19 Oh! Hello!

Big Mama, as she was called by everyone in the town because of her stature and nature, noticed the gesture before she bent down and whispered something in little Ella's ears whose grinned had widened so much that it dominated her whole face before she nodded and raced into the kitchen. Suddenly Matt felt desolate, watching as his little pixie raced away towards the kitchen, having forgotten all about him. Probably for a candy...He had been abandoned by his guardian angel! No! The little pixie was definitely send by the devil, he had been about to go back when she caught him and then brought him here to be hit by a rolling pin! Well...guess he would have to take it with a pinch of salt...he could maybe tell Neil about the new experience. That man had a skewed sense of humor like the devil and he would definitely enjoy it!

As Matt was lost in his musings, Big Mama had come over and picked up his identity card. She looked at the picture of the man and then him carefully. For the first time, Matt felt the urge to fidget and he had to remind himself he was no young greenhorn! But a grown man...

Big Mama, glared at the man but after confirming the id was not fake, she nodded and placed it on the table, before asking in an interrogative tone," Mr. Long! You are far away from home. What brings you to our small town?"

Though the rolling pin had been brought down, Big Mama was still suspicious of the man, thus she could not help but be a little rude. Theirs was a small town and the little interaction they had had with city people were noting short of disgusting! It was as if parents in cities never taught their children any manners!

Matt was irritated at being questioned and wanted to snap at the woman that it was none of her business but stopped himself and answered shortly," I was just passing through the town, Ma'm."

Big mama nodded wisely, her expression telling him she definitely did not believe him, before suspiciously asking, "How do you know our little Ella?"

Just then, a loud banging started on the door and both the people turned their heads to stare at it. Matt raised his eyebrows at the door while Big Mama frowned at it and a voice sounded," Big Mama! I just received a call from Mimi! Mimi said that Ella is in danger and there is a dangerous man here! Is Ella here? Big mama? Big mam?"

The frantic knocking and panicky sentences, made Matt roll his eyes while Ella and 'Mimi' came rushing out of the kitchen door! Not giving the adults time to react, Ella turned to the pink haired girl, and scolded," Sister Miao? Why did you say that to my mommy. My Prince is not dangerous!"

With that she ran to the door and started to bang back, shouting," Mummy! I am alright! You don't have to worry! Sister Miao was being naughty with you!"

By now, Big Mama had come back to her senses and she trudged to the door hurriedly throwing it open.

Matt noticed a woman dressed in a jeans and sweater rush in before she honed in on the pixie and picked her up in a tight hug.

Matt sat back down on his chair, sighing heavily. It was going to be a long night of explanations...Once Qian Qian had confirmed that her daughter was fine, she looked at Big Mama in question who simply pointed a thumb towards the man who was slouching in a chair.

Qian Qian narrowed her eyes and marched towards the man. Her first thought was that Thank the fates it was not Shawn! When she had first received the phone call, she had been worried out of her mind and come rushing without a thought. Her second thought when she saw the bent down head, she felt a burning desire to lash out at the man. And thus, she pushed her daughter into Big mama's arms and marched towards the man who then followed Qian Qian ready to support the woman.

But before a word could have left her mouth, Qian Qian stopped short and her mouth fell open. Matt had only just looked up, ready to give some explanations when he too was stunned...

After a moment of charged silence while Ella and Big Mama stared at the two people in anticipation, in an about turn of events, Qian Qian docilely said, "Hello, Mr. Long."