The moment Yu Chuanfeng called out, "Dad," the person on the other end seemed to say something excitedly, making him fall silent. A minute or two later, he answered, "I'm on my way home. I met an older brother and sister, and they're bringing me back. Yeah, I'm fine. This is the brother's phone."
A few seconds later, Yu Chuanfeng glanced awkwardly at the woman.
The woman looked confused. It was only when Yu Chuanfeng held out the phone that she understood and took it.
I couldn't hear what the person on the other end was saying, but from the woman's flustered replies, Yu Chuanfeng's father must have been thanking her over and over.
After only a few words, the woman hurriedly handed the phone back to Yu Chuanfeng.
Yu Chuanfeng seemed much more relaxed. He said a few more words to his father, then hung up.
"Thank you..." Yu Chuanfeng said quietly.
The woman gave Yu Chuanfeng's head a shove. She looked rather awkward.
I'd met classmates like her in college. They looked rough, but were shy inside. Praise or thanks from others always left them at a loss.
The van bounced along until it finally reached the residential complex where Yu Chuanfeng lived.
Yu Chuanfeng's father was waiting at the entrance, looking extremely anxious.
The moment Yu Chuanfeng saw his father, his eyes reddened.
The van stopped, and the woman pulled open the door. It was jammed, so she kicked it roughly before it finally swung open.
Yu Chuanfeng's father looked over.
The woman stayed in the van. She moved aside and pushed Yu Chuanfeng out.
The father and son reunited as if they'd just survived a life-or-death separation, embracing each other with excitement.
I drifted down from the van and turned to see it start up again,