but the vegetables and meat were all gone now, so it was really over if they kept waiting for rescue that might never come soon enough. In the living room, the little girl sat watching for a while, then reached out and grabbed Bai Li’s hand, shaking it affectionately. "Auntie, when your hand is better, can you hug me?" Bai Li’s eyes curved slightly. The little one really was cute, and this kind of direct affection was hard to ignore. "Yes, then I can play with you properly." The little girl smiled so proudly at that answer that it was almost impossible to look away from her. "Okay, then Auntie needs to get better quickly." She pleaded it softly, with the kind of serious little child concern that made adults melt a bit if they had any heart at all. Bai Li was no exception. She sat there, quietly letting the child hold on, and the little girl had already completely accepted her presence as part of the room. That alone made the atmosphere feel more relaxed than before.

The meal itself was simple, but it had enough care in it that nobody could pretend not to notice. Even the dishes that were easy to make still felt special because they were made at home and shared at the same table. Bai Li had not expected to be treated so well. She had only come over to help with the injury, yet now she was sitting there with a bowl in front of her, a spoon in her hand, and a little girl eager to keep her company from the side. That kind of treatment was hard to refuse. Yan Cijin kept watching her from time to time, not in a staring way, but in the quiet way a person checks on someone they are worried about. Bai Li knew she was being looked after, and that knowledge made her move a little slower, eat a little more carefully, and sit a little more still. It was odd how a meal could make the whole room feel closer, but that was exactly what happened. Even Yan Laojin, who had been cautious earlier, now spoke with the easy tone of someone who had already decided to accept the guest properly.

With Yan Cijin’s help, Yan Laojin quickly prepared lunch. The rice was rice, and the dishes included sweet and sour chicken wings, scrambled eggs with cucumber, and hot and sour shredded potatoes. The smell coming out of the kitchen was surprisingly comforting, the kind of smell that made the apartment feel less like a survivor shelter and more like an ordinary home again. Bai Li thought of helping to serve the food, but Yan Cijin stopped her. "You don’t need to help. Your hand isn’t fully healed yet. Just wait with LiLi." Bai Li looked at her for a second and then gave up with a small nod. "Okay, thank you then." She really had no choice but to wait with the little girl. The child was already more than happy to keep her company. Once the food was served, Yan Cijin helped the little girl into her high chair, and the group began to eat lunch. Given Bai Li’s injured hand, Yan Cijin even brought her a spoon. That small gesture was enough to make Bai Li pause for a second, because it was so normal and so thoughtful that it almost felt strange in the middle of everything else. "Little Bai, this is your first time here, eat more," Yan Laojin politely offered. Her voice had a much warmer edge than it had earlier, because by now she had fully moved from uncertain to approving. "Thank you, Auntie, I’m sorry to trouble you," Bai Li quickly replied. She was still polite as ever. She did not know how to be a burden, even though Yan Cijin kept telling her not to worry so much about trouble. "No trouble at all. Are you having trouble serving yourself? Let me help you," Yan Cijin said, picking up Bai Li’s bowl and adding chicken wings and two other dishes before placing the bowl in front of her. "Eat up, be careful with your hands." Bai Li looked at the bowl and then at Yan Cijin. "Okay, thank you." Yan Laojin glanced at her daughter, then at Bai Li, and seeing her daughter being a little too attentive to Bai Li, winked at her with a mischievous smile as if she was following the correct path to flirtation. Yan Cijin noticed the look and pretended not to notice. She was too busy getting the little girl settled into her own seat and making sure the child did not immediately try to eat like a tiny hungry wolf. Seeing that the little one’s bowl was empty, Yan Laojin quickly added some food and a chicken wing. The little one, a carnivore, took the bowl and immediately took a big bite of the chicken wing, happily tilting her head back. The sight of her happily chewing made Bai Li’s eyes crinkle into a small smile. Even amidst her busy schedule, the little one managed to take a moment to smile at Bai Li. Bai Li continued eating with her spoon. Later, seeing that Bai Li was having trouble eating, Yan Cijin helped her by serving her more food. None of it was dramatic, but it was exactly the kind of small kindness that made meals feel more human. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

When the talk turned to medicine and rest, the mood changed just a little. The room was still warm, but the reality outside was sitting right there behind the walls, waiting to be dealt with. Bai Li understood that kind of silence. A lot of people were probably thinking about the same thing right now, even if they were not saying it out loud. Food was becoming tight, time was becoming tight, and every day brought a new kind of pressure. Yan Cijin did not say

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To be continued.