Chapter 22 The Person Who Glimpsed
David noticed the situation and quickly shouted, "Hey! Where are you going?"
The man didn't answer, just kept walking away, leaving behind a dignified silhouette.
After leaving the café, he headed to the nearby bakery where Bianca was.
He gently tapped the table twice with his well-defined fingers.
The charm on his bracelet swayed slightly with the movement, catching Bianca's eye.
Bianca's gaze was instantly drawn to it, and she looked up instinctively.
When she saw the man in front of her, a flicker of recognition sparked in her clear eyes.
Bianca seemed to recognize him as the person who had helped her that day.
The man noticed the change in her expression and spoke in a voice as cool and gentle as a winter breeze, "Do you remember me?"
Bianca instinctively nodded.
The man smiled softly and said, "Looks like we meet again. Is the cake good?"
Bianca nodded again and subconsciously pushed her little cake toward him, clearly wanting to share.
"I don't eat cake," he said, a gentle smile forming between his refined brows. He declined Bianca's offer and then gently ruffled her hair. "You enjoy it. I came here to give you this..."
With that, he placed something in front of Bianca.
Curious, Bianca looked at it, and her eyes were immediately drawn to the painting.
Bianca recognized the image—it was her.
The painting included flowers, sunshine, flying doves, and even balloons!
Her eyes lit up, and she became incredibly animated.
In a sweet, childlike voice, she asked, "Is this... me?"
The man nodded with a smile. "Yes, that's you, and these are your friends."
He gently guided Bianca, saying, "Not just them, there are many things in the world you can be friends with! Like the little potted plant on the table, or cats and dogs. When you have free time, you can talk to them!"
Bianca listened, not fully understanding but still very happy. She carefully picked up the painting and continued to stare at it.
The man didn't disturb her further.
When he first met Bianca, he had noticed that she had autism.
But he didn't intervene at that time.
Today, he wanted to thank her for the inspiration she had given him to complete a perfect piece of art.
Moreover, a brief encounter was enough; too much guidance could be overwhelming.
After giving Bianca the painting, he didn't linger and soon returned to the café.
He hadn't been gone long when Olivia returned with the balloons she had bought.
She walked quickly.
Earlier, across the street, she had seen someone standing next to Bianca's table.
The sight had startled her.
She was worried the person might be dangerous and could harm Bianca, so she hurried back.
But when she arrived, the person was gone.
"Bianca!" Olivia called out worriedly.
Seeing Bianca safe and sound, Olivia's heart slowly calmed down.
When Olivia returned, Bianca excitedly handed her the cherished painting.
"Mommy... look, it's me!" she exclaimed.
"What?" Olivia asked, puzzled, as she glanced at the paper Bianca handed her.
When her eyes focused on the painting, she was deeply drawn to its contents.
She immediately recognized the image of Bianca.
But the Bianca depicted in the painting was unlike any version she had ever seen.
The girl in the painting had clear, vibrant eyes filled with energy, a sweet smile on her lips, surrounded by sunshine and flowers, like a fairy descended to Earth, evoking deep affection.
Looking at the painting, Olivia felt a surge of emotion.
Her eyes reddened.
She had always thought that, apart from herself and Evelyn, no one else would view Bianca with such normalcy and appreciation.
Despite Bianca's autism and her struggles with emotional expression, Olivia, as her mother, deeply understood Bianca's inner world.
To Olivia, her Bianca was just like the painting—a sweet, adorable angel and a colorful canvas.
She just hadn't had the chance to add the colors yet.
Olivia was amazed that someone could capture the essence of Bianca so vividly.
Her heart filled with joy, and she remembered the figure she had seen near Bianca earlier.
Olivia quickly asked, "Sweetie, who gave you this painting?"
Bianca replied, "It was the nice man..."
"The nice man?" Olivia asked, "Where is he?"
She simply wanted to thank him.
From the painting, she could tell that he was a skilled artist.
Despite the simplicity, it had high artistic value.
Most importantly, he had captured Bianca so beautifully, and she was genuinely grateful.
Bianca tilted her head in confusion, realizing the man who gave her the painting was gone.
She looked around and confirmed he wasn't there before telling Olivia, "The man... disappeared..."
"Alright," Olivia said, feeling a bit disappointed but not dwelling on it.
He was likely a street artist nearby.
Maybe he had already left!
Olivia composed herself and helped Bianca put the painting away.
Then she handed Bianca the balloons she had bought, "Look, I got the little fox balloon for you!"
Bianca's attention shifted back to the pink fox balloon, happily holding the string.
Olivia, worried it might slip away, tied the string loosely around Bianca's wrist.
As they walked home, Bianca held Olivia's hand with one and shook her arm with the other.
Watching the balloon sway up and down, Bianca felt especially happy, her mouth curled into a cute smile, and her steps seemed to bounce with joy!
Olivia noticed everything.
Later, when Bianca and Olivia returned home, Olivia found a frame that fit the painting perfectly.
Bianca seemed to love it, holding it close and reluctant to let go.
Even during meals and baths, she didn't want to put it down!