A clear laugh rang out from outside the courtyard gate. Lin Wanqiu looked up and saw Shen Nianxi carrying a cloth bag embroidered with lotus blossoms, walking gracefully in on beige high heels. She wore a pale yellow dress with delicate lace trim, which accentuated her slender figure and beautiful features. Sunlight shone on her hair, casting a golden halo, and even the white jade hairpin tucked into her temple shimmered with a warm light.

"Mom! Dad!" Shen Nianxi called out with a smile, walking briskly to the kitchen door. Her gaze fell on the osmanthus cake on the cutting board, and a hint of nostalgia flashed in her eyes. "Your osmanthus cake is still the most fragrant. It tastes much better than the ones you buy outside."

Hearing the sound, Shen Tingzhou came out of the vegetable garden, holding a bunch of freshly picked greens in his hand. Dewdrops slid through his fingers onto the emerald leaves, falling onto the bluestone slab and shattering into a shimmering mess. He wore a moon-white cotton jacket, the cuffs of his trousers rolled up to his calves, revealing his strong ankles. His skin had been gilded with a bronze luster by time, and the silver strands at his temples were particularly noticeable in the morning light, yet they did not diminish his composed demeanor, which had weathered many storms. Upon seeing Shen Nianxi, his previously tense brows softened instantly, like a pool of spring water, even the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes seemed to ripple with a smile: "Nianxi is back, come in and sit down."

"Dad, you're busy in the vegetable garden again." Shen Nianxi stepped forward, affectionately took Shen Tingzhou's arm, and looked at the lush greenery in the garden with admiration in her eyes. "The vegetables you grow are so good, they're even more vibrant than those in the vegetable market outside."

Shen Tingzhou patted his daughter's hand, his tone tinged with pride: "Of course, the methods your mother taught you can't go wrong."

Watching the interaction between the father and daughter, Lin Wanqiu's smile deepened. She placed the osmanthus cake on the drying rack to the side, turned around and took a clean plate from the cupboard, filled it with a few red bean buns that had just cooled down, and handed them to Chen Nianxi: "Are you hungry? Have a red bean bun to tide you over."

Shen Nianxi took the plate, took a bite of the red bean bun, and felt a surge of happiness as the soft, chewy dough wrapped around the sweet red bean paste. She squinted her eyes contentedly, like a kitten that had stolen a piece of candy: "Mom, your cooking is getting better and better."

Su Yue'e came out of the house carrying a plain cloth bag. When she saw Shen Nianxi, she smiled and said, "Nianxi is back. I was just talking about you with your mother." She handed the cloth bag to Lin Wanqiu, "Mom, this is some pickled vegetables I made. I used the method you taught me. I dried them for half a month. Please try them. Nian'an went to get something from the trunk. She'll be in soon."

As they spoke, Shen Nian'an carried two heavy suitcases into the yard. His well-tailored dark gray suit accentuated his tall, handsome figure, making him somewhat out of place in the rustic courtyard, yet his gentle and kind nature remained undeniable. He placed the suitcases at the living room doorway, walked to Shen Tingzhou's side, and naturally took the vegetables from his hands. His fingertips touched the slightly cool leaves, and a familiar warmth welled up in his heart: "Dad, take a rest. I can do these chores."

Shen Tingzhou stood up, patted the dirt off his hands, and looked at his son with a mixture of relief and pride, as if watching a sapling grow into a towering tree: "Don't be tired. You're so busy at the company, you're always on your feet. When you get back, just rest and don't worry about these trivial matters."

Shen Nian'an smiled, a gentle curve forming at the corners of his lips, without refuting. He knew that his father had truly let go of his past military career and was now immersed in the peaceful life in this small courtyard. And he, too, was already capable of standing on his own, supporting his parents and protecting their home.

The breakfast table was laden with food made by Lin Wanqiu herself, the steaming aroma filling the entire room. Soft and sweet red bean buns, their outer layer gleaming with an enticing off-white sheen, melted on the tongue with the smooth red bean paste and the soft dough, sweet but not cloying; delicate and crumbly osmanthus cake, inlaid with golden osmanthus blossoms, each bite infused with the fragrance of osmanthus, refreshing and delightful; crisp and refreshing cucumber salad, drizzled with sesame oil and aged vinegar, was crunchy and appetizing; and steaming millet porridge, thick and rich, with rice oil floating on top, warmed both the stomach and the heart. Shen Nianzu sat in his high chair, clutching a red bean bun, his mouth covered in red bean paste, looking like a little kitten stealing a bite, his face smeared with red bean paste, much like a painted face on a theatrical stage. Lin Wanqiu sat beside him, patiently wiping his mouth and occasionally feeding him a spoonful of millet porridge, her eyes overflowing with doting affection. Shen Tingzhou chatted with Shen Nian'an, talking about the growth of the vegetables in the yard and the recent situation of the food workshop, his tone relaxed and comfortable. Sunlight shone through the window, casting a golden halo on them, a warm and cozy scene that was hard to look away from.

Shen Nianxi took a sip of millet porridge, put down the spoon, and looked at Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou with a serious expression: "Dad, Mom, I came back today because there is something I want to discuss with you."

Lin Wanqiu looked up at her daughter, a hint of curiosity in her eyes: "What's wrong? You look so serious."

Shen Nianxi took a deep breath, as if she had made a great decision: "I want to establish a personal dance studio to train young dancers."

The table fell silent instantly at those words. Shen Nian'an put down her chopsticks, a hint of surprise in her eyes: "A dance studio? Little sister, weren't you doing well in the dance troupe? Why do you suddenly want to open your own studio?"

Shen Nianxi pursed her lips, a hint of longing and a touch of barely perceptible determination flashing in her eyes: "Although the work in the dance troupe is stable, there are too many rules that restrict my actions. I want to cultivate a group of children who truly love dance, according to my own ideals, and let them spread the beauty of dance. Moreover, more and more people like dance now, and I think this is a great opportunity."

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