In the downstairs lobby, warm sunlight spilled through the windows onto the floor, forming patches of golden light.
Lina, Iris, Vian, Yingyue, Emily, and Athena sat together,
with cups of steaming tea on the table, their fragrance wafting through the air.
"Why haven't Kakarot and Lilith come down yet? Vian, do any of you know what's going on?"
Lina gently set down her teacup, her expression seemingly calm and her tone mild,
but her slightly clenched fingers betrayed a trace of nervousness.
Although she already had a vague suspicion, and a sour ache was spreading through her heart,
she still tried to talk herself around, doing her utmost to maintain an unruffled expression.
Iris still wore her signature smile, but her eyes were somewhat inscrutable, making it impossible to guess what she was thinking.
At Lina's question, Vian, Yingyue, Emily, and Athena tensed inwardly and quietly exchanged glances.
A hint of guilt flashed through Vian's eyes. She lowered her head slightly, not daring to meet Lina's gaze, and said softly,
"Sister Lina, we don't know either. Why don't we wait until Brother Kakarot and Sister Lilith come out?"
(Lilith called Lina her aunt because they were relatives, but everyone else called her Sister out of habit.)
Vian and the others knew that this matter was far too sensitive. Before Lilith and Kakarot made their position clear,
they did not dare say anything carelessly and could only wait for Lilith and Kakarot to resolve it themselves.
Time quietly slipped by amid everyone's seemingly calm conversation,
and by the time Kakarot and Lilith slowly woke, the sun was already high in the sky.
Sunlight shone brightly through the window onto them both.
They were in no hurry, having already decided what to do: lay their cards on the table with everyone.
They