Tap... Tap...
The rhythmic sound of Wang Xiao's footsteps echoed in the hallway. He hesitated at the door, his hand frozen mid-air. It struck him as odd, his own outburst downstairs, scolding those two girls with such uncharacteristic behaviour.
"Why did I lose my temper like that?" he muttered to himself, shaking his head in confusion.
Pushing the door open, he stepped into the room, his thoughts a whirlwind of uncertainty.
Inside, time seemed to warp and twist around him. The room, bathed in shadows, held a silent, eerie calm.
Half an hour slipped away like sand through fingers. When Wang Xiao reemerged, his silhouette was a ghostly presence against the moonlit window.
Clad in fresh attire, his hair still damp, he looked like a man reborn, yet troubled.