As the lunch hour arrived, the air was thick with an awkward tension that hung over the table like a dense fog.
Su Li and Gao Ming, both acutely aware of their unresolved argument, sat at opposite ends of the round table—one at the east, the other at the west. It wasn't that they were unwilling to speak; rather, each was too prideful to take the first step toward reconciliation.
Observing this subtle standoff, Gu Zi, ever the perceptive one, noted the way Su Li cast glances at Gao Ming only to have Gao Ming deliberately avert his eyes, pretending to be fascinated by something off in the distance. This game of avoidance continued until they both instinctively looked away, each stubbornly refusing to break the silence.
Gu Zi couldn't help but wonder: Was pride truly so important, even among little boys? It seemed that even at their tender age, the weight of saving face loomed large.
