The clinking of silverware and the gentle murmur of conversation filled the grand dining room, a soothing symphony of morning rituals. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting a warm glow across the polished mahogany table, where the Ryu family gathered for breakfast. A delicate array of pastries, fruits, and steaming dishes adorned the table, a testament to the household's meticulous attention to detail.
Grandmother Jia, her presence radiating a quiet authority, sat at the head of the table, her eyes observing her family with a knowing gaze. The atmosphere was deceptively serene, a carefully constructed facade that masked the undercurrents of tension and unspoken anxieties.