It always got dark so early in winter.
Past nine thirty, Ding Ding slipped quietly out of the room, ready to make porridge for Little Bai, who was fast asleep inside.
Although Little Bai's mouth hadn't stopped all afternoon, after that bout of exercise, Ding Ding worried he might wake up hungry with nothing to tide him over.
When the call connected, tiny bubbles had just begun rising in the clay pot, and a bowl of thick rolled omelet sat in the insulated lunch box beside it.
"That long? You've got some stamina!"
Ding Ding pursed his lips, ignoring Ding Shu's teasing as he stirred the seafood porridge.
"Is everyone there?"
Ding Shu hummed in acknowledgment. "When are you coming over?"
"Now."
After hanging up, Ding Ding returned to the bedroom and, like a thief, found Little Bai's phone, plugged it into the charger, dialed his own number, and set it beside the pillow.
He was going out, after all. It wouldn't do for Little Bai to wake up and find him gone.
Before leaving the Flower Shop, Ding Ding had asked Ding Shu to take their older sisters to a restaurant. They had come all this way, after all; it really wouldn't be right not to leave some time to talk.
Come to think of it, perhaps Ding Shu had spent so long with Sun Chang'an that his love of money had rubbed off on her. She had extorted a hefty sum just to do him a small favor.
Eldest Older Sister was used to being frugal. When she heard they were going to a restaurant, she refused no matter what, rubbing her stomach and saying she had eaten too much earlier and couldn't fit in another bite.
With no other choice, Ding Shu had eventually taken them to