but full enough for a family meal, with the smell of hot rice rising from the bowls and the soft steam from the dishes making the whole room feel a little warmer than the outside world. The windows were shut tight, and the apartment felt safe in that small, quiet way that made the danger beyond the door seem far away for a little while. Lili was sitting in her little seat, swinging her feet and looking proud of herself for being able to eat like a grown up, though every now and then she still looked up at Yan Cijin with round eyes and a face full of trust. Yan Cijin tucked her phone aside and smiled at her mother, trying to brush away the strange mood that had come over her after looking at the group chat. She knew her mother would notice if she stayed too quiet, and she did not want the meal to become heavy.

"No, no, Bai Li injured her hand. I was worried she wouldn’t be able to cook for herself, so I wanted to invite her over to eat." Yan Cijin coughed lightly and said.

Her tone was casual, almost like she was speaking about the weather, but her heart had already gone a little tight by then. She had not even realized how much she wanted Bai Li to come over until she saw that the friend request had not been accepted yet. She told herself it was only because Bai Li had been busy and tired, and maybe she had already fallen asleep after the injury, but that did not stop the little uneasy feeling that stayed in her chest. Yan Laojin heard her answer and nodded right away, not suspicious at all. She had always known her daughter was kind, and after the end times had started to creep in, kindness seemed to matter even more than before. Yan Laojin glanced toward the kitchen and then back at Yan Cijin, already thinking of an extra bowl. "Oh, what did she say? I’ll go get another set of chopsticks and a bowl." Yan Laojin said with a smile.

The way she said it made it sound so natural, as if Bai Li were already part of the family table, which in truth she almost was. Yan Cijin paused for a moment, then shook her head. "No need yet, Mom. She hasn’t added me yet. Maybe she’s too tired and has fallen asleep. I’ll ask her this afternoon." Yan Cijin glanced at her phone again and saw that Bai Li still had not accepted her friend request. That tiny detail somehow made her feel even more uncertain, even though she tried not to show it. She had never liked waiting when it came to Bai Li. Ever since the apocalypse began, every small delay seemed to make her worry that something had gone wrong. Still, she forced herself to breathe normally and put the phone down. There was no point in staring at the screen forever. Bai Li was strong. She had seen that strength with her own eyes. She would not be easily troubled by a hand injury, but that did not stop Yan Cijin from wanting to see her, or at least make sure she had eaten something proper.

"Okay, let’s eat first then."

"Okay." Yan Cijin looked at the dishes. Her mother had made stir fried green beans with pork and hot and sour shredded potatoes. The rice was rice. Because she was worried about not being able to buy vegetables later, Yan Laojin didn’t dare to cook too much and only made two dishes. Even so, the smell was still good and homely, the kind of food that made people feel slightly safer just by being around it. The vegetables were fresh, the pork had been cut into small pieces, and the shredded potatoes had that sharp sour smell that always made the rice easier to eat. Yan Cijin picked up her chopsticks and took a small bite first, then another. The taste was simple, but after all the fear and stress of the day, simple food felt like a blessing. She looked at Lili sitting nearby and softened immediately. The little one was already watching the food with eager eyes, his mouth opening and closing like he was trying very hard not to rush. Yan Cijin smiled and said, "Come on, Lili, eat your food." Yan Cijin filled the little one’s bowl with some stir fried green beans and meat, along with the rice, before handing the bowl back to the little one.

Lili took the bowl with both hands, as if it was something very important, and held the spoon with a serious little face. Then she scooped up a spoonful, opened her little mouth wide, and ate all the food in one bite. Her cheeks moved as he chewed, and after only a moment her face brightened as if the whole world had become better just from the taste of the meal. She kicked her little legs under the chair and declared, "Delicious!" Her voice was so full of simple happiness that Yan Cijin could not help smiling more. She reached out and touched the little dumpling’s face, her fingers gentle. "Eat more if you like it. How can our Lili be so cute?" Lili blinked up at her, then gave a happy little giggle as if being called cute was the best thing she had heard all day. The way she laughed made her shoulders bounce a little, and her tiny hands held the bowl even more tightly, as if she was afraid someone might take it away before she finished. Yan Cijin’s heart softened at once. In the middle of all the chaos outside, the sight of her child eating happily and her mother quietly sitting nearby made the apartment feel warm in a way that no wall or locked door could replace.

"Hehe~ Mommy is cute too." The little one kept giggling at Yan Cijin.

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TO BE CONTINUED.