In the afternoon, our senior year classes ended later than theirs. Annuo sent several messages urging me to pick her up quickly. I checked the time a few times and finally slipped out early while the teacher wasn't around.
When I got home, Dad wasn't there, and Beibei had also returned to school for the new semester. Mom was alone in the kitchen, busy cooking. I quickly went over to offer my help, saying, "Why aren't you resting in bed? What are you doing in the kitchen?"
"If I stayed in bed, what would you all eat?" Mom replied casually while bending over to chop vegetables.
"You should go back and rest. Let me handle this." I moved closer, trying to take the kitchen knife from her hand, but she dodged away and scolded me, "What are you doing? Be careful with your hands!"
"Leave it to me. You should rest."
"Do you even know how to chop vegetables?"
"I do."
Mom gave me a sidelong glance. "You know how to eat."
I took the knife from her hand, nudged her aside with my hip, and began carefully slicing the potatoes, one piece at a time.
"Who says I can't do it? Look, I'm doing just fine. It's just potato shreds, after all!"
Mom seemed surprised. "When did you learn how to use a knife?"
"Impressed, aren't you? I learned from Dad a while ago. How does it look?"
"Your grip on the knife is quite proper."
Feeling proud, I wanted to show off a bit and gradually sped up my chopping.
"Don't get carried away. Are these potato shreds? They look more like fries. Alright, alright, just step aside." Mom took the knife back, nudged me away, and demonstrated while saying, "See? This is how you do it."
I stood by and watched carefully. Mom's technique was indeed fast and steady, and the potato shreds were as thin as if they'd been made with a grater.
I couldn't help but clap and praise her. "You're the professional, Mom. You're so fast I can barely keep up. Do another one."
Mom chopped another potato, and I kept praising her. She kept chopping, and by the time she had filled a whole basket with potato shreds, I was still showering her with compliments.
Mom put her hands on her waist, panting slightly, and said, "Alright, alright, stop hanging around here. Go back to your room and study."
"I just want to watch you cook."
"What's so interesting about cooking?"
"Mostly, I just like watching you cook. It makes me feel really at ease."
Mom shot me a sidelong glare. "Don't you try sweet-talking me here."
I started to panic, afraid she was getting angry, and quickly slipped out. Even though things between us had eased up a bit, there was still some distance. Getting too close might just annoy her.
So, I spent my days picking up Annuo from school in the morning, dropping her off in the evening, and then coming home to study diligently. Day after day, a whole week passed in the blink of an eye.
One evening when I got back, I saw Mom sitting on the living room sofa, arms crossed, legs crossed, with a cold, stern expression on her face.
Instinctively, I knew something was wrong. I greeted her softly and tried to sneak back to my room, but she called me back in a voice so icy it held no trace of emotion. My heart sank, and I walked over with my head down.
"What have you been up to lately?" Mom asked coldly.
I didn't dare look her in the eye. Tilting my head, I replied guiltily, "Nothing much. Just... going to school, coming home, eating, studying. That's all."
Mom glared at me, furious. "Your homeroom teacher just contacted me. He said you've been late and leaving early every day lately. What are you trying to do, Ling Xiaodong? You just settled down for a couple of days, and now you're starting up again, is that it?"
"I... no, I... I've been studying really hard. I've been on my best behavior, not daring to make a single mistake."
"Then tell me, where do you go every day, leaving early and coming back late?" Mom stared straight at me, her face like frost.
"I... really didn't go anywhere." I frowned anxiously, wanting to confess but afraid of how angry she'd get if I did.
"You're not going to tell me the truth?" Mom's chest heaved with anger as she pointed at me. "Are you trying to provoke me on purpose?"
"No, no." I clasped my hands together, pleading. "Mom, please don't be angry. I'm not, I really didn't do anything."
Mom looked around, then grabbed a broom from the kitchen and swung it at my backside. Instinctively, I stepped forward to dodge it.
"You dare dodge?" Mom's eyes widened as she held the broom, pointing it at me and shouting angrily, "Stand still!"
As soon as she finished speaking, she swung the broom again. This time, I didn't dare dodge. I gritted my teeth, stood straight, and took the hit. Luckily, the broom handle was hollow plastic, and with my clothes in the way, it didn't hurt too much.
"Speak! Where did you go?" Mom asked while hitting me, her voice growing hoarse.
