The child looked at the woman.
He asked the question that had been on his mind since he saw his mother.
The woman was slightly taken aback.
Why was she here?
"What time is it?"
"Why didn't you come home after school?"
"You're usually home by now."
"Mom was worried about you..."
She couldn't help stepping outside to look in the direction her child usually came home from.
Had the child been kept behind by the teacher?
But the teacher hadn't sent her a message.
Then she saw an elderly woman hurrying toward her.
It was Grandma Yu from the neighboring building.
They were familiar enough to exchange a simple greeting whenever they met.
Though she was worried, she still managed a smile.
And then she heard—
"Has Chenchen still not come home?"
"How did you know?!"
The woman was surprised.
Usually, her child would have been home by now.
Grandma Yu had just returned. How did she know her child still wasn't home?
"I saw Chenchen."
The old woman's words surprised the woman again.
But they also eased some of her worry.
If Grandma Yu had seen him, then he must be on his way home.
Still, had something happened today? Why was he so late?
She would ask him about it when he got home.
"Really?"
The woman smiled.
"He's on his way home, is he?"
"I don't know what happened today..."
"Was he kept behind by the teacher? Or did he have to stay and clean up..."
"He's so late getting back."
The woman spoke of her guesses.
Her eyes curved with a smile.
But the old woman's expression was somewhat strange.
A moment later, the woman noticed it.
Her voice grew quieter.
She felt confused, and... inexplicably uneasy.
"Grandma