Saturday morning, 5:30 a.m.
Summer dawned early in Hui Province.
The sky had begun to glow dimly, like a wrung-out, damp pale-blue canvas.
The sun had only just awakened, not yet able to display its scorching form.
In Xue Yuantong's bedroom, the electric fan turned softly, blowing a faint breeze at its lowest setting.
Jiang Ning had set up an array in the room, keeping it warm in winter and cool in summer, pleasant and comfortable.
Hugging her thin blanket, she slept exceptionally soundly.
On ordinary weekends, if she had nothing to do, Xue Yuantong always slept until after nine. Today, she happened to have nothing planned.
Before going to sleep last night, she had drifted off happily. Once she woke up, Jiang Ning would definitely have breakfast ready. After a whole night of hard work, she could enjoy a nice meal.
Everything was unfolding just as she had planned.
Suddenly, the bedroom door was pushed open.
Aunt Gu appeared in the doorway. Looking at her daughter on the bed, she remembered how the girl had secretly eaten a popsicle last night.
She smiled and called, "Tongtong, Tongtong."
Xue Yuantong clamped her little legs around the blanket and reluctantly turned over, ignoring everyone.
Aunt Gu called twice more, and Xue Yuantong jolted awake from her dream.
She opened her eyes, rubbed them groggily, and looked at the clock beside her bed. It was only 5:30? "Mom~" she drawled reproachfully.
Aunt Gu said "kindly," "Tongtong, it's Saturday today. You can sleep a little longer."
Xue Yuantong's weekend had been ruthlessly ruined by her own mother, and she stayed angry for two whole days.
Even on Sunday afternoon, when they were heading to school for evening self-study, she was still sitting on the back seat, fuming as she told Jiang Ning: