Shudu crept into Xue Laohu's room, his movements silent and deliberate. The dim light cast soft shadows across the modest room, where Xue Laohu lay on the bed, his face unusually serene in sleep. Beside him, Li Zhameng sat slumped over, his hand gripping his Shizun's in a gesture of silent vigil. Yet, the room felt incomplete—empty, almost. The beauty who would typically be clinging to Xue Laohu, wailing like a tempest, was conspicuously absent.
"How odd," Shudu muttered under his breath, his voice dripping with disdain. "I'd have thought he would be here crying his eyes out for dear Grandmaster Xue." He rolled his eyes with exaggerated disdain, his lips twisting in a smirk as he glanced once more at the sleeping pair.
Turning away, his sharp gaze caught the faint flicker of light spilling from the kitchen down the hallway. Curiosity prickled at him, he moved with a measured pace, the cool wooden floor creaking under the weight of his bare feet. Each step was deliberate, a slow intrusion into the silence.
The faint sound of movement drew his attention before a voice broke through. "Who's there?" Xue Tuzi's voice was wary, though not alarmed. He turned his head just enough to see Shudu stepping into view, the curtain of the kitchen door brushing aside as Shudu entered with a grin that carried the bite of mockery.
"Oh, it's you." Xue Tuzi sighed heavily, his expression a mix of annoyance and resignation. Rolling his eyes, he returned his focus to the dough in front of him, methodically flattening it with practiced ease. His hands moved deftly, scooping the filling and folding the delicate wrappers into perfectly uniform dumplings. Each fold was precise, his movements efficient.
Shudu sauntered closer, leaning slightly over Xue Tuzi's shoulder, his grin lingering as his sharp eyes tracked the beauty's movements. "Huh," he murmured, tilting his head. "Cooking at this hour?" His tone light yet curious as he leaned in, catching the savory aroma of freshly prepared dumplings. The rich scent of spices and broth filled the small kitchen, its warmth cutting through the cool night air.
Xue Tuzi ignored him, focused entirely on his work. Each dumpling was an art in itself, tightly sealed and neatly twisted at the top, not a hint of filling spilling out. The steam from a pot nearby coiled lazily into the air, adding a faint warmth to the room.
"When Shizun wakes up, I know he'll be hungry," Xue Tuzi replied without looking up, his fingers deftly folding the edges of a dumpling with practiced precision. A small smile played at his lips as he thought of his Shizun recovering from qi deviation.
Nearby, Jiao Jiao, the rotund little Gu worm, busied himself at the stove, his stubby legs barely visible beneath his gelatinous body as he stirred the bubbling soup with a wooden spoon. Steam rose in thick, fragrant clouds, engulfing his oversized head and causing him to cough in short bursts.
"Xiao Jiao, careful! Don't get too close to the pot," Xue Tuzi called out, his voice laced with worry. He rushed over, patting the little Gu worm gently on the back as Jiao Jiao let out a tiny wheeze. The Gu worm's gelatinous body quivered with each pat, his translucent form reflecting the flickering firelight.
"What is Xiao Jiao doing so close to a boiling pot? Do you intend to cook him?" Shudu exclaimed, his tone sharp and disapproving. He crossed his arms, his dark brows knitting together as he glared at Xue Tuzi.
"Xiao Jiao is helping in the kitchen—" Xue Tuzi began, his voice calm but strained, only for Shudu to cut him off mid-sentence.
"He's not your servant!" Shudu's voice rose, brimming with indignation, his hands clenching into fists at his sides.
Xue Tuzi's expression darkened, his teeth clenching as he turned to face Shudu, his narrowed eyes glinting with anger. "Unlike you he's not useless," he hissed through gritted teeth.
Before Shudu could retaliate, his hand twitching as if to grab Xue Tuzi by the collar, Jiao Jiao sprang into action. The Gu worm, sensing the tension, shot a sticky web of threads from his tiny mouth, the glistening strands tangling around Shudu's outstretched hand.
"Tch…" Shudu clicked his tongue in frustration, scowling as he attempted to peel the sticky threads off. His muttered curses were barely audible over the simmering pot.
"Good boy," Xue Tuzi murmured, his stern expression softening as he reached down to pat Jiao Jiao's quivering head. The Gu worm's large red eyes seemed to pulse with joy, glowing faintly like little hearts.
Satisfied, Xue Tuzi turned back to the stove, lifting the ladle and blowing gently on the soup to cool it. His full lips moved with practiced care before he lowered the spoon to Jiao Jiao's mouth. "Careful, it's hot," he warned, watching as the little worm took a tentative sip.
Jiao Jiao's eyes crinkled into crescent shapes, his gelatinous body bouncing with approval. He nodded enthusiastically, his jelly-like head bobbing.
Xue Tuzi smiled faintly, his fingers brushing against Jiao Jiao's side. "Is it good?" he asked softly, his voice carrying a rare tenderness.
