In the afternoon, the warm sunlight, like a mischievous child, slipped through the gaps in the window, casting mottled patches of light and shadow across the floor of Zhou Yue's living room. Zhou Yue's parents sat side by side on a slightly worn yet meticulously tidy sofa. A thin layer of worry hung over both of their faces. They looked at each other, and finally, her mother spoke first.
"Yueyue, look at you. You're not young anymore; it's about time you settled down and took your future seriously." Her mother's voice was gentle, yet carried an undeniable firmness, like a sharp thorn hidden beneath a layer of soft armor.
Zhou Yue was sitting in a nearby single-armchair, casually flipping through a fashion magazine. Hearing this, her fingers paused slightly, and her heart skipped a beat as a wave of unease washed over her. Still, she forced herself to remain calm, wearing a relaxed smile as she replied, "Mom, what are you saying? I'm still young, and my career is just taking off. I'm run off my feet every day—where would I find the time to think about settling down?"
Chapter 63