Mingyou stayed in the park until evening before Auntie Hibari finally returned. Her face was bright with joy, though tear tracks still marked her cheeks.
Clearly, the police had notified her that they had found her child, and she had spent the afternoon at the hospital. The weight that had hung over her heart for so long had finally lifted. It was over.
Mingyou pretended he knew nothing and went to greet her. He deliberately brought up the disappearance so he could congratulate her, never once mentioning his own part in it.
Some things were better left unsaid. Quietly helping her had been reward enough...
At dinner, Auntie Hibari invited him to her home again. She told him her husband had gone to the hospital to look after their child, and she believed their family would soon be able to return to its old life.
"That's wonderful."
Mingyou meant it. They chatted about the past until, after dinner, he handed her the key to his house. Only then did Auntie Hibari realize he probably would not be coming back.
She did not try to talk him out of it. They had watched him grow up, and they could not have been happier to see what he had achieved. Besides, there was nothing left here for him to hold on to.
"All right, then. I'll look after your house. Take good care of yourself out there, okay? Don't make everyone worry. Your parents may not be here to see it, but when you get married, don't forget to invite us."
"I won't!"
"Sounds like you've already found someone?"
"Uh... not yet."
"Then you'd better get moving. My child's already dating someone at school."
"..."
As they said their goodbyes, Mingyou broke into a sweat. Why did this suddenly feel like pressure