Father

"Aunt Li, is Dad back?" Qing Yue walked into the open-island kitchen and withdrew a bottle of water from the fridge.

She hadn't had anything to drink before leaving home, and she never drank at parties; who knew what they added in them.

And after her sudden explosion of anger, she felt as parched as if she was a fish laid out to dry in the sun.

Carrying the bottle in one hand, she set her purse on the kitchen counter and moved to the glass cabinets.

"No, honey, your Dad isn't home yet. You guys returned early. Have you had dinner? What would you like to eat tonight?" Aunt Li followed her into the kitchen and held her hand, leading her back to the kitchen counter before returning to the cabinets.

"Qing Qing, I told you many times not to enter the kitchen. It's beneath your status. But you never listen." She brought out a glass cup and walked to Qing Yue's side, and unscrewed the cap as she gently scolded.

Qing Yue smiled.

"Sorry