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Zhu Suosuo looked helplessly at her aunt, who was only protecting her drunk son, her voice filled with powerlessness:

"It wasn't my idea to take him out; Jiaming insisted on having a team-building dinner with his colleagues, and I couldn't stop him at all!"

"Why couldn't you stop him? Jiaming always listens to your advice the most!"

Zhu Suosuo's aunt frowned, her words dripping with accusation: "In my opinion, you just weren't paying attention. You watched him get drunk and make such a fool of himself!"

Having lived under someone else's roof for years, she had long been used to her aunt's indirect and sarcastic remarks.

But today, being scolded and wronged by her aunt in front of Han Tao, she felt an indescribable sense of grievance and bitterness.

However, she dared not show the slightest dissatisfaction in public, and could only quietly raise her hand to wipe the corner of her eye, patiently continuing to explain:

"How could I not try to stop him? But Jiaming keeps saying he's grown up and is no longer his mother's little darling. He even takes turns drinking with his colleagues. I've tried to stop him several times, but it's no use."

Before he could finish speaking, Luo Jiaming, who was so drunk he was dizzy, suddenly opened his throat and shouted, his words slurred but unusually stubborn:

"Mom! I've grown up. I have a new job, I can earn money now, and it's my turn to protect you!"

The aunt instantly changed her demeanor, quickly stepping forward to gently pat and soothe her son, softly coaxing him:

"Okay, okay, Mom knows. Our Jiaming is the most capable and can protect Mom."

After comforting her son, she turned her head and noticed Han Tao standing behind Zhu Suosuo. A hint of scrutiny flashed in her eyes, and she casually asked:

"This gentleman looks unfamiliar. May I ask your surname? Are you a manager at Jiaming Company?"

When Zhu Suosuo's aunt asked about him, Han Tao spoke a few words to the designated driver, gave him 500 yuan, and then stepped forward to introduce himself:

"Auntie, you're too kind. My surname is Han, and I'm a friend of Suo Suo."

I was having dinner with colleagues tonight and happened to run into them at the restaurant. Seeing that Jiaming was quite drunk and it was dangerous for him to ride his bike home, I gave them both a ride back.

Upon hearing this, my aunt immediately put on a polite smile and thanked me repeatedly.

"So you're Suo Suo's friend. Thank you so much for taking the trip today. Please come over for dinner another day so we can express our gratitude."

"It was nothing, Auntie, you don't need to take it to heart." Han Tao waved his hand with a smile, his demeanor calm and composed, showing no intention of taking the opportunity to strike up a conversation.

Auntie glanced at Zhu Suosuo beside her, who seemed hesitant and full of guilt, while secretly plotting something:

When did Suo Suo meet such a friend? I've never heard her mention it once; she's kept it a secret very well.

Thinking of this, and considering her son's feelings for Suosuo, she suddenly changed her attitude and immediately told the person to send her away:

  

"Suo Suo, could you see Mr. Han off for me? I need to help Jiaming get back to rest; he has to go to work early tomorrow morning, so we can't afford to delay him."

The implication of dismissing the guest couldn't be clearer; there was no intention whatsoever to invite them in for a cup of tea, which was truly speechless.

Zhu Suosuo understood her aunt's intentions, but she didn't want to contradict her on the spot, so she could only softly agree:

"I understand, Auntie. I'll go up right away after I see Brother Han off."

After saying that, she pulled Han Tao and quickly walked out of the stairwell, her voice full of slow apologies:

"I'm sorry, Brother Han. My aunt was so worried about Jiaming that she neglected you and didn't even let you have a sip of water."

"It's okay, I understand."

Han Tao smiled and shook his head. He had long seen through Zhu Suosuo's aunt's deliberate distancing, but he didn't want to expose it to avoid embarrassing Suosuo.

As the two walked along the alley, the intermittent conversation between a mother and son in the second-floor room drifted down through the window and clearly reached their ears.

"Jiaming, does your stomach feel uncomfortable? If you feel like throwing up, just tell Mom, and I'll get you a bowl to catch it."

"No... I'm not throwing up, I'm sleepy, I want to sleep." Luo Jiaming was so drunk that his words were slurred and his whole body was weak.

"Okay, okay, I won't throw up. Mom will help you back to bed, walk slowly."

"Hmm... I'm sleepy, I want to go to sleep."

