Meeting you in autumn

Hearing Li Yuan's question, Li Xin shook her head gently, sighed and said, "Sigh, it's still the same old problem, it keeps coming back and it's never really gotten better."

At this point, Li Xin paused, as if recalling something worrying, and her eyes gradually reddened.

She gripped Li Yuan's hand tightly, her voice trembling slightly as she continued, "Actually, I know my physical condition very well. It's just... it's just that my poor Guan Qing is suffering. I'm really worried about what will happen to Guan Qing if I suddenly pass away one day, leaving her all alone!"

Before she could finish speaking, tears were already streaming down her face.

Li Yuan quickly hugged her and comforted her, "Aunt Li, no, you will definitely live to be a hundred years old."

Guan Qing, who had just brought over a glass of water from the corner, heard her mother's words and couldn't help but shed tears. She quickly wiped away her tears, pretended that nothing had happened, and walked over, bringing out two steaming cups of water and placing them on the coffee table.

"Oh, you two are really in love, you're even hugging each other," Guan Qing teased the two of them to ease the atmosphere.

"It's nothing, I just missed Aunt Li," Li Yuan said to Guan Qing with a smile as he slowly released Aunt Li.

"Yes, I haven't seen this girl in so long!" Li Xin said, her voice trembling slightly as she looked at her daughter who was walking slowly towards her.

However, Guan Qing's keen eyes caught the hint of blood in Li Xin's eyes. She didn't point it out, but a feeling of indescribable tenderness welled up in her heart.

For some reason, Li Xin's expression suddenly became somewhat weak. She asked softly in an extremely gentle tone, "Xiao Qing, is everything going smoothly with your studies? That incident shouldn't have had too much of an impact on you, right?"

Upon hearing this, Guan Qing was momentarily stunned.

She naturally understood what her mother was referring to, but she quickly composed herself and gave a relaxed smile in response.

"Mom, don't worry, what could possibly happen? Everything's fine here."

Just then, Li Yuan, who had been standing quietly to the side, quickly chimed in, "Yes, Aunt Li. Qingqing's grades are so excellent, so you can rest assured."

Hearing their words, Li Xin's anxious heart finally calmed down a little.

Immediately afterwards, she gestured for Guan Qing and Li Yuan to help her walk to the bedroom to rest.

After Li Xin settled into bed, she looked at the two people who were about to turn and leave the room, and said to them, "Yuan Yuan, it's getting late. Why don't you stay here tonight?"

"Okay, Aunt Li. I'll sleep with Qingqing tonight." Li Yuan nodded in agreement. Li Xin was relieved by her words.

"Mom, we'll head back now. Remember to call me if you need anything," Guan Qing said to her mother.

Li Xin nodded, and then the two carefully closed the door and went straight into Guan Qing's room.

"Qingqing, that person shouldn't be bothering you anymore, right?" Li Yuan asked cautiously as he closed the door.

"No, he probably won't dare to now," Guan Qing said as he took off his coat and sat down on the bed.

Seeing this, Li Yuan quickly went to her side and said angrily, "He's worse than an animal. He keeps harassing you. Is this what a father should do?"

Li Yuan was furious, felt sorry for Guan Qing, and also felt sorry for her.

Guan Qing shook his head helplessly, took her hand, and comforted her, "It's alright, Yuan Yuan, I have you all."

“But…” Li wanted to say something more, but swallowed the words back.

"Yuanyuan, I'm tired, I want to rest." Guan Qing said softly, as if a gust of wind could blow her away.

Looking at Guan Qing's tired face, Li Yuan had a thousand words in his heart, but in the end he chose to remain silent.

She nodded slightly, then carefully lay down. And so, the two of them fell asleep quietly, back to back.

However, Guan Qing was not sleepy at all. In this pitch-black room, the darkness seemed to swallow her whole.

Tears silently slid down her cheeks, leaving a cold trail.

Her body trembled uncontrollably, as if recalling those painful past events filled her with immense fear.

Guan Qing recalled how loving her parents were when she was a child. The three of them lived a happy and fulfilling life. Back then, she was carefree and bathed in her parents' endless love.

But who could have imagined that fate would be so cruel? My mother's health suddenly became weaker and weaker, and after a check-up, she was diagnosed with mid-stage cancer.

This news was like a bolt from the blue, plunging the entire family into an abyss of despair.

Since then, my father has become a different person. Unable to bear such a heavy blow, he began to drown his sorrows in cigarettes and alcohol, and became indifferent to family matters.

Gradually, he even developed vices such as alcoholism and domestic violence, and even young Guan Qing was not spared. He constantly squeezed his mother's meager savings just to satisfy his depraved desires.

Finally, the mother could no longer endure the torment. To protect her daughter, she secretly took Guan Qing and fled that nightmarish home.

I thought I could finally live a peaceful life, but just a few days ago, that devilish father came knocking on my door. The tranquility I had finally managed to restore was once again ruthlessly shattered.

She couldn't imagine what would have happened if her neighbor hadn't called the police that day.

She then fell into a deep sleep, but in the quiet night, her sleeping face looked so fragile, as if she were tightly bound by nightmares and unable to break free.