"Sizzle... sizzle..."

The morning sunlight did not wake Xiao He; it was the familiar sound of stir-frying that dragged her out of her sweet dream.

Only this voice could make her immediately give up her illusory dream.

The room's windows weren't closed tightly, and a cool breeze, carrying a faint aroma of food, inexplicably drifted into her nose.

"Mmm...smells so good..."

"I'm so hungry, so hungry, so hungry... I'm really so hungry..."

"But I still don't want to get up at all..."

"Help……"

Xiao He was like a slime without any ambition, lying limply on the large bed.

Suddenly, she remembered that Wang Xuefeng was leaving soon, and she was instantly wide awake.

She rolled out of bed, slipped on her slippers, opened the door, and did it all in one smooth motion.

"Sizzle—"

In the kitchen, a figure was busy amidst wisps of white smoke.

On the cutting board were various chopped vegetables, which were casually tossed into the pot, making a "crackling" sound.

Xiao He, like a child, pressed his face against the glass door, staring intently at the person cooking.

The morning light outlined his silhouette, and the ingredients that were occasionally tossed into the air, like a warm watercolor painting.

"No matter where we go...no matter what our status is...it's always him cooking..." Xiao He stared blankly.

In an instant, those familiar scenes flashed before my eyes in layers.

As Wang Xuefeng said last night, he has lived with his grandfather since he was a child, taking care of his grandfather's daily life. Cooking is a piece of cake for him.

“It’s alright, there’s plenty of time later…” Xiao He also quoted what Wang Xuefeng often said to her.

After observing for a month, she had already figured out a lot about the changes in the outside world. At this point, she was no longer as lost as before, and gradually began to have her own plans.

Moreover, she knew that her "plan" was definitely part of Wang Xuefeng's plan.

As long as he says he's fine, she won't worry.

"Everything will be alright!"

In Xiao He's mind, a wicked figure cheered and waved his fist.

Seemingly forgetting that Wang Xuefeng's field of vision was "360 degrees, all-around and without blind spots," she kept making faces at the back of his head, as if afraid he wouldn't hear her, while inwardly roaring triumphantly...

"Alright, alright, you're the best," Wang Xuefeng said without turning his head.

"..."

Xiao He paused, "No, you're cheating."

"What cheating did I do?" Wang Xuefeng couldn't help but laugh.

"You're always eavesdropping on my whispers! Eavesdropping on my little secrets!"

Xiao He pressed his face against the glass door, making his nose red and flat.

"You are creating something out of nothing, secretly plotting, imagining things out of thin air, fabricating things out of thin air..." Wang Xuefeng sang while cooking, his voice flowing smoothly without a single stutter.

Vegetable, corn, and lean pork porridge; vegetable rolls with thin noodles; strawberry fruit milk; sweet and sour tomato sauce.

Xiao He's eyes widened, and just one glance made his mouth water uncontrollably.

"You can't eat anything too spicy, so I made you some sour and spicy, and sweet and spicy flavors. Try them and see which one you like."

Wang Xuefeng turned off the stove and opened the door to let her in.

"I want to eat something sour and spicy..." Xiao He licked his lips, then couldn't help but sniff the small dish of brightly colored tomato sauce.

"Um...can I eat it all?" She looked up at him, blinked, and then quietly swallowed.

"Of course!" the latter chuckled.

The two of them carried the food out of the kitchen and placed it on the table, which had already been covered with a clean tablecloth.

"Let's dig in!"

"Come on—drink this bowl of porridge first!!"

Wang Xuefeng was the first to pick up the bowl and hold it high above the table.

"Huh...?" Xiao He's chopsticks stopped in mid-air.

Judging from what Wang Xuefeng said, she would have already dipped the vegetable roll in sauce by now.

"I just got up this morning, so I'll have some warm porridge first to fill my stomach," Wang Xuefeng said with a smile.

Xiao He thought about it for a moment and did not refute him.

Even though her tongue was screaming, she obediently put down her chopsticks.

"Come on! Let's do it!"

"Dry!"

"clang--"

"Wishing us a smooth and successful new day!" Xiao He immediately got to the point, holding the bowl of porridge and drinking it spoonful by spoonful.

"Hey, hey, don't mistake that movement for water!"

Wang Xuefeng was afraid she would choke, so he watched her drink it without blinking and finally put down an empty bowl.

"Delicious! I want more!"

Xiao He licked his lips and ladled another spoonful for himself.

"No rush, you can eat something else." Wang Xuefeng picked up a vegetable roll with sauce and put it in her other bowl: "Try this, how does it taste?"

“Okay!” Xiao He immediately agreed.

As soon as she took a bite, she shouted out the second word.

"Great!! This tastes amazing! I'd do anything if I could eat it every day!"

With tears welling up in his eyes, Xiao He actually managed to mimic the expression of a judge from the popular cooking show "Cooking Master Boy."

"They say that to win someone's heart, you must first win their stomach, and TV dramas are right," Wang Xuefeng said with a confident smile.

"Oh, right, I also made a lot of frozen buns, frozen dumplings, frozen steamed buns, and frozen wontons for you. There are also some soup dumplings in the freezer. You can pan-fry them if you like, so you can change your taste from time to time."

"Huh?" Xiao He was taken aback.

"Remember to eat breakfast no matter what, okay?" Wang Xuefeng specifically reminded him.

"oh……"

Upon hearing his tone as if he were about to say goodbye, Xiao He's appetite unconsciously diminished.

"I heard you're leaving the city today too?" Wang Xuefeng changed the subject.

"Yes." Xiao He nodded.

Have you decided on your direction?

"North..."

"That's perfect," Wang Xuefeng smiled. "We're going the same way!"

"On the way? Along the way?!" Xiao He was taken aback again.

"Yes, I'm going to hitch a ride on your plane ticket again this time!" Wang Xuefeng laughed.

Actually, he didn't know when it started, but he couldn't bear to leave her for even a second.

If it's absolutely necessary, you should squeeze out every last bit of time, like squeezing toothpaste, to spend as much time with her as possible.

"Okay...okay!" Xiao He smiled so much that his eyes narrowed.

This time, the tears in her eyes weren't because the food was too delicious...

-

"Awooo—"

Angrina's roar was as high-pitched as ever.

Having made all the necessary arrangements, Xiao He and his companion leaped onto its back and soared into the sky under the warm sunshine.

Whether newcomers or long-time residents, everyone in the city was used to the comings and goings of this behemoth. At first, some people worried that it might "get out of control," but it turned out that they had worried for nothing.

Since it's called "Dragon City," what's wrong with having a real dragon?

The newcomers didn't know Xiao He, but they all envied her.

Because only she could ride on the dragon's back with her friends.

That figure, that silhouette, was as dashing as the wind...