"Big Sister, Big Brother, don't just stop there. Come and join us here."
Irene's voice rose above the strained silence of the room. The calm look on her youthful face was a contrast to the disbelief expressed by Old Madam Li, Gladys, Geoffrey and Deena.
"Oh! Yes, yes, we should get to our seats," Calix nodded twice, still sounding cheerful. Looking at Leslie, he asked, "My dear wife, where do you wanna sit?"
Leslie chuckled, amused by Calix's attempt to show the Li family how different the atmosphere between them was.
"Let's sit there... Next to Irene," Leslie gestured toward the young teen with a tilt of her chin.
The dining table could fit twelve diners. A few seats were still vacant, allowing Calix and Leslie to choose which side they wanted.
Calix pushed Leslie to where Irene, Rowan and Bianca were seated without paying attention to everyone else. A few pairs of eyes followed their movements.
