The morning fog was thick that day, like a thin veil shrouding the mountains and forests. Ah Yu looked at the bloodstains on Zhong Hua's fingertip, starkly visible on the green grass, and felt a pang in his heart. He rummaged through his backpack for a band-aid and clumsily applied it to Zhong Hua's wound. His finger accidentally touched the wound, and Zhong Hua flinched but didn't pull away. As sunlight pierced through the fog, Ah Yu suddenly felt that the scar, in the morning light, resembled a cinnabar mole on a fingertip.
"Still thinking about tea eggs?" Lin Wanqing's voice pulled Ah Yu back to reality. She had already turned off the computer and was tidying up the documents on the table. "Actually, I've always been curious, why are you two so obsessed with eggs?"
Ah Yu smiled but didn't say anything. Zhong Hua, however, chimed in, "Maybe we were too poor back then, and even a hard-boiled egg was considered a delicacy."
"No, that's not it," Ah Yu retorted softly. "It's because..." He paused, then stopped. It was because that half-eaten, smiling hard-boiled egg, in those days when he was overwhelmed by schoolwork, was like a glimmer of light, illuminating his somewhat confused youth.
Zhong Hua seemed to read his mind, looked up at him, and said with a hint of tenderness in her eyes, "Hurry up and eat, the noodles are getting cold."
Ah Yu nodded, picked up her chopsticks, and slowly finished the remaining half egg in her bowl. The flavor of the braised egg slowly spread in her mouth, salty with a hint of sweetness, a taste from her memory, and also the taste of this moment.
After finishing their instant noodles, Lin Wanqing went to wash the dishes. Ah Yu and Zhong Hua continued working. Ah Yu was organizing the photos she had taken that day, selecting and adjusting the colors one by one. Zhong Hua was revising the design drafts, occasionally looking up to ask Ah Yu for her opinion on color matching.
The studio was quiet, save for the clicks of the mouse and the scratching of the pen on paper. Occasionally, Ah Yu would look up at Zhong Hua, watching his focused profile, and a strange warmth would well up inside her. They had known each other for so many years, from green college students to partners struggling together, their tacit understanding no longer needed words.
After what seemed like an eternity, Ah Yu finally finished organizing the photos. He stretched, feeling a stiffness in his neck. Zhong Hua also just put down his pen and rubbed his temples.
"All done?" Ah Yu asked.
Zhong Hua nodded: "Okay, I'll take it to the client to take a look tomorrow."
"Thank you for your hard work," Ah Yu said.
“You too.” Zhong Hua smiled.
The two packed their things and prepared to leave the studio. As they reached the door, Ah Yu suddenly remembered something, turned back to Zhong Hua and said, "Come early tomorrow, the tea eggs should be ready by around eight o'clock."
Zhong Hua paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Okay, I'll definitely come as soon as possible."
Stepping out of the office building, a cool night breeze swept over him, instantly invigorating him. Ah Yu took a deep breath, the air filled with the unique scent of a city night. He glanced at Zhong Hua beside him, the streetlights casting a soft glow on him.
"I'm taking a taxi now," Lin Wanqing said.
"Okay, be careful on the road," Ah Yu and Zhong Hua said in unison.
Watching Lin Wanqing get into a taxi and leave, Ah Yu and Zhong Hua also turned and walked towards the subway station. On the way, neither of them spoke much, but the atmosphere wasn't awkward; instead, there was a quiet harmony.
When they reached the subway station entrance, Ah Yu stopped and said to Zhong Hua, "I've arrived."
"Okay, go in, be careful," Zhong Hua said.
"You too." Ah Yu smiled and turned to walk into the subway station.
Watching Ah Yu's figure disappear into the crowd, Zhong Hua turned and left. Walking down the night street, his mind involuntarily drifted back to his university days. He remembered the happy smile on Ah Yu's face when she first ate the braised egg he shared; he remembered Ah Yu shivering in the cold wind trying to take a satisfactory photo; he remembered them staying up all night in the art studio, arguing endlessly about a single idea… Those memories, like pearls, strung together the years they had spent together.
The next morning, Ah Yu arrived at the studio early as expected. He brought tea leaves, star anise, cinnamon, and other spices from home, as well as a basket of fresh eggs. He boiled the eggs in a pot, then took them out, peeled them, and put the peeled eggs into the prepared braising liquid, simmering them slowly over low heat.
The aroma of the braising liquid quickly filled the entire studio, whetting everyone's appetite. Ah Yu stood by the pot, stirring occasionally to ensure each egg absorbed the flavor of the braising liquid evenly. He remembered that Zhong Hua liked tea eggs with a slightly charred taste, so he deliberately cooked them a little longer to allow the braising liquid to penetrate the eggs better.
Around eight o'clock, Zhong Hua arrived. As soon as he entered, he smelled the rich aroma of tea and braised dishes, and a look of surprise appeared on his face. "It smells so good," he said.
"Almost done, just a few more minutes," Ah Yu said.
Zhong Hua walked to the pot, looking at the tea eggs bubbling inside, his eyes shining with anticipation. "Looks pretty good," he said.
Ah Yu smiled and said, "You'll know once you try it."
A few minutes later, Ah Yu turned off the stove and scooped the tea eggs out, placing them on a plate. Each tea egg was a bright reddish-brown, emitting an enticing aroma. Ah Yu picked one up and handed it to Zhong Hua: "Try it, see if it's your favorite flavor."
Zhong Hua took the tea egg, took a bite, and the rich aroma of tea and savory sauce spread in his mouth. The texture of the yolk was just right, with a hint of caramelization. "Delicious, this is exactly the taste," he said with satisfaction.
Seeing his happy expression, Ah Yu was also pleased. "Eat a few more if you like," he said.
"Mmm." Zhong Hua nodded and took another big bite.
Lin Wanqing arrived at the studio soon after, immediately drawn in by the aroma of tea eggs. "Wow, it smells so good! Where's mine?" she asked with a smile.
"I saved these for you a long time ago." Ah Yu picked up a few tea eggs and handed them to her.
Lin Wanqing took the tea egg and eagerly took a bite: "Mmm, it's so delicious! Ah Yu, your cooking skills are amazing!"
The three sat around the table, eating fragrant tea eggs and chatting in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. Sunlight streamed through the windows into the studio, bathing them in warmth and comfort.
Looking at Zhong Hua and Lin Wanqing's happy smiles, Ah Yu suddenly felt a sense of contentment. She realized that happiness could be so simple—it was about sharing a simple breakfast with the people you care about and chatting about trivial things.
He recalled sharing instant noodles last night, and the memories of braised eggs from his university days. Those seemingly ordinary moments strung together a deep bond between them. Perhaps this is life—warmth found in the ordinary, and happiness felt within that warmth.
Ah Yu picked up a tea egg and slowly took a bite. The aroma of tea and the flavor of the braised meat intertwined in his mouth, along with a taste called happiness that slowly spread through his heart. He knew that these days would continue, and those stories about eggs would become even warmer and more beautiful with the passage of time.
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