After the graduation ceremony ended, Mu Feng bid farewell to his friends and set off for home.
Standing before the familiar Spiritual Food Store, Mu Feng pushed open the door painted with a landscape scene. A familiar fragrance rushed over him.
After four years away, everything here felt both familiar and strange.
There were no winter or summer breaks at the academy. Unless there were special circumstances at home that required leave, students had to remain at the academy.
That was the main reason he had not returned for four years. Usually, he kept in touch with his old man through video calls.
But every time, his old man looked impatient, shouting at him to accomplish something worthwhile and not call home unless necessary.
It was not yet lunchtime, but the place was already packed with diners waiting for seats.
Mu Feng looked toward the menu on the wall. Compared to his memories, several new dishes had been added, and all the diners had unfamiliar faces.
From the kitchen at the end of his gaze came the fierce clanging of a spatula against an iron wok. The fragrance came from there as well.
Seeing him pushing his luggage, a middle-aged employee approached curiously and asked with a smile,
"Sorry, we're already full. Would you mind sharing a table?"
Mu Feng was about to answer when he saw a figure lean out from the kitchen.
Their gazes met. A smile appeared on his old man's face, and he quickly came over and gently patted Mu Feng's shoulder.
"You're back."
"Yeah, I'm back."
There was no excited embrace, no enthusiastic welcome. Yet as they smiled at each other, Mu Feng suddenly felt a pang of sorrow.
After four years away, he discovered that his father's temples had already turned gray. The wound