The next morning, Jiang Sifan had just arrived at his studio when he heard a knock on the door.
He opened the door to see a middle-aged woman of about fifty standing there. She was wearing a dark gray coat, and her face was etched with anxiety and fatigue.
The woman's eyes were a little red and swollen, as if she had been crying.
"Excuse me, are you Jiang Tongxue?" the woman asked, her tone cautious and probing.
Jiang Sifan nodded. "I am. And you are?"
The woman quickly introduced herself. "I'm Xu Junjie's mother. I... I'd like to talk to you about Jun Jie."
Jiang Sifan paused for a moment, then stepped aside to let her in. "Ma'am, please come in and talk."
Mrs. Xu entered the studio and glanced around. A complex emotion flickered in her eyes as she took in the simple furnishings.
She sat down in a chair, clutching her bag with both hands, looking somewhat ill at ease.
Jiang Sifan sat down across from her and said nothing, waiting for her to speak.
