As dusk embraced the sky, Giselle wrapped up her livestream session for the day.
In the living room, Chase and his grandmother were absorbed in a television show. Spotting Giselle stepping out from her room, the grandmother beckoned her over.
“Giselle, are you hungry? I’ve prepared some porridge,”
she said, rising to fetch it from the kitchen.
Giselle started to follow, but her grandmother gently pushed her back with a wave of her hand. “Sit with Chase, dear. I’ll bring it out to you.”
Reluctantly, Giselle took a seat beside Chase, nervously rubbing her hands together.
A palpable gap lay between them, which Chase narrowed slightly as he smiled and asked, “Did the livestream wear you out?”
“Just a bit,” she responded.
He was about to probe further when the grandmother reappeared wit
