We left the hospital and walked down the road, enjoying the cool breeze. Liang elbowed me with a mischievous smile and raised a brow. "Qin, don't you think Dr. Lu might have a thing for you?"
I turned to her, eyes wide in disbelief. "What~? No way! He must've just been impressed by how well I handled that child. You do know how amazing I am with kids."
Liang nodded with a grin. "Yeah, yeah~ I know. At our school, you're the students' favorite. Everyone knows you're the funny one."
I rolled my eyes at her teasing and replied playfully, "Okay, okay. Let's go~"
"Go where?" she asked.
I took off running. "Where else? To your house!"
Liang's eyes widened. "Hey~ wait for me!"
We reached her parents' house, and the moment I opened the door, I shouted cheerfully, "Auntie~~!"
Her mother peeked out from the kitchen and, upon seeing me, her face lit up. She came over and pulled me into a warm hug. "Qin! You've lost weight! Why didn't you come over when you were hungry?"
"Auntie, we were busy with work, so I didn't get a chance to visit," I said with a sheepish smile.
Liang stood behind us, shaking her head like an embarrassed little kid.
We went inside and sat at the table. Liang's father came out of the bedroom just as I called out loudly, "Uncle~!"
He nodded slightly, his usual stern face in place, and sat down on the sofa.
Liang's mother brought out the dishes, and I chuckled. "Auntie, Uncle still hasn't let go of his principal habits, has he?"
She laughed. "Exactly, Qin. Even after retiring, he still acts like he's running a school!"
We all smiled, and her father grumbled, "Girls, can't you all keep it down? It's too noisy."
Her mother shot back, "If you're going to act like a principal at home, then decide whether you're eating or not."
He gulped and said quickly, "I'll eat."
Even though Uncle was strict on the outside, he was soft as cotton on the inside. Years as a principal had shaped his exterior, but not his heart.
We ate dinner together, laughing and chatting like family. Liang, her mother, and father were so cheerful, and as I looked up at them, a wave of emotion hit me. They reminded me of the family I had lost.
Noticing my silence, they looked at me with concern. Then, without a word, Uncle gently picked up his chopsticks and placed some side dishes on my plate.
Tears spilled down my cheeks. I looked down, trying to hide my face.
In a deep voice, Uncle said, "Qin, eat more. Don't cry. Or else, I'll make you run ten laps. Are you okay with that?"
Her mother tapped his arm. "Can't you say something comforting? Are you trying to show off that you used to be a principal?"
Liang burst out laughing, and I laughed with her, tears still streaming down my face.
Her mother reached over and gently patted my head. She didn't say much, but the warmth in her gesture was more than enough.
It felt so lovely—so much like a home I had once known.