The door was pushed open, and Su Tang's aunt, Su Yufen, appeared at the entrance with her husband, Zhao Youcai.
Su Yufen had a smile plastered on her face, but her eyes were shifty.
Her eyes darted around the shabby room. Only when her gaze landed on the well-dressed and distinguished-looking Su Tang and Lu Xiao did her smile seem a little more genuine.
The man beside her, Zhao Youcai, was slightly paunchy and wore a faded cadre's uniform. He too wore a smile.
But the smile only lingered at the corners of his mouth. His eyes were appraising, and when they fell on Lu Xiao, that appraisal was tinged with a subtle, calculating assessment.
"Aunt, Uncle."
Su Tang stood up, a polite smile on her face.
Her voice was calm, betraying none of the exhaustion from her long journey, nor the grief and anger from moments before—only a distant politeness.
Lu Xiao also rose, giving a slight nod as a greeting.
