By now, A-Luo seemed to have fallen asleep. I held him up, suppressing my disgust, and guided him up the stairs. The lack of lighting made it treacherous, and I nearly tumbled down a few times. After struggling to the third floor, I found Apartment 302 and knocked on the door, calling, “Aunt He Pei, it’s Yun Hao. Please open the door.”
Before long, the door opened, and Aunt He Pei, dressed in her pajamas, appeared. When she saw A-Luo in this state, she immediately took him from me, her expression full of concern, and helped him inside.
I followed her into the apartment. It was a small space, just a few dozen square meters, with everything cramped together.
Aunt He Pei laid A-Luo down on the sofa and brought over a basin of water to clean him up. Only after finishing everything did she stand up, looking at me apologetically. “Thank you so much, Yun Hao,” she said.
“It’s no trouble. Chen Qiao Luo is my friend—it’s what I should do,” I replied politely.
Unlike the heavy makeup and charm she wore at the bar, this was the real Aunt He Pei. Though her bare face lacked the striking allure of her makeup, it revealed her true self. Watching her care for A-Luo just now, I clearly felt the profound love of a mother—the most selfless, unconditional love there is.
At that moment, I suddenly thought of my dad. He loves me so much and spoils me endlessly. No matter what I do, he always forgives me. He often says I’m his treasure, but isn’t he my treasure as well?
As I was reminiscing about all the little moments I’d shared with my dad, Aunt He Pei suddenly spoke earnestly:
“Yun Hao, I know you’re a good kid, and I can see that you truly care about our A-Luo as a friend. So, as his aunt, I’m begging you—please help him as much as you can.”
Her serious tone startled me. I quickly replied, “Auntie, you don’t even need to say that. I’d do it anyway. I know you care deeply for Chen Qiao Luo and want what’s best for him, but you also know how much he hates seeing you suffer. To him, aren’t you the most important person in his world?”
“Sigh.” Aunt He Pei let out a long breath and said, “This child has suffered too much since he was little, growing up with me through all the hardships. The mess his father left behind back then has now become his burden to clean up. It’s us parents who are to blame—we didn’t fulfill our responsibilities, and that’s why he’s turned out like this.”
She looked at me and continued, “You’re A-Luo’s first real friend. I know he genuinely values you. So, Yun Hao, please, pull him back when he strays. I don’t want him to end up like his father.”
Seeing her like this made my heart ache. I nodded firmly and said, “I understand, Auntie. I promise you, I won’t let Chen Qiao Luo go down the wrong path.”
* * *
When I got home, I saw my dad anxiously waiting in the living room. As soon as he saw me, he rushed over and hugged me tightly. Caught off guard, I stared at him in confusion until he said, “Sweetheart, you scared your old man to death! I woke up in the middle of the night and saw your door open, your phone left behind—I thought something had happened to you.”
I froze for a moment before realizing I’d been in such a rush earlier that I forgot to take my phone. Thinking back to everything Aunt He Pei had told me at Chen Qiao Luo’s house, I suddenly felt that all parents in the world are remarkable in their own way.
Take my dad, for example—he didn’t even ask where I’d been so late at night. All he cared about was whether I was safe.
Moved by his unconditional love, I wrapped my arms around him and said, my voice tinged with emotion, “Dad, thank you.”
Thank you for loving me so much. Thank you for accepting all my moods and stubbornness.
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