I stood there, not daring to move a muscle, feeling puzzled. Something about Mom's anger seemed off. Even if I was late or left early, she could have just asked. This felt like an interrogation, like she was forcing a confession—it didn't make sense.
"Mom, please don't be angry. You just had surgery, don't... ouch."
Mom kept hitting me until, with a loud crack, the broom handle finally split.
Still fuming, Mom glared at me, threw the broom on the floor with force, turned around, and stormed back into her bedroom. The door slammed shut with a loud bang.
Rubbing my backside and frowning, I wondered why Mom was so irritable today. Had she been holding in her anger for over a month and finally couldn't take it anymore? Or maybe... was it that time of the month?
When Dad came home, he started complaining about dinner, only to find that Mom hadn't cooked anything at all. He muttered a few words, and Mom immediately tore into him.
Dad hunched his shoulders as he walked into my bedroom and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong with your mom? Did you upset her again?"
"I made a small mistake."
His eyes widened. "Nonsense. Would a small mistake make your mom this angry?"
Frowning, I said pitifully, "I think maybe Mom is having her period."
"Having what?" Dad didn't understand.
"You know... women have a few days every month. I heard their temper isn't great during that time. You're experienced, you should know better than me."
Dad nodded in agreement at first, then counted on his fingers for a while before shaking his head. "No, the timing is off."
"What timing?" Now I was confused.
"Your mom's period already passed." Dad gave me a sidelong glance. "Alright, stop overthinking. Focus on your studies. I'll go cook."
During dinner, Mom's attitude toward me turned icy again. I felt a bit uneasy and kept stealing glances at her, noticing she remained frowning with a hint of worry.
After dinner, I mustered the courage to enter my parents' bedroom.
Mom was sitting on the edge of the bed looking at her phone. She glanced at me but didn't say anything.
I approached her and whispered, "Mom, can I ask you for a favor?"
After a moment of silence, she replied coldly, "Speak."
"The district-wide exams are coming up soon, and my English scores are still a bit unstable. Could you help me?"
Mom hesitated, put down her phone, and stood up to leave. When she reached the door, she turned back and saw me still standing there. Impatiently, she said, "What are you waiting for? Come on."
Only then did I snap out of it and quickly followed Mom back to my bedroom.
This was just an excuse I came up with to test Mom's attitude toward me. Sure enough, Mom still cared most about my grades. This trick always worked.
The next morning, before leaving the house, Mom warned me, "If you're late again, don't blame me for being harsh."
I agreed repeatedly and then rushed out of the house as if fleeing.
On my way to pick up Anuo, I kept thinking and worrying. Taking Anuo to and from school meant risking being late, but since I had already promised, backing out halfway felt wrong.
After picking up Anuo and heading downstairs, I stared closely at her right leg. Anuo asked suspiciously, "What are you looking at?"
"Your leg... is it feeling better?"
"I don't know. It still hurts when I walk."
"I remember the doctor said your leg injury wasn't too serious."
"Haven't you heard? It takes a hundred days to recover from a bone or tendon injury." Anuo glanced at me sideways. "What's wrong? Are you tired of me?"
"No~!" I dragged out the word. "How could I be tired of you?"
"Something's off. You seem troubled. Is something on your mind?"
I forced a bitter smile. "Are you a fortune teller?"
Anuo laughed. "Tell me about it. Maybe I can help."
"It's nothing major. It's just that I'm always late or leaving early because I take you to and from school, and my homeroom teacher told my mom directly," I explained to her.
"Did your mom get angry?"
"Of course."
"Oh... I see." Anuo pursed her lips and tilted her head. "Alright then, starting tomorrow, you don't have to worry about me anymore."
Seeing her attitude, I knew she was being sarcastic. I sighed and said, "Stop being so passive-aggressive. If I say I'll pick you up and drop you off, I mean it. I keep my word."
Anuo snorted, "You didn't keep your word on New Year's Eve."
"Just get on the bike. If we keep talking, we'll both be late."
I helped Anuo onto the back seat and rode out of the neighborhood. Halfway there, I turned my head to discuss with her, "I'll leave earlier tomorrow, and you should get up earlier too, so I won't be late."
"How early?"
"Five-thirty."
"What would I do there that early?"
"Let's compromise a little."
