The evening had settled comfortably over our house as I lay on the bed in Liu Mei's and Ivy's shared room, absorbed in a book I'd borrowed from Liu Mei's personal collection. The soft glow of several candles placed strategically around the room provided adequate reading light, casting dancing shadows on the walls and creating an atmosphere of cozy intimacy that felt remarkably normal despite our post-apocalyptic circumstances.
Liu Mei sat beside me, her back resting against the bed's headboard as she read her own book—something thick and philosophical that looked far more challenging than the adventure novel I'd selected. Her dark hair fell like a curtain around her face, and occasionally I could hear the soft rustle of pages turning as she progressed through whatever complex text had captured her attention.
