Answer

The next morning, when Ding Yuqing saw Ding Jiali at the breakfast table again, she was certain that something had happened to him.

If Ding Jiali had merely been somewhat ridiculous and annoying before, he had now become unbearable—his gaze, tone, and the inexplicable certainty and arrogance in every gesture made her feel as though she were sitting on pins and needles. The sight instantly reminded Ding Yuqing of when Ding Jiali had made his first fortune through Shi Pingchuan back in high school. He had become especially obnoxious then too, eager to seize every topic and hold forth at length, dispensing life advice to everyone at the table.

Ding Yuqing felt a powerful sense of crisis. She vaguely sensed that Ding Jiali had gone further down some path. Though she did not know exactly which path it was, it undoubtedly threw her own stagnation into sharp relief.

What puzzled Ding Yuqing even more was that Ding Jiali was not the only one in the household who had undergone a major change—Shi Pingchuan and Hesta also seemed preoccupied. She had spoken with Ding Xueyang about Shi Pingchuan's change, but her sister had only thought it was caused by exhaustion. After all, Shi Pingchuan really had been working overtime like crazy lately.

Ding Yuqing had no choice but to drop the subject.

A little after seven in the morning, Hesta appeared looking weary, as expected. As usual, she poured herself a bowl of yogurt and sat down at the table.

"Why aren't you sleeping in? Are you busy today?" Ding Yuqing asked, looking at Hesta.

"I'm going out in a while," Hesta answered quietly. "A friend's mother is arriving by train this morning. I'm going to the station with her to pick her up."

"A friend from school?"

"Not exactly. She's