The wind and snow that had raged all night gradually died down.
But the sun still had not pierced the heavy clouds.
The haze of the blizzard still hung over the city, carrying the lingering smell of gunpowder. Outside, the intermittent thunder of shelling slowly faded after all this time, leaving nothing but wreckage.
Xie De spent day after day holed up in his room reading, sliding from the sofa to the bed, then crawling from the bed onto the carpet, wriggling around the room like a lazy but restless freeloader.
Coal Ball loved sticking close to him. No matter which corner of the room Xie De settled in, Coal Ball had to come over and snuggle up.
Money String wanted to do the same, of course. Unfortunately, the dry room was not very friendly to a house centipede, so Money String had stayed in the bathroom all this time, where half a basin of warm water had been set out especially for it.
The fireplace had burned for half the night, its smoke escaping through the chimney above. The room was warm and clean, with soothing sandalwood incense burning, giving it a peaceful, cozy air.
It was noon.
455 rolled into the room with a tray balanced on its head.
It stopped on the floor in front of the carpet. "Host! Get up and eat!"
Xie De emerged from the covers with his hair in disarray. He stretched like a big cat, then flopped back down, squinting at the little robot before him as he reached for breakfast.
455 backed up a step. "(˙꒫˙`), I can't watch this anymore. You haven't even washed up, and you stayed up until one or two again last night. You're way too lazy! I even have to bring your meals into your room!"