[Author's Notes: This chapter is dedicated to Nosliw, a great and kind person who helped me remember the deets of this book and has led me to finish this book with the help of her suggestions. Thank you so much for reading my outlines and for giving feedback! ^^ You're indeed a blessing to a writer like me who experienced an intense writer's block. :') I'm really happy to know you and brainstorm with you~!]
***
Amidst the clinking of cutlery and the hum of conversation, Mr. Chen sat at the restaurant table, sharing a meal with his friend Shufeng. Their companionship, though seemingly unlikely due to their age difference, had been forged by tragedy and a mutual quest for closure.
Their bond deepened years ago, when a fateful car accident snatched away Mr. Chen's wife and daughter, while also claiming Shufeng's daughter.