Chapter 33: It Turned Out to Be a Girl

"That's enough now."
Mu Yu released Mu Qing's restless hands and glanced at the kitchen.
"Why were you holding a kitchen knife when you opened the door?"
Mu Qing's delicate face froze instantly.
"My vegetables!"
She dashed toward the kitchen at once, as a strange smell began wafting out.
Mu Yu's reaction was even more dramatic. This man, fearless even before the Shadow Clan, turned pale as a sheet.
"Ah Zi," he called.
Gu Zi looked up, puzzled.
A gentle smile now replaced the previous coldness on Mu Yu's face.
"It's so late—surely you're hungry?"
Gu Zi touched her stomach; though not starving, it was indeed time for dinner.
"I'm alright."
"See, Mu Qing didn't know we'd both be coming home, so she's only cooked for two. But don't worry! As the elder, I can't let you go hungry. I'll grab a bucket of instant noodles for myself, you just eat dinner!"
With an air of righteous sacrifice, Mu Yu wrapped his arm around Gu Zi's slender shoulders, patting her vigorously.
"This... isn't quite right," Gu Zi hesitated. She was only a guest—how could she take the host's place?
Mu Yu squeezed her so hard she nearly suffocated.
"We're family! No need for formalities. This is my duty—no refusing!"
"Alright, alright..."
Gu Zi's cheeks suddenly flushed, and she didn't argue any further.
"Phew, that scared me! I thought it was burnt!"
Soon, Mu Qing emerged from the kitchen carrying a large pot of something black and sticky.
"I wish it had been burnt..."
Mu Yu muttered under his breath, face full of regret.
"Oh well, you two should eat this. You're still growing, I'll just have instant noodles."
As she spoke, she shook her head and packed up the medicine box, looking quite disappointed.
"Almost done. Don't bother with a bath tonight—just wipe down with a towel, an infected wound would be troublesome."
"No need! Last time you ate everything clean, so I made an extra dish tonight—there's plenty!"
Mu Qing blinked, as if asking, "Aren't I clever?"
Clatter.
The medicine box slipped from Mu Yu's hand.
"Hey? What's wrong, big bro?"
"It's nothing, just slipped."
Mu Yu picked it up expressionlessly and turned away, hiding his tear-filled eyes from Mu Qing.
"Dinner time, dinner time!"
When Mu Yu returned from washing his hands, Mu Qing was already seated at the table, bowls and chopsticks in hand. Across from her, Gu Zi eyed the dishes curiously.
A pot of dark, gooey porridge and a plate of tangled red-and-yellow lumps.
With all her experience, Gu Zi couldn't identify either dish.
Mu Yu pulled over his little stool from the corner—the same one he'd used that morning—and sat at the table.
Honestly, he'd always thought this table was too short, but now the stool fit perfectly.
He sighed, grabbing the chopsticks before him.
"Let's eat."
The bowls held identical white rice porridge, though a bit watery.
Mu Yu slurped a mouthful.
"Not bad, the porridge is cooked well!"
It might have been made in the rice cooker, but as an elder brother, he had to encourage his sister.
"Actually... that's supposed to be rice."
Mu Qing smiled sheepishly, scratching her head.

"Too much water," she admitted.
Gu Zi paused, reaching toward the lump with her chopsticks, throat suddenly dry.
"This should be a rice ball, right?"
She stared at Mu Qing, tone almost pleading.
"Right?"
"It's tomato and eggs! You're such a joker, Zi Zi."
Mu Qing, oblivious to the tense atmosphere at the table, beamed brightly.
"I wanted to make egg fried rice, but added too much water, so I dug out tomatoes from the fridge and made scrambled eggs instead."
"Try it, Zi Zi! My brother always says I'm talented in the kitchen!"
Gu Zi hesitated, then picked up her chopsticks, reassuring herself internally.
Maybe it just looks bad—after all, the porridge was edible.
Crunch.
Her chopsticks struck the lump with a crispy sound.
What?
Why would scrambled eggs with tomato be crispy?
Gu Zi glanced at Mu Yu, still drinking his porridge, and Mu Qing, eagerly watching her. She poked off a bit and put it in her mouth.
Fried egg. She'd used fried egg.
A sharp, sour, salty taste shot to her head, making her shudder.
The flavor was true enough, but the salt hadn't dissolved, sticking to the surface, and there was even a hint of aged vinegar.
Impossible to describe.
"How is it? Pretty good, right?"
Gu Zi looked at Mu Qing's proud face and Mu Yu, still engrossed in his porridge, and could only nod.
Not that she didn't want to speak—her throat was so dry she couldn't.
"Come on, try the black chicken soup! I stewed it for ages!"
"Where did you get the chicken?"
Mu Yu finally looked up from his soup, a bit dazed.
They usually bought fresh ingredients—where did the black chicken come from?
"It was in the freezer. I dug for ages to find it."
Mu Yu recalled that it was a hen his mother had sent three or four months ago, meant to nourish the kids.
But he'd found it too much trouble, so after cleaning it, he'd stuffed it at the bottom of the freezer and forgotten it.
His expression changed. He discreetly pushed Gu Zi's hand away from the soup pot and served himself first.
"Let me try it first, don't rush."
The bowl held a dark lump—probably a chicken leg.
Mu Yu didn't eat right away, but poked it open. The meat, still streaked with blood and icy shards, scattered in the soup.
Mu Yu and Gu Zi exchanged a silent glance.
"Qing Qing, did you cook it without thawing?"
Mu Yu used the gentlest tone, phrasing it delicately.
"Hmm? Does it need thawing?"
Mu Qing's big eyes blinked with confusion.
"Wait, since we have a guest, I'll make a couple more dishes."
Mu Yu stood up abruptly, tied on his yellow duck apron, picked up the two dishes, and spoke as calmly as he could.
"I'll keep these warm—don't want them to cool."
……………………………………………………………………………………………………

