On the way back, Mom was very angry, honking the horn crazily and driving very fast.

My sister was busy playing with her phone.

I couldn't help but say, "Mom, please slow down, it's dangerous."

She glared at me fiercely through the rearview mirror, "You want to drive? Just sit there quietly and stop talking nonsense."

My mom was always like this, submissive at Grandma's house, but taking it out on me after we left.

Grandma's house was a distance from ours, passing by a service area, Mom stopped the car and turned to me, "Xiaonian, do you need to use the restroom?"

She rarely spoke to me so kindly, and coincidentally, I needed to go, so I got out of the car.

When I hurried out of the restroom, Mom's car was nowhere to be seen outside.

She was retaliating against me just because I kindly reminded her to slow down.

I suddenly felt very tired and disheartened.

My phone was out of battery, feeling my coat pocket, I found a small red envelope.

It was given to me discreetly by a distant relative at the banquet just now.

I turned back inside, used the money in the red envelope to buy a cup of hot coffee, and sat by the window.

With nowhere to go nearby, I was stuck here, not sure how to get back.

Or maybe, I didn't really want to rush back, that home had no warmth at all.

As night fell, I shifted my stiff limbs.

A man in a windbreaker pushed open the door curtain and barged in.

It was Dad, calling out, "Xiaonian!"

The expression on Dad's face, transitioning from worry to joy, didn't seem fake.