Host! I told you to do a task! I didn't tell you to bbb.

The Lantern Festival has arrived.

As the morning sun climbed onto the windowsill, Liu Yunshu was awakened by the enticing aroma of sesame seeds.

She ran to the kitchen in her slippers and, sure enough, saw Liu's mother and Chen's mother bustling about.

Liu's mother was kneading glutinous rice dough, while Chen's mother was stirring sesame filling. The sweet aroma mixed with the fragrance of glutinous rice instantly filled the entire room.

"You're awake? Go wash up quickly," Liu's mother turned around and waved with a smile. "I was just discussing with your aunt that we're making your favorite sesame and peanut dumplings today, and a few savory ones for your dad and Shiyan."

Mother Shen stopped what she was doing, took a clean little bowl from the cupboard, scooped a spoonful of freshly prepared sesame filling and handed it over: "Try it, is it sweet enough? If it's not sweet enough, I'll add some sugar."

Liu Yunshu leaned over and took a bite. The sweet and chewy sesame flavor melted in her mouth, and her eyes lit up: "Perfect! It tastes even better than what you buy outside!"

Just then, Shen Shiyan pushed open the door and came in, carrying a bag of fresh strawberries and blueberries.

"Good morning, Auntie, Mom, good morning, Yunshu." He changed his shoes, skillfully put the fruit in the refrigerator, and then walked to the kitchen door. He naturally took the dough from Liu's mother's hands. "Auntie, let me knead it. You can rest for a while."

Mother Liu smiled and let go: "Shiyan is so sensible. If only Yunshu were half as diligent as you."

Liu Yunshu stuck out her tongue, moved closer to Shen Shiyan, and poked the dough in his hand: "I'll help too! Like... tasting the filling!"

Shen Shiyan looked down at her, his eyes full of smiles, and reached out to pinch her cheek: "Alright, then thank you for your hard work, Yun Shu, the 'Tasting Officer'."

Father Shen walked over and patted Shen Shiyan on the shoulder. "You kneaded the dough well. When you make glutinous rice balls later, you'd better make a lot. Old Liu is waiting to see who can make the roundest ones."

Shen Shiyan smiled and agreed, "Okay, then I'll have to massage it well, I can't lose."

Mr. Liu immediately retorted, "Hmph, don't be so smug, kid. I've been making glutinous rice balls for years longer than your dad!"

By the time Liu Yunshu finished washing up, the kitchen was already bustling with activity.

Liu's mother and Shen's mother were in charge of distributing the fillings. Shen Shiyan kneaded the dough and pinched it into small pieces. Liu's father rolled up his sleeves and insisted on "competing" with Shen Shiyan in making tangyuan (sweet rice balls).

Liu Yunshu moved closer to Shen Shiyan, watching as he twirled the glutinous rice ball in his palm twice, transforming it into a smooth, round ball. She couldn't help but exclaim, "Brother, you wrapped it so perfectly round!"

Shen Shiyan casually placed the freshly wrapped glutinous rice balls into her palm: "Try it? Pinch them like this and rotate them."

Liu Yunshu tried to imitate him, but the glutinous rice balls she made were crooked and some sesame filling leaked out. She was a little discouraged, but Shen Shiyan smiled and helped her fix them: "It's already very good for your first time. Once they're cooked, I'll eat the crooked one."

Seeing this, Liu's father deliberately held up his homemade glutinous rice balls to show off: "Look at mine, they're even rounder than yours!"

Shen Shiyan smiled and nodded: "Uncle's wrapping is really good, I need to learn more from him."

Liu's mother chimed in, "Old Liu, all you're good at is making glutinous rice balls. Last time you made dumplings, you spilled the filling all over the plate."

Everyone laughed, and the sweet aroma mingled with their laughter in the kitchen, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere.

Once the glutinous rice balls are cooked, bowls of them are served, filling the room with the sweet and glutinous aroma of sesame filling, the soft and fragrant aroma of peanut filling, and the savory aroma of salty filling.

Liu Yunshu took a bite of the glutinous rice ball and gave her mother and mother a thumbs up. "Mom, Auntie, your cooking is amazing! It's even better than the famous glutinous rice ball shops!"

Mother Shen smiled and ruffled her hair. "Eat more if you like. There's still plenty cooking in the pot."

Then, turning to Shen Shiyan, she said, "Your aunt knows you like sweet and salty flavors, so she specially packed a lot for you."

Shen Shiyan looked at Liu's mother, his eyes filled with gratitude, and said softly, "Thank you, Auntie, for your trouble." As he spoke, he scooped up a freshly cooked sweet and savory glutinous rice ball, took a bite, and nodded and smiled, "The taste is just right, especially fragrant."

Mr. Liu sat to the side and muttered, "How could anyone like something that's salty and sweet?"

This time, Liu Yunshu sided with her father, holding her bowl and nodding repeatedly: "Exactly! Sweet glutinous rice balls are the soul of the dish! Salty ones just taste weird."

The audience was amused by the father and daughter's back-and-forth banter.

After finishing the glutinous rice balls, Shen Shiyan pulled Liu Yunshu to his room and pulled out a large gift box from the closet: "A Lantern Festival gift for you."

When Liu Yunshu opened it, she saw a pink jacket and skirt embroidered with a jade rabbit pounding medicine. The skirt was also decorated with tiny pearls that shimmered in the sunlight.

"This is so beautiful!" She exclaimed excitedly, picking up the jacket and skirt to admire it, then looked up at Chen Shiyan. "When did you prepare this?"

"I saw this while shopping last time and thought it would suit you perfectly." Shen Shiyan straightened her neckline. "Go change into it quickly. This afternoon, I'll take you to the lantern festival. You can guess lantern riddles and win a rabbit lantern."

