VOLUME 3: SHOOTING STARS

As the days pass, daylight grows shorter whilst the air grows chillier. A sea of red and gold decorates the streets of New Hope City, serving as a reminder to its residents that autumn is upon them. With that in mind, they aim to finish their daily routines sooner than later in response to the changing atmosphere, hustling more than usual to get as much done as possible whilst the sun still blesses them with warmth.

About a thirty-minute walk from the center of the hustle, a lone maple leaf flutters defiantly in response to a passing breeze. Knowing that it’s time to let go, the leaf waves goodbye before breaking away like those before it. The bright red leaf weaves through the grand courtyard, swaying back and forth through the crisp air as it descends towards the ground.

A melodic humming envelops the grand courtyard, its tune occasionally interrupted by the rhythmic sound of a knife against a cutting board. Sometimes the blade glides with crisp precision, while other times it rocks back and forth to create a rhythmic chopping. Beside the cutting board, an empty bamboo tray swiftly transforms into a vibrant mix of diced chili peppers, bell peppers, shallots, and spring onions.

*Crack.*

A young lady lifts an egg, skillfully separating the shell with one hand, freeing the yolk and whites into the bowl beneath. Her slender hand reaches for another egg, repeating the process nine more times. With all the ingredients prepared, she carefully transfers them towards the kitchen on the side of her house, setting them atop a brick platform. After checking that there is nothing missing, she lifts a small clump of rice from the tray and breaks it apart with her fingers.

“Perfect.” She comments, pausing the melodic humming for a moment to appreciate the dry, naturally chilled rice.

With a rag in hand, she firmly takes hold of the handle of a well-seasoned wok, positioning it atop the roaring fire within the clay stove. She patiently rotates the wok in a circular motion, ensuring an even distribution of heat. Confirming the warmth of the wok's surface, she lifts the lid off a clay pot and carefully pours a ladle full of sesame oil into the wok. Using the bottom side of the ladle, she evenly spreads the oil across the surface.

Feeling the oil heating up to the perfect temperature, she pours the bowl of eggs into the wok. Continuing the circular motion, the yolk and whites blend naturally as they sizzle. As she observes the eggs bubbling and cooking, she maneuvers the wok's handle toward her chest. With a skillful flick, she propels the wok forward in an upward curve, causing the egg to elegantly flip upside down.

With the eggs perfectly fried on both sides, the young lady adds the chili peppers, bell peppers, and shallots. Twisting the handle in her hand, she presses the lip of the ladle down to break up the fried eggs, mixing the ingredients with a gentle swirl. As the yellows, greens, and reds seamlessly blend together, she adds the chilled rice.

Just like with the eggs, she uses the lip of the ladle to separate the grains of rice, ensuring an even blend. Occasionally, she draws the wok towards her before flicking it forwards, allowing the ingredients to dance in the air before settling back into the wok, achieving a nearly flawless distribution of ingredients.

After a few minutes, she sprinkles a pinch of sugar evenly before splaying a half-ladle of soy sauce by the edge of the rice, mixing again for a short moment to evenly distribute the seasoning. A smile sweeps across her face as the aroma fills the air.

Before adding the final ingredient, she opens up a bamboo container and fills it with one and a half ladle of fried rice. With one portion specifically made to taste, she reaches for the spring onions and adds it to the rest of the rice in the wok. After a quick mix, she carefully portions the fried rice into twelve bamboo containers.

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She stacks the containers on top of two plain cloths, eight in one and four in the other. Throwing in some chopsticks, she ties the corners together.

“Yuyu!” She yells towards the building on the other side of the courtyard. “Are you ready?!”

After a moment of silence, a little girl sticks her head out the window of the second floor.

“Yuyu’s ribbon! It’s gone!” Yuyu cups her hands around her mouth, yelling towards the kitchen area as her hair flies wildly with the wind. “Did aunty Lia see it?”

