Every day, the landlady was annoyed because the young man paid his rent late. Unexpectedly, a luxury car suddenly appeared, and the truth about the young man’s identity was revealed, leaving her unable to believe her eyes.

Mrs. Lan, a woman in her sixties, lived alone in her shabby boarding house. Her back was hunched, her eyes sunken, and her face perpetually scowling. She was notorious throughout the boarding house neighborhood for being strict, meticulous, and stingy with every penny. Her most frequent target was An, a student living in a small attic room on the second floor.

Every time rent was due, Mrs. Lan would sit on the porch, sip a hot cup of tea, and raise her voice: “Hey An, you’re late again this month. In life, your word is the most important—do you understand?” Her voice wasn’t loud, but it was heavy enough to feel like a stone pressing on An’s chest.

An hung his head, trying to hide his embarrassment and shame. His hands were tightly clasped together, soaked with sweat. He timidly replied, “I’m sorry, ma’am. I… I need a few more days. My salary hasn’t been transferred yet.”

Mrs. Lan didn’t believe his explanation. She saw carelessness and irresponsibility in him. She waved her hand in frustration: “’A few more days’ again? Who do you think I am? I’ve let you postpone over and over. Even as a student, you have to live properly. How can you ever get ahead if it’s always like this?”

Every word Mrs. Lan spoke felt like a knife cutting into An’s pride. He silently climbed the stairs to his room, his heart tightening.

Behind the small attic door, An finally allowed himself to relax, letting hot tears stream down his cheeks. The empty room, with only a single bed and an old study desk, seemed to sympathize with his loneliness. He didn’t want to live like this. He wanted freedom, joy, and a life like his peers. But he couldn’t. The dim streetlight filtered into the attic, highlighting the exhaustion on his face.

An was a second-year student at a prestigious university, but his life left no room for lofty dreams. It was only an endless sequence of burdens and helplessness.

An’s life was a vicious cycle of worries. By day, he worked as a waiter at a small eatery. By night, he stayed up to study. He had to send money back home to his parents. His father had suffered a stroke, and his mother had a severe heart condition. Every penny he earned had to be divided carefully. Every time he got a call from his mother or heard his father’s harsh cough, his heart ached. He reminded himself to endure, to skip meals, to save money to send home. Because of this, his rent was always insufficient.

In addition to his financial burdens, An had to face another terrifying truth. He had secretly gone for a check-up after suffering severe headaches and sudden dizziness. The doctor told him that he had a small tumor in his brain and needed surgery soon. But where could he get the money? He chose to keep it a secret, telling no one—not even his parents. He bought painkillers, took them cautiously, and endured the physical pain and mental fear alone. Every time the pain struck, he would curl up on his bed, clenching his teeth to make not a single sound. He thought, if he had to die, he would die alone, without causing his parents any sorrow.

One afternoon, when An returned from the eatery, he saw Mrs. Lan sitting in her usual spot, her expression stern.

“An!” she called out, her tone sharper than usual. “I’m telling you, I can’t let you delay payment this month. If you don’t pay, I’ll have to rent the room to someone else!”

Her words hit An’s already weary heart like a hammer. He looked up at her, his eyes red and filled with despair.

“Please… ma’am… just give me… one more week… I beg you…” His voice choked, and he could say no more.

At that very moment, a sleek black car suddenly stopped in front of the boarding house.

The screech of the brakes startled both Mrs. Lan and An. The car door opened, and a middle-aged man in a smart suit, with a kindly face, stepped out. His eyes were full of worry as they scanned the scene and landed on An.

“An! What are you doing here? Why didn’t you answer your phone?” His voice was frantic.

Mrs. Lan and An were both stunned.

“Dad… why are you here?” An asked, trembling.

The man didn’t answer; he walked quickly over and embraced An. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Your homeroom teacher called me, saying you’ve missed school for several days. Your condition cannot be delayed!”

Mrs. Lan, her eyes filled with suspicion, stepped back a few paces. She looked at An, then at the unfamiliar man.

