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They didn't kick the habit, they simply hid them from view, if they continued like this, she would be the only one left alone in that house, they wouldn't even last another ten years.

Péngyǒu let it go, another phrase from his father seemed applicable:

You don't look at a given horse's teeth.

A week later, the cherry on top of this little misfortune disguised as a miracle.

That was when Péngyǒu went to the backyard to ask her father for a ride to the library and was surprised to find Mr. and Mrs. Mùzhīběn holding hands, smiling at each other.

They were just standing there, wearing winter coats and their breath misting in the air, looking into each other's eyes like long-estranged lovers from the soap opera Days of Our Lives.

Still, knowing that they leaned on each other as if they were a lifeline to endure all the frustrated desires they lost.