Once Qin Yu had prepared the filling and Shenhe had rolled out the dumpling wrappers, Qin Yu suggested, "Let's move to the living room to wrap them."
Wrapping dumplings while standing in the kitchen would be tiring, and since there was no rush, it would be better to sit down and take their time.
"Okay," Shenhe nodded in agreement.
Qin Yu carried all the ingredients to the dining table in the living room. Shenhe doesn't even know how to make dumpling wrappers, she thought. She probably doesn't know how to wrap them either.
Oh well, I'll just have to teach her.
"I'll show you how to wrap them. Watch carefully, okay?"
As she said this, a peculiar sensation shot through Qin Yu's body, leaving her deeply troubled. The strange suspicion she'd had earlier resurfaced, refusing to dissipate.
Oblivious to Qin Yu's thoughts, Shenhe replied earnestly, "I'll try my best."
Qin Yu's mind barely registered Shenhe's words. The absurd suspicion was driving her to distraction.
No, I need to stop this! Qin Yu took a deep breath and thumped her chest forcefully.
Though she didn't know if this would shatter the absurd thoughts swirling in her mind, it was certainly better than letting them continue to fester.
Shenhe also thumped her chest forcefully.
"What's wrong?" Qin Yu asked, puzzled. Why is she hitting her own chest?
"Learning how to wrap dumplings like you."
Ha? It took Qin Yu a moment to grasp Shenhe's meaning. Does she think that was some kind of ritual? No, even someone as lacking in common sense wouldn't go that far.
Was she joking? Probably.
Shenhe was always so fixated on the "conversation techniques" her Master had taught her.
"Ahahaha, Shenhe's even developing a sense of humor now," Qin Yu could only say.
Shenhe's gaze softened slightly as she shook her head. "I'm merely following my Master's instructions. I'm still far from mastering it and need to refine my skills."
Please don't refine yourself in this area, Qin Yu grumbled inwardly, her mental clutter finally dissipating. Maybe Shenhe's approach is actually quite effective.
But she would never admit it.
"Actually, the technique is very simple. Look..."
"I understand."
Since they were making them with Shenhe, the simplest method would suffice. There was no point in striving for aesthetics. As Qin Yu thought this, she methodically wrapped the dumplings.
Glancing out the window, she saw the rain was still pouring down, showing no signs of stopping. How much longer will this last? Qin Yu sighed inwardly.
Though, I think something similar happened before.
"Qin Yu, stop playing with the dumpling wrappers! What have you even made?"
"Meatball dumplings!"
That's right! When I was little, I made dumplings with my teacher. It was raining outside that day too.
Back then, Keqing was still away with her family, hadn't returned to Liyue Port yet, so it was just me and my teacher, my foster mother. A foamy wave of nostalgia bubbled up in Qin Yu's heart.
But why am I thinking about this now?
"They're done," Shenhe's voice pulled Qin Yu back to reality.
"Thank you for your hard work—uh..."
So many! Even if I'm starving, I couldn't eat this much, right? Three full plates, each piled with over a dozen dumplings—did we make too many? Qin Yu felt a pang of regret.
But it's fine, we'll manage somehow!
Probably.
Giving up on overthinking, Qin Yu smiled. "Will dumplings be okay?"
"Whatever you decide is fine."
Dumplings it is, then.
Qin Yu carried the plates brimming with dumplings to the kitchen, brought the water to a boil, and was about to drop the dumplings into the pot when Shenhe inexplicably followed her in.
"Is something wrong?" Qin Yu asked, turning her head.
Qin Yu had lost count of how many times she'd asked this question today, but without asking, she couldn't possibly know what Shenhe was thinking.
Even then, sometimes she still wouldn't know.
"I want to watch. Would that bother you?" Shenhe asked softly.
Just like now.
It wasn't that she'd be bothered, but what was so interesting about watching?
Qin Yu replied, "It doesn't bother me," and promptly lost interest in Shenhe. She poured the dumplings into the pot, stirring gently to prevent them from sticking together.
Once the dumplings were cooked, Qin Yu plated them and handed the dish to Shenhe.
