Chapter 54
The next morning, at nine thirty.
There were fewer than twelve hours left before Ren Ye entered the Star Gate again.
"Get up. Come buy groceries with me."
His dad's cracked-gong voice rang through the living room. Ren Ye opened his sore eyes and, out of habit, glanced toward the glaring sunlight outside the window.
A warm breeze blew, and the sun shone brightly. Another lovely day.
Stretching in bed, Ren Ye yawned, got up, and headed for the bathroom to wash up.
Whoosh!
Ren Qingning emerged from the room next door like a ghost, barefoot in cartoon pajamas, her hair sticking up like a bird's nest. "I'm going first. Wait your turn."
"Remember to flush," Ren Ye reminded her, leaning against the doorframe, still half asleep.
"I won't. You can choke on the stink." Trading barbs with him out of habit, Ren Qingning rubbed her eyes and entered the bathroom.
His dad came over from the kitchen with a bowl of soft-shelled turtle soup and gave Ren Ye a terse command. "Drink up."
"...I told Old Huang and the others to come over for lunch today." Ren Ye took the bowl and downed the soup in one go.
The broth flowed down his throat, moistening his esophagus. In an instant, a feeling of comfort spread through his entire body.
"Get ready. We'll go buy groceries together." His dad took the bowl back with his greasy hands, as sparing with words and wooden-faced as ever.
Throughout that morning, time seemed to have turned back several years, back to their childhood.
His sister fought to use the bathroom first, his dad clattered around the kitchen making breakfast, and Ren Ye stood in the living room waiting his turn, bleary with sleep.
That familiar feeling was wonderful.
About twenty minutes