He silently spoke to himself.
Then closed the panel.
...
Front hall.
The brazier was burning brightly, dispelling the cold.
Miss Zhong Ling served the last plate of dumplings, the thin skin revealing a hint of green filling inside.
"These are shepherd's purse and fresh meat filling, with some ginger to ward off the cold," she said softly, her eyes subtly glancing toward Jiang Ning.
Jiang Ning picked up a dumpling, dipped it in vinegar, and put it in his mouth.
The savory taste filled his mouth, with warmth spreading from his stomach.
The long-suppressed appetite began to burst forth.
He looked up at everyone sitting around, Jiang Li was scooping porridge for Liuu Wanwan, Lv Yi was whispering and laughing with Zhong Ling, and Little Dumpling was clumsily fighting with her chopsticks and the dumplings.
Though it was just ordinary warmth, it slowly grounded the tense world in his heart caused by days of rigorous cultivation.
