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At 5:30 p.m., Lin Yanzhou went to the mall.

He stood in front of the jewelry counter for nearly twenty minutes, looking at three rows of diamond rings, trying them on again and again, before finally choosing one. The ring setting was a clean and simple platinum band, the diamond neither too big nor too small, but with an excellent cut, reflecting a soft and clean light under the lamp. Ever since he learned about Xiaoya's situation, he had felt he owed her a diamond ring symbolizing love, although he felt he owed her more than just that. In the end, he chose the one he was most satisfied with and swiped his credit card for 520,000 yuan to fulfill his wish.

When the clerk wrapped it up for him, she had a polite smile on her face that said, "This gentleman seems to have a strong sense of ceremony for his second marriage." Her professionalism prevented her from asking any further questions. Lin Yanzhou put the small red velvet box into the inside pocket of his jacket, patted it to make sure it wouldn't fall out.

Then he went to the toy section on the third floor.

The astronaut AI robot was on display; it had a silver shell, and the glass visor of its helmet glowed blue. Next to it were the words "Intelligent Dialogue, Aerospace Knowledge Q&A, 300 Bedtime Stories." He looked at it for two minutes and said to the salesperson, "I'd like one. Please make the packaging nice; it's for a little girl." Shopping is so convenient these days, but there wasn't enough time; he was going to see his daughter tonight.

The shop assistant quickly packed everything up and handed him a silver tote bag with star and moon patterns printed on it. Lin Yanzhou took it, carried it, and walked out of the mall.

The sun was slowly setting, and the sky between the buildings was a warm orange-red. He took a taxi to the address Lin Xiaoya had sent him—the new residential complex next to the city hospital, Building 8, Unit 1, 16th floor.

Standing downstairs, he glanced up at the lit window on the sixteenth floor, then looked down and touched the hard little box in the inside pocket of his jacket, before adjusting the silver tote bag and phone case in his hands. The guilt and self-reproach of over a decade, along with the expectations placed on his own flesh and blood, made him feel more nervous than ever before. He was both excited and worried about this meeting; after all, a fifteen-year-old understands a lot now, and would his sudden appearance make Xiaozhou think her mother had found a stepfather? He took a deep breath and pressed the elevator button.

When the door opened, Lin Xiaoya was wearing a casual light gray sweater, her hair loosely tied back, a floral apron, and holding a spatula. She saw Lin Yanzhou and the two bags he was carrying and paused, then asked, "You actually bought things?"

"This phone is yours." Lin Yanzhou changed his shoes and came in. "The other gift is for Xiaozhou. I didn't know what she liked since it was our first meeting..."

"Xiao Zhou's?" Lin Xiaoya peeked at the silver bag, a hint of curiosity flashing in her eyes, but she didn't rush to open it. "Please sit down first, the food will take a while."

Lin Yanzhou changed his shoes and walked into the living room. The house was more spacious and brighter than he had seen in the photos yesterday. The light-colored floor was spotless, a potted green plant sat on the coffee table, and a new pink backpack with a small bear keychain hanging on its side was next to the TV cabinet. He noticed that the curtains on the French windows were newly hung, light gray, and still wrinkled.

The door at the end of the corridor was closed, with a sliver of warm yellow light shining through the crack.

"Xiaozhou is doing her homework," Lin Xiaoya poked half her body out of the kitchen. "She'll probably have about half an hour left."

"No rush." ​​Lin Yanzhou sat down on the sofa and placed the silver bag next to the coffee table.

The sounds of stir-frying and sizzling oil wafted from the kitchen, carrying the aroma of scallions. Lin Xiaoya was busy behind the glass sliding door, the soft, familiar sound of the spatula hitting the pan. Dusk was slowly settling outside the window; the living room lights were still off, casting a soft, hazy glow.

Lin Yanzhou sat on the sofa, looking at the closed door at the end of the corridor. The light from the crack in the door shone quietly, and occasionally the soft sound of a pen nib scratching across paper could be heard, so faint, as if it came from across a long stretch of time.

He knew that in a little while, the door would open. He would see a fifteen-year-old girl, wearing a light blue school uniform or loungewear, her hair perhaps tied up or loose, walk out, see the stranger on the sofa, and then her mother would tell her...

He wasn't sure what the atmosphere of the meal would be like. But he had made up his mind that no matter what she said, did, or what kind of expression she gave him, he would sit still and finish his meal.

The math workbook on the coffee table was still lying open, the three characters "Lin Xiaozhou" written neatly on the cover. Lin Yanzhou glanced down at the three characters again, but didn't reach out to touch it. He just sat quietly on the sofa and waited.

The soft humming of Lin Xiaoya drifted from the kitchen, a very faint tune, like the song she used to sing when she was young many years ago.

The streetlights outside the window came on.

Lin Xiaoya peeked out from behind the glass sliding door, still holding a spatula in her hand, and called out to the door at the end of the corridor, "Xiaozhou, come out for a moment."

The light from the crack in the door flickered, then the sound of a chair being pushed open came from behind the door. Light footsteps approached and paused for two seconds. Lin Yanzhou noticed the pause, as if someone had taken a deep breath behind the door.

The door opened.

A girl in light blue loungewear walked out, her hair tied in a low ponytail with stray strands falling from her forehead. The light shone from behind her, casting a long, thin shadow on the hallway floor. She was fifteen years old, her figure not yet fully developed, her shoulders thin, but her back straight, possessing a sensitivity yet feigned composure unique to teenage girls.