After buying groceries at the market, the Little Taoist, who never took the usual route, once again led the well-behaved class monitor through the deep, narrow alleys on their way back.
When they emerged from the alley, the evening sky was at its most brilliant.
Lin Meng Qiu looked up at the ever-changing sunset clouds, watching orange slowly swallow the rose-red clouds, then watching fresh gold-and-crimson clouds surge out from behind the buildings. Suddenly, she felt all the unease of walking through those dark alleys soothed by this unexpected splendor.
Living the same daily routine between two places, she rarely had such relaxed, leisurely moments.
Going home with Chen Shi'an, then shopping for groceries together, and next they would cook dinner and eat together, with just the two of them at home... Did this count as the game of playing house she had played as a child? When the phrase popped into her mind, the girl blushed a little. Fortunately, the sunset hid it.
Perhaps this journey together should have come to an abrupt end the day her dad messaged that he would not be home for the weekend. She had never expected this mistaken course of events to keep running.
Each carrying groceries, they entered the complex together and went upstairs together.
Lin Meng Qiu opened the front door and went in first.
The house was quiet, and the lights were off.
It seemed her dad really was not home.
By rights, having her dad home should have made her feel more at ease, yet his absence left her inexplicably relieved.
Turning on the lights, Lin Meng Qiu put down her things and bent down to find slippers for Chen Shi'an first.
The largest pair, the ones he had worn last time.
"Wear these."
"Thanks, class monitor."
Chen Shi'an