章 51: The Search Begins

Xia Xingxing returned from school with a heaviness weighing upon her heart, a nagging feeling that she couldn't quite shake. When Feng Ruoxi had invited her to join for some street food after classes, she had politely declined, opting instead to return home and immerse herself in the comforting familiarity of her modest abode.

As she stepped through the doorway, the aroma of her mother's cooking enveloped her senses, eliciting a faint smile despite her melancholic mood. "You're back rather early," Mrs. Xia remarked, her voice carrying from the kitchen. "Don't you have friends to hang out with?"

Xia Xingxing shook her head, her expression wistful. "I just wanted to be with my mother today. Is that a crime?"

Mrs. Xia chuckled, her tone warm and inviting. "Oh, no, I'm not complaining at all."