Sunlight blazed outside the window. The thick double-glazed panes shut out the bleak cold wind, leaving only the pleasant winter sunlight spilling into the Living Room. I lay in a huge rocking chair that someone had bought on a whim—most likely Qian Qian—and swayed in the winter afternoon sun, drowsy as some evil old landlord. Ding Dang ran back and forth along the armrest, occasionally grabbing my buttons to use as a swing while clamoring to go out and play. But nobody paid any attention to the little thing, who had become overly excited after finally adjusting her jet lag. Out of the corner of my eye, a black-and-white maid outfit flashed by—straight across the coffee table. Anweina was busy cleaning the room. Little Ghost had always believed that the shortest route between two points was a straight line.
Life was so leisurely, the world so wonderful. I felt like I was about to ascend to immortality.
Not far behind me, Little Pao Pao was quietly playing with something or other by herself. Ji Shan Shan sat on the little blanket beside Girl, staring blankly at the ceiling. Older Sister was teaching Suigintou to write the names of everyone in our family, which had filled the little doll with resentment toward Sandora.
On the other side were two people sitting upright on the sofa, having a lesson. One was Lilina. When I turned around, I found the faux loli wearing a stern expression as she solemnly lectured the person opposite her. The other was Fina. This unsmiling queen was obediently holding a notebook and writing down what the other girl told her. The scene looked rather odd, but it made sense once you knew what they were discussing: today's topic was common sense for living in this world.
Fina, a