Shudu had just finished washing Jiao Jiao's sticky silk threads from his hands. The fragrant aroma of the soup wafted through the kitchen, calling to him like an irresistible temptation. He stepped toward the simmering pot, leaning in for a better look. Before he could peer inside, Xue Tuzi swiftly slammed the lid down with a loud clang.
"There are no freeloaders here," Xue Tuzi said firmly, his voice laced with disdain. "If you want any, you'll have to earn it." He brushed past Shudu, his long, silky hair swaying in rhythm with his sharp movements as he returned to the table. Without missing a beat, he resumed folding the dumplings, his nimble fingers twisting and pinching the dough into neat little parcels.
Shudu's frown deepened, muttering under his breath, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I… I don't know how to cook."
Xue Tuzi paused and glanced over at Jiao Jiao, who had curled himself into a tiny, wiggling ball of exhaustion after his earlier stint at stirring the pot. "Xiao Jiao…" Xue Tuzi called, his tone commanding yet oddly gentle. The little Gu worm perked up instantly, his gelatinous body quivering as his large eyes widened with attention.
"You need to learn how to cook," Xue Tuzi told him, his voice carrying an undertone of affection masked by sternness. "I don't want you to grow into a useless demon."
Shudu bristled at the words, his fangs flashing as he bared his teeth. "Demons don't need to cook. They can eat raw meat just fine," he snapped, his brows drawing together in anger.
"Xiao Jiao is different," Xue Tuzi countered curtly, turning his attention back to the dumplings. As he worked, strands of his long brown hair fell across his face, sticking stubbornly to his skin, which was damp from the steam and flour. He tried twisting and flicking them away, but the strands clung tenaciously. Frustrated, he let out a soft huff and turned toward Shudu, his sharp expression softening as his full lips formed a hesitant pout. His dark eyes, no longer cold and venomous, shimmered with an almost childlike vulnerability.
"Could you… could you tie my hair?" Xue Tuzi asked, his voice uncharacteristically meek. He stole a brief glance at Shudu before averting his gaze, his doe-like eyes filled with quiet pleading.
Shudu blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in demeanor. He narrowed his eyes in suspicion, unsure if this was a ploy. But as Xue Tuzi's hair clung to his lips and cheeks in messy strands, he looked so disarmingly helpless that Shudu let out a deep sigh, unable to resist the sight of the beauty in distraught.
"Fine," Shudu muttered, stepping closer. He hovered over, his clawed fingers reaching out to pull away the stray strands of hair that had stuck to Xue Tuzi's lips. The touch was delicate, almost reverent, as he smoothed the rogue locks away from the flushed face.
Xue Tuzi kept his head down, his lashes casting soft shadows on his cheeks, but his hands continued working the dough with unwavering focus. Shudu's nails lightly grazed his scalp as he gathered Xue Tuzi's hair, the sensation sending an involuntary shiver down Xue Tuzi's spine. Shudu worked quickly yet carefully, his claws massaging the crown of Xue Tuzi's head as he twisted the strands into a high bun. The soft pink ribbon was tied securely to keep the bun in place.
When he was done, Shudu didn't move away. Instead, he wrapped his arms around Xue Tuzi's slender waist, pulling him into a loose embrace. His chin came to rest lightly on Xue Tuzi's shoulder, his sharp eyes watching intently as Xue Tuzi folded dumpling after dumpling.
Xue Tuzi felt something hard pressing against him, and a wave of heat rushed through his body. His hands froze mid-motion, his brows knitting in irritation as he quickly brought his elbow down, shoving Shudu away from him.
"Mean bunny," Shudu groaned, clutching his stomach where Xue Tuzi's sharp jab had landed. He winced dramatically, though the smirk lingering on his lips suggested he wasn't entirely displeased by the rough treatment.
Xue Tuzi exhaled through his nose, a single, dismissive hmph escaping his lips as he rolled his eyes. He turned back to his work, his hands moving deftly as he filled and folded the dumplings. Each motion was precise, almost rhythmic, the delicate bundles taking shape one after another under his skilled fingers.
But Shudu's gaze stayed locked on him, unrelenting and intense. There was something magnetic about Xue Tuzi—the way he shifted from cold and sour to unexpectedly tender, like a rare fruit that promised sweetness but hid a sharp bite beneath its skin. Shudu craved another taste of that fleeting softness, but the beauty before him had turned venomous once more.
Shudu reached for a piece of dough, flattening it clumsily between his hands. The sticky texture clung to his palms as he scooped up some filling with his sharp nails. Xue Tuzi's eyes widened in alarm, his lips parting as if to chastise him, but before he could speak, Shudu folded the dumpling with surprising ease. The edges were neatly crimped, the proportions perfect.
"You've… done this before?" Xue Tuzi asked, momentarily distracted from his irritation.
"No," Shudu replied with a pleased grin, examining his handiwork like a painter admiring their first masterpiece. "But I'm a fast learner."
Shudu's voice softened as he glanced at the little Gu worm nearby. "Xiao Jiao, come here."
