The summer sky brightens early, and the azure sky looks freshly washed, appearing pristine under the rising sun.
Sunlight sneaks in through the gaps in the blinds, leaving spots of light on the mahogany floor, while a few birds chirp outside, flapping their wings crisply past the window sill.
Xiang Qichen stirred, waking from sleep, and shivered from the cold.
He pulled the blanket higher, half-opened his eyes, intending to cuddle the person beside him, only to suddenly remember that it wasn't Zhou Huaiyi sleeping next to him.
Xiang Qichen turned his body slightly, saw the remote on the bedside table, and reached out to turn off the air conditioner.
There seemed to be footsteps passing by outside, light and rustling, as Xiang Qichen checked the time on his phone.
It was 8:47.
Zhou Youning was sleeping soundly, curled up at the corner of the bed with the blanket over her face, not moving.
Xiang Qichen quietly pulled off the blanket, changed his clothes, and went out the door.
