The corners of Xiao Lian's mouth lifted in spite of herself. "Now it makes sense.." she said, her tone teasing.
"See?" Yunying said with mock indignation. "You understand me already."
They shared a quiet laugh as Yunying reheated the dish, the sound of simmering broth and clinking porcelain filling the space between them.
When the food was ready, she placed it on the small wooden table, alongside a bowl of plain rice and some pickled vegetables.
Xiao Lian picked up her chopsticks, murmuring a soft "thank you" before eating.
The first bite caught her off guard, the flavor was rich and layered, the sauce slightly caramelized, the balance of salt and sweetness delicate but unmistakably familiar.
Her hand paused midair.
"This…" she began slowly, "it tastes like…"
"Like what?" Yunying asked, tilting her head.
Xiao Lian hesitated, unsure how to explain. "It reminds me of someone's cooking.." she said at last. "My previous Boss. She used to make pork belly like this too."
