Louis, clutching his stomach, couldn't wait any longer. He was starving and knew that one must eat to survive. Gently pushing open the door and peering outside like a thief, he happened to catch Anna carrying Cicc away from the dining table. Her eyes were red, as if she had been crying. She clearly saw him too, hesitated for a moment, and then quickly returned to the master bedroom with the child. Louis sighed in relief, opened the door fully, and approached the dining table. Finally, he could eat!
Seeing the food left for him on the table made him happy, and he eagerly dove into the millet porridge. Perfect! His culinary skills never disappoint. The feeling of being full is wonderful! After clearing the plates, Louis patted his full belly contentedly. He tidied up the tableware and aimlessly wandered around the room, taking note of the layout of their small 70-square-meter, two-bedroom house that they had bought together when they got married. The furnishings hadn't been updated in two years, and everything was starting to look worn. The quiet house, filled only with Louis' footsteps, felt stifling.
Louis shook his head and returned to the sofa. It was hard to imagine how Anna and the child had been living in this atmosphere for two years without going out much. It felt like being in prison, even for Louis, who had just crossed over to this world. The lack of a homey atmosphere was evident. Louis knew he couldn't change things overnight, so he just sat on the small sofa, fiddling with his phone. He searched for tips on maintaining a home, making a child happy, and being a good father. The various answers online left Louis scratching his head, but he persevered, knowing that being a first-time father was a responsibility he feared failing at.
Suddenly, the door of the master bedroom opened again, and Louis turned to see a small head peeking out, with two braids swaying on top. It was Cicc, tilting her head and curiously studying Louis with eyes just like her mother's almond-shaped ones. Her innocent and clear gaze melted Louis' heart. However, Cicc's face looked too thin, just like her mother's. If only she had a fuller face. Louis knew that Anna and Cicc could only eat leftovers every other day, and the child couldn't eat dishes mixed with alcohol that the previous owner hadn't paid for.
Louis tried to smile at Cicc, but before he could, she got scared and quickly closed the door, retreating back inside. Anna's voice resonated in the room as she comforted the child. Louis' smile froze on his face, and he innocently touched his nose. It seemed he had a lot to worry about in the days to come. Hours passed as Louis mindlessly scrolled through his phone, inundated with random parenting knowledge. His headache intensified, and his mind was filled with chaos. He set aside his phone, rubbed his temples, and got up. It was time to prepare lunch.
At that moment, the bedroom door swung open, and Anna, expressionless, emerged with a pile of clothes. Without acknowledging Louis standing by the sofa, she headed straight to the bathroom. Louis noticed her body tense momentarily as she walked out. Was she going to do laundry? Suddenly, he remembered that he hadn't taken out his laundry from the washer from the previous day.
Louis swiftly made his way to the bathroom. Anna was nervous, not expecting Louis to be home, as he typically spent this time drinking with his friends. Hearing his footsteps approaching, her anxiety heightened, her heart rate increased, and her body trembled slightly. "Um... my clothes are still in the washer, may I take them out to air them?" Louis' familiar voice startled Anna as she bent down to open the washing machine door. Startled, she staggered back into the bathroom.
"Be careful," Louis added involuntarily. Anna realized he was seeking her permission. Avoiding eye contact, she stammered, "Okay, you, you take them out first."
"Sure, thank you." Louis clenched his fists, his hands trembling, his eyes betraying anger and concern. He had just seen the reddish bruises on Anna's neck. Despite having the memory of that beast, witnessing it firsthand filled him with uncontrollable rage and sadness. As someone who had never mistreated a woman, he felt a wave of fury and sorrow.
Louis started sorting the laundry but refrained from looking at her; his mind was racing. "I'll make lunch later; remember to call Anna to eat."
"Oh? Uh, yeah, Cicc is asleep, I'll... wake her up later." Anna shrank back further, visibly flustered, her speech disjointed. Knowing he was only adding pressure, Louis touched his nose helplessly, grabbed the clothes from the washer, quickly hung them on the balcony, and then headed to the kitchen.
Anna stood frozen in front of the washing machine until the noise from the kitchen pulled her back to reality. She trembled as she loaded the clothes into the washer, her gaze drifting towards the kitchen. What was wrong with him? Why was he cooking for himself and the child again? Absentmindedly touching her nose, Anna suddenly froze. Since when did he have this habit?
She stood by the washer, listening to the drum's movements, her heart heavy with conflicting emotions. After finishing the laundry, she took the clothes to the balcony to hang them, while the man inside the kitchen was bustling around. Cicc woke up on her own, entering the kitchen barefoot with rubbing her eyes. Upon seeing the busy Louis in the kitchen, her beautiful eyes lit up briefly, and then she curiously leaned on the kitchen door frame to watch him.
Turning around after finishing hanging the clothes, Anna saw this scene - a curious Cicc watching Louis and Louis working diligently in the kitchen. Overcome with emotions, Anna leaned against the wall, covering her face with her hands, sinking to the ground as tears silently streamed down her face. This scene had only appeared in her dreams a long, long time ago.