"Phew, I'm stuffed."
Gu Zi slumped onto the sofa. Mu Yu's cooking was truly excellent—just a stir-fried pork with garlic shoots and chilled cucumber had her gulping down two big bowls of porridge.
Mu Qing was equally bloated, though still a bit discontent.
"Brother, what about my two dishes?"
"Oh, I put them in the fridge for tomorrow."
Mu Yu's voice drifted from the kitchen, accompanied by the sound of dishwashing.
"Sorry, Little Yellow," he muttered.

Mu Yu picked up a black plastic bag, stuffing the two bowls of mysterious food inside.
"The dog should be fine eating this, right?"
His expression was particularly complicated.
By the time Mu Yu finished tidying up, it was already late.
He couldn't fathom how Mu Qing managed to turn the kitchen into a war zone just making one meal.
The two youngsters nestled on the sofa, watching TV and giggling at the chubby comic actors.
Mu Yu leaned against the doorframe, watching the harmonious scene, a warm current flowing through his heart.
He truly preferred this simple life.
Whatever Shadow Clan, whatever events—they were all kept outside this little house.
"It's about time for bed. Gu Zi, I'll help you wipe down, and you can sleep with me tonight."
Seeing the chubby figure bow in thanks, Mu Yu reminded the pair.
Though after a short time together, Mu Yu had grown fond of this stubborn youngster, but—no way he'd let his cabbage be stolen!
Gu Zi's face abruptly reddened, stammering.
Mu Yu, seeing Gu Zi's shy demeanor, suddenly stepped forward and pinched his cheeks, rubbing them vigorously.
"What's a big guy being shy for? Planning to sleep without a bath? Don't stink up the place tonight."
"Hey, brother!"
Mu Qing pried Mu Yu's hand away, rolling her eyes dramatically.
"Gu Zi is actually a girl!"
"A girl? You think you can fool me?"
Mu Yu scoffed—girls don't have Adam's apples, after all!
His gaze drifted to Gu Zi's throat.
Slender and pink, no sign of a bulge.
Mu Yu suddenly grew anxious.
Maybe she was just a late bloomer! Given her size, she looked malnourished.
He steadied himself forcibly.
A girl must have some distinguishing features, surely!
Gu Zi sensed Mu Yu's stunned gaze, sitting up uneasily.
The youthful curves of a girl, though subtle, were just barely visible.
"Your name is Gu Zi... what 'Zi'?"
Mu Yu had realized the truth, but still wanted to struggle.
"The 'Zi' of purple."
Mu Yu's heart was struck hard and shattered.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner!"
He suddenly remembered and glared at Mu Qing.
"Hey, you were the one who assumed it first! Yesterday, I didn't even get a chance to explain before you slammed the door."
Mu Qing felt wronged too. Yesterday, she was so worried her brother would lose control, she spent the night listening at the door, unable to sleep.
Mu Yu thought back and found himself speechless.
It seemed... that was how it happened.
"Ahem, not a big deal. You help her wipe down."
Mu Yu forced himself to calm down. After all, nothing had happened—just shared a bed for a night.
He was sure the police would understand his explanation.
As the two youngsters grew lively again, playfully heading into the bathroom, Mu Yu returned to his room.
The bandages wrapped around him had been replaced with soft pajamas.
"What a mess this is!"
Thinking of Gu Zi hugging his arm in sleep that morning, Mu Yu covered his face in resignation.
Today's events were truly criminal.