Chapter 45: A Little Bit of Mischief~

The high heat quickly reduced the broth. By the time Huanyan pulled out the firewood, the fish soup had already turned the color of fresh milk.

"It smells amazing!" Mother Song had certainly tasted her share of delicacies over the years, but a fish soup like this was something she was seeing for the very first time.

Both the color and the aroma were absolutely peerless!

Huanyan dropped the tofu into the pot, letting it simmer slowly using the remaining embers in the stove. Then she took out a bowl, ladled some fish soup for Mother Song, and said, "Auntie, have a taste!"

"Don't mind if I do!" Mother Song didn't stand on ceremony. She took the bowl, blew gently on the surface, and a wave of pure, rich fragrance instantly washed over her, so intoxicating that it made her mouth water.

Mother Song swallowed hard and took a delicate sip.

In an instant, the rich flavor of the fish blossomed in her mouth, followed by a subtle sweetness and a delicate savory freshness that lingered on the tip of her tongue. As the taste settled, a pleasant hint of tofu emerged as well.

The moment the soup slid down her throat, Mother Song smacked her lips. Feeling as though she had finished it far too quickly, she immediately took another sip.

Just like that, spoonful after spoonful, and by the time she snapped back to reality, the bowl was completely empty.

Looking down at the bowl, which now only held a few drops at the bottom, Mother Song blinked in astonishment: "I finished it already?"

Huanyan glanced over, nodded, and asked, "Would Auntie like another bowl?"

Mother Song hesitated for a moment, then decisively shook her head: "Never mind, it'll taste just as good when we eat later."

Despite saying that, her gaze remained firmly glued to the pot.

Huanyan chuckled softly: "As long as Auntie likes it."

"Should I dish it out now?"

"Yes, yes! Once I stir-fry a plate of sour and spicy napa cabbage, we'll be ready to eat!"

"Alright."

Huanyan used a soup tureen to scoop out all the fish soup, gave the bottom of the pot a quick wash, and then added fresh lard.

Watching her swift and practiced movements, Mother Song felt a deep sense of contentment settle in her chest.

It was strange; although this wasn't her first time watching, she always found something so pleasing and comforting about the way this girl cooked.

Just as the sour and spicy cabbage was brought to the table, Mother Song had already helped Song Tiancheng out of the room and settled him down.

Seeing Song Tiancheng sitting beside the wooden table, Huanyan felt a brief flash of bashfulness, but Auntie was right—someone of Big Brother Tiancheng's stature certainly wouldn't anger easily over such a small thing.

With that thought, she ladled a bowl of soup for Song Tiancheng and placed it before him along with a pair of chopsticks: "Big Brother Tiancheng, have some soup first."

Song Tiancheng raised his eyes, and when they met Huanyan's forever-bright gaze, a faint smile bloomed on his face.

"Thank you."

"What kind of polite nonsense is that!" Mother Song, having just finished arranging the cushion behind his back, gave him a light smack on the shoulder at his words. "Huanyan is part of our family now, your sister! 'Thank you' indeed. I wait on you hand and foot all day long, and I never see you thanking me properly!"

Song Tiancheng chuckled and pleaded for mercy: "Right, right, Mother was right, your son is wrong and won't do it again. Also, thank you, Mother."

Mother Song was coaxed into a smile, gave him another playful swat, and said, "Alright, alright, let's eat! Try this fish soup—Huanyan made it especially for you, says it's good for your bones."

"Understood." Song Tiancheng picked up the bowl and took a small sip. His movements paused. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Huanyan watching him, her bright eyes brimming with eager anticipation.

At that moment, a mischievous impulse stirred within Song Tiancheng's heart. He kept a straight face as he continued to drink the soup, yet his peripheral vision remained fixed on Huanyan across the table.

When he saw the hopeful light in her eyes gradually fade and turn into quiet anxiety, that playful urge vanished instantly. A bittersweet, swelling ache bloomed in his chest, so intense that he couldn't even taste the flavor of the soup anymore.

"Ahem!" Mother Song coughed heavily, casting a warning glare at Song Tiancheng.

Only then did Song Tiancheng put down his bowl, smiling as he said, "It's delicious. Thank you, Huanyan."