The living room gradually settled back into a semblance of calm, though the earlier tension still lingered in the air like a faint echo. The guests had returned to the plush sofas, each one quietly processing what had just unfolded.
Soft afternoon light continued to filter through the windows, warming the wooden floors and casting gentle highlights on scattered gift wrappers and forgotten used cups. The background music played on low, a soothing melody that felt almost ironic against the heavy undercurrents still simmering beneath the surface.
Su Wanyan sat at the far right end of the sofa, Shen Guoxing still cradled securely in her arms. The two of them had stopped crying, but occasional soft hiccups escaped them both, a lingering reminder of the emotional storm.
