When they emerged and made their way to the dining room, they found an inviting spread waiting for them. Fresh-squeezed orange juice in a crystal pitcher, an assortment of cut fruits artfully arranged, delicate pastries from the bakery Tang Fei favored, and small sandwiches with various fillings. Nothing too heavy, just enough to tide them over until dinner.
They settled around one end of the large dining table, the informal seating arrangement reflecting their comfort with each other. Minghao claimed the chair closest to the food, naturally, while Qin Xinyu took the spot beside her. Twilight poured juice for everyone with practiced ease, the domesticity of the gesture at odds with her earlier display of high-performance driving.
"So," Nanny Yun said as she brought in an additional plate of cookies, clearly fresh from the oven and still warm, "tell me about this debate registration. When is the competition?"
