The sunlight outside was strong. Chu Qiao lay on her armchair, drifting in and out of sleep. A majority of the cicadas on the tree had perished, leaving a few who continued to make inaudible sounds. She batted her eyelids, drifting off to sleep.
After an unknown amount of time, the surroundings quietened down.
Chu Qiao was startled, opening her eyes fiercely. She was stunned as she saw a lady, about 50-years-old, standing in front of her. The look in her eyes was calm, but her face was pale, as if she had not been under the sun for a long time. The lady was using her eyes to size her up with a great deal of concentration.
Seeing that Chu Qiao had awoken, the lady nodded her head as a greeting, and asked, "Do you want some water?"