“Ningchu, when are you going to go back and see your grandparents?”

At breakfast, her mother, who was wrapping dumplings in her hands, lifted her gaze to her daughter's face.

“Well...” Ningchu said, a little sheepishly, ”during the New Year, I guess? I'll go pay New Year's visits then.”

“That's fine.”

“Will you go, Uncle?”

She wanted to find a scapegoat to help take the heat off and prevent her grandparents from focusing too much attention on her.

Her uncle froze for a moment as he made the dumplings, and looked at her mother with a questioning glance.

Her mother …