Memories (3)

Yun Lan watched the two little ones following the maid step by step, their small hands tightly clasped together, and a soft ripple of tenderness stirred in his heart.

He shook his head, a helpless smile playing on his lips. Should he call this a case of planting willows without intent? The threads of fate were so intricately woven; how could he have foreseen that the ones he brought home on a whim would be Yi Jiang and Yi Xuan from Zenless Zone Zero?

The frosted glass door of the bathroom clicked shut, and the faint sound of splashing water and the girls' soft whispers drifted out. Warm steam seemed to seep through the gap, carrying the fresh, light scent of body wash.

As he stood lost in thought, a suppressed sniffing sound came from beside him. Turning his head, he saw Uncle Su, the butler, pressing the corner of his eye with a handkerchief. Even his usually impeccably groomed silver hair seemed to droop in sympathy, and his shoulders were trembling.

Yun Lan found it somewhat amusing and couldn't help but tease, "What's wrong, Uncle Su? Looking at you like this, anyone who didn't know better would think these two were your long-lost beloved daughters."

At these words, Uncle Su jolted, his professional instincts instantly overriding his surging emotions. He quickly straightened his back, smoothed his suit jacket and cuffs with astonishing speed, and even his hair seemed to snap back into place as if by an invisible comb.

He cleared his throat, his expression returning to its usual respectful composure, though his slightly red-rimmed eyes still betrayed a trace of his feelings.

"You jest, Young Master," Uncle Su's voice was steady and clear, though if one listened closely, a hint of lingering choked emotion remained in his tone. "I am simply... simply feeling gratified for you, Young Master."

He paused, looking toward the mist-filled bathroom door, his gaze filled with the kind of kindness and sentimentality one feels when seeing a child grow up. His tone became profound: "Young Master has finally learned to bring girls home. The Master and Mistress can finally set their minds at ease."

Upon hearing this, Yun Lan felt a dull ache in his forehead and instinctively reached up to support it. He dragged out his tone helplessly: "Uncle Su—I'm still young. Isn't it a bit premature for you to be worrying about such things? It's completely unrealistic."

Uncle Su merely bowed slightly, a smile of worldly wisdom and anticipation curling his lips. His eyes clearly said: Young Master, anything is possible; this is just a beautiful beginning.

Yun Lan was left completely speechless by Uncle Su's "I understand, I understand everything" look. The words of explanation died on his lips, turning into a long, surrendering sigh. It was often futile to argue with this old butler who had watched him grow up and was sometimes more "worried" than he was himself.

I shook my head, deciding to abandon this debate that was destined for failure. Just as I turned to head back to my room, my footsteps faltered, as if a warm thought had gently tugged at the hem of my clothes.

"Oh, right, Uncle Su," I turned my head, my tone sounding casual but naturally carrying a touch of careful consideration. "Tell the kitchen to prepare two more baskets of char siu bao for tonight. Also, have someone send over some clothes for little girls. They'll need to change after their bath, and it's the New Year, after all—time to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new."

I said it lightly, as if it were just a last-minute thought for a snack. But Uncle Su's eyes, which had seen it all, were incredibly sharp. The moment the words fell, the deep smile in his eyes rippled like a lake brushed by a spring breeze, becoming even richer and more gratified.

If the Young Master truly didn't care, why would he remember what those two children liked to eat?

"Yes, Young Master." Uncle Su responded respectfully, his voice brimming with unconcealable joy, and even his nod was lighter than usual. "I will go and order the clothes right away. For the char siu bao, I'll ensure the pork shoulder is used—perfectly balanced in fat and lean—with a sweet and savory honey glaze, and the dough steamed to be soft and fluffy, yes?"

He had anticipated every detail Yun Lan might be picky about. This wasn't just preparing a snack; it was treating the Young Master's rare, subtle display of concern with the utmost importance.

Caught by Uncle Su, a faint, imperceptible trace of embarrassment crossed Yun Lan's face. He gave a vague "mm" and turned away, heading upstairs, his back looking much more relaxed than before.

Uncle Su stood where he was, watching the Young Master's retreating figure and glancing at the bathroom, from which the faint sounds of water and whispers still drifted. The wrinkles on his face smoothed into lines of affection.

He could already see it: in a little while, when two baskets of steaming, plump char siu bao were placed before the two little girls at the dinner table, the light that would ignite in their eyes, and how happy they would look in their new clothes.

The air seemed to grow warmer, and a faint, sweet-and-savory aroma seemed to drift over from the kitchen in advance.

"Perhaps there should be one... no, two young mistresses in this house," Uncle Su thought happily as he headed toward the kitchen to instruct the chefs.

The bathroom door gave a soft "click," and the swirling steam poured out first like a warm cloud. Then, two small figures stepped out with some hesitation.

Cleaned of dust and fatigue, Yi Jiang and Yi Xuan were like pearls that had been polished anew, radiating the soft, moist luster they were always meant to have. They wore the new clothes Uncle Su had prepared; the cotton dresses were soft and well-fitted, and the pale goose-yellow hue brought a touch of warmth to their pale little faces.

Their damp hair had been gently dried by the maid and now lay obediently against their cheeks, the tips still carrying a sweet, fresh scent. Yet, their eyes still held a trace of hidden trepidation, like little deer entering a strange forest for the first time.

When they were led to the dining room, the sight before them made both of them freeze in unison.

The wide dining table was laden with a dazzling array of dishes, steam rising in curls and the aroma filling the air. In the center, those two particularly eye-catching baskets of char siu bao were continuously emitting white, misty steam from the gaps in the bamboo steamers. The sweet scent of the dough and the savory flavor of the meat filling intertwined, forming the most tempting assault, striking directly at their empty stomachs and taut nerves.

Yi Jiang managed to maintain a shred of the restraint expected of an older sister, though her breathing was noticeably faster, and her fingers quietly gripped her sister's hem. The younger Yi Xuan, however, had her entire attention captured by the two baskets of buns.

Her eyes were wide and round, staring unblinkingly at the plump, oily-skinned little buns. Her throat bobbed uncontrollably, producing a clear "gulp" sound. Her small body leaned forward slightly, as if pulled by the aroma, her toes unconsciously inching half a step toward the table before she forced herself to stop. She licked her suddenly dry lips, and a long, loud "rumble" came from her stomach, clearly audible in the suddenly quiet dining room.