“Ah? Right… Alright, Yaoyao, let’s go. Don’t, don’t disturb Lady Xiamir at work.”
Yiyi snapped back to reality, taking Yaoyao into her arms from Xiamir, gently rubbing the little girl’s head as she spoke softly.
Yaoyao, nestled in her embrace, naturally wrapped her small hands around Yiyi’s neck.
Her pink heart-shaped tail happily swept over Yiyi’s arm, the warm glow at its tip making one’s heart melt: “Okay, okay! Sister, where are you taking Yaoyao to play?”
Yiyi composed herself, looking into the little one’s eager eyes.
The heat in her cheeks gradually faded, replaced by a tenderness that filled her heart: “We’re going… Sister is taking you out to eat.”
“Oh, right, Xiamir, can you give some money?”
Yiyi suddenly remembered she had none, so she turned to look up at Xiamir, asking for some funds.
At her words, a faint smile flickered in Xiamir’s eyes.
She lifted a lustrous jade token from her wrist and gently placed it in Yiyi’s palm: “This is a Dragon Clan’s pass jade token. With it, you can keep an account at any eatery outside the palace. It’s more convenient than silver coins.”
Clutching the cool jade token, Yiyi scrunched her nose with a childlike stubbornness and snorted: “I’m going to spend all your money, hmph 💢”
Xiamir chuckled at the sight, reaching out to ruffle her hair indulgently: “Fine, spend it all. If it’s not enough, come back for more.”
Yaoyao leaned on Yiyi’s shoulder, curiously eyeing the token.
Her small hand reached out to gently touch it as she echoed in a babyish voice:
“Spend it all! Buy lots and lots of osmanthus cakes!”
…
Yiyi carried Yaoyao out of the palace at a leisurely pace.
Her fingertips still clenched the cool jade token, and her cheeks inexplicably flushed again.
“Why didn’t Lady Lilia come with you, Sister?”
Yaoyao leaned on her shoulder, tilting her head, her pink heart-shaped tail gently tugging at Yiyi’s sleeve.
Her tone was full of confusion.
“N-no,” Yiyi quickly shook her head, her voice faint and a bit distant.
She instinctively touched her neck, as if Lilia’s slightly cool fingertips and warm breath still lingered there.
If they went together, Lilia might bite or kiss her while Yaoyao wasn’t looking, and if the little one caught them, Yiyi would be utterly mortified.
“Let’s go. Up ahead is a noodle shop. Though I don’t know if someone as little as you can eat noodles, or do you want milk instead?”
Yaoyao immediately straightened up, nodding vigorously like a rattle drum, her pink heart-shaped tail sweeping joyfully across Yiyi’s arm: “No milk! Yaoyao can eat noodles! Want to eat the same as Sister! With lots and lots of scallions!”
Yiyi laughed at her earnest expression.
The warmth on her cheeks softened, and she replied quietly: “Okay, lots of scallions, and I’ll ask them to add an extra braised egg for you.”
Just as they reached the street corner, the signboard of the “Fragrant Noodle House” swayed in the wind.
The rich aroma of noodles already teased their noses.
Yiyi carried Yaoyao inside, where it was warm and cozy.
The air was filled with the savory scent of bone broth and fresh scallions.
A few wooden tables were scattered with diners chatting, their voices mixing with the bubbling of noodle soup, creating a lively atmosphere.
The owner was busy serving noodles.
Upon seeing the two enter, he immediately smiled and greeted: “What would the little miss want to eat?”
“Two bowls of noodles. Mine with extra meat, and my little sister’s with something lighter,” Yiyi said softly, eyes resting on Yaoyao’s expectant face.
The owner replied cheerfully: “Got it! One bowl of extra meat Yangchun noodles, one light children’s bowl. And how about an extra braised egg for the little one?”
“Two!” Yaoyao promptly raised her small hand, her pink heart-shaped tail tapping the table lightly as she added, “And lots and lots of scallions!”
Yiyi smiled and nodded: “Make it just like she says, put it on the tab.”
She took out the lustrous jade token and handed it over.
