Being carried onto an ambulance at the start? But this is America!

As the three were talking, a slightly tired but steady sound of footsteps approached from afar.

A tall figure stepped through the shadow cast by the overpass and into the dim light of the camp.

"Roland, you're finally back!"

Old Tom was the first to speak in the camp, his voice tinged with relief and warmth, "Two energetic young men have been waiting for you for ages, you look exhausted... Still haven't sorted things out with Eloise?"

Li Ping turned his head and looked over, slightly taken aback, his eyes filled with amazement.

The person who came had a kind of beauty that made people forget about gender at first glance.

Her short, brown hair was neat yet fluffy, just covering her ears, and her features were strikingly sculpted.

With fair and delicate skin, wearing a brown casual suit and white trousers, she is a top beauty who appeals to both men and women.

She seemed out of place in this homeless camp, as if she didn't belong on the same level.

"Indeed... cool."

The word popped into Li Ping's mind, and he couldn't help but feel a little ashamed.

I've seen all sorts of beautiful women online in my past life, but this one is truly rare.

Roland reminded Li Ping of a Hollywood actress named Kate Beckinsale from his previous life, except that the woman in front of him had a smaller mouth and softer facial features, making her more in line with Eastern aesthetics.

"Roland..."

The people in the camp greeted her, their eyes filled with respect, admiration, and reliance.

She is the pillar of support here.

"If you ask me,"

Camilla leaned close to Li Ping's ear, her voice low and tinged with regret and gossip.

"If Roland were willing to grow her hair long and dress up a little, she would definitely be more charming than most women. It's a pity that she only likes young girls."

I heard there was once a rich second-generation guy whose family owned a mine. He brought a whole convoy of luxury cars to propose, but she used legal jargon to shut him down, almost getting him reported for harassment on the spot.

She shrugged. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have ended up squatting under a bridge with us."

Upon hearing that she was a lesbian, a strange thought crossed Li Ping's mind, but he didn't dare to think about it too deeply.

This is very much in line with the American spirit—people should not arbitrarily define the gender of others.

Roland didn't hear Camilla's mutterings; her face showed weariness from dealing with a busy day, as she surveyed the camp.

Until her gaze fell on Camilla, it was as if a warm breeze blew across the frozen lake, softening her features instantly, and even revealing a genuine, warm smile.

Li Ping gasped. How come Roland looks even more exaggerated than a man?

"Roland, how's Eloise doing?"

Camilla also smiled brightly and went to greet her.

"Same problem, I've had to pay on credit three times already, and the boss is holding me captive. I'm going to settle the bill."

Roland's voice was a little hoarse, but his tone was calm. He walked over and naturally gave Camilla a brief hug.

"How many times has this happened? And she didn't come back with you; she's off fooling around again?"

Camilla felt sorry for her and couldn't help but raise her voice, "That woman is a bottomless pit, Roland! Without her, you could have left this hellhole long ago!"

"I can't bear to leave here, especially Camilla!"

Roland gently patted Camilla's back, his smile like that of a helpless husband, "Let's not talk about this anymore."

Her gaze swept over Camilla's shoulder, and she seemed to only then truly notice the two unfamiliar faces, Li Ping and Li Fan. That gentle look quickly vanished, replaced by a businesslike aloofness.

"Okay, okay, I won't say anything more, so you won't use that 'she helped me when I was at my lowest point' line to shut me up again."

Camilla rolled her eyes, turned around, pulled Roland over, and pointed at the Li Ping brothers.

"Here they are Ping Li and Fan Li, introduced by Ms. Marina. They're nice people, and they just came from the youth center not long ago."

"Hello, Bros."

Upon hearing that Marina had introduced him, Roland stepped forward, extended his hand, and used the fist bump gesture commonly seen between men on the street, a crisp and clean movement.

His gaze lingered on Li Ping's face for a moment, carrying an assessment, "I heard you've been waiting for me."

"Ms. Roland, it's an honor to meet you."

Li Ping quickly handed over the well-preserved note.

He keenly observed the difference in Roland's attitudes toward men and women.

For Camilla, it was a warm sun melting the snow; for the men at the camp, it was all business.

