The SPLISH-SPLASH of water was mostly drowned out by the music coming from the living room. On the balcony, a figure bustled about, bathed in sunlight.
The past two days had been blessed with rare, sunny weather. There were no somber, rolling clouds in the sky; the fine drizzle and the bone-chilling cold of the cusp of winter and spring were forgotten, left behind in yesterday.
The sunlight was so scorching it was hard to breathe.
Only in the evening could one fully appreciate the sun's gentle warmth without worrying about getting dizzy from the heat.
The figure on the balcony seemed both unique and utterly ordinary. Every object here remembered the mistress's beautiful face and her subtle, serene scent—she was often out here, hair tied up, sleeves rolled high. Her delicate cheeks were more eye-catching than the morning light, and her moving arms were fair and slender.
