The next day.
Su Li did not wake until the sun was high in the sky.
The left side of the bed was empty. Saina had long since risen, and the scrape of a spatula against an iron wok came from the kitchen. The right side was empty too, with a few fiery red strands of long hair left on the pillow, along with a faint lingering fragrance.
Su Li turned over and lazed about for a while before slowly dragging himself out of bed.
He went downstairs.
Saina was crouched before the stove, frying eggs. She wore the blue cloth apron Elena had cut yesterday, her sleeves rolled to her elbows, the bandages around her wrists still in place.
"Where's Elena?"
"She went out. Said she needed to confirm the location of the black market entrance one more time today." Saina flipped the fried egg. "Before she left, she told me to make sure you didn't forget to prepare three cloaks."
Su Li sat down and gnawed on some bread.
That woman really was efficient.
Silver crawled out from beneath the table, leaped onto Su Li's lap, and swished its tail twice. Su Li broke off a small piece of bread and tossed it onto the floor.
"Don't feed it bread! Cats eat meat!" Saina came over carrying a plate.
"What's wrong with letting it have a bite once in a while?"
"If it gets picky later, that'll be your responsibility."
Su Li did not argue with her and lowered his head to eat.
After breakfast, Saina went to the backyard to tend her little vegetable patch. The cabbage sprouts had grown as tall as a palm, standing in a lush green row. Saina squatted beside them and counted them three times every day.
Su Li returned to the