Firstborn Tree!

Lu Chi stared at that cloud for quite a while. Following his gaze, Luo Wen looked over and laughed. "That's called cotton candy. It's spun from sugar threads—sweet and light as nothing. Kids all love it. After we eat, I'll buy each of you one."

"I'm already this old, and I'm still supposed to eat that?" After saying that, Lu Chi added, "Then does Ning Xiaohe eat it too?"

6

Ning Xiaohe, seated across from him, looked up at him when she heard that. "I don't eat things that are too sweet."

66

"Then you can take a bite of mine," Lu Chi said.

Ning Xiaohe looked at him for two breaths. She neither agreed nor refused, lowering her head to continue looking at the tabletop. At some point, another image had appeared on the table. This time, it was a map, densely covered in regions and routes marked in different colors. She studied it intently, her eyes following the lines across the image as her finger hovered above the surface, tracing along with them as if she wanted to memorize the entire map.

The round metal ball rolled back again. This time, it carried a tray on its back, with three bowls and two plates on it. When the ball stopped, the tray settled steadily on the tabletop without being off by the slightest bit. The three bowls contained clear soup, pale yellow and translucent, with several chunks of tender white fish and a few emerald-green leaves resting at the bottom. The flatbread was golden, its surface lightly charred and sprinkled with white sesame seeds. The pickled vegetables were dark green, cut into thin strips, crisp and carrying a sharp vinegar scent.

Lu Chi picked up his bowl and took a sip of soup first. The freshness made his