Zhou Changqing rubbed his eyes.
The reflection in the mirror rubbed its eyes too.
Zhou Changqing thought it might be because he had played games too much and felt fatigued, which could have caused the misperception just now.
He turned on the tap, scooped up a handful of cool water, and vigorously rubbed it across his face, making himself much more alert.
He raised his head and looked at the mirror.
The mirror was empty, reflecting the wall of the washroom.
"It's fine now."
Only then did Zhou Changqing relax. He wiped his face with a towel and returned to the living room.
He put away his clothes, grabbed his keys and phone, and went downstairs. The stairwell was dimly lit, the dusk had been falling later recently, and a faint afterglow was spreading from the clouds, gently caressing the somewhat narrow entrance to the stairwell, casting an ambiguous glow.
The elevator ascended floor by floor; Zhou Changqing browsed on his phone while waiting.