Yan followed with a smile. "Try not to fall in love with a light
fixture."
Bai's step faltered for half a heartbeat.
Yan pretended not to notice.
The Building Is Not Finished Yet
Bai did fix the flickering emergency light before moving on, although
Yan made her eat a packed bun while she worked. Bai argued that she
could eat afterward, but Yan reminded her that she had said the same
thing yesterday and had ended up eating cold rice at nearly three in the
afternoon. Bai looked toward the light fixture, decided that arguing
would take longer than eating, and took a bite. Yan leaned against the
wall and watched with the quiet satisfaction of someone who had
successfully persuaded a stubborn person to do something sensible
without needing to raise her voice.
When the light worked again, Bai tested it twice, checked the
connection, and recorded the maintenance date on a small label near the
fixture. Then she began inspecting the lower floors. The residents had
