What child didn't have a sweet tooth?
Every time Tangerine saw the longing in her child's eyes, then watched her turn around and grin at them, her heart ached.
It ached terribly.
"...Tangerine."
Madam Xiao pressed her lips together.
After a moment, she smiled faintly. "That's right."
"Bao Bao loves delicious food."
"You're always eating tasty things around her."
"If she smells something delicious, maybe Bao Bao will wake up."
"...Really?"
Though she knew it was only meant to comfort her, Tangerine couldn't help asking.
"Really."
Madam Xiao nodded. "Don't a lot of adults tempt their children with food to get them out of bed?"
"Bao Bao's been asleep for so long, she must be very hungry."
"She's just lost her way for now."
"When she smells something delicious, she'll know where to go."
"She'll wake up."
"...Mm."
Tangerine nodded.
There was nothing else she could do but wait.
So even though she knew this was just a lovely, fairy-tale-like explanation...
She was still willing to try.
She wanted to do something.
It was better than waiting helplessly, consumed by worry.
"I'll make something delicious for Bao Bao."
A faint light glimmered in Tangerine's eyes.
"Don't wear yourself out, either," Madam Xiao reminded her.
She had to care for her child and make delicious food...
Though she hoped Tangerine would prepare tasty things for her child while still remembering to eat on time herself.
She also hoped Tangerine wouldn't feel she had to do all the cooking herself.
She could order takeout or ask someone else in the family...
"...Have the child's grandparents come over?"
Tangerine nodded.
"I called them yesterday afternoon."
Tangerine and her husband had come to Yanjing to study, then settled there.
Their parents didn't live in Yanjing.
They were