Ellie's face was very calm, with no discernible emotions. Her apricot eyes were as clear as ever, yet they held an inexplicable additional sentiment.
"As soon as she arrived, she used my toothbrush and cup. I had prepared new ones for her. She eavesdropped on me at the door at night. In the morning, when she saw me carrying a new cup, she accused me of despising her and said many other things. Today, when I came back from the bookstore, I found she had gone through my things and touched my notes. She thought they were from a boy and scolded me for being shameless."
William: "…"
William was silent for a moment, then he said, "How can there be people like that? What did your parents say?"
He also understood that the situation must be more than what Ellie had said. Otherwise, a well-behaved child like her wouldn't have run away from home.
"I don't know. Most of the time, they would side with me because they feel they owe me."
"Owe?"
"I was practically raised by the housekeeper. They are never home, and when they are, they just argue. I feel that SuSan is more like a family to me."
William responded, "It seems everyone has their own troubles, they're just not visible on the surface."
Ellie suddenly remembered the teenager's somewhat lonely figure leaning against the railing and the question he had asked her.
She said, "What about you, why did you move out to live on your own?" She added, "If it's too intrusive, you don't have to answer."
William just smiled and said, "There's no offense in that. When I was seven, my dad went bankrupt, and my mom left us. I asked her not to leave, but she said she didn't want to drag us down. But she's back now, saying she misses me. Isn't that ridiculous?"
Ellie nodded seriously and said, "If you don't want to forgive, then don't."
William said, "But I might be a little luckier than you. My dad never cared about me, but there was someone who loved me very much. It's just that she's no longer here now."
He saw Ellie extend her hand to him, opening it to reveal another candy.
William was amused and said, "It's all in the past, little prude. I don't care about those things anymore."
...
The two stood by the river and talked for a long time.
William glanced at the time; it was almost midnight. He said, "It's time to go home, little prude."
Ellie whispered, "Okay."
The wind by the river was chilly. William reminded her, "Zip up your coat."
Ellie obediently lowered her head and zipped up the coat. The oversized coat on her was longer than a dress.
William couldn't help but smile seeing her in his coat. He said to her, "Let's go."
There was another obedient "Okay" from behind.
The streets were brightly lit on both sides. They passed by a street with food stalls, bustling with activity.
William stopped the bike and turned to ask her, "Forgot to ask, did you eat dinner?"
Ellie nodded, "I did."
A few minutes later, Ellie was sitting on the motorcycle with a cup of fermented rice glue balls.
William dropped her off downstairs.
William returned her small iron box and said, "Can you still go home?"
Ellie said, "I have a key."
"Alright, send a message when you're inside."
Ellie walked a few steps, then turned back. She took off the coat and handed it to William, saying, "Thank you for taking me for a ride today and for listening to me talk so much."
William couldn't help but laugh again, "Go up."
Ellie said, "Goodbye."
Coco poked her head out and meowed at Ellie. Ellie reached out and rubbed her head, whispering, "Goodbye to you too."
...
Ellie opened the door.
She saw several people sitting on the sofa.
Lavinia said, "Look, what could happen? She's back, isn't she?" She saw what Ellie had in her hand and said, "I don't think she looks heartbroken; she even went out to buy something to drink."
Edward said, "Alright, Mom, stop talking."
Jennifer said, "Where did you go, Ellie? It's not safe for a girl to be out alone. Your parents are very worried, do you know that?"
Ellie said, "Just took a walk outside."
"A girl, running out late at night, even running away from home, her wings have really grown. Is this the well-behaved child you talk about? Is this the result of your education? If it were up to me, I would beat her until she wouldn't dare to run around."
Edward finally couldn't bear it anymore and said, "Mom, can you stop talking? You know very well why Ellie ran away today. Is it interesting to keep saying these things? If you don't like Ellie, go find your grandson tomorrow."
"Jennifer, how could you marry someone like you, siding with the younger generation against the elders? Am I still your mother? Do you know any respect for the elderly? What's wrong with me scolding her for running out late at night? Your daughter is your precious pearl, and you feel bad when I scold her a few times?"
Ellie saw the three about to argue again. She was calm and said, "I'm going back."
She didn't care whether the three heard her or not; she turned her head and was about to leave.
At this moment, SuSan opened the door and came in from outside. She glanced at Ellie and said, "You're back, Ellie."
Ellie looked back at SuSan, whose hair was a bit disheveled, and "Hmm"ed, then said to her, "I just went out for a walk; you should go back and rest."
After she finished speaking, she went back to her room and locked the door from the inside.
The cup of fermented rice glue balls was still warm, and Ellie drank most of it.
William was holding Coco and said, "Do you think she can't get in? She hasn't sent a message saying she's home yet."
As soon as he finished speaking, he heard his phone ring.
He took a look.
It was China Unicom.
He was about to put away his phone when he heard it ring again.
This time it was Ellie.
[Ellie]: I'm in.
[William]: Okay.
Ellie thought he was still on the road and saw his "Okay." Ellie pulled open the curtain and looked downstairs, just as she expected to see the teenager in a black coat, holding a black cat that almost blended into the night.
...
Ellie was looking through the messages SuSan had sent, many of which she had received, and she had made many phone calls.
They all said they were worried about her, but the only one who went out to look for her was SuSan.
Not even a single phone call.
...
It was already past midnight when William got home.
He turned on the light, put the helmet on the table, and let Coco out of the bag.
He saw the message from Ellie.
[Little Prude]: Are you home?
[William]: Yes, I am.
She truly is ungrateful; she almost forgot about him when she got home. William opened her contact note and changed it back to "Little Ungrateful."
Seeing the goodnight message from Ellie.
William chuckled lightly, she still has some conscience.
...
"Ellie, your grandmother is leaving today. Do you want to see her off?"
"…"
Lavinia said, "I don't want her to see me off."
Ellie didn't say anything.
Jennifer awkwardly said, "Alright, I'll see you off, Mom."
Ellie watched the three leave and then went back to her room.