The next day, I didn’t go to school and spent the whole day sleeping at home.
When Dad saw me come home reeking of alcohol the night before, he had been alarmed. Early in the morning, he called my homeroom teacher to request a day off for me. By noon, he had made goji berry chicken soup to help me recover.
My voice remained hoarse until the afternoon, though I could finally speak again.
That afternoon, Dad went out and came back holding two plane tickets. Smiling brightly, he said, “Sweetheart, I took a few days off. Let’s go to City B for a little getaway.”
In that moment, I realized how lucky I was to have a dad like him. He didn’t ask why I drank so much, nor did he press me for details. He simply knew I was unhappy and decided to take me on a trip to cheer me up.
I sent a message to Chen Qiao Luo letting him know I’d be traveling and packed a few clothes before heading to the airport with Dad.
City A and City B were far apart. Even after the two-hour flight, everything felt surreal.
After checking into the hotel, Dad took me to explore the night market. We caught a cab straight there, listening to live music at a small bar before heading to a nearby food street for a midnight snack.
We spent three days in City B, visiting every corner of the city. We hiked mountains, strolled through old streets, and shopped at malls. Dad did everything he could to make me happy, and for a while, it felt like I’d forgotten the pain Gu Yu had caused me.
* * *
We returned to City A on a Sunday afternoon. By then, I had made peace with myself. The world didn’t stop turning just because Gu Yu wasn’t part of it. There were so many things in my life I couldn’t bear to let go of—and he had never been the entirety of my world.
The call from Xiao Hei came the next afternoon. My phone buzzed incessantly in my pocket throughout an entire class period. As soon as the bell rang, I returned the call, only to hear his panicked voice.
“Yun Hao, something’s happened—Ah Luo’s been beaten up and is in the hospital.”
Even though I often bickered with Chen Qiao Luo and pretended to dislike him, the moment I heard he was hurt, my heart skipped a beat. I rushed to the hospital, where the doctor was stitching up his wounds.
Standing anxiously at the door, I turned to Xiao Hei and asked worriedly, “What happened? How did Chen Qiao Luo end up like this?”
“Sigh, it’s all my fault,” Xiao Hei said with a heavy sigh. “A few days ago, we had this customer at the bar. Generous, sure, but also a sleazy scumbag. He gave Sister He Pei a hard time—she endured a lot. Last night, Ah Luo came to see me, and I accidentally let it slip. You know how hot-tempered he is—he couldn’t stand the thought of his mom being mistreated. That same night, he went and gave the guy a beating. But that man seems to have some influence. Today, he sent some people to teach Ah Luo a lesson.”
Bars are chaotic places, and Aunt He Pei, singing there, often had to deal with trouble. I could understand why Chen did what he did, but seeing him covered in injuries made me both angry and upset.
Seeing my silence, Xiao Hei spoke again, guilt heavy in his voice. “It’s all my fault. If I’d kept my mouth shut, Ah Luo wouldn’t have ended up like this.”
“No, this isn’t your fault,” I replied before asking, “Does Aunt He Pei know about this?”
“Not yet. Ah Luo doesn’t want her to worry.”
Typical of Chen Qiao Luo—no matter what, he’d never let Aunt He Pei be troubled. I sighed, choosing not to say more.
Soon, the doctor came out. Exchanging a glance with Xiao Hei, I walked into the room.
Chen looked surprised to see me. After a brief pause, he asked, “Zhu Yun Hao, what are you doing here?”
“Came to see if you’re dead,” I said flatly.
Hearing this, Chen immediately plastered on a shameless grin. “How could I possibly die? If I did, you’d be so lonely you wouldn’t know what to do with yourself.”
“Ha! If you died, I’d be so happy the world would feel peaceful again,” I retorted, my words completely at odds with my true feelings. “You’re so annoying. The sooner you’re gone, the quieter everything will be.”
“Hey, hey, Zhu Yun Hao, have you ever considered my feelings before saying such things?” Chen pretended to look heartbroken. “I’ve treated you so well, and this is the thanks I get? All my kindness wasted on you!”
“Yeah, sure. You’re such an angel to me,” I said with an exaggerated eye roll. “If you’d just stop causing trouble, that would already be a blessing.”
“Hmph.”
Chen leaned back against his pillow and turned to Xiao Hei. “Xiao Hei, when you see my mom tonight, tell her I’m staying at your place for a few days so she doesn’t worry.”
“Got it,” Xiao Hei replied.
I didn’t know much about Chen’s family. All I knew was that he and Aunt He Pei relied on each other. As for his father, he never spoke about him.
I thought to myself, everyone carries a scar they’d rather not touch.
0 Comments