"Home? I'm home?" Charles stared in surprise at the front door, which was adorned with an upside-down character for 'fortune'.
CLICK. The thick security door swung open on its own, revealing a cozy little living room inside.
A clamor of voices came from the living room; there were people home. The voices were familiar—they were his family.
Brimming with excitement, Charles stepped inside. He saw his family sitting on the couch, engrossed in the television and their smartphones.
The first to notice Charles was Gao Suling. The young woman's eyes lifted from her phone to look at her older brother.
However, her wide eyes held no trace of joy. They were filled with deep terror, as if she were looking at the most horrifying thing in the world.
"AHHH!" she screamed hysterically, clutching her head as she scrambled back toward the balcony.
The couple watching television jumped up in alarm. But when they saw Charles, their faces also contorted with profound fear.
