Problems are solved once you think about them more!
Dressed and refreshed, Lu Wanqing sat before her vanity, catching sight of herself in the mirror and unable to suppress a broad smile.
She stood up and walked downstairs.
Butler Mu was accustomed to her early rising, and his eyes twinkled with a smile as he naturally greeted her upon seeing her descend.
Lu Wanqing returned his greeting with a smile before turning towards her dedicated kitchen.
Yesterday's breakfast had been disrupted by various mishaps; surely, nothing would go wrong today?
Lu Wanqing thought this as she hummed a tune, happily starting to prepare breakfast.
It was still wontons, just like she remembered. A smile graced her lips; she truly had a fixation, a need for her cub to taste the wontons she made with her own hands.
Mu Sijie had also woken up earlier than usual today. As he came downstairs, he learned from Butler Mu that Lu Wanqing was already up and preparing breakfast in the kitchen.
Mu Sijie's heart stirred slightly, and he made his way towards Lu Wanqing's kitchen.
There was indeed activity within. Listening to the sounds from inside, he unconsciously softened his footsteps, not wanting to disturb her. He approached the kitchen cautiously.
Stopping at the kitchen doorway, he watched her, her back to the entrance, busily humming a pleasant tune. His heart, beyond his control, softened.
The melody she hummed was one he had never heard in the interstellar era. It was a little strange, yet somehow beautiful.
Her busy silhouette exuded an ineffable gentleness.
Mu Sijie watched her, suddenly feeling his heart in his chest quicken, beating a little too fast.
Lu Wanqing had been busy for a long time and had finally finished wrapping all the wontons. The next step was to cook them. She smiled and turned to get some seasoning, but as she turned, she suddenly saw Mu Sijie standing at the doorway.
Lu Wanqing was startled, then her expression relaxed into a smile. She greeted him, "Mr. Mu? Why are you up so early today?"
Mu Sijie looked at her face and suddenly realized that Lu Wanqing was also very beautiful, possessing a natural radiance. "Mm."
"Do you get up this early every day?" Mu Sijie asked again.
Lu Wanqing nodded with a smile, saying, "More or less."
Breakfast time could not be delayed. While talking to Mu Sijie, Lu Wanqing found a pot, filled it with water, washed it clean, then added more water, and finally covered it and turned on the heat.
To cook wontons, the water had to be boiling before they were added. This ensured the wontons would be delicious.
"You don't have to tire yourself out like this. Meal preparation can be handled by the housekeeping robots," Mu Sijie added.
Lu Wanqing shook her head. "I want to make something for Lanlan with my own hands."
As she spoke, Lu Wanqing couldn't help but reminisce with Mu Sijie about events from over three thousand years ago, about her family. "Do you know, back in the 21st century on Earth, every morning my mother would make me a bowl of my favorite wontons."
"My brothers loved wontons too. The wontons Mom made were truly delicious."
Mu Sijie asked curiously, "You have brothers?"
Lu Wanqing nodded with a smile. "Yes, I have three brothers. They all treated me very well."
Mu Sijie looked at the natural happiness that bloomed in Lu Wanqing's eyes and couldn't help but say, "Your family must have been wonderful."
Lu Wanqing smiled at his words, nodding. "Yes, my parents were very good to me, always doting on me. And my brothers, they always treated me like a princess and spoiled me. It's a shame..."
As Lu Wanqing spoke, a fleeting bitterness flashed in her eyes.
"What is it?" Mu Sijie couldn't help but ask.
Lu Wanqing quickly pulled herself out of the sadness. She shook her head, took a deep breath, and said, "Nothing."
Mu Sijie looked concerned. "Did something happen?"
Lu Wanqing thought of the past, let out a sigh, and then gave a wry smile. "My health wasn't good. I was diagnosed with a terminal illness. They... were all very sad."
The water in the pot had unknowingly begun to boil, large bubbles churning in the water. Lu Wanqing quickly grabbed the small wontons she had wrapped and dropped them into the pot.
Lu Wanqing fell silent, not speaking again until the pot of wontons was cooked, their rich aroma filling the kitchen.
Mu Sijie smelled the fragrance, looked at the wontons in the pot, and said, "Your wontons smell wonderful too. Mu Lan will definitely love them."
Lu Wanqing smiled at this. "Mm."
Mu Lan was a good child. Given his personality, he would indeed like any food his mother made.
Lu Wanqing scooped the wontons into a bowl. Glancing at the time, she saw it was getting late. She looked up at Mu Sijie and said, "Mr. Mu, could you trouble the housekeeping robot to bring these wontons to the dining room? I'm going upstairs to see if Mu Lan is awake."
"Okay." Mu Sijie agreed. He had grown accustomed to Lu Wanqing's constant concern for Mu Lan.
Lu Wanqing left. Mu Sijie looked at the wontons on the stove. On an impulse, he took a bowl, fished out one wonton for himself, and tasted it.
As the wonton entered his mouth, his eyes suddenly lit up. He couldn't help but take two more, eating them in one go before finally letting out a laugh.
What Lu Wanqing made was truly delicious and fragrant, a recipe that the housekeeping robots had never produced before.
The rich aroma made him want more, but remembering that they would all be having breakfast together in the dining room soon, he restrained himself.
Mu Sijie laughed, put down his chopsticks, and turned to summon a housekeeping robot, ordering it to take the wontons to the dining room.
After finishing this, Mu Sijie called for the butler again. He instructed Butler Mu to order another housekeeping robot today, specifically to be stationed in Lu Wanqing's small kitchen. This way, whenever Lu Wanqing needed a housekeeping robot's assistance, she wouldn't have to go through the trouble of summoning one from another kitchen.
Upstairs, Lu Wanqing had arrived at a more opportune time today. Little Mu Lan was just waking up. As Lu Wanqing entered, the nanny robot, Yuanyuan, was holding a small outfit, waiting for her young master to dress himself.
"Mommy!" Little Mu Lan opened the door and, seeing Lu Wanqing standing there, his face immediately lit up with joy.
"Good morning, Lanlan," Lu Wanqing said with a smile. She squatted down to be at eye level with the child and leaned in to place a gentle kiss on his beautiful forehead.
Little Mu Lan was momentarily stunned again, but quickly became happy, his eyes sparkling. "Mommy, does 'good morning' mean something similar to 'good night'? Both are wishing someone peace and safety?"
Lu Wanqing nodded with a smile. "Yes, Lanlan, you're so smart."
Little Mu Lan also tiptoed, suddenly leaned forward, and placed a gentle kiss on Lu Wanqing's forehead. "Mommy, good morning too."
Lu Wanqing froze for a moment, then smiled. She scooped up her cub, who was wearing cute little duck pajamas, and carried him into the room.