First floor, the sensor light turned on.
Second floor...
Third floor...
Sixth floor...
In the next second, the lights in the little girl's house came on.
Bao Shaojin lowered his eyes, a cigarette between his fingers at some point, took a shallow puff, and slowly exhaled a stream of smoke that lightly escaped from his lips. His sharp eyes, partially hidden beneath messy hair, flickered in and out of view.
***
The following day.
Before dawn, An Anqing's alarm clock went off incessantly. She turned it off in irritation, hoping to sleep in a bit more. Suddenly remembering something, she sprang up from bed, not bothering to put on shoes, and rushed to An Ying's bedroom.
Upon opening the door, she saw the lights on in Mrs. An's room. An Ying sat at the bedside, holding a box she regarded as a treasure.
"Mom," An Yin spoke softly, "why are you up so early?"
"You're here already."
