The two women stood in silence for a while, the only sound the faint ticking of a clock on the wall. Xiao Lian bent down to wring out the rag, her movements slower now.
"Beijing isn't forgiving.." she said quietly, more to herself. "People come here hoping to start something, and before they know it, they're just… trying not to fall behind."
"Falling behind isn't the end.." Bai Yunying replied. "It just means you need to choose a different road."
Xiao Lian looked up. "Do you really believe that?"
Bai Yunying's eyes flickered briefly toward the window, where the sunlight had begun to dim. "I have to.." she said finally. "Otherwise, there'd be no point in running."
The words caught Xiao Lian off guard. "Running?" she asked.
But Bai Yunying only smiled faintly, as though she hadn't meant to say it. "I mean starting over.." she corrected smoothly. "You'll see, it's not as hopeless as it feels right now."
