Chen Banxia came out of the house.
Her friend stood in the courtyard, mouth slightly open, eyes wide, as still as a wooden chicken.
Xiaoxiao was crouched beside her feet, tugging a leaf out from under her shoe. She picked up the leaves between her feet, where a broom could not reach, then went on sweeping the fallen flowers and leaves, apparently paying no mind to her dazed state.
"Suannai!"
Chen Banxia walked over with a grin, took out her car keys, and patted her shoulder. "Didn't you want to drive my car? Come on. It's still early, not even ten. We can come back and steal some food once they start cooking. Let's go for a drive...
"What's wrong?
"Why aren't you talking? Or moving?
"Oh! I know what game you're playing!
"Take this—Bear-Dragon Grab!
"They're so small...
"Hey, why are you still not talking? What's wrong?
"Hey, hey, hey! Chen Shu! Qingqing! What did you do to my Suannai? What happened? Why has she suddenly frozen up?
"She was fine a moment ago!"
Chen Banxia's shouts filled the courtyard.
Getting no answer, she looked toward Xiaoxiao, who was sweeping the ground. "Xiaoxiao! What's wrong with Suannai?"
"Banxia, could you move your leg?"
"Okay..."
Xiaoxiao straightened up, wiped away her sweat, and went back to work.
Zhang Suannai remained standing there, motionless.
Unlike her rigid body, her mind was more active than it had ever been in her life. It had even gone multicore. Memories and thoughts from different threads surged up together, almost all at once.
Thinking she would celebrate her little roommate's birthday today, Zhang Suannai had ordered dishes last night. She had sent her birthday wishes just after midnight, then risen early this morning, found her friend, and come over with her.
She had thought it