Half Mountain Villa, the large living room echoed with the hourly chime once again. The night was deep, yet the man continued to sit motionless on the sofa. A cigarette was clasped between his fingers, and the ashtray on the coffee table was already heaped with butts.
The man hunched over, his back leaning against the leather sofa behind him. His gaze was lowered, seemingly fixated on the ashtray before him, yet perhaps not. Every so often, he would take a deep drag of the cigarette in his hand, and amidst the clouds of smoke, his brows remained furrowed, as if pondering something.
It was uncertain how much time had passed when he suddenly looked up, seeing Sister Yi standing not far from him, twisting her hands nervously, looking as if she had something to say but hesitated.
The man flicked the ash from his cigarette and said in a deep voice, "Sister Yi, you go to sleep first."
"Sir, I'm not sleepy."
