When the plane landed, Chen An received a call from his mother. He ran all the way, his head like a vacuum—he didn’t dare think about anything.

His godfather had passed into another world, and he hadn’t even caught a last glimpse. Yet no one had notified him. It seemed like a collective understanding—everyone put his future first. Everything should make way for this. As if losing this exam would ruin his life.

But the one whose life was truly ruined was Lele, was the Cheng family.

He’d been there chatting and laughing, making friends and companions, while Lele here had suffered torment with no branch to lean on. In her most difficult moment, he had turned his back and left her alone here to face everything. She needed him to accompany her even for a vaccination—how had she gotten through this time?

Chen An’s down jacket still carried the cold air from outside. Cheng Lele pressed against the hollow of Chen An’s neck and closed her eyes.

This week, many people had embraced her. Some familiar, some she’d never met. Some held on without letting go, some released immediately after hugging. No matter how they embraced her, she always felt cold.

Only little brother’s embrace was warm, reassuring—a place where she could rest. Her hands trembling, she wrapped them around Chen An’s waist and said softly: “Little brother, why did it take you so long to come?”

“Little brother was wrong.” Chen An tilted his head slightly, wanting to see the face of the person in his arms, but she buried herself deeper.

Cheng Lele’s voice came out muffled: “Little brother, Godmother told me to be sensible, told me not to call you. I thought she was right and did as she said, but I feel very wronged.”

Chen An stroked Cheng Lele’s back. The poor girl had lost weight too noticeably these past few days—her spine protruded like hills: “Lele doesn’t need to be sensible.”

She continued: “Mom told me to be mature, said from now on you are you, I am me, you all are you all, we are we. But that’s too cruel. I can’t do it.”

Chen An said: “Then we won’t become mature.”

Cheng Lele sniffled: “Little brother, things I figured out today, the next day I couldn’t understand anymore. Things I finally understood on the second day, by the third day I was confused about again. Little brother, why are people’s hearts so dark and complex? I feel like everyone is both right and wrong. I don’t know what to do going forward. These things are blocking my heart and making it hurt. Little brother, I can’t grow up overnight…”

Chen An shed tears, stroking the girl’s fine hair, saying: “Lele, no one grows up overnight. For those gray areas of life, if you can’t figure them out, don’t think about them. Nothing has changed. You just need to continue being a carefree child.”

Cheng Lele began crying out loud with sobs.

Mom was still sleeping in the living room, so she didn’t dare cry out loud. But she’d been holding in this big cry for a week. Now that the floodgate was opened, though the crying was low and subdued, it was very sustained. She needed to turn all the grievances, bewilderment, panic, and unease in her heart into actual tears and expel them from her body.

Chen An didn’t move, only stroking her back repeatedly.

Finally, Cheng Lele cried herself tired and fell asleep on Chen An’s shoulder.

Chen An carried her to the bed, gently wiped her face with tissue, then held her hand and sat beside her for a while. Later, feeling hot, he wanted to stand up and take off his down jacket. As soon as his hand moved, Cheng Lele woke with a start.

She sat up, as if forgetting that heartrending cry from just now, and asked: “Did I sleep for a long time?”

Chen An shook his head: “You sleep. I’m not leaving.”

Cheng Lele threw back the covers: “Let’s go see Dad. He must really miss you.”

Chen An’s eyes grew hot. He nodded.

Cheng Lele opened the bedroom door, saw Mom still sleeping, and retreated back, saying: “The security door hinges are rusty. Opening the door makes too much noise. Mom rarely gets to sleep peacefully—let’s not wake her. We’ll go out the window.”

With that, she headed toward the window.

Chen An pulled her back, jumped out first himself, then caught her from outside.

The two climbed over the wall again. When landing, Cheng Lele felt her ankle suddenly hurt sharply again. She didn’t dare let little brother know, afraid he would insist on taking her for medical treatment right away. But she thought Dad must be getting impatient waiting, so she endured the pain and followed Chen An closely to the community entrance where they hailed a taxi.