"Dad... How did you come here?" Li Jingjing softly called out.
Mr. Li stood up from the stairwell, cigarette in hand, where he had been quietly smoking and lost in thought.
"It's not that I don't trust you, just wanted to check on you," Mr. Li replied kindly to Li Jingjing. He turned to Yang Chen and added, "Oh, Yang, it's been a while since we last saw each other."
Yang Chen sensed that Mr. Li might be feeling uneasy. He smiled and said, "Yes, it's been quite busy lately. I do go to the market in the morning, but we haven't crossed paths."
Mr. Li nodded, then hesitated before glancing back and forth between Li Jingjing and Yang Chen. "So, what have you guys been up to?"
"Dad, Yang took me to buy some furniture and to see my new apartment," Li Jingjing explained. "Don't think too much of it."