"Oh, fine."
I thought she'd argue with me some more, but I didn't expect her to agree so readily. All the arguments I had prepared were left unsaid.
"Then in the afternoon after school, I'll pick you up a bit later. You can stay at school for a while after class."
"Actually, there's no need for all that trouble. I can just rest at home."
"What?"
Before I could understand what she meant, I saw her suddenly jump off the back seat of the bike. She landed on her injured right foot, and since I was riding pretty fast, she fell to the ground and rolled several times.
Horrified, I quickly stopped the bike and ran back, exclaiming anxiously, "What... what are you doing?"
Tears welled up in Anuo's eyes from the pain, but she still grinned and said, "Hey, hurry up and take me to the hospital."
"You did that on purpose!"
With tears in her eyes, Anuo laughed heartily, "Yes, I did it on purpose."
"You..." I was both angry and worried, not knowing what to say to her. I didn't dare let her ride on the electric bike again, so I hailed a taxi and took her to the hospital.
After another X-ray, the doctor examined it and said it was fine, nothing had worsened.
But Anuo kept crying out in pain, insisting on being hospitalized.
No matter how much I reasoned, coaxed, or pleaded, she wouldn't listen. She insisted on staying in the hospital, threatening to jump off a building if she wasn't admitted.
I believed she meant what she said and didn't dare take the risk. I had no choice but to beg the doctor to arrange a hospital bed for her.
Well, with all this commotion, I wasn't just late—I was outright skipping class.
Just as I expected, my mom called at nine-thirty, demanding to know where I was. I tried to lie, but she shouted through the phone, "Ling Xiaodong, if you don't give me a straight answer, don't even think about coming home again."
I was at my wit's end and had no choice but to tell the truth.
Before long, the familiar sound of high heels clicking against the floor echoed in the hallway.
Mom, dressed in a black suit skirt, thick flesh-colored stockings, and black high heels, had clearly rushed over from the office.
As soon as she entered the ward, she slapped the back of my head and demanded sharply, "Why aren't you in school? What are you doing at the hospital?" Then, noticing Anuo on the hospital bed, she frowned.
Anuo gave Mom a sweet smile, "Hello, Auntie."
Mom turned and glared at me, "Why is she here?"
"She... is here, staying in the hospital."
"I'm asking you what exactly is going on?"
I was so distressed I almost laughed. Mom snapped, "Are you crazy? What are you laughing at?"
Long before Mom arrived, I had thought of countless excuses in my head but couldn't come up with a suitable one. In the end, I had no choice but to tell the truth.
Of course, when it comes to matters of going to bed, it's best to save where you can and skip what you can.
Upon hearing this, Mom rested her forehead in her hand, her face full of worry. I placed my hand on her shoulder and said softly, "Mom, you're not angry, are you?"
"Get away! Don't touch me!" Mom shrugged my hand off, pulled out her phone, and walked out.
I turned back to look at Anuo and forced a bitter smile. "Alright, I've figured it out. This was all part of your plan, wasn't it?"
Anuo blinked her watery, innocent eyes and looked at me with a confused expression. "What are you talking about? I don't understand."
I waved my hand, both amused and exasperated. "Stop pretending to be innocent. I've been thinking about this for days and couldn't figure it out, but now I finally understand what you're trying to do."
"What am I trying to do?" Anuo asked playfully, still smiling.
"You know exactly what I mean," I retorted, rolling my eyes at her.
About twenty minutes later, Mom returned to the hospital room, accompanied by Dad.
"What's going on here?" Dad asked, looking a bit stunned when he saw Anuo, then turning to Mom. Mom replied angrily, "How should I know? You're the one who should explain."
Dad then turned to me. "What are you doing here? Why aren't you at school?"
"I..." I frowned. It wasn't something I could explain in a few words, and I wasn't sure how to tell Dad.
Just as I was struggling, Mom patted Dad on the shoulder and said, "Your daughter is lying in the hospital bed. Aren't you going to ask her what happened?"
Only then did Dad snap out of it. He walked over to the bed and asked gently, "Nuonuo, I've been trying to reach you for days. What happened?"
Anuo lifted the blanket to reveal her right leg wrapped in bandages. "I fractured my leg."
Dad leaned in to take a closer look. "How did that happen?"
Anuo smiled and said, "Brother was riding his bike with me, and we fell."
