Under the Bed

Eight p.m.

Qu Family.

As winter set in, the temperature kept dropping. With the apartment complex's heating running weakly as well, Dong Xuebin could only lean half against the radiator in the living room to keep warm, idly watching the TV news. He knew that after he had caused such a huge scene at the newspaper office, Qu Yunxuan, who had just been reinstated, would surely have plenty to deal with and would not be home before six or seven. But after waiting and waiting, it was already eight, and Aunt Xuan still had not returned. After thinking it over, Dong Xuebin took out his phone and sent Qu Yunxuan a text asking where she was. Then he went into the bathroom, picked up the nail clippers, and began clipping his nails with a series of snips.

The sound of keys came from outside. Click—the door opened.

"Mom, I've already submitted my resignation letter, so stop talking about it." Qu Yunxuan came in with her phone tucked against her ear. After hanging her bag on the rack, she glanced toward the brightly lit bathroom. "Jobs aren't that hard to find... Don't worry, I'm fine here. Don't come over... No need... Mm, mm, really, I'm fine. If you want to come, come tomorrow. Don't run around so late at night... Is that all? Then I'm hanging up."

Dong Xuebin was taken aback. He put down the nail clippers and walked out of the bathroom. "What resignation letter?"

Qu Yunxuan put away her iPhone 4 and smiled gently. "Auntie resigned this afternoon. Guess how I wrote my resignation letter? I only wrote four words: 'I resign.' Hehe. I came back late because I had dinner with a few former colleagues I got along well with. You could call it a farewell gathering."