"Sister, you've been grinning like an idiot since this morning."
Shen Qianqian looked up at Shen Yiyue, who was making breakfast in the kitchen, her eyes squinting as if she were looking at a fool.
"Ah? Do I? No, right?"
Shen Yiyue responded with a series of counter-questions, cracking an egg and pouring it into a heart-shaped mold in the pan.
"Yes, you do! Your mouth is all upturned!"
Shen Qianqian pointed at her sister's face, her expression one of having exposed the truth.
Shen Yiyue hummed a tune while frying the egg, not bothering to engage with her sister.
Shen Qianqian didn't get annoyed either. She walked over, gently nudged Shen Yiyue with her elbow, as if sharing a secret.
"How's it going with Ning Yu?"
Her mischievous demeanor made Shen Yiyue turn to her with a surprised look.
"Qianqian... what are you talking about?"
She didn't realize that her and Ning Yu's progress had already been observed by her sister, though Ning Yu had long noticed Shen Qianqian's peeping.
Ning Yu, however, didn't mind having a little sneak peek. She wasn't one to get embarrassed easily.
"Sis~~~ don't treat me like a kid. I've read more manga than you've had meals!"
Shen Qianqian boasted, pursing her lips in disdain at her sister's stubborn denial.
Hearing her tone, Shen Yiyue scooped the fried egg out of the pan with a spatula and bent down.
She then grabbed Shen Qianqian's cheeks with both hands and pulled.
Shen Qianqian's small face was instantly stretched into a silly grimace.
"Ah, sis, what are you doing! Your hands are so dirty, don't pinch my cheeks, they'll get rounder! You always do this!"
Feeling the oily sensation and slight pain on her cheeks, Shen Qianqian was utterly displeased and tried to escape her sister's grasp.
"You little troublemaker, what are you always thinking about?!"
Shen Yiyue had a look that said, 'I'll teach you a lesson.'
"What's all the commotion about?"
Ning Yu had just finished her morning workout, holding a towel to wipe her sweat, and walked in to see the two sisters bickering in the kitchen.
Such workouts no longer improved Ning Yu's physical fitness, but she still kept the habit.
Now, it was more of a morning ritual than anything else.
Today, Shen Yiyue insisted on making breakfast herself, so Ning Yu had worked out a bit longer. After all, she had taught her some basics before, so she wasn't worried about any disastrous cooking.
"Ning Yu!"
Seeing her sister distracted by Ning Yu's arrival, Shen Qianqian finally escaped the clutches and darted behind Ning Yu.
Holding onto Ning Yu's sports jacket for balance, she peeked out from behind her, stuck her tongue out at Shen Yiyue, and wiped off the oil stain that had just gotten on her face.
"Sis is bullying me again! She bullies me every day! She's a bad woman!"
After making a face, Shen Qianqian began to complain to Ning Yu.
"You little..."
Shen Yiyue grabbed the spatula, ready to continue the scolding.
"Help me, Ning Yu!"
The two then started circling Ning Yu, neither able to catch the other.
Standing in the middle, Ning Yu watched the playful fight, unable to help but smile and shake her head, not taking sides, just enjoying the show.
Such fleeting, beautiful daily moments, Ning Yu cherished every second of.
"Alright, alright, let's get back to cooking."
Ning Yu gently picked up Shen Qianqian and stopped Shen Yiyue, indicating the fried eggs that were about to cool.
"Ah! It's all your fault!"
Shen Yiyue shot a displeased glance at her sister before turning back to continue making breakfast.
"Nya nya nya..."
Shen Qianqian couldn't help but continue to taunt her sister.
At the breakfast table.
Shen Qianqian's face was red, clearly having been 'dealt with' properly, and she pouted, venting her frustration on the toast, taking big bites.
Ning Yu savored Shen Yiyue's cooking, clearly noticing her progress.
The previous fried eggs were mostly burnt black, but today's only had 30% burnt parts, a significant improvement.
"How is it, Yu?"
How could Ning Yu lack basic emotional intelligence? She nodded with a smile and said,
"Delicious."
"Ning Yu, don't lie..."
After eating several bites of toast, Shen Qianqian felt the sauce was too thick, the taste too strong, and she looked utterly disgusted.
"Mind your own business!"
Shen Yiyue only got fierce with her sister, glaring at Shen Qianqian with a threatening look.
"Tch... A woman in love really is..."
Shen Qianqian turned her head disdainfully, though her hand couldn't help but rub her sore cheek.
Shen Yiyue hadn't finished eating, so she couldn't scold her, and Shen Qianqian, to avoid her, had sat far away, making it hard for her to reach.
"Qianqian, you're washing the dishes!"
Shen Yiyue ordered her without mercy.
"I won't!"
Shen Qianqian refused to obey, turning to Ning Yu again to complain:
"Ning Yu, make her stop! She used to call me her little cotton jacket, but now I'm her punching bag!"
"Pfft!"
Hearing the term 'little cotton-padded jacket,' Ning Yu couldn't help but laugh.
Shen Qianqian must have been very cute as a child, no wonder Shen Yiyue called her that.
"Alright, alright~ I'll wash the dishes later, you two just eat in peace."
Sitting between the two, Ning Yu once again mediated the conflict.
"Hmph!"
"Hmph!"
The sisters each huffed on either side, focusing on their breakfast.
After the meal, Shen Yiyue went to the kitchen to help Ning Yu.
Seeing Ning Yu's silver hair swaying slightly in the morning light as she worked, Shen Yiyue hesitated for a moment before asking casually:
"What's wrong?"
Just as she turned her head, she felt a weight on her shoulder. Shen Yiyue had leaned her head on it, blinking at her with a playful smile:
"Of course, I'm here to help Yu with the dishes!"
"Then bring the pot over~"
Feeling the ticklish sensation on her shoulder, Ning Yu smiled and gave her a task.
But Shen Yiyue didn't move, still resting her head on Ning Yu's shoulder.
"What's wrong? Didn't you say you'd help me?"
Ning Yu continued her work, curious.
"Helping Yu with the dishes requires a kiss as payment!"
Shen Yiyue whispered softly in Ning Yu's ear.
Ning Yu's hands froze for a moment, then turned her head again, looking at Shen Yiyue with a calm expression.
"Can I pay extra?"
Ning Yu took off the gloves.
"Ah...?"
Shen Yiyue was momentarily confused but quickly understood what it meant.
Because Ning Yu had already pinned her against the kitchen wall.