Wei slipped through the front door of his family's modest apartment, feeling the weight of the day's training lingering in his muscles. It was unusual for him to be home this early; usually, he spent most evenings preparing for his night shift at the pawnshop. As he removed his shoes, his mother peeked out from the kitchen, smiling brightly.
"Look who's finally home!" she teased, setting down a plate of fresh dumplings. "We hardly see you these days, Wei."
His sister, Liu, was seated at the dining table, a mischievous glint in her eye. Wei knew that look well—it meant she was up to something.
"Yeah, you're always out," Liu chimed in, feigning innocence. "We were starting to wonder if you had a secret life or something."
Wei rolled his eyes, grabbing a dumpling before his mother could swat his hand away. "You know it's just work. I've got bills to pay, remember?"
