up, crossing his arms. "How can we trust you? You might just be here to drive is out of our home! All those real estate people have been trying to do that as well!!"
Mo Fan looked directly at the boy, he chuckled a little. _Would he be surprised if I told him, I bought the entire island along with this city?_ Mo Fan wondered.
"Don't worry, I'm not here for your land. You don't need to worry about anything and go about your usual lives." Mo Fan reassured them.
The teenager stared back for a moment before nodding reluctantly. The people also heaved a sigh of relief.
"Can we see the inside of your cloud chariot?" the first boy asked.
Mo Fan chuckled. "Maybe in he future, little guy."
The boy beamed, and the crowd slowly began to disperse, as the tension was easing.
As the townspeople began to disperse, a small, scrawny girl emerged hesitantly from the crowd.
Her frail frame seemed out of place even among the modestly dressed locals. The oversized dress she wore was patched and tattered, her rustled, dry hair nearly hiding her face. Despite her timid demeanour, her huge, luminous glistening eyes tinged with a pink hue hidden away by the bangs locked onto Mo Fan. Her eyes were quite huge for a Chinese heritage.
Without a moment's hesitation, the girl bolted forward, weaving through the crowd. Before anyone could stop her, she clung tightly to Mo Fan's leg, burying her face against his pants.
The crowd gasped audibly.
Mo Fan looked down at her, genuinely confused. "What the—" he muttered, his brow furrowing.
"Hey! Stop that!" an older woman exclaimed, rushing forward, but her voice was tinged with fear rather than scolding.
Another man, nervous and fidgeting, shook his head. "She doesn't know her place! Someone pull her away before she causes trouble!"
The crowd murmured anxiously. While Mo Fan and Qin Yu'er appeared kind, the townsfolk couldn't help but view them as powerful people with unpredictable tempers. What if this little girl's boldness offended them?
"Get her away!" an older man hissed. "We can't afford to anger these people!"
Several adults stepped forward cautiously, their hands raised in a placating gesture.
"Pardon us, sir," one of them said to Mo Fan, bowing repeatedly. "She doesn't know any better. We'll take her away at once."
The teenager from earlier tugged at the little girl's arm, trying to pull her away. "Get back! Don't make them angry!"
The little girl, however, tightened her grip on Mo Fan's leg as if her life depended on it. Silent but firm, she refused to let go, even as the townsfolk gently tried to pry her off.
"Hey, let go already!" one of the women scolded softly, trying not to look Mo Fan in the eye. "You'll get us all in trouble!"
Qin Yu'er tilted her head, looking at the scene with mild curiosity and confusion. "Who is this child?" she asked.
"W-We don't know her name, ma'am," The women stammered. "She's just… a stray. She's not from here."
Mo Fan crouched slightly, his hands hovering uncertainly near her as if unsure whether to pick her up or push her away. "Do I know you?" he asked, his voice softer than usual.
The girl didn't respond, her silence unwavering.
"She doesn't speak, sir," the old man explained hesitantly. "She's mute. We don't even know her real name. She just showed up with the refugees from Bo City months ago. Poor thing… no parents, no home. But still, she shouldn't act like this."
The mention of Bo City hit Mo Fan like a bolt of lightning. Memories surged through his mind: the devastation of the calamity that had befallen the city and his role in saving as many people as possible.
Back then, he had arranged for survivors to be transported to this island, which he had planned to buy.
And now, one of them stood before him—a reminder of the very lives he'd fought to protect.
"She's from Bo City?" Mo Fan murmured, his voice soft.
Qin Yu'er obviously knew about Bo City, since it happened the day she was freed. Ye Xinxia had told her everything that went down…
She looked at Mo Fan who slightly changed his expression from surprise to one that of anguish. She knew how Mo Fan lost his father in the calamity as well.
"She can't speak?" His gaze softened as he looked at the girl again.
