It was approaching evening.
Shen Heng woke up from his sleep.
He let out a soft breath, got up, and walked towards the door.
As soon as the door opened, a pleasant fragrance filled the air.
Along with this, one could also hear hushed conversations.
Shen Heng glanced in the direction of the kitchen, then walked towards the bathroom.
A moment later, Shen Heng arrived outside the kitchen.
Two figures stood with their backs to him in front of the stove, busy working and talking in hushed tones.
Shouldn't we move to a bigger house?
Shen Heng looked at the scene before him for a while, then turned his gaze to the figure he hadn't seen in a long time.
You're back?
Upon hearing the sound, the figure turned around.
Her face remained the same, but the ends of her hair were specks of white, frosty powder.
"Mm." Shen Shuning nodded slightly.
"You changed your hairstyle?" Shen Heng glanced at the low ponytail at the back of Shen Shuning's head.
In the past, Shen Shuning would always let her hair down.
"It'll be easier to move around if you tie your hair in a ponytail." Shen Shuning used her wrist, which was covered in glutinous rice flour, to brush the stray hairs back.
Shen Heng nodded slightly, not giving it much thought.
Beside her, Xu Yuqin glanced at the time, then subconsciously looked at Shen Heng.
" Xiao Heng, it's only five o'clock, it's not time for you to go to work yet, why are you up already?"
"It's alright, that's enough." Shen Heng chuckled, glancing at the pot in front of Xu Yuqin. "Are you frying sesame balls?"
"Yes, it's almost Chinese New Year, so we still need to prepare some New Year's goods. We'll send some over to your Aunt Wang's house later," Xu Yuqin said with a smile.
"Is there anything I can help you with?" Shen Heng asked.
Xu Yuqin pondered for a moment, glanced at the traces of white powder on Shen Shuning's face, then at the slightly loose ball of glutinous rice in front of her, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.
" Xiao Ning, go help Mom wrap the fillings." Xu Yuqin gently patted her daughter's shoulder. "I've already prepared the red bean paste; it's in the bowl in the living room."
Shen Shuning paused for a moment, glanced at the dough in her hands that looked a little different from what she usually saw on her phone, and nodded.
Shen Heng rolled up his sleeves, took the apron, and walked to the spot where Shen Shuning had just been standing.
As always, he has no talent for cooking... He glanced at the dough in the bowl with an unsurprised expression, then skillfully sank his fingers into the soft glutinous rice ball.
On the other side, under her mother's guidance, Shen Shuning has begun to master the method of making hemp balls.
It's not difficult. Just tear off a ball, spread it out, wrap the filling inside, and then fold it up.
Just be careful not to make the outer layer of dough too thick... Shen Shuning was carving a half-finished product.
A moment later, she showed her mother the carefully prepared semi-finished product.
I got a rating, that's it, but it's too slow, but I'm not in a hurry.
Shen Shuning breathed a sigh of relief. She turned her head to look to the side, and then her gaze unconsciously lingered there.
The loose, shapeless glutinous rice ball that had been in his hands now seemed to have been given life in Shen Heng's palm.
His fingers deftly kneaded the dough, his wrists leading his entire arm in rhythmic pushing and pressing, until the dough gradually became smooth and supple, gleaming with a pearly luster.
Is the difference really that big...? Shen Shuning stared for a while, then silently looked away.
"By the way, Xiao Heng, how are you going to celebrate the New Year this year? Are you only going to celebrate for one day?" Xu Yuqin asked, adjusting the sesame balls that were puffing up in the pot.
Shen Heng paused in his movements and said softly:
"Uh... I might have to eat New Year's Eve dinner earlier this year, I still have to go to the company afterward."
"Ah?!"
Xu Yuqin's tone suddenly rose, and she didn't even bother to pay attention to the timing.
She leaned back slightly, her gaze passing over Shen Shuning and landing on Shen Heng.
"What's wrong with your boss?! It's one thing if he doesn't give us holidays, but he can't even let us rest during the New Year? How can a boss be like this..."
Hearing the expected angry words, all Shen Heng could do now was remain silent.
He listened for a while, then glanced at the sesame balls in the pot, which were gradually darkening in color.
"Mom, the sesame balls are going to burn!"
Upon hearing this, Xu Yuqin quickly stopped and began flipping through the pages rapidly.
But soon, as new sesame balls were put into the pot, she started talking again.
Shen Heng glanced at Shen Shuning, who was watching him, and gave her a look, hoping she could help him persuade his mother.
But all she got in return was a slight upturn of the corners of her mouth and a helpless, gentle shake of her head.
Seeing this, Shen Heng could only sigh helplessly in his heart.
After a long while, once his mother's voice had lowered slightly, Shen Heng spoke to comfort her:
"Okay, it's nothing. I'm just going to finish my shift. We can still have New Year's Eve dinner at home."
"That's not good either. Who goes to work during the Chinese New Year?" Xu Yuqin was still a little annoyed.
"It's nothing!" Shen Heng chuckled, then quickly changed the subject.
"By the way, Mom, should we consider moving to a different house next year?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Yuqin was slightly taken aback, her attention immediately diverted.
"Why?"
"Isn't it a bit cramped like this?" Shen Heng said.
Upon hearing this, Xu Yuqin glanced at the three people standing side by side in the kitchen.
She thought for a moment, then slowly shook her head.
"This makes it a bit more lively, and it probably only happens a few days a year."
" Xiao Ning has a lot of schoolwork right now, and she's only been home for less than a month this year."
"Although you usually live here, you rarely stay at home except when you're sleeping."
Therefore, there is no need to move to a new house for the time being.
"It's fine as it is, we don't need to buy it," Shen Shuning said softly from the middle.
Seeing that both of them said so, Shen Heng had no choice but to nod.
"Okay, then let's not buy it for now."
Xu Yuqin nodded with a smile upon hearing this, then, as if she had thought of something, she looked at Shen Shuning.
"By the way, Xiao Ning, will you all be unable to come back for such a long time every year like this year?"
Shen Shuning paused for a moment, then said:
"Not necessarily, but even if there are false alarms later, it probably won't increase by much..."
The three of them continued chatting as they worked in the kitchen.
It wasn't until it was time to turn on the lights that Xu Yuqin remembered her important task.
She chased Shen Heng and Shen Shuning out of the kitchen, and then began preparing dinner.
Shen Heng and Shen Shuning moved to the living room to continue their work.
One by one, the glutinous rice balls, each filled with its own filling, were neatly arranged on the tray.
Suddenly, Shen Shuning seemed to remember something and looked up at Shen Heng.
Her gaze lingered for a few seconds, as if confirming something, before she looked away.
She looked down at the glutinous rice ball in her hand, pondered for a moment, and then spoke softly:
What are your thoughts on the Ruins Realm?