The owner’s eyes lit up at the sight of the token.
He carefully accepted it: “Oh! A guest from the Dragon Clan! Don’t worry, it’ll be ready soon!” He quickly tucked the jade token away and turned to the kitchen, calls and the clatter of pots and pans filling the air, adding a vibrant touch of everyday life.
Yiyi found a table by the window and set Yaoyao on a small stool beside her.
The little one immediately leaned on the table’s edge, peeking curiously around.
Her pink tail flicked intermittently, the warm glow at its tip making the tabletop shine brightly.
Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, falling on their intertwined pink heart-shaped tails, casting a warm glow.
“Sister, the soup smells so good here!”
Yaoyao sniffed, her face full of anticipation, her small hand clutching Yiyi’s clothes instinctively.
“What else do you want to eat, Yaoyao?” Yiyi asked softly, lightly patting her hand.
Yaoyao pursed her lips, eyes sparkling, a little embarrassed yet stubborn: “I want to eat a big chicken drumstick!” she said, her pink heart-shaped tail quickly winding around Yiyi’s tail, the warm glow brushing back and forth as if coaxing.
“A big one, crispy on the outside, tender inside!”
Yiyi smiled at the vivid description, the warmth in her cheeks fading slightly as she reached out to ruffle Yaoyao’s hair: “Okay, I’ll tell the owner to add a big fried chicken drumstick for you.”
She called out toward the kitchen: “Boss, add a big chicken drumstick—uh, two!”
“Got it! Two big fried chicken drumsticks, coming right up!” came the cheerful reply from the kitchen.
Yaoyao immediately cheered, her pink heart-shaped tail tapping the table excitedly, the warm glow flickering: “Yay! Two drumsticks! One for Yaoyao, one for Sister!”
“Good girl, hehe.”
Yiyi smiled, pinching her soft little cheeks, her heart melting completely.
Soon, the owner brought over two steaming bowls of noodles and two fried chicken drumsticks.
The noodles steamed invitingly.
Yiyi’s bowl was piled high with meat slices.
Yaoyao’s noodles were cooked soft and tender, with two braised eggs resting on the edge, and a thick layer of scallions spread over.
The freshly fried drumsticks gleamed golden, the skin glistening with oil, making mouths water.
“Wow! Chicken drumsticks!” Yaoyao immediately reached out, but Yiyi gently held her back.
“Blow first, it’s hot.”
Yiyi picked up a drumstick, blowing gently at it, her fingertips subconsciously checking the temperature.
Once it cooled a bit, Yiyi handed it to Yaoyao, then picked up the other one and slowly pulled off pieces of meat into her own bowl.
Yaoyao took a big bite, the crispy skin crackling in her mouth as the juicy meat burst with flavor.
Her eyes lit up, and she mumbled indistinctly: “This is so yummy, Sister!”
She scooped up some noodles, soft and soaked in the savory bone broth, mingling with the rich scallion aroma.
She smiled contentedly, nodding her little head repeatedly: “These noodles are good too! Much tastier than the ones in the palace!”
Her pink heart-shaped tail wagged excitedly, the warm glow flickering, highlighting the shine on her little face.
“Eat more if it’s good.”
Yiyi smiled, wiping the oil from the corner of her mouth, then took a bite herself.
The fragrant broth, tender noodles, and rich meat combined into a perfect flavor, making her squint in satisfaction.
Watching Yaoyao bury herself in her food, cheeks puffed out, Yiyi’s heart suddenly filled with a complicated emotion.
Who would have thought that she, the revered Commander of the Holy Spirit Corps, the Holy Spirit Knight Captain who once roared across battlefields, would now have her soul split in two by Xiamir, transformed into such a soft, tender form—with a little fragment of herself sharing the same soul.
Yaoyao seemed to notice her daydreaming.
She lifted her little head, scallion bits still stuck at the corner of her mouth, and asked curiously: “Sister, why aren’t you eating? The noodles are getting cold!”
Yiyi came back to herself, pushing away her thoughts, and smiled as she ruffled Yaoyao’s hair: “I’m eating, I am.”