Inside the Tube-Shaped Apartment Building.
It was the Mid-Autumn Festival, a time for reunions, and naturally the place was bustling. The aroma of food drifted from every home, lights shone brightly, and the building brimmed with everyday life. "Mr. Lian, you're back."
"Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!"
Lian Youming carried his bicycle upstairs, exchanging greetings with the neighbors he met along the way.
Ever since he had bought a television, the building's tenants-especially the women who looked after children-often dropped by to sit for a while whenever they were free. Over time, they had all grown familiar with one another.
Good, I'm not back too late.
As soon as Lian Youming reached the third floor, he saw Yan Lingyun wearing an apron, spatula in hand, humming as she stir-fried something in a wok out in the corridor. The flames blazed beneath the sizzling oil, but the smell seemed a little off.
Seeing him return, Yan Lingyun hurriedly shielded the ingredients she had prepared and waved him away. "You go inside first."
Lian Youming wore an odd expression. Why was this girl acting like a thief just to cook a meal? Surely she wasn't going to drug him.
"Where are your brother and sister-in-law? Why haven't they come over for the festival?"
Without looking back, Yan Lingyun said, "My brother took my sister-in-law dancing. They took both children, too. They said they'd be back late and told us not to wait."
Before he knew it, a bright moon had risen outside the window.
Lian Youming locked his bicycle in the corridor, took the canvas bag and military training uniform from its basket, and went inside.
"Huh, who brought all this?"
To his surprise, several boxes of mooncakes and two crates of orange soda sat inside.
Yan Lingyun answered, "Brother Sun brought them over.