If you're going to hang around, might as well do something, Qin Yu thought, gesturing for Shenhe to carry the plate to the dining table.
By the time all the dumplings were cooked and brought to the table, the rain outside the window was still falling.
Qin Yu had no energy left to complain. She could only sigh inwardly, I'll deal with the rest later. Just focus on now.
Leave future problems to future me! She couldn't deny her tendency to procrastinate, but when she had no energy, she simply had none.
Qin Yu stared at the table for a moment, feeling like something was missing.
"Ah, dipping sauce... Shenhe, what kind of dipping sauce do you want?"
"The same as yours is fine."
Normally, Qin Yu would grumble inwardly about this, but at times like these, Shenhe's simple response was a welcome relief.
With the dipping sauce prepared, Qin Yu and Shenhe began to eat slowly and deliberately.
Hmm, the flavor's pretty good. No wonder—I made it! Though it's hard to make dumplings taste bad anyway... Qin Yu nodded slightly in satisfaction, glancing at Shenhe beside her.
With her hands folded under her chin, Qin Yu smiled gently. "How does it taste?"
Taste. Don't give me any of that "it's so warm" nonsense.
Qin Yu deliberately emphasized this, afraid Shenhe might say something irrelevant again. She just wanted a simple compliment on the flavor.
"Very delicious," Shenhe replied straightforwardly.
That's exactly what I wanted to hear.
"And it's also very warm," Shenhe added.
Ha? Why did she have to say that?
They just came out of the pot! Of course they're warm! If they were cold, that would be terrifying... Qin Yu couldn't help but grumble inwardly.
Sensing the genuine sincerity in Shenhe's tone, Qin Yu could only smile. "That's because you made them so well, Shenhe! The skins are just the right thickness."
"Mm."
As the conversation ended, Qin Yu sighed inwardly. She sampled a few more dumplings, yet the flavor still seemed different from the childhood memories she held.
Just then, Shenhe suddenly spoke up:
"This morning, before you arrived, I overheard some things."
"What were they?" Qin Yu asked casually.
"Since the 'jiao' in 'jiaozi' (饺子, dumplings) sounds like 'jiao' (交), which means 'to gather,' dumplings symbolize reunion and togetherness..." Shenhe explained.
Qin Yu nodded, intrigued. "I never really thought about that. After all, even without knowing the symbolism, dumplings always come to mind for family meals during holidays and festivals, right?"
"Is that so?"
Surely Shenhe feels the same way, right? Qin Yu almost asked, but a flash of Shenhe's past stopped her. She swallowed the words, deeming them inappropriate.
Am I being too considerate? Well, it's not like it's a bad thing.
Shenhe was silent for a moment before saying, "There is... a sense of family."
Why is she looking at me when she says that? Qin Yu thought. I'm not your family, she wanted to say, but such words could only be voiced in her heart. To say them aloud would be inappropriate, both emotionally and logically.
Has Shenhe really not connected me to her mother? Or does she see me as an older sister... or something like that? Qin Yu's thoughts swirled, her inner turmoil intensifying. She couldn't help but blurt out:
"Shenhe, you..."
"Mm-hmm?"
The words caught in her throat.
Does seeing me remind you of your mother? That was too crude to ask.
Have you connected me to your mother? That was too direct.
Every question seemed problematic.
Even if Shenhe didn't find the question offensive, her answer would be a problem in itself.
Whether she answered "yes" or "no," it would be mortifying enough to make Qin Yu want to throw herself into the sea.
The only difference was that a "yes" answer would make it even worse.
Some questions are better left unasked, Qin Yu thought, concluding that this was one such question. She decided to drop the inquiry.
"...It's nothing."
"Is that so?" Shenhe noticed Qin Yu's hesitant expression but chose not to press further.
Compared to that, she preferred to focus on the present moment.
Ever since hearing about dumplings, a hazy emotion had lingered in her heart, compelling her to suggest making them together, to stay by Qin Yu's side, and to watch her.
Only just now did she realize the true nature of this feeling.
It was the warmth of family she longed for.
"It feels like... family," Shenhe murmured.
