The scent of rice and eggs filled the small house as Yue stirred the pot, her sleeves rolled up, her brow slightly furrowed in focus. Beside her, Lian sat on a stool, watching intently, her little legs swinging back and forth.
"You have to keep stirring, or it'll stick," Yue explained, her voice gentle but firm. "And not too fast, or it'll break apart."
Lian nodded, her eyes wide as she clutched the wooden spoon in her small hands. She mimicked Yue's movements but was a little too eager, splashing a bit of broth onto the counter.
Yue sighed, wiping it up with a cloth. "You need to be more careful, Lian."
Lian pouted. "I'm trying..."
Yue softened, patting the little girl's head. "I know. You're learning."
Lian perked up at the praise and tried again, this time more controlled. After a few minutes, Yue let her add the chopped vegetables, guiding her hands to make sure she didn't drop everything in at once.
By the time the meal was ready, the warm aroma had spread through the house. Yue set the bowls on the table while Lian carefully poured tea, her little hands steady with concentration. Just as they finished setting up, Xu entered the room, his dark robe slightly disheveled, his long hair loose around his shoulders.
He took in the sight with his usual unreadable expression before sitting down. "You two woke up early."
"Lian is learning how to cook," Yue said, pouring him a cup of tea.
Xu glanced at the little girl. "Is she?"
Lian straightened her back proudly. "I helped with the stirring!"
Yue let out a small laugh. "And spilled some, too."
Lian huffed. "Only a little..."
Xu picked up his chopsticks, taking a bite. He chewed slowly, then gave a small nod. "It's good."
Lian beamed. "That means I did well, right?"
Yue smirked. "It means I did well. You just helped a little."
Lian puffed up her cheeks in protest, but Xu only sipped his tea, his gaze flickering between the two of them.
Halfway through the meal, Lian rested her chin on her hands, watching Xu closely.
"Xu-ge, why don't you smile more?"
Yue nearly choked on her tea, coughing as she turned to stare at the little girl. Xu, on the other hand, merely set his chopsticks down, tilting his head slightly.
"That's a sudden question," he said.
"But you look different when you smile," Lian continued, her voice thoughtful. "Nicer."
Yue covered her mouth, smirking. "She's not wrong."
Xu exhaled, shaking his head. "I smile when there's a reason to."
Lian's eyes gleamed. "Then I'll give you a reason!"
Xu raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Lian sat up straight, determination written all over her face. "From now on, I'll make sure you smile at least once every day!"
Yue laughed, reaching over to ruffle Lian's hair. "That's a big goal, little one."
Xu didn't respond immediately. He simply picked up his tea and took another slow sip, his expression unreadable. But for just a moment, Yue caught something a flicker of amusement, a softness in his gaze.