Xiao Li said, “It’s a little urgent. It’s about the company.”


  Zhuang Qilin was a sensible child. When he heard that it was a company matter, he could not throw a tantrum anymore.

  “Okay then.”


  The father and son watched as Xiao Li got into his car and left. When the back of the car was out of sight, Zhuang Long lowered his head and looked at Zhuang Qilin. The father and son’s eyes were a little melancholic.

  “Boring.”


  Zhuang Qilin pursed his lips and walked towards the subway.

  Zhuang Long followed closely behind him. He stared at his son’s lonely back and felt terrible.

  After entering the subway station and buying a ticket, Zhuang Qilin tied the keychain to his school bag. He played with the keychain and did not speak to Zhuang Long. After a while, Zhuang Long gently pulled his sleeve and said, “The car is here.”


  Zhuang Qilin followed his father into the subway car with an awkward expression.

  There were especially many people on the train today. The father and son could not find a seat and could only stand.

  Zhuang Long was much taller than Zhuang Qilin. He held the armrest and stood as steady as a mountain. Zhuang Qilin originally wanted to show off, but when he stopped the car, he almost fell, so he obediently hugged Zhuang Long’s waist. Zhuang Long looked down at the child’s furry hair in his arms and could not help but raise his other hand to rub his head.

  Zhuang Qilin looked up at him bitterly.

  Zhuang Long felt terrible under his gaze and asked, “Why are you looking at me like that?”


  Zhuang Qilin said faintly, “You can’t even keep my mother. How useless…”


  Zhuang Long could not refute.

  The father and son arrived at their destination in silence.

  After walking out of the car, the two of them could not help but stretch their hands and legs to stretch their bodies. After taking the subway, they were almost squeezed into meat pies. The two of them, who were already in a bad mood, were squeezed in the subway. After getting out of the car, their mood became even worse.

  Zhuang Qilin kicked the stones on the road and walked slower and slower.

  Zhuang Long could not pretend not to see. He knew what Zhuang Qilin was depressed about and was quite helpless. He broke a branch from the tree and poked his son’s back with the end of the branch. Zhuang Qilin turned around and asked him expressionlessly, “What are you doing?”


  Zhuang Long said, “Don’t be angry. Can’t we go out to play next time?”


  Zhuang Qilin did not speak and continued to walk silently with his head lowered.

  Zhuang Long strode forward and stopped in front of Zhuang Qilin.

  Zhuang Long bent down in front of Zhuang Qilin.

  Zhuang Qilin was stunned for a moment before asking in confusion, “What are you doing?”


  Patting his shoulder, Zhuang Long said, “Get on. I’ll carry you.”


  Zhuang Qilin said, “You can take a taxi in front. You don’t have to carry me.” With that, Zhuang Qilin’s gaze was still fixed on Zhuang Long’s back. He was a little eager to try. His father’s back was very attractive to every child. Zhuang Qilin thought for a while and said, “If you can carry me home, I won’t be angry anymore.”


  “Really?”


  “Yeah.”


  “Get on.”


  Zhuang Qilin did not stand on ceremony and jumped on. Zhuang Long carried Zhuang Qilin for a distance. The weather was very hot, and his son’s chest was leaning against his father’s back. His skin that was pressed together was drenched in sweat. Zhuang Qilin was already starting to regret it. Zhuang Long was so hot that his head was covered in sweat, but he did not shout that he was tired.

  Zhuang Qilin felt upset.

  The person under him worked hard for him because he loved him.

  Zhuang Qilin’s heart softened and he could not bear to continue torturing Zhuang Long. He then said, “It’s so hot. Put me down. Let’s take a taxi back.”


  Upon hearing the little darling say that he was hot, Zhuang Long quickly put him down.

  The two of them took a taxi and arrived home at almost four o’clock.

  When he got home, Zhuang Qilin ran upstairs and said that he wanted to take a shower. Zhuang Long also planned to take a shower. When he went upstairs, he glanced at a striking number on the calendar—


  18.

  Zhuang Long remembered what Xiao Li had said the day before yesterday.

  18…


  18 What day was it?

  Zhuang Long went upstairs thoughtfully. He quickly took a shower and found a T-shirt to put on. Before he could put on his pants, his phone on the bed suddenly rang.

  Zhuang Long glanced at it and realized that the caller was from San Francisco.

  Zhuang Long stared at the phone screen and was in no hurry to answer the call.

  Thinking that it was a harassment call, Zhuang Long rejected it.

  He put on his pants and had just straightened his back when the phone rang again. It was still the same number.

  The first time was an accident, but not the second.

  Zhuang Long was a little confused. Was there anyone he knew in San Francisco?

  Zhuang Long finally picked up.

  “Hello?” Zhuang Long really thought that this was a stranger’s mistake.

  Many years later, Zhuang Long still felt that this day was ridiculous and unbelievable.

  On the other end, a serious male voice sounded. He said politely but coldly, “Hello.” Without waiting for Zhuang Long to answer, he asked again, “Is this Mr. Zhuang Long?”


  Zhuang Long was surprised.

  It was actually someone that knew him

  “Yes, and you are?”


  The person on the other end said something that surprised Zhuang Long. He said, “This is the California State Prison.”


  Zhuang Long was still in a daze. “Sorry, I didn’t hear you clearly. Can you say it again?” What did he hear! California State Prison?

  The person repeated patiently, “This is the California State Prison, Mr. Zhuang Long. Your mother’s sentence is full and she will be released from prison tomorrow. It’s like this. She has been in prison for 28 years and has not been in society for too long. We’re worried that she will be out of touch with real society after being released from prison for too long. You’re her only son. If it’s convenient, can you come here tomorrow to pick her up?”


  The prison police’s words shocked Zhuang Long.

  He felt lost, shocked, and afraid.

  Wasn’t his mother dead!

  Why was she in prison!

  Zhuang Long was at a loss for a moment. His grip loosened and the phone fell to the ground with a bang. Zhuang Long staggered back a few steps and finally sat on the floor by the bed. Zhuang Long’s face was a little pale. He did not notice that his forehead was covered in cold sweat.

  After Zhuang Qilin took a shower, he was using his laptop to go online when he heard an abnormal sound in his father’s room next door.

  He raised his voice and asked the person next door, “Dad? What are you doing?”


  Zhuang Long said nothing.

  Zhuang Qilin could not let go of his heart, so he threw away his computer and got up from the bed. He quickly walked to the next room, pushed open the door, and saw that his father’s phone was on the ground while his father was sitting by the bed. Zhuang Long’s knees were together, and his hands were hugging them. His face was pale, and his entire body seemed to be trembling.

  Zhuang Qilin was shocked by this scene.

  “Dad!”


  He ran in and squatted in front of Zhuang Long.

  Zhuang Qilin was more and more surprised as he nervously observed Zhuang Long.

  What was going on?

  “Dad, what happened?”


  Zhuang Long remained silent, looking anxious.