Translator: Lonelytree Editor: Millman97
He had stayed away from home when he entered university, but he would visit her week.
It had been almost three weeks since the last time he had gone to his mother’s. The last visit had been on New Year’s Eve.
He would arrange for his mother to go for a physical check every year, and her health report had just arrived at his office a few days ago.
Reminded of this fact, Su Zhinian searched for his mother’s health report and sighed in relief when he realized everything seemed to be fine. However, it didn’t take long for his heart to start worrying again.
He was unable to focus during work. Su Zhinian thought it about and finally decided to leave the company and pay his mother a visit.
It was sunset when he arrived, and the house was painted a golden red.
It was his mother’s personal nurse who opened the door for him. The nurse was pleasantly surprised by his visit. After she greeted him, she ran upstairs, shouting,
Madam, Madam, Sir is home.
Soon after that, his mother came down the stairs with a face full of smiles.
Auntie Su couldn’t help herself from enquiring about his recent situation. When the nurse went to prepare dinner, his mother leaned in to ask probingly,
Are you going to stay for dinner?
Su Zhinian nodded, and his mother stood up and headed toward the kitchen happily. Through the exhaust fan, he could hear his mother order the nurse to cook every one of his favorite dishes.
He was abandoned in the living room, and the television was playing a children’s animation. Bored, he pulled out his phone and flipped through it. When he opened WhatsApp, the post that Song Qingchun had uploaded one minute earlier appeared on screen.
Today’s spoil of war, he he he…
It was attached to a picture taken with her bed as the background. It consisted of various cosmetics, jewelry, bags, and clothes.
As per his usual habit, Su Zhinian raised his hand to click like, but before he reached the red heart button, he was reminded of the decision he had made the day before and eventually pulled his finger away after some hesitation.
The dinner was scrumptious, and it filled the whole table. His favorite dishes were all there.
After dinner, the nurse served a fruit plate. Su Zhinian picked a slice of apple up with a toothpick and was about to toss it into his mouth when he heard a message alert coming from his phone.
He chewed on the apple as he pulled his phone out.
The apple was sweet and sour, but when he read the message, the fruit in his mouth seemed to turn into tasteless wax.
It was a simple message from Song Qingchun.
Are you still at work? When are you coming home?
Coming home… Su Zhinian stopped chewing, and his eyes dimmed.
Zhinian, have some more.
His mother pushed the plate of fruit toward him after she noticed that he had stopped moving.
Thanks.
Su Zhinian recovered and poked another piece of apple. As he did so, the phone in his hand vibrated again. He turned toward it subconsciously and realized it was another message from Song Qingchun.
I’ve finished cooking dinner.
There was even a smiley face sent with it.
Su Zhinian stared at his phone for a long time but didn’t reply. Eventually, he closed his eyes, shoved another piece of apple into his mouth, and put the phone back into his pocket.
…
Song Qingchun waited for Su Zhinian’s reply until 9.30 pm, and nothing came.