"Yes, sir," the elderly man said, stepping forward. "But she's not living with the other refugees on the far side of the island. She's been wandering here, all alone. No one knows how she ended up here, but…"
A silence had fallen onto the place when they saw how displeased Mo Fan's expression became.
The crowd, remained on edge seeing his expression. "Sir, we'll take her away immediately," a man offered, stepping forward.
"No need," Mo Fan said sharply, holding up a hand. The man froze mid-step.
Qin Yu'er stepped closer, her sharp eyes observing the girl's condition. "She's malnourished," she noted aloud. "When was the last time she ate?"
The townsfolk exchanged uneasy glances. One woman spoke with a hint of guilt, "We try to help her when we can… but things are hard for everyone here. And the other kids don't like her…"
The mute girl, sensing the discussion, clutched Mo Fan's leg even tighter, burying her face against his knee.
Mo Fan glanced down at the girl, who was still clinging to his leg. Her frail frame trembled slightly, but her grip was strong and determined. Despite her silence, her actions spoke volumes.
"Why is she clinging to me?" Mo Fan asked, his brow furrowed.
"She must've mistaken you for someone else," one of the townsfolk suggested hurriedly.
Qin Yu'er crouched to get a closer look at the girl, her voice gentle. "Hey, do you know him?"
The girl seemed to understand what she said and nodded, her messy hair shifting as she buried her face deeper into Mo Fan's leg.
Qin Yu'er tilted her head thoughtfully. "She seems to trust you. Should we… take her in?"
Mo Fan straightened, a complicated expression crossing his face. "She's not some stray cat or dog, Qin Yu'er," he said firmly. "Taking care of a human being is a whole other responsibility."
Qin Yu'er crossed her arms. "I know that. But look at her. She's just a child. Are you really going to leave her here to starve?"
Mo Fan ran a hand through his hair, clearly torn.
He crouched down, gently prying her away to look at her face which was hidden away by her unkempt hair. Her beautiful wide eyes stared up at him, glistening with unshed tears. He didn't recognize her, but there was something about her gaze—that struck a chord deep within him. Her eyes seemed familiar…
"Do you… remember me?" he asked softly.
The girl nodded again, clutching his sleeve.
_Maybe… she's someone I saved that day along with the leftover people…_ Mo Fan wondered.
"Why are you holding onto me? Do you think I can help you?" he asked again.
The girl didn't respond but nodded almost imperceptibly.
Mo Fan pursed his lips with a complicated expression as he pieced the story together. This child was one of the many victims of Bo City's calamity—one of the lives he had fought to save. But instead of finding safety here, she had been left to fend for herself, unloved and unwanted.
Qin Yu'er leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "She's from Bo City… I remember you said that you were involved in relocating them, didn't you?
"Yes…" Mo Fan replied while staring at the girl.
"Then perhaps… this was the place you recommended to the people of Bo City? Is that the reason you bought it?" Qin Yu'er said after piercing everything together. She was a smart person after all. Though she was a little shocked at the fact that Mo Fan had thought of buying this land way back then…
Mo Fan nodded…
"Then maybe… this IS your responsibility." Qin Yu'er said slowly while looking at him.
Mo Fan shot her a look but couldn't argue. He stood up, lifting the girl effortlessly in his arms. She didn't resist, her tiny hands clutching his shirt as if afraid he might let go.
"For now," he said, glancing at Qin Yu'er, "she comes with us. But this is temporary. We'll figure something out later."
The townsfolk watched in stunned silence as Mo Fan carried the girl in his arms despite her dirty appearance!
The mute girl rested her head against his shoulder, a faint smile breaking through her otherwise solemn face. For the first time in a long while, she looked safe.
Qin Yu'er chuckled watching Mo Fan.
She then looked at the little girl nestled in his arms, even though she seemed like she was 4-5 years old, she was still a lot smaller than the kids of her age. She was very malnourished, to the point that it stunted her growth!
"She's barely holding on..." Qin Yu'er said with pity in her eyes.