Chapter 181: Floating Song of Ten Autumns (6)

On the other side, Ning Wanciu, who had no idea what had happened in the bedroom, was busy cooking.

The fruit had already been washed and arranged nicely, and she had even prepared dinner while she was at it.

As an older sister living alone and raising her little sister, Ning Wanciu had made a point of learning how to cook. 

She didn’t cook dinner by hand every single day, but today she had definitely decided to do it herself.

The main reason was to give the two little ones some space of their own.

Ning Wanciu hoped that Ning Dongli would successfully become friends with An Yu and slowly return to the Ning Dongli she used to be.

She wasn’t in any rush. 

She was perfectly content with the current situation. 

As long as she could see her little sister gradually getting better, that was enough to satisfy her as an older sister.

However, she would never allow their mother to get close to Ning Dongli again.

This was the first time Ning Wanciu had realized that their mother wasn’t just unable to be Dongli’s support—she would actually push her straight into the fire.

In the past, she had always thought that once Dongli recovered, she would take her to mend things with their mother…

Thinking about it now, it was probably better to forget the whole idea.

Whew—

Ning Wanciu wiped the sweat from her forehead and nodded with a satisfied smile.

This was perfect.

A few simple dishes were enough; both Ning Dongli and An Yu had good appetites.

She plated the stir-fried dishes, picked them up, and prepared to set them on the dining table before calling the two little ones over to eat.

But the moment she turned around, she saw the two little ones standing right behind her without her noticing.

“Wah!”

Ning Wanciu jumped in fright. 

Luckily her reflexes were quick enough that she didn’t drop anything.

“Wah!”

It really was true that Ning Wanciu and Ning Dongli were sisters. 

The moment the two little ones suddenly appeared and scared Ning Wanciu, Ning Dongli gave just as big a reaction.

She was startled by her older sister’s sudden shout too.

Of the three of them, only An Yu remained perfectly calm.

She stared expressionlessly at the pair of sisters, blinked in slight confusion, then opened her mouth and mimicked them in a flat voice:

“Wah~”

An Yu copied their reaction exactly, keeping perfect sync with them.

Even though it sounded completely robotic.

Still, An Yu gave a satisfied nod.

Good. 

Now they were all the same.

Ning Wanciu shot An Yu a helpless glance.

She hadn’t even been scared but still joined in just to match them. That was so An Yu.

But… it was pretty cute too.

“What are you two doing over here?” 

Ning Wanciu asked, glancing instinctively at Ning Dongli with a hint of puzzlement.

She was still a little worried about her little sister.

Even though Ning Dongli was acting like nothing was wrong, she was afraid their mother’s words might have hurt her.

“Um… just wanted to see what we’re having for dinner today?”

Ning Dongli answered casually, though for some reason her tone carried a faint question mark.

It sounded like she had made up the excuse on the spot.

“Ah, perfect timing! The dishes are ready. Sit down, eat, and then you can go back to playing.”

Ning Wanciu smiled and nodded.

“Okay!”

Ning Dongli nodded back. 

She scanned the table as if searching for something. 

“Oh right, Big Sis, I want grapes, but I don’t see any!”

“Huh?”

Ning Wanciu looked at Ning Dongli in confusion and frowned slightly.

Weren’t they… right here?

She gave the plate a little shake.

Was this child really okay?

Why was she talking nonsense? 

And since when did Ning Dongli even like grapes?

She barely ate fruit at all… though she did love fruit-flavored tea.

“Ah… then mangoes!”

Ning Dongli looked awkwardly at the grapes in her sister’s hand and quickly changed her request to another fruit.

“They’re right here.”

Ning Wanciu pointed, her concern deepening.

Had her little sister been so upset that her eyes had stopped working?

“Strawberries?”

Ning Dongli grew even more embarrassed and tentatively named another fruit.

Ning Wanciu was completely at a loss now.

“Didn’t you say earlier that you saw them?”

“Ah…”

Ning Dongli looked away, her embarrassment growing.

Right. 

She really had used strawberries as an excuse earlier.

With no other choice, she turned to An Yu with pleading eyes.

An Yu blinked calmly, then looked up at Ning Wanciu.

“We want cake with those flavors.”

She seemed to be explaining for Ning Dongli while also making a request to Ning Wanciu.

Ning Wanciu blinked. “Ah… I don’t have any cake.”

She really hadn’t prepared any.

Seeing this, Ning Wanciu took off her apron and set it aside. 

“If An Yu wants some, I’ll go buy it. There’s a shop right downstairs.”

“No, you don’t have to, Big Sis!”

Ning Dongli hurriedly stepped in front of her sister and waved her hands frantically.

“Um… you can just keep cooking here. For the cake…”

Before Ning Dongli could finish, Ning Wanciu interrupted.

“The food’s already done, you know?”

Ning Wanciu looked at her little sister in puzzlement. 

Why did Dongli suddenly seem so strange?

It felt like she had some goal in mind but couldn’t quite say it out loud.

Had she been affected after all? 

Could even An Yu not fix it?

“Mm… I…” Ning Dongli stammered, unable to get the words out. 

“I just…”

Watching the flustered girl, An Yu quietly stepped forward and took her hand.

In an instant, Ning Dongli calmed down.

Her pupils trembled slightly as she squeezed An Yu’s hand back. 

She lifted her head, looked Ning Wanciu straight in the eyes, and spoke with a trace of nervousness in her water-blue gaze.

“The cake thing… leave it to me!”

She stared into her sister’s eyes, her expression filled with determination.

Ning Wanciu’s cherry lips parted, but no words came out.

“Leave it… to you?”

She unconsciously clutched the front of her shirt, her eyes full of disbelief.

What did Ning Dongli mean by that?

Leave it to her… how exactly?

“Mm. Ning Wanciu, you stay home,” An Yu said in her cool voice. 

“Ning Dongli and I will go buy the cake.”

She spoke calmly, but her words sent ripples through Ning Wanciu’s heart.

“Eh?”

Ning Wanciu’s voice trembled. 

It was a good thing she had already set the plates on the table.

Otherwise she definitely would have dropped them this time.

“Mm-hmm! An Yu and I will go!”

Ning Dongli pressed her lips together and nodded at her stunned older sister, her eyes shining with resolve.

“But…”

Ning Dongli was going outside?! 

Ning Wanciu started to speak but couldn’t finish.

How had this happened so suddenly?

What exactly had An Yu and her little sister done in the bedroom earlier?

Ning Wanciu stood there, at a complete loss, staring at the two girls holding hands.

For some reason, their relationship seemed even closer now.

“Sis! Don’t worry, An Yu will help me!”

Ning Dongli flashed a bright smile and gripped An Yu’s hand even tighter.