Holy Sacrifice Hall Specialty Store.
Carrying her hoodie pockets, Lucy Ansley walked in slowly, while Leila Bennett lagged two steps behind, stopping beside the shelf at the entrance and talking softly on the phone.
The owner of the store, who was about sixty years old, saw Lucy and tapped his dry tobacco pipe on the table, "Oh, it's Miss Ansley."
"Uncle Xu."
Lucy greeted him, took the black plastic bag, and prepared to pack the offerings.
Uncle Xu squinted as he took a puff of his pipe and casually chatted, "Your Second Uncle Xu was just mentioning the other day how he hasn't seen you for a long time. No one has heard from your dad in years, but his old colleagues often inquire about you. Little Lucy, you need to look forward in life; there are many people who care about you."
Lucy stood motionless in front of a flower lantern for a long time, without any response.
Uncle Xu continued sitting in the antique chair, smoking leisurely, seemingly unaware of her abnormality.
