The fallen leaves on Weiming Lake grew more numerous by the day.
Summer had quietly passed, and another autumn was approaching.
The temperature in Yanjing dropped faster than in Cloud Perch, and the difference between morning and evening temperatures began to widen. It still reached twenty-six or twenty-seven degrees at noon, but mornings and evenings were only in the teens, so all three girls put on light jackets whenever they went out in the morning.
National Day arrived.
This was the first time the four of them had returned to Cloud Perch since the semester began.
Military training had ended in early September, and after barely three weeks of actual classes, they were welcoming another eight-day break.
Little Cicada had started counting down in the group chat half a month in advance. Sister Wanyin was calmer, though she had booked the four of them flights home well ahead of time. Fat Cat was coming back with them too, of course, though flying meant Fat Cat would have to put up with staying with the other cats and dogs.
Their plane landed on the afternoon of October 1.
October in Yanjing was already cool, but Cloud Perch still had late-summer temperatures.
It had been a full three months since they drove out of Cloud Perch on July 1. This was also the first time the three girls had been so far from home for so long.
Even though they had grown used to living elsewhere, they certainly still missed home a little. As soon as they landed, the three girls pulled Chen Shi'an along and hurried outside.
Cloud Perch Airport was small, and the parking lot was right outside.
Uncle Lin and Uncle Wen had both driven over to pick them up. The two fathers had arrived early, met at arrivals,