Just as she was lost in her thoughts, An Mei Lin felt a light tug on her trousers. Her mind immediately snapped back to reality as she looked down, only to see a little girl staring up at her keenly with big brown eyes.
An Mei Lin blinked in confusion, but just as she was about to question the little girl, the child spoke in a soft, sweet voice.
"Big sister, how are you so pretty?"
An Mei Lin was slightly taken aback by the sudden question. A few seconds passed before a small, amused smile slowly formed on her lips.
She glanced around the small supermarket, her sharp eyes scanning the area, but when she didn't spot any adults nearby, she quickly concluded that the little girl was most likely lost.
Lowering herself, An Mei Lin crouched down to match the girl's height. The child looked to be around five or six years old. Her eyes were a beautiful shade of brown, bright and full of life. Her hair was neatly styled into two adorable pigtails, framing her soft, pinchable cheeks.
For a brief moment, An Mei Lin found herself completely distracted by how cute the girl was, almost forgetting why she had even come to the supermarket in the first place.
"Little girl, are you lost?" she asked gently, her voice carrying a warmth she herself didn't even recognize.
The little girl nodded quickly. "Pretty sister, I came with my uncles to shop. They told me to wait in the car, but I'm just a little kid, so I went looking for them to ask for ice cream… but now I can't find my way back to the parking lot." She tightened her tiny grip on An Mei Lin's hand, blinking up at her with exaggerated puppy eyes. "Can you please help me find my uncles?"
That single gesture was enough to melt An Mei Lin's heart completely.
She let out a soft sigh, her expression unconsciously softening as she gently patted the girl's head.
"Don't worry, big sister will help you find them, okay?"
The little girl blinked before nodding eagerly. There was an innocent charm about her that made An Mei Lin wonder why anyone would leave such a child alone in a car, even for a moment.
Still, she couldn't help but notice something else.
The little girl had a sense of accountability that even some adults lacked. She openly admitted that she had wandered off despite being told to stay put. And yet, she said it so innocently that it made scolding her feel almost impossible.
An Mei Lin could only hope that her uncles weren't too worried.
With that, she gently took the girl's hand and began walking toward the direction of the parking lot, completely forgetting about the things she had intended to buy for her mother.
The supermarket doors slid open as they stepped out, a faint breeze brushing past them. The sky remained overcast, the air cool and slightly heavy, as if rain might fall at any moment.
As they walked, the little girl chatted nonstop. From her endless chatter, An Mei Lin learned that her name was Little Xin and that she was the only grandchild in her family. Her parents were abroad, and she was currently on holiday, spending time with her grandparents and her uncles.
"Pretty Sister Lin, what's your name?" Little Xin suddenly asked, tilting her head curiously as she stared up at her with wide, expectant eyes.
A small smile tugged at An Mei Lin's lips. She had only known this little girl for a few minutes, yet she already found her irresistibly adorable.
"You can call me Sister Lin," she replied gently, her voice soft as she tried her best not to appear too distant or cold.
It was clear she wasn't used to interacting with children. The situation felt unfamiliar, slightly awkward… yet oddly comforting.
"Okay!" Little Xin nodded enthusiastically. "Big Sister Lin, you are the prettiest girl I've ever seen. I always tell my uncles they should marry someone as pretty as you." She paused briefly, her eyes lighting up with mischief. "Pretty Sister Lin, do you have a boyfriend?"
An Mei Lin nearly choked on her own breath at the unexpected question.
How did this little girl even know about things like this?
A faint blush crept onto her face, something that rarely happened.
Throughout her life, she had never once considered dating. Her time and energy had always been consumed by her mother's condition and the responsibilities of her company. The idea of romance had never crossed her mind.
Back in high school and even during college, countless boys had tried to approach her. Confessions, gifts, letters… she had received them all. Yet, she had turned every single one down without hesitation, never sparing them more than a glance.
And now…
She found herself being questioned about her love life by a five-year-old.
Looking down, she saw Little Xin blinking at her expectantly, clearly waiting for an answer.
"No, I don't," An Mei Lin replied softly, shaking her head. For some reason, she felt slightly embarrassed saying it out loud.
She watched as Little Xin's expression shifted from confusion to pure excitement in an instant. Her face lit up with a wide, delighted smile that made An Mei Lin's already softened heart melt even further.
"Great!!!" Little Xin exclaimed happily. "Then I can introduce you to my uncles! Pretty Sister Lin, they're very handsome. Well… one of them is a little cold, but he's still really, really good-looking!"
Little Xin continued rambling excitedly, her voice filled with enthusiasm.
An Mei Lin, however, froze slightly.
Her mind struggled to process what the little girl was implying.
Was this child… trying to set her up with her uncles?
Why was everyone trying to marry her off today?
First her father…
And now Little Xin too?