More than an hour later.
The clock had just struck five in the afternoon.
Outside the principal's office of the Hong Meng De Building, a torrential downpour was raging, each raindrop striking a loud note against the glass behind Lanci. The intermittent flashes of lightning and thunder made the sky alternately bright and dark, as if the entire world was shrouded in chaos.
The dark wooden furniture lent the space a sense of calm. A bronze desk lamp stood silently on the desk, casting a warm, soft light, dispelling the chill from the stormy weather outside.
Lanci sat alone in his office, back straight, both hands on the documents on his desk, next to a cup of coffee that had gone cold.
His gaze was focused on the papers on the desk, occasionally picking up a pen to underline important sections or write notes in the margins.
Ordinarily, the school finished work at five.
