The golden hues of dawn seeped through the curtains as Xiaoyu stirred awake. It was the weekend, yet her body moved on instinct, rising at her usual time. The house was quiet except for the faint sounds of birds chirping outside.
Slipping into a comfortable set of clothes, she stepped out of her room and found her mother already bustling around the kitchen. Without a word, she joined in, washing vegetables, chopping ingredients, and setting the table for their morning meal.
“Ah, Xiaoyu, you’re up early as always,” her mother said with a smile.
Xiaoyu nodded, pouring tea into two cups. “It’s a habit now.”
They shared a peaceful breakfast together, the warmth of the meal wrapping around her like a soft embrace. Moments like these, simple yet comforting, were what she cherished most.
Just as she was about to help clear the table, her mother’s phone rang. Xiaoyu watched as her expression shifted slightly—happy, then something unreadable.
“I have to go out for a while,” her mother said, already grabbing her bag.
“Where?” Xiaoyu asked, drying her hands with a kitchen towel.
Her mother hesitated for a fraction of a second before offering a vague smile. “Just meeting someone. Don’t worry about it.”
Xiaoyu sensed that pressing further would yield no real answer, so she nodded and let it go. “Alright. Take care.”
After her mother left, she finished up the rest of the kitchen work, scrubbing the last dish and wiping down the counters before letting out a small sigh of exhaustion. She made her way to her room and collapsed onto her bed, her body sinking into the mattress.
The quiet didn’t last long.
Her phone buzzed loudly on her nightstand, making her jolt slightly. Blinking away the drowsiness, she reached for it.
Qianrou
A small smile tugged at her lips.
“Xiaoyu! Are you free today?” Qianrou’s cheerful voice rang through the speaker.
Xiaoyu sat up, running a hand through her hair. “I guess. Why?”
“Come over!” Qianrou demanded. “ Mom and Dad have been saying they miss you. Also, stay for dinner, okay?”
Xiaoyu hesitated for a second. It wasn’t like she had plans, but the thought of going to Shen Yichen’s house again—after yesterday—made her stomach flip.
Qianrou, sensing the hesitation, added, “Oh, don’t worry about Yichen. He’s not in a bad mood or anything. Well, not that bad.”
Xiaoyu let out a small chuckle. “That’s not very reassuring.”
“Come on, please?” Qianrou whined. “I promise we’ll have fun!”
A soft sigh escaped her lips. “Alright, I’ll come.”
“Yay! See you soon!”
The call ended with a soft beep.
Xiaoyu stared at her phone for a moment before shaking her head. She had a feeling today was going to be… interesting.
After freshening up and changing into something casual yet presentable, Xiaoyu made her way to the Shen household. The familiar neighborhood streets stretched before her, bathed in the soft glow of the morning sun. She had been to their house countless times before, yet today, an unshakable nervousness accompanied her steps.......
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