At dinner Mai Mang didn't say a word. She was in very low spirits. Jingyuan guessed "sick," "not adjusting after the trip," "a prank that didn't work"—she shook her head and denied them all. She left half a bowl of rice and shuffled back to her room like overnight cabbage gone limp. Even their parents noticed. Their father's gaze followed her until the closed door cut it off. "Did you tell her about her mother's case...?" Their mother denied it quickly. "No, no." The two exchanged a look and...