After school, Hanyu went home, where his mother Yaoyao greeted him with a warm smile.
Yaoyao: "Oh, my little baby boy, how was your day?"
Hanyu looked at his mother with a somber expression and replied,
Hanyu: "Nothing much, Mom. It's just that I'm worried about Dabao. He's been acting strange lately."
Yaoyao looked at her son with a worried expression and asked,
Yaoyao: "What do you mean, honey?"
Hanyu: "He's been hiding something, many things, and I couldn't help but worry about him."
Yaoyao looked at her son and comforted him,
Yaoyao: "Don't worry, I'll talk to his mother. You just take some rest."
Hanyu nodded and went to his room.Yaoyao dialed Suqing's number, her fingers tapping anxiously on the phone as she waited for her to answer. After a few rings, Suqing picked up, her voice warm and welcoming.
Suqing: "Hello, Yaoyao! How are you?"
Yaoyao: "Hi, Suqing. I'm okay, thank you. I wanted to talk to you about something. It's about Dabao."
Suqing's tone shifted, her concern evident even through the phone.
Suqing: "Oh, what's going on with Dabao? Is everything alright?"
Yaoyao sighed, feeling the weight of worry pressing down on her shoulders.
Yaoyao: "Well, Hanyu came home today and he seemed really concerned about Dabao. He said Dabao's been acting strange lately, hiding things and all. I thought it would be best if we talked about it."
Suqing's voice softened, understanding flooding her tone.
Suqing: "I see. Thank you for letting me know, Yaoyao. I'll talk to Dabao and see if he opens up to me. Hopefully, it's nothing serious."
Yaoyao nodded, grateful for Suqing's support.
Yaoyao: "Thank you, Suqing. Please keep me updated, okay?"
Suqing: "Of course, I will. Take care, Yaoyao."
Yaoyao: "You too, Suqing. Goodbye."
Suqing found Dabao sitting in his room, his nose buried in a book, seemingly lost in his own world. She approached him with a gentle smile, her heart heavy with concern.
Suqing: "Dabao, sweetheart, can we talk for a moment?"
Dabao glanced up from his book, his expression guarded.
Dabao: "Sure, Mom. What's up?"
Suqing hesitated, searching for the right words to broach the subject delicately.
Suqing: "Hanyu mentioned that you've been feeling a bit off lately. Is everything okay? You know you can always talk to me, right?"
Dabao's eyes flickered with uncertainty, his walls closing in around him.
Dabao: "Yeah, Mom, everything's fine. Just been busy with school stuff, that's all."
Suqing studied her son's face, sensing the hesitation in his voice. She reached out to touch his hand, her gesture filled with warmth and understanding.
Suqing: "Dabao, I know when something's bothering you. You don't have to hide it from me. I'm here for you, always."
Dabao's resolve wavered, his emotions threatening to spill over, but he pushed them down, forcing a smile.
Dabao: "Thanks, Mom, but really, I'm okay. I'll figure it out."
Suqing's heart ached at her son's refusal to open up, but she respected his boundaries, knowing that he would confide in her when he was ready.
Suqing: "Alright, sweetheart. Just remember, I'm here whenever you need me, okay?"
Dabao nodded, his facade crumbling just slightly as he leaned into his mother's embrace, seeking comfort in her presence.
Dabao: "Thanks, Mom. I love you."
Suqing hugged him tightly, her heart swelling with love for her son.
Suqing: "I love you too, Dabao. Always."
After her conversation with Dabao, Suqing retreated to her room, her mind consumed with worry. She knew she couldn't keep her concerns bottled up any longer. With a determined sigh, she picked up her phone and dialed Zhong's number, her heart racing as she waited for him to pick up.
Zhong answered after a few rings, his voice warm and familiar.
Zhong: "Hello, Suqing, darling. Is everything alright?"
Suqing: "Zhong, I need to talk to you about something. It's about Dabao."
Zhong's tone shifted, instantly alert to his wife's seriousness.
Zhong: "Of course, Suqing. What's going on with our son?"
Suqing took a deep breath, steeling herself for the difficult conversation ahead.
Suqing: "Hanyu mentioned that Dabao has been acting strangely lately. He's been hiding things and avoiding talking about it."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line as Zhong processed the information.
Zhong: "I see. Thank you for letting me know, Suqing. Have you talked to Dabao about it?"
Suqing shook her head, even though Zhong couldn't see her.
Suqing: "I tried, but he's closed off. I'm worried, Zhong. I don't know what to do."
Zhong's voice was filled with reassurance and determination.
Zhong: "Don't worry, Suqing. We'll figure this out together. Let's talk to Dabao again, together this time. He needs to know that we're here for him, no matter what."
Suqing felt a wave of relief wash over her at Zhong's words. She knew she could always count on him for support.
Suqing: "Thank you, Zhong. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Zhong: "You don't have to do it alone, Suqing. We're in this together. I'll be home soon, and then we'll talk to Dabao, okay?"
Suqing smiled, feeling a glimmer of hope return.
Suqing: "Okay, Zhong. Thank you."
As they ended the call, Suqing felt a renewed sense of determination. With Zhong by her side, she knew they could help Dabao through whatever he was going through.Later that evening, Zhong and Suqing sat together in the living room, their worry palpable in the air as they waited for Dabao to join them. They had decided to approach their son together, hoping that their united front would encourage him to open up.