Late Return

The car stopped at the entrance to the residential complex, and Hesta pushed open the door and got out.

"I'll keep pushing this forward next Tuesday," Molly said. "If you have any thoughts, tell me before then."

Hesta waved and watched Molly's car drive away.

She stood there for a while, then suddenly heard a group of older men laughing behind her. Turning around, she saw Ding Guisheng walking this way arm in arm with several middle-aged men around his age, his face flushed with drink. Hesta quickly slipped onto a side path to avoid running into him.

A wave of alcohol drifted over on the wind, and Hesta was rather surprised—Ding Guisheng had been out of the hospital for less than a week, yet he had already invited a group of friends over to drink at home again. And those friends were actually willing to get completely drunk with him...

She hurried upstairs. Sure enough, Xu Ruyi and Ding Yuqing were still cleaning up the mess in the living room.

Xu Ruyi's movements were clearly no longer as nimble as before. She no longer dared to wipe the table with broad, sweeping motions, only rubbing back and forth over the small area in front of her while slowly making her way around the table.

The dishwasher hummed away in the kitchen.

"I'm back," Hesta said.

Ding Yuqing and Xu Ruyi both looked up. They were both somewhat surprised to see Hesta.

"...Huh? Why are you back?" Ding Yuqing dropped the rag in her hand. "Ding Jiali told me this afternoon that he was staying over with everyone tonight... Aren't you watching the sunrise?"

"I never planned to spend the night on the mountain," Hesta replied. "I didn't bring a change of clothes either..."

"Have you had dinner?" Xu Ruyi