Luo Dada stood to the side, a strange feeling rising in her heart.
Too tired, so she just fell asleep?
No matter how they tried to wake her, she would not wake up—wasn’t that a bit too extreme?
And Auntie also played games?
For some reason, everything felt a little odd.
“Dada, sit down. Don’t just stand there,” Su Wan said.
Luo Dada sat down on the chair nearby.
“Auntie, are you really okay? Did you get a full checkup?”
“I did, I did. From head to toe, everything that could be checked was checked. The doctor said I’m healthier than most people, just a bit fatigued. He told me to rest more and come back for observation.”
“Alright.”
Luo Dada nodded.
Auntie herself was a doctor, so she should understand her own condition.
But Su Wan clearly did not think so.
“Dada, come out with me.”
She stood up and gave Luo Dada a look.
Luo Dada followed her out of the room and closed the door. Su Wan leaned against the wall.
“I want to take my mom to Shanghai or Beijing for a full checkup.”
Luo Dada thought that sounded reasonable.
A misdiagnosis was possible. Going to a bigger hospital might reveal the real cause.
“The doctors here say there’s no problem, but I don’t believe it. How could someone not wake up no matter how you try? That’s either fainting or something worse. Sleep? Who sleeps that deeply? My mom is usually a light sleeper. Even a small noise wakes her. This morning I called her for several minutes, pushed her, shook her—she didn’t respond at all. How is that possible? It’s just that going out of town is inconvenient, and she feels like it’s unnecessary. She also thinks it’s troublesome.”
“You want me to persuade her?”
“Yeah. Yesterday at dinner, she really listened to what you said. When I talk to her, she just thinks I’m being childish and won’t take me seriously.”
Luo Dada thought for a moment.
“I’ll try.”
“Thank you.”
Su Wan leaned against the wall, basking in the sunlight, and suddenly spoke again.
“Dada, you know what? I had a dream last night.”
“What kind of dream?”
“I dreamed that my mom… was gone. Just like that, suddenly gone. Then I tried to wake her up, but I couldn’t… At that moment, I really thought…”
Luo Dada was a little surprised. This girl, who was usually loud and impulsive, suddenly seemed especially fragile.
“Don’t worry. Your mom is really fine. She was probably just too tired and slept deeply. The doctor said everything is normal.”
“I know… but I’m still scared.”
“Then I’ll go talk to her.”
She turned and pushed the door open, walking back into the room.
Su Wenjun was sitting at the bedside, looking out the window. Hearing the movement, she turned her head.
“Auntie, I want to talk to you about something.”
“What is it?”
“Su Wan wants to take you to Shanghai or Beijing for a full checkup.”
Su Wenjun frowned slightly.
“This child… why again? Dada, I’m really fine. I just overslept. The hospital already checked everything—there’s no problem. Why go somewhere else? It’s a waste of time and money.”
“Auntie, listen to me.”
Luo Dada looked into her eyes.
“She just told me outside that she had a dream last night where you were gone. This morning, when she couldn’t wake you up, she was terrified.”
Su Wenjun’s expression froze slightly.
Luo Dada continued, “I know you think it’s unnecessary and that you’re fine. But think about it—Su Wan finally started talking to you properly, finally willing to eat with you and go out with you. There’s no need to argue over this. And you know Su Wan is actually a very good girl. She’s just a bit extreme sometimes, easily stubborn. Precisely because of that, if you’re really fine, going for a checkup will reassure her. Consider it giving her peace of mind.”
Su Wenjun lowered her head and fell silent.
After a long while, she spoke.
“Dada, do you know why she dropped out of school?”
Luo Dada was stunned.
“She dropped out? I thought she just didn’t want to study.”
“She suddenly stopped going. I asked her why, but she wouldn’t say. Later, I found out she had a conflict with someone at school and was being excluded. She didn’t tell me. Since she was young, she’s always kept things to herself. By the time I realize something is wrong, it’s already too late.”
“I’ve always wanted her to go back to school. She’s so smart, she did so well on her exams—she shouldn’t just waste it like this. But she won’t listen. She says I don’t understand her, that I only pressure her.”
Su Wenjun sighed softly.
“Dada, do me a favor. Talk to her and tell her to go back to school. As long as she goes back, I’ll go for the checkup. Shanghai, Beijing—wherever she wants, I’ll go.”
Luo Dada hesitated.
“Auntie, this…”
“Please help me persuade her.” Su Wenjun held her hand. “You two have a good relationship. She listens to you. Tell her that her mother is getting older and just wants to see her study well and have a good future. If she can become a doctor, that would be best. But even if not, that’s fine—as long as she goes back to school, I’ll agree to anything.”
Luo Dada looked into her eyes.
There was something familiar in them.
That kind of gaze—one willing to give up everything for a child.
It reminded her of her own grandparents.
They had looked at her like that too.
“…Alright.” She nodded. “I’ll talk to her.”
Su Wenjun smiled, her eyes slightly red.
“Thank you, Dada.”
Su Wan was still leaning against the wall outside. Seeing her come out, she straightened up.
“Well?”
Luo Dada walked up to her.
“Auntie said that as long as you go back to school, she’ll go for the checkup. Shanghai, Beijing—you can choose anywhere.”
“School?”
Su Wan’s expression immediately became complicated.
“Su Wan, your mom really cares about you.”
“I know.”
“Then will you…”
“I’ll think about it.”
Luo Dada did not press further.
Su Wan’s struggle was visible—she kicked lightly at the wall, clearly conflicted.
Finally,
She seemed to come to a decision and suddenly asked:
“Dada, how old are you this year?”
“…Why?”
“You said before that you weren’t studying anymore. Then this time, come back to school with me.”
Luo Dada froze.
“Huh?”
“You study with me. Think about it—without a high school diploma, it’s really hard to find a job. Having one is always better than not. After graduation, finding a good job will be easier than it is now, right?”
“And I need someone to go back with me. Otherwise, I feel like I won’t be able to return to school at all.”