The living room was warm and cozy, and the charcoal fire crackled.
Today, they were having whole roasted lamb!
Ziya stood on her tiptoes, enthusiastically helping Lu Erlu roast the lamb.
The fluffy purple hair on her head swayed gently with her movements.
“Ziya, help me mix the seasonings evenly, then just sprinkle them on. That’s all you need to do,” Lu Erlu said softly while adjusting the heat of the grill.
“Okay, Father! I can already imagine the aroma~”
“Haha, don’t eat too much. This is mainly for Longjiu.”
“Fine… I’ll just have one leg~”
“Don’t worry, Daddy won’t be biased. I’ll make an extra cake for you later~”
“Hooray for Father!~”
Ziya was overjoyed.
She hopped around on her little legs, the purple hair on her head sticking up high in a display of pure excitement.
“By the way, Father, the last time I heard a story, it said that for every cause, there is an effect. I’ve been reflecting on it for a long time!”
“For every cause, there is an effect? Oh… you mean that story about the hero slaying the dragon…”
Ziya’s small hand, which was holding the seasoning jar, paused.
A look of meticulous seriousness flashed in her eyes.
She scooped up a spoonful of the seasoning—a mixture of cumin, salt, and honey powder—and carefully sprinkled it over the golden, oily lamb.
The fat sizzled, and the aroma instantly filled the entire room.
She couldn’t help but sniff the air, her mouth watering.
“Look, Father!”
She pointed at the sizzling lamb on the grill, her voice full of delight.
“We are carefully marinating the meat and slowly roasting it now. This is the cause!”
“Later, when little sister Longjiu eats the delicious roasted lamb, her eyes will definitely light up, and she’ll secretly give the fattiest lamb chop to Father. Meanwhile, Sister Bai Ning will grumble about us eating too much greasy food while being unable to resist taking two extra bites. That is the sweet fruit!”
Lu Erlu, who was turning the roasting spit, couldn’t help but chuckle at her words.
“You little girl, you’ve actually applied the theory of karma to roasted lamb.”
“Well, it’s true!”
Ziya pouted, picking up a small brush to dip into some butter sauce.
She carefully brushed it onto the lamb leg with meticulous precision.
“Just like how we’re preparing this whole roasted lamb for Longjiu because she’s been hiding in her room lately. Our heartache for her is the cause. Afterward, it will definitely result in a happy fruit~”
She suddenly remembered something and leaned closer to the grill.
Her nose almost touched the steaming meat, and her soft voice drifted over, mingling with the scent of the roast.
“It’s like the grandmother at the bakery where you used to buy bread, Father. She woke up early every day to bake bread with such diligence. That sincere cause earned her everyone’s love and remembrance. That is a case of good deeds being rewarded!”
Lu Erlu slowed his movements as he turned the lamb.
He looked at his daughter’s serious profile, his eyes filled with doting affection.
Ziya put down the seasoning jar, placed her hands on her hips, and the purple hair on her head perked up proudly.
“See, Father! Not all good causes necessarily result in bad fruits. Like this roasted lamb—we spent time carefully selecting the lamb, marinating it thoroughly, and roasting it with plenty of patience. The heart we put into this is the best cause, which is why it smells so good and makes people want to eat it in one bite!”
Ziya suddenly stood on her tiptoes and leaned toward Lu Erlu’s ear, whispering, “Father used to worry about our identities as monster girls, but we’ve always been obedient, and Father has always done his best to protect everyone. This is the most precious cause of all! That’s why we can live together in harmony, have stories to listen to, good food to eat, and Father’s love. This is the sweetest, sweetest fruit!”
Lu Erlu stopped what he was doing and leaned down to pick Ziya up, letting her sit in the crook of his arm.
The little girl immediately threw her arms around his neck, affectionately rubbing her head against his cheek.
He was met with the scent of roasted meat and Ziya’s unique, fresh fragrance.
“My little Ziya, you’re absolutely right.”
He lowered his head and pressed a gentle kiss onto the soft hair at the top of her head.
“The heart, kindness, and love we give are the best causes. Naturally, they will bear the most precious fruit.”
The lamb on the grill was already roasted to a golden, crispy perfection, shining with oil.
Ziya looked at the perfectly cooked lamb and couldn’t help but lick her lips in anticipation.
“Father, it’s almost ready! I can’t wait to eat the leg. I also have to wait for Sister Longjiu and Sister Bai Ning to come back so I can share this good karma with them!”
Lu Erlu nodded with a smile, but the hand turning the spit tightened unconsciously.
His palm was slick with sweat, and a trace of indiscernible gravity flickered deep in his eyes.
“Ziya, Daddy is almost finished. You can go back to your room and rest for a bit. Our family will enjoy this feast together in a moment~”
“Okay, Father~”
Ziya was obedient as always, and she skipped back to her room.
The tenderness on Lu Erlu’s face vanished instantly, replaced by a look of intense anxiety.
He muttered to himself, “…Ziya, a fruit that has been grown well is naturally a part of good karma. But once a bad cause is planted, what awaits might be eternal damnation… Some hidden dangers cannot be resolved by sincerity alone. The world is unpredictable…”
‘Even that grandmother from the bakery had to close her shop because she couldn’t afford the exorbitant taxes and rent…’
*Click—*
The door lock clicked softly.
“I’m back, Pops~”
By pure coincidence, Bai Ning pushed the door open and entered, carrying a small bag in her hand.
“Bai Ning is back. We’re having whole roasted lamb tonight~”
Lu Erlu quickly composed himself, putting on a warm smile once again.
“What’s so good about that greasy stuff… but since Father made it, I suppose I’ll reluctantly have a few bites.”
Bai Ning’s words were sharp, but a glint of a smile flashed in her eyes.
“Haha, alright, alright. I’ll make dessert for you next time,” Lu Erlu teased with a laugh.
“By the way, did you meet any boys you liked at work today?”
“Here we go again, here we go again! Pops, how many times do I have to say it? I’ll handle that myself. Stop nagging me about it!”
Bai Ning stomped her foot impatiently.
Then, as if remembering something, she pulled a glass bottle containing a deep red liquid from her person.
A flash of cunning crossed her eyes.
“Oh, right, Pops. This is a high-end wine that’s been very popular lately. Since we’re having roasted lamb tonight, let’s open it to liven things up~~”
“Oh? Children shouldn’t drink…”
Lu Erlu said reflexively.
“Pops, you urge us to get married every single day. Do you really care if we drink or not?”
Bai Ning retorted with a raised eyebrow, her tone teasing.
“I suppose that makes sense… Then everyone can have a small taste, just a tiny sip.”
Lu Erlu couldn’t win against her and gave in helplessly.
“Mm-hmm, that’s more like it, Pops. It would be such a buzzkill not to have some wine~”
Bai Ning said with a beaming smile.
Her ruby-like eyes shimmered, hiding a swirling intensity beneath the surface.
This bottle of wine looked ordinary, but it held a hidden secret.
It was likely anything but simple.