A light rain began to patter outside the window. As the phone rang, Gu An opened his eyes wearily. When he answered, a slightly hoarse female voice came from the other end.
"An'an, it's raining. Bring Mom an umbrella."
"Okay."
Gu An staggered to his feet, pulled two umbrellas at random from the cabinet, and slowly walked to the entrance of the residential complex, where he saw his mother sitting alone beneath a tree.
He slowly approached and opened an umbrella over her head. Zhao Yingfang looked up in a daze and took the handle, an unmistakable weariness etched into her features.
Looking at the boy's hollow eyes, she opened her mouth. Her lips trembled slightly, betraying her unease.
"An'an, do you hate me?"
Zhao Yingfang searched the boy's eyes, as though hoping to find an answer.
Gu An only gave a soft laugh, forcing out a smile with an effort. Yet a deep sorrow filled his eyes, even as his tone remained as calm as if he were stating a fact. "How could I? You know I love you."
But his voice was filled with endless desolation and sadness.
How could I ever bring myself to hate you...
The woman froze slightly, seemingly caught in some sudden memory. Only after a long while did she come back to herself, a trace of complexity entering her eyes.
She stood, her voice so soft it sounded like both a sigh and an apology. "The cat is in the garbage pit."
As though he felt nothing, Gu An merely gave a casual murmur of acknowledgment and followed her.
The two walked slowly home, neither saying a word.
The set fell utterly silent. Only after a long while did everyone recover and begin to applaud, their gazes carrying a little admiration as they