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This afternoon, after chatting with Meng Zheng, Xu Xiangyang started his journey back home from the coffee shop.
He had been off classes for a few days, and it was Saturday again, so his mood was fairly relaxed. He wandered alone through the streets and alleys, taking his time before returning to the small alley.
The alley was as quiet as usual, the fierce sunlight making the moss-covered tiles shine like fluorescent plants at night. Even the cats that usually strolled leisurely along the stone walls and corners were unwilling to walk about in the scorching heat, with only a few old men wearing white tank tops and fanning themselves, lying under the shade of eaves, dozing off.
In the midst of the tranquil atmosphere, he washed his face at the tap using the cold and crystal-clear water to cool off from the heat before he stepped up the uneven bluestone steps and knocked on his front door, quickly hearing the "tap tap tap" sound of someone rapidly approaching from inside.
