The little girl with a backpack returned home and saw her mother cooking in the kitchen. The woman was humming a light tune, and when she heard her daughter's footsteps, her voice came through the sliding door:
"Today we have fried chicken, and I also bought some cupcakes on the way. They're in that bag over there. You can help yourself."
"...Okay." Zhu Qingyue muttered listlessly, "Mom buys the same things every day. I'm so tired of it..."
"What's wrong?"
"...Can I watch TV?"
"You can watch it after you finish your homework."
Zhu Qingyue did not turn on the TV with the usual excitement. Glancing around, she noticed the figure that would normally be sitting on the sofa reading the newspaper was still not there today.
"Dad, what's been going on with Dad lately?" she asked worriedly, "I hardly ever see him..."
"He should be in the bedroom."
The woman's voice remained calm, as if everything had nothing to do with her.
...
Zhu Kangwen was indeed in the bedroom.