"Okay, go to sleep. You can't drink so much alcohol in the future, it's really bad for your health. Are you feeling unwell now?"

"I'm not sad, Mom... I'm all grown up... Today, my colleagues were all so envious of me when they saw Suosuo..."

"Mom knows you've grown up. Son, you're the best."

In a daze, Luo Jiaming suddenly murmured unconsciously, "Suo Suo... I feel so bad..."

"Son, son, don't move around. Let Mom take off your shoes first before you lie down."

The rambling and drunken groans mingled together, making Zhu Suosuo's heart feel heavy.

She accompanied Han Tao to the parking spot, and seeing the remaining stains on his trouser legs, she felt even more guilty and quickly offered to make amends:

"Brother Han, you've really gone to a lot of trouble today. You brought us back and we didn't even get a sip of tea. Jiaming even got your clothes dirty. How about I treat you to a late-night snack as an apology?"

I know a xiaolongbao (soup dumpling) shop that's been around for almost a century. I often go there with my grandson. Their shepherd's purse wontons are especially fresh, and their crab roe and pork xiaolongbao are absolutely amazing.

Han Tao smiled and shook his head: "Eating is fine, but let's skip it today."

Going out so late, your uncle and aunt must be worried. Let's do it another day.

Zhu Suosuo thought he didn't like wontons, so she immediately offered a new suggestion: "It's okay, Brother Han."

There's also a food street nearby with barbecue, grilled fish, crayfish, and lots of other delicious food, and it's not far away...

"SuoSuo, let's go another time."

Han Tao interrupted her, then took a bag from the designated driver and took out two very appealing loaves of bread:

"Here, this is fine. This time it's my treat."

"Grandma Liu's bread?" Zhu Suosuo looked at the man in front of her with some surprise, a feeling she couldn't quite put her finger on.

Han Tao nodded and handed him a loaf of bread. "Have something to eat. I was so busy drinking with my colleagues at the hot pot restaurant that I didn't eat much."

I bet you didn't eat much at this colleague gathering with Luo Jiaming. Perfect, let's have some bread together.

"Thank you, Brother Han," Zhu Suosuo said, taking the bread and taking a big bite. "It tastes just like before, so good!"

Han Tao also took a bite and said with some emotion, "Speaking of which, when I was a child, the children in the county were all quite poor. Those who could afford bread were from well-off families."

Later, when I went to university in another city, I had to work part-time on weekends and during winter and summer vacations. The thing I stocked up on most often was bread, because it was convenient, delicious, and most importantly, it filled my stomach without hurting my stomach.

After saying that, he took another big bite of bread. At that moment, he didn't put on any so-called gentlemanly manners; instead, he exuded a simple and unpretentious charm.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Suosuo, for some reason, felt a lump in her throat and said:

"I've loved bread since I was little, especially the bread my grandma makes; it tastes like home!"

By the way, Brother Han, if you have the chance, could you come to the alleyway once at 3 PM this afternoon?

Freshly baked bread was coming out at that time, and the whole street smelled of it—it tasted several times better than any leftover bread at that time!

Han Tao nodded, looking at Zhu Suosuo, who was eating bread with tears streaming down her face under the streetlights, and said softly:

"Keep going, all the tough days will eventually come to an end."

Suo Suo, remember, your biggest difficulty has never been your poor family background or your situation of living under someone else's roof, but your lack of courage to move forward on your own.

You must understand that the confidence in life can only be earned by yourself. Others can help you, but you cannot rely on anyone else entirely.

Zhu Suosuo nodded vigorously, looking at him with teary eyes: "Thank you, Brother Han, I've remembered everything you said."

I used to be a bit too ambitious, always looking for shortcuts.

"That won't happen again. I'll support myself honestly with my own hands and stop relying on others and having to put up with their attitudes."

"I believe you can do it. Just let go of all your past obsessions and grievances, and move forward with an open mind. Everything will be alright."

After Han Tao finished speaking, seeing the renewed light in her eyes, he immediately changed to a lighthearted and joking tone, teasing her.

"Alright, lady, stop your magic now. If you keep crying, the neighbors will think I'm bullying you."

A single sentence instantly dispelled the previous oppressive atmosphere, and Zhu Suosuo couldn't help but raise her hand to cover her mouth.

With tears in her eyes, she giggled, and most of the pent-up grievances dissipated in that moment.