Evening.
Inside the apartment, Dong Xuebin poured his heart out to Xu Yan for over an hour.
The drizzle outside had weakened somewhat, but it still pattered on without pause, showing no sign of letting up. Fog blanketed the earth as well.
After a while, Dong Xuebin finished talking. He lifted his cup and took several big gulps of tea, then exhaled. "Big Sister Xu, thank you for listening to me talk so much. Sigh, I've kept these words bottled up for so long. I've never told anyone, not even my mom or my wife. It's only with you... I don't know why, but the moment I see you, I feel especially at ease. I don't feel embarrassed about anything in front of you."
Xu Yan smiled. "If there's anything else on your mind in the future, come talk to your big sister."
Dong Xuebin gave a quiet acknowledgment. "It's getting late. I, um... I should head back."
Xu Yan glanced at the sky outside. "It's still raining. How are you going back? And didn't things blow up at home? Will your mother even let you go back now?"
"I'll go find a hotel. I shouldn't disturb your rest."
"Tomorrow's Sunday. Your big sister isn't working either, so how are you disturbing me?"
"But... wouldn't that be inconvenient? Why don't you lend me some money? I'll stay at a hotel."
Xu Yan shook her head. "In your current state, do you think your Big Sister Xu can rest easy letting you go out alone? Don't say any more. You'll sleep here tonight."
"But there's no room at home."
"Didn't you sleep here last time too? Same old arrangement. You sleep in the bed, and your big sister sleeps on the sofa."
The last time Dong Xuebin had been forced to