Cangnan City, Old District.
In a small, shabby old house, the aroma of food wafted through the air. Auntie carried a plate of hot food to the table and called out loudly:
"A Jin, dinner's ready!"
On the balcony, Yang Jin stood alone, his gaze fixed on the distance, though no one knew what he was looking at.
Seeing that Yang Jin had not reacted, Auntie wiped her hands on her apron and muttered as she walked toward the balcony, "You child, I'm calling you to eat!"
Only then did Yang Jin come back to his senses. "Got it, Mom."
He walked to the table, looked at the dishes spread across it, and pressed his lips together.
"Who knows where Xiao Hei Lai ran off to play? It still hasn't come back. The thunder outside is so loud—there'll probably be a heavy rain soon, right?" Auntie chattered as she sat down. Seeing Yang Jin still spacing out beside her, she asked curiously:
"Eat. What are you standing there daydreaming for? What's wrong with you today? You've been absent-minded all day."
"Nothing... nothing." Yang Jin slowly sat down, picked up the chopsticks beside him, and took a bite of food...
Then placed it in Auntie's bowl.
"Mom, eat more."
Auntie froze. "I'm eating. You should eat more yourself."
Yang Jin nodded and lowered his head, quietly eating.
The rumbling thunder came through the window as jagged lightning streaked across the sky. In the distance, faint golden specks of light slowly rose.
"What's going on with the weather today?" Auntie said as she ate. "Thunder, earthquakes... Half the day has passed, and we haven't seen a bit of sunlight.
And I don't know when the clothes hanging on the balcony will dry. I still have to wear them to the factory tonight...