Both Mom and Dad turned their eyes toward me. I had intended to explain, but after a moment's thought, I decided against it. The more I tried to explain, the more complicated it would become.
Just then, the doctor arrived. Dad and Mom spoke with him for a few minutes and learned that Anuo's leg wasn't seriously injured, which eased their worries a little.
After the doctor left, Mom asked Dad, "Should we notify her family?"
Before Dad could answer, Anuo quickly interjected, "Don't call them. Even if they knew, they wouldn't come to see me."
"Why?" Mom asked, slightly puzzled.
"Because they hate me. They probably wish I'd die sooner," Anuo said, lowering her head and fiddling helplessly with her fingers, looking pitiful and vulnerable.
Mom and Dad exchanged a glance but said nothing. After a moment of silence, Mom gestured for me to follow her out of the room.
The three of us stepped out of the room one after another. Mom glared at me and demanded, "What exactly is going on?"
Before I could speak, Dad angrily chimed in, "Didn't I tell you not to have any private contact with Nuonuo? Why don't you ever listen?"
I frowned and said, "She already came to our house to find her father, and you two have acknowledged each other as father and daughter. I thought..."
Mom scolded me, "You thought what? That you could officially be her brother? Even if that's the case, what kind of brother are you? You broke her leg!"
I quickly defended myself, "It wasn't my fault. She fell on her own."
Mom sighed, looking at me with disappointment. "If you want to be her brother, you have to take responsibility. You didn't take good care of your sister, and now her leg is broken. Who else should we blame?"
"It really wasn't my fault."
"None of your business? Then why do you pick her up and drop her off every day? Are you just bored and looking for something to do?"
There was no way to clear this up, so I decided it was better to just keep my mouth shut.
After a moment of silence, Mom spoke up, "So, what are we going to do about this?"
I glanced at Dad and saw the corner of his mouth twitch slightly as he put on a troubled expression. "This really is a tricky situation. Her family over there doesn't seem to care about her, and her birth mother isn't around either. She's still young, but she's quite independent. If it weren't for her injured leg, she could take care of herself. It's just that right now..."
Mom stared at Dad expressionlessly, as if waiting for him to continue.
Dad cleared his throat and tentatively asked, "How about we let her stay with us for a couple of days until her leg heals?"
Mom crossed her arms and let out a cold laugh. "You're the head of the household, and she's your biological daughter. You can decide for yourself."
Dad quickly laughed it off. "No, no, no, you're the head of the household. You're definitely the one in charge. Just ask our son. Xiao Dong, who's the head of our family?"
Without hesitation, I looked at Mom and said, "Of course it's Mother."
Dad grinned. "See, even our son knows. This decision is up to you."
Mom then turned to me. "What do you think?"
I gave a silly smile. "That's between the two of you. It has nothing to do with me." As I turned to head back into the hospital room, Mom's sharp voice stopped me in my tracks.
"How is it none of your business? You've been picking her up and dropping her off every day, taking care of her meticulously. I've never seen you treat Bei Bei this well."
As soon as Mom finished speaking, Dad chimed in, "Exactly. You're the one who caused her leg injury, so you should be taking care of her every day. But you're facing the college entrance exams, and your studies are so demanding. Where would you find the time to take care of her?" Then he turned to Mom and said, "I think Xiao Dong does have a responsibility, but he really doesn't have the time to look after Nuo Nuo, so..."
Mom shot him a glare, sighed deeply, and said with annoyance, "Alright, alright, stop trying to sweet-talk me. You two, father and son, are quite the pair—one more troublesome than the other. Let's bring her home first."
With Mom's approval, Dad tried to keep a straight face, but the joy in his eyes was unmistakable. After all, she was his biological daughter, and having her come home to reunite with the family was something to be happy about.
When Mom wasn't looking, I quietly said to Dad, "Your birthday is coming up soon. This really feels like a family reunion now."
Dad smiled, then lightly patted my head and pretended to scold me sternly. "Stop talking nonsense. I'll deal with you later."
After completing the discharge procedures, I carried An Nuo downstairs on my back. While my parents were a bit farther away, I whispered to her, "Your little scheme worked out."
"What scheme? Brother, I don't understand what you're talking about." An Nuo still wore her innocent, sweet expression, and even her voice sounded more childlike.
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