After the rain.
Inside a certain old apartment building, a strong, pungent smell of rust permeated the air.
The white walls by the staircase were also full of cracks left by time.
A middle-aged man wearing glasses covered his mouth and nose, raised his hand, and knocked on the door on the left-hand side of the second floor.
"Who are you looking for?"
A clear, melodious female voice came from inside the door, which quickly opened, revealing a young girl of about eighteen.
She wore a somewhat oversized white hoodie, with the sleeves slightly rolled up, exposing a stretch of fair, snow-like skin, and further down, a pair of worn-looking ripped jeans.
The girl leaned bonelessly against the doorframe, looking as if she had just woken up.
Her posture was languid, lazy like a cat.
"Miss Zhi, I am Wu Lang, the driver of the Yu Family. Mr. Yu sent me to pick you up and take you back," the man said respectfully, smiling at her.
Yu Zhi yawned, a vague mist of moisture in her light brown eyes, her eyelids drooping slightly with drowsiness.
She nodded: "Got it, wait for me a moment."
"Well—"
Before Wu Lang could finish his sentence, the door closed again.
He awkwardly touched his nose.
About ten minutes later, the two of them got into the car one after the other.
Wu Lang sat in the driver's seat, observing the girl playing games in the backseat through the rearview mirror.
She had her legs crossed, leaning languidly against the backrest, both hands firmly holding the phone, completely absorbed as if nothing else could fit in her eyes.
Wu Lang couldn't help recalling that not long after Yu Zhi's mother passed away, she was sent to a small town due to a monk's words calling her an 'Unlucky Star.'
Five years passed just like that.
Just a few days ago, Mr. Yu, longing for his daughter, finally decided to have him bring her back.
The car was silent.
Wu Lang didn't know what to chat with her about; he awkwardly adjusted his glasses, then turned on the radio to try and ease the awkwardness in the car.
The Yu family's residence was within the third ring of the Imperial City, more than two hundred kilometers away, nearly a three-hour drive.
The wind roared past the side, leaving only fleeting shadows of the scenery outside the window.
After playing games for a while, Yu Zhi felt a bit sleepy.
She casually tossed the phone aside, took off her shoes, and then pulled a nap blanket out of her backpack.
Covered with the blanket, she curled up against the seatback, preparing to take a nap.
"Here's the latest news: At the Ouda Exhibition Hall in Yushan District, Imperial City, the 'Thousand Mountains and Hundred Tales' valued at tens of millions was stolen in the early hours of last night. Police from multiple regions are jointly investigating..."
"The thieves are becoming increasingly brazen these days," Wu Lang clicked his tongue softly.
Looking into the rearview mirror and seeing that Yu Zhi was about to rest, he quickly turned off the radio.
He apologized, "Miss Zhi, I'm sorry."
"It's fine."
Yu Zhi closed her eyes, the corners of her lips curling up into a faint, indiscernible smile.
**
Within Yin Heng Mansion, the elegant and simple villas, shielded by verdant trees, seemed far removed from all the urban clamor, exuding a serene tranquility.
A white Mercedes drove to the end of the path, stopping at the entrance of a villa with European architecture.
Wu Lang honked twice, and the gate slowly opened at this time.
He first got out of the car, walked around to open the door for Yu Zhi: "Miss Zhi, we've arrived."
Yu Zhi responded indifferently. Just as she stepped out, an elderly man in his sixties, wearing a dark green top, approached.
The old man exuded a gloomy aura, with a long scar on the right side of his face extending from the brow bone to the corner of his mouth.
When he looked over, his chilling gaze was like a sticky poisonous snake.
Their gazes met in mid-air, and the old man was the first to lower his head, making a gesture of invitation.
Yu Zhi curled her lips, tossed her black backpack over her shoulder, and quickly walked into the Yu family home.
In the main hall, a man in his forties dressed in a black suit sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, holding a newspaper, looking earnest.
Hearing footsteps, he looked up and spoke with a smile, "Little Zhi, you're back."
This affectionate tone made it seem as though she had always been in the Yu family and had never been sent away.
Yu Zhi wordlessly scrutinized the man in front of her, her biological father.
He appeared no different from the gentle and elegant figure in her memory, even having entered middle age, his features still displayed the handsome charm of youth.
"Come and sit," Yu Baisheng put the newspaper aside, patting the spot beside him.
His face still wore the same light smile, yet that smile never reached his eyes, as if masked, stiff and contrived.
Yu Zhi responded lightly and stepped to sit on the sofa opposite him.
The undisguised sense of distance and indifference left Yu Baisheng momentarily at a loss.
He sighed softly, "Little Zhi, are you still angry with dad?"
"Angry about what?"
Yu Zhi's legs were slightly bent, one hand resting on the back of the sofa, her posture lazy, yet exuding a cold aura that kept people at a distance.
"About what happened back then, you..."
Yu Baisheng slightly frowned, the words stuck in his throat stubbornly remained unspoken.
He rubbed his forehead, his tone earnest, "Little Zhi, I know I wronged you and your mother, but bringing you back this time, dad truly wants to get along with you."
"Get along?" Yu Zhi shook her head secretly, did he really think she was a three-year-old child?
Before he could speak again, she stood up: "I'm tired."
Upon hearing this, Yu Baisheng quickly called over the old man standing by the door: "The room is ready. Let Uncle Fang take you upstairs to rest."
"Okay."
Yu Zhi replied indifferently and followed the old man up to the third floor.
As they walked, Uncle Fang introduced, "Sir and Madam live on the second floor. This is the eldest miss's room, and next to it is her piano room. Over here is the young master's room and his boxing gym."
His attitude was somewhat cold, as if he were dealing with a guest taking a tour.
Yu Zhi pressed down her baseball cap, strolling along in a languid attitude behind him.
She didn't ask any questions or show curiosity, playing her role as a 'guest' to the fullest.
Uncle Fang stopped at the door of the corner room, pushed the door open, and after expressionlessly relaying a bunch of precautions, he left.
This bedroom was selected by Yu Baisheng for her, predominantly decorated in pink with cream accents.
It's cozy, but looked at too long, it would cause visual fatigue.
Yu Zhi locked the door, circled the room, and then sat down at the low table by the window.
The warm yellow light of the noon sun filtered through the window, casting a faint silhouette around her.
She casually placed her hat and backpack aside, leaned back in the chair, half-squinting at the light source, her eyes revealing a trace of bewilderment.