Gift

On Sunday morning, Ding Yuqing slept until ten o'clock before waking up. She pushed open her bedroom door to look for food in the living room, only to find Ding Jiali alone, hugging a pillow and sunk deep into the sofa.

His eyes stared straight at the television, his eye sockets deeper than usual, and the corners of his mouth covered in bluish stubble, making him look haggard and sloppy.

Ding Yuqing glanced at the TV screen, where a dating reality show was currently playing.

This was truly strange.

Ding Jiali was probably the person in this house most enthusiastic about dressing up and grooming himself; usually, even just going downstairs to take out the trash required him to smooth his hair in front of the mirror. Ding Yuqing had almost never seen him in such a decadent state.

"Hey," she called out. "The TV is too loud."

Ding Jiali said nothing, neither complaining nor joking. He quietly picked up the remote control and turned off the television.

"Did you watch TV all night?" Ding Yuqing asked.

Ding Jiali did not answer either. He silently returned to his bedroom and slammed the door shut with a bang.

Ding Yuqing frowned.

After a while, Ding Jiali walked out of his room again. He had changed into clothes for going out, but he had neither combed his hair nor shaved, and his whole appearance remained unkempt.

Until he walked with a drooping face to the door and began changing his shoes did Ding Yuqing realize the gravity of the situation. "You're going out?"

"Yeah," Ding Jiali muttered. "I won't be back for lunch."

"You're going out looking like this?"

The door had already been pulled shut from the outside.

Ding Yuqing ran to the door in utter disbelief and pressed against the