At noon in Beijing, the sun was like a fireball, scorching the earth. The sweltering heat in the air made it hard to breathe, without a trace of wind. The ground was scorching hot, and people felt the heat burning their feet while walking. Even the parasol trees by the road stood droopily without moving.
Riding her bicycle, Lin Liyin arrived at the gate of the Big Courtyard, and as soon as she got off, she anxiously rushed to the security booth, asking why no one from the Zhou Family was answering the phone.
"When Chief Zhou left for business out of town, he took the whole family with him," the sentry, familiar with Lin Liyin, thought for a moment, "You can call them over there."
"How about the Cheng Family then?"
"They're not here either."
Lin Liyin bit her lip and asked, "Besides my older brother-in-law, when will the others return?" She knew some families would leave messages in case of emergencies.
"No idea."
