Location: Lin Family Dumpling Shop – 7:45 AM
Jin was sitting cross-legged at the small kitchen table, wearing a faded T-shirt with a cartoon pig on it. He yawned as steam curled from the plate of dumplings in front of him — pork, cabbage, and nostalgia.
Aunt Lin shuffled over with a glass of soy milk. "You lost weight again. They feed you over there?"
"I ate."
[Mostly lies and forced affection.]
"What's that?"
"I said... yeah, the food was fine."
Ergouzi: "Host, your pulse rate is down 17%. Recommendation: remain in this low-bullsh*t environment indefinitely."
Jin: [Add that to my life goals.]
---
Scene: After Breakfast – Dumpling Shopfront
Jin wore an apron with a dancing shrimp on it as he rolled dough behind the counter. A little kid peeked over.
"Uncle Jin! You look like a video game NPC!"
He arched a brow. "Then you must be here for a quest."
The kid nodded solemnly. "I want dumplings... and to make my mom stop yelling."
Aunt Lin chuckled from the back. "Therapy dumplings. Got it."
Jin: [NPC life is better than being dragged into someone else's plot.]
---
Scene: Afternoon – Upstairs Room
Jin lounged on his bed reading a worn-out manga volume titled I'm Just Here for Side Quests.
Ergouzi: "Alert! Incoming hostile story event approaching dumpling perimeter!"
Jin: [Please be a debt collector. Anything but a main character.]
Knock knock.
Aunt Lin called up. "Xiao Jin… you have visitors."
He trudged downstairs — then paused at the sight.
Zhao Yue.
Wearing casual clothes, holding a paper bag. Her usually perfect hair slightly windswept. No guards. No backup. Just her.
"I... brought pickled radish. You like that, right?"
He blinked.
[This feels like a trap. No. Worse — a redemption arc.]
She placed the bag down and looked at the walls, the small stove, the dusty window fan.
"This is where you grew up?"
He nodded, arms crossed.
"I always thought you were exaggerating. But it's... cozy."
Jin: [Don't let this be the part where she starts crying.]
"I'm not here to make excuses," she said quietly. "I just wanted to see you. The real you."
[So now I'm a zoo exhibit.]
She gave a sheepish smile. "Still sarcastic."
"I'm busy."
"You're making dumplings."
"Exactly."
---
Meanwhile – Jin Family Group Chat
Fourth Sister: Zhao Yue went to visit him?
Fifth Brother: Why's everyone acting like he's the main character all of a sudden?
Mother Jin: Because maybe... he always was.
---
Scene – Back at the Dumpling Shop
Zhao Yue sat at the tiny table. Jin put down a plate of dumplings in front of her and stared.
"You're eating?"
"I didn't come all this way to waste food."
Jin: [This is weird. Too weird. What's next, a family picnic?]
As they ate in silence, a calm breeze drifted in through the window.
For a brief moment, everything paused.
No green tea. No fake smiles. No drama.
Just steam, soy sauce, and second chances waiting quietly on the side.
---
Next Chapter Preview – Chapter 29: A Heroine, Humbled by Pickles
Zhao Yue isn't the only one who followed the breadcrumbs of regret.
Another sibling shows up... this one not quite as humbled.
And Jin?
He's still planning his escape route.
Because no matter how warm the dumplings get, he knows:
[Peace never lasts long in a story like this.]