When Liu Yunshu came out after changing her clothes, everyone in the living room was immediately impressed. Liu's mother smiled and pulled her over, saying, "Our Yunshu looks just like a fairy who stepped out of a painting in this outfit."

Mother Shen nodded in agreement: "Shi Yan has excellent taste; it matches his dark blue robe perfectly."

Shen Shiyan put on a long robe and walked to Liu Yunshu's side. The two stood together, a handsome man and a beautiful woman.

Liu's father (humming): He reluctantly admitted that Shen Shiyan, that brat, was somewhat handsome, but of course, he couldn't compare to him!

The lantern festival was especially lively in the afternoon, with red lanterns hanging all over the street and various colorful lanterns with unique shapes.

There were phoenix lanterns with outstretched wings, carp lanterns swimming in the water, and adorable rabbit lanterns, attracting children to gather around.

Liu Yunshu pulled Shen Shiyan to release a wishing lantern. She carefully wrote on the note, "I hope my family is safe and sound, and that I can be with my brother forever."

Shen Shiyan took the pen and added "May all your wishes come true year after year" next to it.

The two lit the wicks together and watched the wishing lanterns slowly float into the night sky, blending into the colorful lanterns that filled the air.

Liu Yunshu leaned against Shen Shiyan's chest, looked up at the lights that were getting farther and farther away, and whispered, "Brother, it's so good to have you here."

Shen Shiyan tightened his arms around her and lowered his head to place a light kiss on the top of her head: "Me too."

Not far away, Liu's parents and Shen's parents were watching them with smiles.

Mr. Liu muttered, "That brat, taking advantage of my daughter again," but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up.

Father Shen patted his shoulder: "We're relieved that the children are alright."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The two families went home after visiting the lantern festival.

In the middle of the night, the door of the Liu family's house was secretly opened, and a small head peeked out—it was Liu Yunshu.

The door to the Shen family across the street opened gently, and Shen Shiyan, dressed in pajamas, quietly walked out.

As soon as Shen Shiyan reached the door, Liu Yunshu pulled him inside, and the two tiptoed toward Liu Yunshu's room.

As soon as the two slipped into the room, Liu Yunshu tiptoed to close the door. When she turned around, she bumped into Shen Shiyan's arms and couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Luckily, Mom and Dad didn't find out, or I would definitely have gotten a scolding."

Shen Shiyan held her waist, his eyes full of amusement: "It's so late, why did you drag me to your room? What do you want to do?"

Liu Yunshu looked at him and blinked, "Brother, I just read a poem, but I can't understand it at all, so I wanted to ask you to help me understand it."

Shen Shiyan raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. "Which one?"

Liu Yunshu pulled out a book of ancient poems from under her pillow, which had become slightly soft from being read so many times, and presented it to him like a precious treasure.

She pointed to one of the sentences with her fingertip, and looked up at him with a sly glint in her eyes.

"It's this line, 'The sun sets beyond the mountains, the Yellow River flows into the sea.' Brother, what does it mean?"

He pointed his fingertip at two words.

He reached out and gently stroked the tip of her nose, his voice full of indulgence: "This poem describes the setting sun leaning against the mountains and the Yellow River rushing into the sea; it speaks of a magnificent scene."

"Oh~ But Yunshu still doesn't understand~ Brother, won't you teach her through practice~"

Shen Shiyan looked into the girl's watery eyes, which were so close to his own.

"Practical teaching?" He chuckled softly, his fingertips slowly sliding up her wrist. "What my brother teaches is different from what's taught in the classroom."

Liu Yunshu looked up at him and said, "Then you must teach me well, brother, otherwise I will come back to ask you questions next time."

Shen Shiyan chuckled softly and reached out to pull her closer to him, instantly closing the distance between them.

His warm breath brushed against her flushed lips: "Teach me well? Then Yun Shu will have to learn seriously, otherwise..."

He paused deliberately, gently pinching her reddened earlobe with his fingertips, his eyes brimming with laughter: "If you can't learn it, your brother will punish you."

He didn't finish his sentence; he simply lowered his head and gently touched her lips, like a feather brushing against them, with a slight tickle.

Liu Yunshu's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she reached out to wrap her arms around his neck, taking the initiative to move closer.

Shen Shiyan's smile deepened, and he tightened his grip on the back of her head, intensifying the kiss.

Moonlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting dappled silver light on the two of them.

The only sounds in the room were their breathing, mixed with the occasional sound of firecrackers from the Lantern Festival outside the window, creating a tender and lingering atmosphere.

"My brother is clearly a science student, how come he's so good at interpreting poetry?"

Liu Yunshu's voice was soft and trembling, her warm breath brushing against Shen Shiyan's neck like a feather gently scratching his heart.

Shen Shiyan pressed his forehead against hers, his fingertips gently caressing her reddened lips, and chuckled softly.

"Science students can also read poetry; there are riches and beauties in books."

Liu Yunshu chuckled softly, amused by his words, and gently poked his chest with her fingertip: "Then, is your 'Yan Ruyu' hidden in this book, brother?"

Shen Shiyan chuckled softly, reached out and snatched the book from her hand, then casually placed it on the bedside table.

"Nothing in books compares to the beauty before my eyes! My 'Yan Ruyu' will pester me to interpret her poems, and she'll even..."

Liu Yunshu's cheeks flushed, and she gave a soft snort, "Always good at saying nice things to coax me!"

Shen Shiyan chuckled softly, pulled her closer to his chest, rested his chin on the top of her head, and spoke with a gentle voice bathed in moonlight.

"Isn't it good to coax you? My 'Yan Ruyu' deserves to be coaxed properly."

"Do you understand the poem? Should I explain it again?"

"Brother, you're speaking too gently. Why don't you use a more lively tone?"