The knock echoed softly through the quiet alley.
Fu Sheng lowered his hand slowly and waited.
For a few moments, nothing happened.
Then footsteps approached from inside the house.
Fu Sheng's expression remained calm, but his eyes darkened slightly as the door finally opened.
A woman stood there.
Wei Meilan.
The warm light from inside the house fell across her figure, revealing familiar features Fu Sheng had not seen in years.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Wei Meilan looked at him carefully from head to toe.
Then she let out a quiet sigh.
"Took you long enough," she said.
Her voice sounded calm.
Too calm.
As though she had already expected him to come eventually.
Fu Sheng's gaze remained fixed on her.
"You knew it was me?" he asked.
Wei Meilan leaned lightly against the doorframe.
"You have been standing outside my house for quite a while," she replied. "Who else would come looking for me at this hour?"
Fu Sheng remained silent.