"Huh? Did you say something?" Qin Yu asked, surprised.
"..."
The sound of rain. The soft glow of lamplight. Steaming dumplings. And the person right beside her.
Perhaps such moments had existed before, but Shenhe's memories of past daily life had grown hazy, like pebbles sunk deep underwater—invisible and intangible. Only the sensation of this moment felt vividly clear.
Shenhe silently gazed at Qin Yu.
Why is she staring at me like that? Qin Yu felt her ears warming slightly and quickly changed the subject. "Alright, let's keep eating. Save what you can't finish!"
"Understood," Shenhe replied.
To Qin Yu's astonishment, Shenhe actually finished everything. Unbelievable!
But at least nothing went to waste.
However... as Qin Yu listened to the rain pounding outside, she sighed in resignation.
Here it comes. The problem I've been avoiding... now I have to face it.
That was the issue of Shenhe staying the night.
The rain was still torrential. Even with an umbrella, it would be a miserable trek, especially since the roads outside the city would be treacherous in the dark.
Letting Shenhe stay the night was the best option. Yes, the best option... though it's not like I have a choice.
I can't just let her go home in this downpour.
Still, Qin Yu hoped Shenhe would voice the request herself.
"Qin Yu, please let me stay here tonight." If Shenhe took the initiative, Qin Yu could accept without any guilt.
After all, it would be Shenhe's request.
But if Qin Yu made the offer herself, it would be different.
"Shenhe, why don't you stay here tonight?" Wouldn't that make it sound like Qin Yu wanted Shenhe to stay?
Though she did want Shenhe to stay, it was only because of the circumstances—she didn't want Shenhe braving the storm.
In normal times, Qin Yu would never even entertain such thoughts, risking exposing her true intentions. But precisely because the situation was extraordinary, she felt compelled to maintain her usual composure.
In short, Qin Yu desperately hoped Shenhe would make the request first.
"Come on!"
"It's time to say goodbye," Shenhe said. At this hour, after dinner, they would usually part ways. Though most often, it was Qin Yu who would bid farewell and return home.
Huh?!
Qin Yu's heart raced. "N-now? But it's pouring outside!"
"We can use an umbrella, can't we?"
No, no, no! Even the biggest umbrella wouldn't make this weather bearable.
Why didn't you ask me earlier when you needed my help? Qin Yu grumbled inwardly, determined to steer the conversation to a more suitable topic.
"Even with an umbrella, it'll be miserable out there. If you go home like this, Shenhe, you'll definitely get drenched and catch a cold. Then I'd have to take care of you..."
"Would being sick... bother you?" Shenhe asked.
Qin Yu startled, stammering, "N-no... I mean, it's fine with me. A-ah, I mean, taking care of you wouldn't be a problem, but being sick feels awful. I don't want you to feel unwell, Shenhe. So, could you think of another way?"
Now that I've explained everything so clearly, you must understand, right?
Shenhe fell into deep thought. Another method? If even an umbrella won't work, does that mean I can never return? If I can never return...
A realization dawned on her.
"I understand now."
Finally, she understands? Qin Yu breathed a sigh of relief.
"I'll find a hotel to stay at."
Why did she think of that?!
"... That's not necessary," Qin Yu murmured, suppressing the resentment that threatened to surface.
"Not necessary? I don't understand. Please explain."
Is this woman doing it on purpose? Qin Yu desperately wanted to glare at Shenhe, but she couldn't bring herself to do it.
She lowered her head slightly, exhaled a warm breath, and, her cheeks flushed crimson, said softly, "You can stay here for the night. There's no need to go anywhere else."
Just kill me now.
Qin Yu regretted the words the moment they left her lips. No need to go anywhere else? What does that even mean? It sounds utterly pointless, even bizarre. I should have deleted that part.
But words, once spoken, are like spilled water—impossible to retrieve.
For a moment, the room fell silent, broken only by the rhythmic patter of rain.
"...I understand," Shenhe murmured. "Please let me stay."
"Hmm..."
But only for one night, mind you. Don't think that just because I made an exception once, I'll do it again. No such luck.