The sudden surge of panic in his heart jolted him awake. His eyes flew open, and he abruptly sat up.
He looked around in bewilderment, murmuring, "Big brother?"
There was no sign of that familiar figure, nor any answer from him.
Huo Yuhao immediately got out of bed and headed out of the room.
The instant he opened the door, he called again, "Big brother?"
Still no answer.
He rushed into his brother's room next door and threw open the door!
It was cold and empty.
He turned around just in time to see someone push the door open and enter.
It was his mother.
Huo Yun'er paused at the sight of Huo Yuhao's tightly pressed lips, then smiled and said, "Yuhao, why are you awake so early?"
Huo Yuhao said nothing. He only looked at Huo Yun'er, whose face was haggard, as though she had suddenly aged many years, his fists clenched tight.
The smile on Huo Yun'er's face slowly faded.
She lowered her head and seemed to let out a sob.
Then she suddenly tipped her head back, covering her mouth and nose with one hand, and let out an anguished cry that sounded half like sobbing and half like laughter.
She looked at Huo Yuhao. The tears she had struggled so hard to hold back finally slid down her cheeks.
She hurried over and gathered the child standing frozen there into her arms.
She was clearly on the verge of breaking down, yet she still tried her utmost to appear strong, telling Huo Yuhao over and over, "Don't blame your brother. Don't blame your brother. He did it all for us..."
She was no longer that little maid without a care or attachment in the world, with room for only one man in her eyes, her heart,