“JUNIOOOOOOOOOOR!”

The familiar exclamation of Ye Shunguang rang from a distance. Then followed her quick footsteps to the battered and sweaty you. Her eyes widened in surprise.

“Oh my. Looks like my junior doesn’t skimp in their spare time, huh?”

She gazed at the familiar gym outfit and weights sprawling on the floor.

“Actually, I’ve been thinking about a proposition. Seeing just how hard you work on a daily basis, it really is inspiring to watch as your senior. So, how about I treat you to a delicious meal? It won’t require anything on your side. Just a good ol’ treat from your favourite senior (me). Whatddya say?”

She saw a faint nod, and her eyes immediately sparkled bright. It was reminiscent of the first time you met her, where this whimsical swordmaster screamed out of her lungs that she received a junior. But this was no conventional student-to-master relationship. Recall the time when you and her shared a bicycle. From the top of Suibian Temple to the flat of Sailume Bay, her arms wrapped around your waist, admiring the sights, taking in the cool breeze. That infectious smile and bubbly energy that doesn’t take sight to see.

Wearing a maroon-grey apron, she hummed as her skilled hands ground the spring onion into fine bits. After rolling seasoning and chives onto a batter, she sealed the mixture shut in one quick movement. And then, the frying pan gladly occupied itself with the proto-pancake. It smelled great in the kitchen. Like that food stall selling filling snacks for egregiously low prices. “How would they be able to make a living?” One might ask. Such was the way of the Waifei Peninsula, where restaurants were meant primarily to feed one another, regardless of profit.

Today, she would extend that honour to her dearest junior.

“Come on, come on! The dish is not going to eat itself~”

She hands you a portion of the fried Chinese pancake. It looks well-seasoned, crusted with golden brown edges. It smells like home. With the pair of disciple and master sitting across one another, it certainly feels cozy, too. The oriental lanterns of her place glow with warmth; the slight wind breezing through the open windows soothes in slow intervals. Oh, and is Shunguang leaning on her palms whilst waiting for the judge to sample the dish?

Adorable.

“Hmm. What was that? Did I just hear my disciple admit to me being—”

Before she can finish the sentence, the idiot sitting across from her haphazardly forces a slice of the food onto her mouth.

“Mmmmmngh. Mmmn. Nnnngghm. Mnfnfnfnfnnfmmmmmg.” (HEY! Did proper etiquette go out the window the moment I entered the room? Seriously. In Yi Xuan’s name, this act is pure blasphemy.)

The meal would go without a hitch, with shared laughs, comments on the food, and that familiar warmth. Evidently, she was more of a close friend than a “senior”.

After cleaning up the dishes, you went for a quick shower to clean off the dirt & grime from exercise. But after returning to the living room, something seemed off. The temperature remained warm, yet a faint chill lingered down your spine.

Xiao Ye? Xiao'Guang sister? Where in the world…

In an instant, cold, long-nailed fingers brushed explorative strokes on your cheeks.

“Oh junior of mine, don’t you think it’s a good time for dessert?” Her tone was airy, words enunciated deliberately.

She then revealed herself once more. Her hair and tail shifted from a silky brown to a snow white, with her leg tattoo now spanning from knee up to below.

She would revel in taking advantage of her junior's dumbfounded expression. Qingming form or not.

“A desire for sweets shouldn’t be all that surprising, my dear junior. After all, we have just indulged in a scrumptious meal, have we not?”