Gu Jin lowered her chopsticks and, to everyone's shock, let out a small laugh.
It was soft, just a little puff of air at first.
But then she giggled.
The room lit up like someone had turned on a hundred lanterns.
And for a moment, just a moment, everything felt right again.
After dinner, the family lingered around the table, not quite ready to let go of the warm moment they had just shared. For the first time in days, laughter had returned to the house—even if only briefly.
Mr. Gu cleared his throat, trying to sound casual.
"Jin'er," he said, "tomorrow I'd like you to meet a friend of mine. Just for a short while."
Gu Jin paused, her expression shifting just slightly. "I'm busy," she replied calmly, reaching for her cup of tea.
Mrs. Gu looked up quickly. "Sweetheart, it won't take long. Just one meeting."
Gu Jin set down her cup with a quiet clink, her eyes narrowing.
"You want me to meet a psychiatrist," she said flatly. "Right?"
The table went silent.
