The old building was as dark and quiet as ever.
Yet Room 401 on the fourth floor still had a sliver of warm light spilling through the crack beneath the door.
When Lu Xin pushed the door open and walked in, he was already prepared to face his father's angry stare.
But contrary to his expectations, what he saw after entering was a scene of warmth and harmony.
Sister was sitting crookedly on the sofa, watching television. The same unchanging SpongeBob was playing on the screen.
She was also holding a piece of dark chocolate and gnawing on it.
Perhaps worried that she would finish it all at once, she was scraping at it bit by bit with her sharp teeth. Each time, she could only scrape off a tiny amount, but she already looked delighted, her eyes curved into crescents.
Mom was making a phone call by the window, her face full of smiles. "Oh, Miss Chen, you have no idea. Going out for a walk with the whole family is really wonderful. It's good for your health and your mood. And besides, I met a good friend this time..."
"She grows such beautiful flowers. Next time, I'll arrange for you to visit her with me..."
"..."
Even Father was merely sitting beside the dining table at this moment, guarding an old glass bottle and slowly drinking. He did not seem drunk yet; there was little trace of alcohol on his face. Even when he saw Lu Xin enter, he merely snorted.
"Big Brother, you took so long to come back..."
When Sister saw Lu Xin enter, she immediately happily pounced onto him, then reached out her little hand to search his pockets.
Lu Xin let her rummage out the last piece of chocolate in his pocket. With a