“The stack of clothes for tomorrow! You tucked it in there when we were picking out your back-to-school outfit, remember?!”

“OH!” The little girl disappears back into her room. After a moment, she sticks her head back out. A wide smile decorates her face, her hair held in a ponytail with a pink ribbon. “Ready!”

Lia lifts both stacks of fried rice by the knots, holding it beside her as she stumbles her way towards the front of the estate. Just as she enters the front yard, Yuyu jumps out the swinging door to greet her.

“Yuyu’s here! Aunty Lia and Yuyu’s Home Cooked De-” The little girl pauses as the mouth-watering aroma enters her nose. She scuttles towards the smaller bundle and takes it from Lia’s hand. “Ooooooh! Fried rice?!”

“Fried rice! And no spring onions, just how you like it!” Lia chuckles at the starry look in the little girl’s eyes. ”Come now, Yuyu and Aunty Lia’s Home Cooked Delivery shouldn’t be late!”

Yuyu nods her head vigorously before rushing to open the gate. The two step onto the walkway, turning towards the Academy’s northeast gate. A blanket of vibrant reds and golds line the sides of the walkway, almost as if they had been parted to make the ladies’ travels comfortable. Lia gazes at the barren trees, admiring the recent changes to their arrangement. Meanwhile, Yuyu occasionally strays from the stone path, laughing as she drags her feet through the leaves and kicks them into the air. After a few minutes of walking, the imposing gate gradually enters their view.

“Lia! Yuyu!”

A guard waves energetically from one side of the gate, while on the other, another guard waves more discreetly, keeping an eye out for any witnesses to their unprofessionalism.

“Hi, Guard Junfeng.” Lia smiles warmly, bowing respectfully to the young man before acknowledging the other guard. “Hi, Guard Junxiang.”

Yuyu follows Lia's lead, respectfully bowing to each guard in turn.

“Is that…” Junfeng, the younger guard, mumbles, his mouth watering at the mouth-watering aroma. “Ahem. Say, brother, don't these two ladies look absolutely stunning today?!”

“...” Junxiang starts to respond but thinks better of it, choosing silence instead.

“I made extra for both of you.” Lia chuckles, dismissing the flattery. She places the package on the stone pathway, carefully unties the knot, and hands a container to each guard.

“Off to the twaining gwound?” Junfeng mumbles through a mouthful of rice, his words muffled.

Junxiang clenches his jaw, suppressing the urge to reprimand his brother, opting to remain professional in front of Lia.

“How are your wounds?” Lia asks, glancing at the guards’ bandaged arms.

“Noufing seereuous.” Junfeng pauses to swallow the rice in his mouth, lifting both arms as a proof of his recovery. “See?All healed up.”

“Guard Junxiang should eat more!” Yuyu suggests, noticing the reserved guard's restrained stance despite his hunger. “Mister says eating lots helps with healing!”

“Yuyu’s right! Guard Junxiang, eat up. How can you recover like me…” Junfeng turns towards his brother, flexing his lean muscles. “...if you don't eat?”

“I’ll wait until break break…” Junxiang lowers his eyes to hide the scrunch between his brows. “Thank you, Lia and Yuyu.”

Lia covers her mouth, chuckling at the mismatched personalities. With the first delivery complete, she bends her knees to tie the corners of the cloth.

“We should get going.” She stands up, bowing to the guards once more. Yuyu follows suit. “Enjoy the rest of your shift, Junfeng, Junxiang!”

“Thanks again! Take care!” Junfeng cheerfully waves them off, his chopsticks flailing as he bids them goodbye.

As the two ladies continue along the sea of red and gold, Junfeng turns towards Junxiang. Seeing his brother still strictly adhering to professionalism despite the growling in his stomach, Junfeng couldn’t help but laugh.

“Brother, eat up.” Junfeng’s tone suddenly grows serious as Lia and Yuyu disappear around the corner. “We still have a job to do.”