Chapter 172: Chapter 172: Afraid They Won’t Return Mommy to Kenny!
It’s not that he was belittling himself.
If it weren’t for her, he wouldn’t have noticed these things at all.
Besides...
The one who can bring hope to countless disaster victims and patients is her, not someone like him who only knows how to kill.
"Just by looking, you can understand thoroughly. You’re already way ahead of many people." Ann Vaughn gave a slight smile, tidied up the materials at hand, and put them down, only to see a corner of an envelope sticking out below.
She pulled it out and saw the emblem of "S Country" printed on it, with a rose-patterned seal at the closing.
Very different from the encrypted confidential documents sent by other countries.
Ann Vaughn was puzzled for a few seconds, then opened the seal and poured out the contents inside.
What caught her eye was the address "Ms. Vaughn". Ann raised her eyebrow in surprise, not expecting that S Country had even found out her real name.
"Is it an invitation?" Sutton Jennings glanced at the envelope and asked with a light laugh.
Ann nodded and put the letter back in the envelope, "It says they invite me to join the National Research Institute, offering treatment and rights second only to the director."
"What do you think?"
"Of course, I refuse. I’m used to being free and easy-going. I can’t stand being confined to one place." Ann shrugged, not the least bit tempted by the lucrative offer hinted at in the letter.
It’s not that she was deliberately playing hard to get.
After all, the number of problems she has solved for countries plagued by diseases and viruses over the years is more than a few, and many countries have offered her big money to visit them.
But she’s never been tempted.
Moreover, she doesn’t lack money now; as long as it’s enough to spend, why should she sacrifice her lifetime freedom for a country or for others?
"You’re quite magnanimous. If it were someone else, they might not have been able to resist the temptation and would have agreed long ago." Sutton Jennings smiled lightly, his peach blossom eyes twinkling, as he reached out to ruffle Ann’s hair, "Let’s go downstairs to eat."
"Okay."
Just after dinner, the sound marking the time from the tower clock of Isle of Flora came from outside.
Kenny had just washed his little hands clean, and upon hearing the sound, he quickly ran to Ann, who was watering flowers, "Mommy, mommy, the fireworks festival is about to start, right?"
He looked at Ann with a little expression saying "Quick, say yes."
The fireworks festival is an annual tradition on Isle of Flora, and this time, after the virus invasion, the residents paid extra attention, starting preparations two months ago.
Kenny had been listening to Walt’s tales of past fireworks festivals and had been looking forward to tonight for a long time.
Ann couldn’t help but pinch his little cheek, thought for a moment about the pile of research materials in the study, and then looked at Little Dumpling’s soft and expectant expression, and nodded.
"Yes, it’s tonight. Kenny, do you want to go play?"
"Kenny wants to! But Mommy, you must stay close to Kenny, okay!"
"Why don’t you stay close to Mommy instead?" Ann asked with a smile, puzzled.
Who knew Kenny would respond with a serious expression, "Because if we get lost, Kenny’s afraid if someone sees how cute Mommy is, they won’t want to give Mommy back to Kenny!"
Aww—
Ann’s little heart was suddenly hit, and she hugged Little Dumpling, rubbing his cheek, "Sweet boy, why are you so cute!"
Her heart was warmed to the point of steaming with joy.
Ann originally planned to call Sherry and Sutton Jennings along, but Sherry wasn’t interested in crowded gatherings, and Sutton Jennings had disappeared since after dinner, so she gave up.
Half an hour later, the pair, wearing mother-and-son matching outfits, excitedly stepped out.
The center city of the island was bursting with flowers under the illumination, crowded and lively with throngs of people, street stalls lined up one after another, stretching as far as the eye could see.
A formation of soldiers dressed as nutcrackers followed an elephant down the middle of the street, while cheers rang out on both sides.
Almost everyone had a sparkler in hand, heading toward the seaside.
Worried that the sparklers around might poke Kenny, Ann had to carefully avoid others.
"Mommy, can we go there?" Kenny pointed his little hand at a stall not far away, his big eyes sparkling.
"Sure, let’s squeeze through!" Ann gauged the distance, then picked up Kenny’s small body and swiftly dodged the surrounding people, reaching the stall front.
The stall owner, a resident of Isle of Flora, smiled kindly at the mother and son and directly handed them about ten rings, "Dr. Vaughn, Kenny, is this your first time seeing our Isle of Flora’s fireworks festival?"
Ann felt embarrassed to take them for free, so despite the stall owner’s refusal, she forced the money into his hands.
"Yes, Uncle Stall Owner." Kenny hugged the rings with his little arms, smiling sweetly, "You have to be careful, my mommy is really good at throwing rings!"
"You’re such a sweet talker. Have you seen it?" Ann chuckled, ruffling Kenny’s little head, took the rings from him, and asked, "Which one do you want?"
Kenny looked at the pile of plush toys in front of him, thought for a moment, then pointed to a silly little fox in the corner, "Kenny wants that one."
"Alright, wait for Mommy to get it for you!"
Rolling up her sleeves, Ann prepared to take on the challenge of tossing rings.
One, two, three...
All missed.
"So close!" Ann watched as the ring flew just over the little fox’s head and didn’t believe it for a second, "Don’t worry, Kenny, Mommy will definitely get this fox for you!"
"Mommy, actually Kenny isn’t..."
"Watch, Mommy will surely get it down!"
Kenny watched his mommy determined not to stop until she got that fox, a sly glint passing through his eyes. His mommy truly hadn’t lost her childlike heart.
If he hadn’t deliberately said he wanted to play, knowing his mommy’s attitude of racing against time when working, she would surely have planned to stroll a few laps and then head back.
Kenny couldn’t bear to see her so tired. It’s all about balancing work and rest.
Adults sure make kids worry.
Just then, the crowd following the parade suddenly surged in their direction, and as Kenny turned his little head, he was swept into the crowd by the rushing people!
"Mom—"
Ann responded and turned around, only to see Kenny being swept further and further away from her into the crowd!
A sinking feeling hit her heart, and her face changed color as she hurriedly chased after him!
"Kenny, Kenny!"
With the fireworks about to start on the sea, everyone was anxiously heading to the coast, and the crowd was vast and disorderly...
By the time Kenny managed to struggle out of the crowd, he had completely lost sight of Ann, the street was empty, and nearly everyone had rushed to the seaside.
"Mommy must be worried sick." Kenny glanced back at the bustling coast scene, then set off toward the opposite direction with his little legs.
Just as he reached the street corner, a respectful voice faintly came through.
"Sir, the natural scenery of our Isle of Flora is definitely the most outstanding among islands of the same size. If you consider commercial or tourism development here, I believe you won’t be disappointed."