Even after everything that had happened outside, even after the chaos and danger and the strange pressure of survival, this small home still had moments like this. Moments where a mother teased her daughter, a child played with a toy, and someone stood at the sink washing bowls like it was just another normal day.
Yan Cijin washed the last spoon a little harder than the rest, then let out a quiet breath. She told herself not to overthink it. Bai Li had already agreed to keep the secret, and that was enough for now. The rest could wait. Whether Bai Li had really understood her feelings or not, whether she had reacted on purpose or not, none of that needed to be decided this second. She only needed to make sure LiLi was safe, her mother was okay, and the people around her were taken care of. As for the rest, it could slowly settle on its own.
