From when I was very small until I finished college, I always wished my dad would stay home a few more days over Spring Festival.
Truth is, even when he was home he didn't spend all his time with us. He'd go out to play cards during the day and go out drinking at night, so the time we spent together was mostly at mealtimes and before bed.
Even so, the feeling of him being there was completely different.
After I started working, I became the first one to leave home after Spring Festival.
Later, when I went home, I'd sometimes just sit on the sofa reading or playing on my phone. My sister would ask why I didn't get out more and talk to people, and I'd answer with what I've always thought: every year I come home and just sit here without saying a word, and that alone makes everything different.
Looking back now, much of the time it really is a comfort just to have the people who matter there. Everything else is secondary.
We meet by chance in this world.
I’m XingHua — glad to meet you.