Jiao Jiao perked up and wriggled his way over, his round, jelly-like body bouncing slightly with each movement.
"Say ahhh," Shudu cooed, holding the uncooked dumpling between his clawed fingers. Jiao Jiao obediently opened his tiny mouth, and Shudu popped the dumpling inside without a second thought.
"Xiao Jiao, spit it out!" Xue Tuzi shouted, his voice rising in alarm. His brows furrowed deeply as he leaned forward, watching the Gu worm nervously swallow the uncooked dumpling.
But Jiao Jiao's reaction wasn't what he feared. The little worm's eyes turned into delighted crescent shapes as he let out a soft, contented burp, his gelatinous body vibrating with satisfaction.
"Relax," Shudu said with a dismissive wave of his hand, already reaching for more dough. "He's a demon. He can eat raw meat." His sharp smile widened as he crafted another perfect dumpling, the ease of his movements clearly intentional.
"Aren't your nails poisonous?" Xue Tuzi snapped, his voice tinged with both exasperation and disbelief. He watched as Shudu's claws sank into the filling again, the meat clinging to the sharp tips and staining the dough a faint, ominous purple hue.
"Yeah, and?" Shudu replied nonchalantly, ignoring the concern in Xue Tuzi's voice. One by one, he continued to feed the uncooked dumplings to Jiao Jiao, who seemed only too happy to devour them.
"You've contaminated the filling!" Xue Tuzi exclaimed, his tone edged with both annoyance and panic.
Shudu shrugged, his expression infuriatingly calm. "You don't think that's enough for Grandmaster Xue?" he teased, nodding toward the mountain of dumplings already stacked neatly beside Xue Tuzi. His voice carried a mocking lilt, his eyes glinting with amusement as he watched Xue Tuzi's reaction.
For a brief moment, a faint flush spread across Xue Tuzi's cheeks, he stuttered, the edges of his voice softening despite himself. "I—I was cooking for Xiao Jiao too…"
"Right…" Shudu muttered with a dramatic sigh, pinching the last dumpling between his clawed fingers. He eyed it for a moment, then casually popped it into his mouth, chewing slowly. Almost immediately, his expression soured, his sharp brows furrowing as he forced the lump of raw dough and filling down his throat.
"You're supposed to cook them," Xue Tuzi snapped, his tone dripping with exasperation. His big, doe-like eyes narrowed in irritation as he glanced at Shudu, who looked distinctly unimpressed by his own poor decision.
Rolling his eyes with a huff, Xue Tuzi reached for the neatly folded dumplings, gathering them into a small bamboo steamer. His movements were quick but meticulous, each dumpling carefully placed as though it were a fragile treasure. The soft flour dusting his fingers left faint white smudges on the dark wood of the steamer.
He carefully placed the dumplings inside the bamboo steamer, which fit snugly atop the pot of gently simmering water. Thin trails of steam curled upward through the steamer's slatted edges, carrying with them the faint promise of savory flavors to come. Inside, the dumplings rested on a bed of cabbage leaves, their soft, pale dough stretched delicately over the plump fillings, faintly translucent at the edges.
As the steam enveloped the dumplings, the dough began to change, transforming from a raw, powdery white to a glossy, satiny finish. Hints of vibrant colors peeked through the thin skin—the deep green of finely chopped herbs, the earthy tones of seasoned meat, and the occasional glint of red chili. The transformation was subtle yet mesmerizing.
The air soon grew heavy with the rich, mouthwatering aroma of ginger, garlic, soy sauce, and sesame oil blending together in perfect harmony. The scent lingered, wrapping itself around Xue Tuzi as he worked. When the time was right, he lifted the steamer's lid, his face briefly illuminated by the plume of fragrant steam that escaped in a swirling cloud.
The dumplings glistened under the steam's caress, their taut surfaces shimmering faintly in the warm kitchen light. Some were smooth and pristine, while others bore slight puckers at their pinched tops, a mark of the careful hands that had folded them.
Xue Tuzi smiled faintly, his delicate fingers reaching for a small porcelain bowl. The soft clink of the bowl against the counter was barely audible over the bubbling broth. Carefully, he selected a few perfectly steamed dumplings, their glossy surfaces glistening as he arranged them neatly in the bowl. Taking a ladle, he poured a generous stream of golden broth over the dumplings, the liquid pooling around them and releasing a fragrant burst of ginger and sesame into the air.
"Xiao Jiao," Xue Tuzi called, his voice light but edged with teasing authority. "I hope you've left some room."
He glanced at the little Gu worm, his sharp eyes narrowing as his brows furrowed slightly in playful scrutiny. Jiao Jiao, ever eager, nodded his jelly-like head enthusiastically, his body bouncing slightly as he wriggled his way toward the bowl.
Satisfied, Xue Tuzi turned his attention to Shudu, his expression shifting subtly. The sharpness in his gaze softened, replaced by something gentler, almost hesitant. His lips curved into a faint smile as he extended the ladle slightly toward Shudu.
He asked, "Do you want to eat my dumplings?"