[Morning - Sect Kitchen]
Footsteps pounded across the courtyard, followed by laughter.
Yun chuckled. "Those two never stop."
Kael glanced out the window and saw Yun Juan chasing Yun Shu around the training yard, both of them grinning.
Shitou sat on the steps with his knees pulled up to his chest, still guarded but no longer hiding. His new clothes were clean and neat, his eyes following the twins' movements.
"He's settling in," Kael observed.
"Slowly." Yun rolled out the dough with practiced ease. "He'll get there. Kids like him just need time."
Kael finished chopping the vegetables and set down the knife. "What else?"
"Mix these with the meat. Add some ginger and garlic. Not too much—just enough to bring out the flavor."
Kael followed the instructions, working the mixture together with his hands.
Kael worked the mixture together with his hands, focusing on the texture, the smell of ginger and garlic.
Simple. Mechanical.
"Zhihuan?"
Kael blinked and looked up. "Yes?"
