Xia Qing put away her phone and continued bustling about.
She turned on the gas stove. Blue flames suddenly leaped up with a whoosh, licking the bottom of the pot.
She poured oil into the wok and waited until it reached six-tenths heat, when fine bubbles rose across the surface. Then she slowly lowered the prepared fish into the wok.
"Sizzle..."
The instant the fish skin touched the hot oil, it gave off a pleasant sound. Golden bubbles crackled, and the fragrance gradually spread through the kitchen.
Holding the spatula, she carefully flipped the fish. Once both sides had turned golden, she added ginger slices, scallion sections, cooking wine, and light soy sauce, then poured in an appropriate amount of water, covered the wok, and let it simmer.
The range hood hummed as it sucked away all the smoke and oil, leaving only the rich aroma of braised fish to fill the kitchen and drift gradually toward the living room.
In the living room, the animated show had reached an exciting battle scene.
Zhou Tongtong was utterly absorbed. Her small hands were clenched tightly, her little face flushed bright red as her emotions rose and fell with the plot.
As her emotions fluctuated, a faint golden halo of Spiritual Energy quietly surfaced around her, veiling her body like gauze. Even her round eyes shone with a trace of golden light.
The Little White Cat and Little Black Cat crouched beside her, equally engrossed. From time to time, they let out a "meow," their little tails swishing excitedly from side to side.
The Spiritual Energy drifting freely through the air seemed to be drawn by an invisible force. It gathered rapidly toward Zhou Tongtong, forming streams of Spiritual Energy invisible to the naked eye.
The Little White Cat and Little Black