"I'm back." Li Ang propped his umbrella, pushed open the door, and walked into the courtyard. He saw Chai Chai sitting in the living room in a daze, her chin resting on her hands as she stared blankly into space. A kettle was on the table. He asked in surprise, "Huh? Weren't you supposed to go to the reading club with Le Ling today?"
"I suddenly remembered while I was out that I'd left the water boiling at home, so I came back early."
Chai Chai forced a thin smile onto her face. "Young master, I..."
"Mr. Li, your meal has been delivered."
A restaurant worker carrying an umbrella and a meal box interrupted their conversation as he arrived at the main entrance of the mansion.
"Oh, thank you."
Li Ang got up, went to the door, took the meal box, and glanced at it briefly.
Stir-fried bamboo shoots with meat, vinegar celery, and matsutake rib soup...
"Huh? Why is there only one bowl of rice? Didn't I ask for two bowls?"
