"You should ask him when he wakes up," Yuyan decided with the confident authority of a twelve-year-old who had just made an executive decision. "I bet he'd like it. And Mom would definitely like it."
The mention of "Mom" brought the worry back to Yuyan's face, and she pushed her congee around in her bowl without eating.
"Young Miss, you promised to eat everything," the maid reminded her gently.
"I know, I know..." Yuyan sighed and took another bite.
Just then, they heard footsteps in the hallway outside, measured, adult footsteps that made both children look up hopefully.
But the footsteps passed by their door, heading in a different direction.
"Who else is here?" Yuyan asked, perking up slightly. "Is that Uncle Ah Ling?"
"There's a visitor downstairs," the maid said carefully. "A young man who came to see your mother. He's waiting in the sitting room."
"A visitor? To see Mom?" Yuyan's eyes went wide. "Who is he? Is he a friend? Does he know Mom is sick?"
