That smile sent a chill down the back of Su Xiaoxiao's neck.
When she finished smiling, Chen Shu offered no explanation. She turned and plopped into the living room's armchair.
She stretched both legs out in front of her, completely at ease, making herself right at home.
Her gaze swept around and landed on the edge of the coffee table.
An unopened bag of soda crackers lay pinned beneath a corner of the black cloak.
"Oh, you've even got supplies."
Those were her brother's favorite...!
Su Xiaoxiao cried out inwardly, not daring to let any of it show.
"Sit down."
Chen Shu chewed a cracker as she spoke indistinctly. "What are you standing around for? Your auntie here isn't some man-eating Monster."
The two girls exchanged a glance and sat down across the coffee table.
Their backs were ramrod straight, their knees pressed together.
Su Xiaoxiao was still wrapped in a light blanket.
Chen Shu reclined in the armchair, studying them with a half smile as her crackers crunched and crunched.
"Would you like some water?" Su Xiaoxiao forced out the courtesy, the corner of her mouth twitching.
"Make some tea."
Chen Shu showed no hesitation. "Seven flights of stairs. My throat's parched."
Resigned, Su Xiaoxiao ducked into the kitchen and dug out the cheapest broken-leaf tea from the bottom of the cupboard.
Tea dust floated on the water, the fragments swirling a few times.
She brought out two cups, setting one beside Chen Shu and pressing the other into Ye Qingqing's hands.
"This is all we have. You'll have to make do."
"Broken-leaf tea's good. Quenches your thirst."
Chen Shu picked it up and took a great gulp. Even as she huffed from the heat, she refused to put it down.
Su Xiaoxiao stared at her for two seconds