Chapter 16 (2.10) Out of Control in the Forest, Forcing Mother to Become Empty

On the table with several dishes of home-cooked food, the family enjoyed a warm and harmonious atmosphere.

However, as they talked, Dad seemed to sense the underlying tension in my relationship with Mom amidst the harmony. He stopped talking about the funny things that happened on his trip and turned to my sister and me: “Shuang’er, Xiao Qiu, you’ll be starting school soon, right?”

Mom paused in her chopsticks, then lowered her head and started shoveling rice into her bowl.

While enduring a cat that kept tickling my leg with its tail, I replied, “Yeah, in a few days I’ll…