“Hello, ma’am,” the man said to Mrs. Lan, “I am An’s father. May I ask if An rented a room from you?”

Mrs. Lan could only nod, her heart tangled in confusion. Her face was full of embarrassment.

Sensing her doubt, the father explained, “Actually, An is my only son. His parents are both farmers who spent their entire lives saving to educate him. When An got into university, we were overjoyed. But then, I had a stroke, and his mother became seriously ill. He didn’t want us to worry and wanted to be independent, so he asked us to let him work part-time to cover tuition and help out at home. He didn’t tell us where he was working—only that he had enough money for his living expenses. But I never imagined he would have to suffer so much.”

Hearing this, Mrs. Lan was stunned into silence. All her anger and irritation suddenly melted away, replaced by regret and sorrow. She looked at An, at his thin frame, at his tired, sunken eyes. It turned out that all her nagging had been out of thoughtlessness—a huge misunderstanding. He was not lazy; he was a devoted son, a resilient young man quietly bearing all his difficulties alone.

An could no longer hold back. He sobbed into his father’s embrace, tears warm and full of pent-up grief. Mrs. Lan stood there, feeling utterly ashamed. She had treated such a good person so harshly.

“Son, don’t cry anymore,” his father comforted him. “I’ve found a skilled doctor to treat you. You don’t need to worry about anything now. Come home and let us take care of you.”

An nodded, feeling as if a tremendous weight had been lifted. His tears fell, but these were tears of relief.

Mrs. Lan, her voice trembling, stepped closer to An. “An… I’m sorry. I… have been thoughtless… I truly apologize.”

An looked at her. His eyes were still wet, but now a warm light shone through. “It’s okay… I understand.”

An was taken home by his father for treatment. Mrs. Lan stood there, watching the car disappear into the distance. Her heart felt heavy, empty, and hollow. She had spent her whole life focused only on money, always scolding, never realizing that a devoted and resilient heart had been right in front of her all along. She returned to her room and sat before the now-cold teapot. Regret gnawed at her soul, making it impossible for her to feel at peace.

A month later, An unexpectedly returned to the boarding house. This time, he looked healthy and radiant. The moment Mrs. Lan saw him, she hurried out, her eyes full of anticipation.

“An! Are you feeling better?”

An smiled brightly, a more cheerful smile than ever before. “Yes, ma’am. I’m much better now. My condition has improved significantly.”

An’s father stepped forward, wearing a warm smile. “Hello, Mrs. Lan. Last time I came, I was in such a hurry that I didn’t get a chance to thank you for taking care of my son. Even though you scolded him, I know you genuinely cared for him.”

Mrs. Lan lowered her head, her face full of shame. “It’s nothing… I was just too thoughtless.”

An and his father exchanged a few more words with her before saying goodbye. But before leaving, Mrs. Lan made a proposal that left them both stunned.

“An… would you like to become my adopted son?”

An and his father looked at each other in surprise.

“You see… I don’t have children, and living alone here is lonely. I see that you are filial and studious, so I want to adopt you as my son to take care of you. You can stay here without worrying about rent, and I will also take care of your living and school expenses. You just need to focus on your studies.”

An looked at Mrs. Lan, tears welling up again—but this time, they were tears of gratitude and emotion. He could hardly believe that after all his suffering, he had found a second mother. An’s biological father was overjoyed as well; he took Mrs. Lan’s hand, his voice filled with emotion:

“Thank you so much. You… have given my son a second chance.”

From that day on, An’s life changed completely. He no longer struggled under the weight of daily survival. His health improved steadily, and he could devote all his time to studying. Mrs. Lan changed as well; she was no longer the strict, nagging landlady but a warm, loving mother.

Every evening, the two would sit and talk. Mrs. Lan shared stories from her past, and An spoke of his dreams and ambitions. Their bond grew stronger day by day. Mrs. Lan took pride in An, and An remained forever grateful to the foster mother who had given him a new life. Her life, too, had transformed—from a strict landlady to a warm, happy mother.