Roland took the note, glanced at it, and confirmed it was real. He then casually pulled over an old wooden stool to sit down and gestured for Li Ping to sit as well.

She cut to the chase: "Tell me about your situation, and what you need me to do."

Li Ping composed himself and briefly recounted how the two brothers were deceived by their uncle, smuggled themselves across the border, lost all their documents, and ended up homeless after being detained for four months.

Emphasizing the current situation: no identity, no relatives or friends, no property, yearning to escape the streets and seek a place to settle down and a possibility for the future.

"So, we'd like to ask... if we can join your camp? We promise we won't touch drugs or get involved with gangs; we just want a place where we can sleep peacefully for a while."

Finally, Li Ping made his core request.

After listening, Roland remained silent for a moment, his fingers unconsciously tapping on his knee, as if weighing something.

She nodded decisively: "Sure, there's still room over there with Old Tom, and I have an old tent that you can use if you don't mind."

Remember the camp rules: maintain cleanliness, don't steal from or rob other members, and deal with any trouble you cause cleanly so as not to implicate others.

"The most important thing is to stay away from drugs!"

Thank you so much!

Li Ping felt relieved; this was the first step he had taken.

He pressed on, asking an even more crucial question: "In addition, what conditions need to be met if we want to obtain a valid California driver's license or work permit in the future and get rid of being undocumented?"

We don't want to live like this forever.

There's a former lawyer here; might as well ask.

Upon hearing this question, Roland seemed to be pulled back from some kind of reverie.

From now on, they would be partners in the same camp. She looked at Li Ping again, this time with more approval in her eyes.

She tugged at the corners of her mouth, revealing a smile. "I must say, bro,"

She bumped fists with Li Ping again, this time with a slightly stronger force. "You guys have some special luck."

Li Ping immediately adopted a posture of attentive listening.

Li Fan, standing next to him, was trying hard to distinguish the words, his brows furrowed.

"Based on your situation, you are a minor who entered the country, have no immediate family members to act as guardians domestically or internationally, and have been detained by immigration authorities in a youth center for more than four months..."

Roland spoke at a steady pace, uttering one legal term after another.

"You are eligible to apply directly for a special immigrant status: SIJS, which, if all goes well, can lead directly to a green card."

"Apply for a green card directly?"

Li Ping was truly stunned; this surprise came too suddenly.

"What? They can apply for a green card directly?"

Camilla, standing nearby, couldn't help but gasp in surprise, her face filled with disbelief, and even a fleeting hint of disappointment and bitterness that she herself might not have noticed.

"I'm still waiting patiently for a work permit!"

She blurted it out, then realized her mistake and awkwardly pursed her lips.

Roland gave Camilla an understanding look, softened his voice, but continued to explain to them.

"That's the nature of SIJS's terms."

Your situation is almost tailor-made for it: you are a minor, your parents or relatives in the US or abroad have passed away, and you have no effective guardianship.

"As long as the appropriate procedure is found, a ruling is made through juvenile court, and Form I-360 is obtained... the chances are very good."

She paused, then added, "Camilla, your situation is different. Your parents are both illegal immigrants and are on record."

"Okay...okay..."

Camilla took a deep breath and forced a smile. "Congratulations, this... this is truly wonderful news."

I'm afraid my friends will suffer, and I'm also afraid my friends will drive Land Rovers.

She seemed to want to leave the topic of conversation, and suddenly turned to Li Fan, who had been completely bewildered, and tugged at his sleeve.

"Hey, big guy, don't just stand there. Come on, help me find Roland's old tent and set it up. You can also practice your spoken English while you're at it."

She pulled the bewildered Li Fan away, leaving Roland to continue explaining the complex yet hopeful legal provisions to Li Ping.

As night deepened, the solar panels flickered with light, igniting a flame of hope in Li Ping's heart.

"Can I really... apply for a green card directly?"

Li Ping was still reeling from the good news; finding a lawyer had definitely been the right decision.

Camilla's statement, "On the street, a good fighter can win a night, a good thief can win a day, but a good lawyer can ensure you never lose," seems quite insightful.