The two exchanged a smile and walked back shoulder to shoulder to the wooden cabin glowing warmly with lights.
As they pushed the door open, a rich aroma of roasted at and spices enveloped them instantly.
Emily was wearing an apron, taking a huge golden, sizzling roast turkey out of the oven.
The fireplace was burning brightly, and in the corner of the living room, the spruce Christmas tree they had cut from the forest was newly decorated by Emily.
It was adorned with shiny colored lights and many natural trinkets, red berry strings, golden pine cones, and several birch wood animal carvings Lin Yu’an had made earlier.
There were also Ethan and Olivia’s handprint clay ornants, and several gifts wrapped in brown paper tied with twine were already piled under the tree.
The entire cabin was imrsed in a simple yet extrely cozy festive atmosphere.
Seeing them return, Emily smiled gently and said, "You look as if you’ve just returned from battle, quickly take a hot bath, dinner will be ready soon."
Aliya walked to her side, noticing the fine beads of sweat on her forehead from the busyness, and glanced at the complicated Wellington moose steak on the table, her eyes filled with amazent.
"Oh my, darling, you’re amazing!" Aliya reached out to gently wipe a bit of flour off her cheek, sincerely admiring her.
"You’re simply a Superman, managing to prepare such a feast fit for a king by yourself while taking care of those two little troublemakers, Ethan and Olivia."
As she spoke, she leaned in and gave Emily a loud, resounding smack on the cheek with a crisp "mwah".
"Thank you for your hard work, my dear Emily."
Emily was a bit embarrassed by the sudden affectionate gesture. She laughed and said, "Oh Aliya, you tease, you’re freezing."
"You two are the ones who worked hard, freezing outside all the ti. I can’t just sit in the house doing nothing, can I? Go on, the water’s been hot for a while now, or else the food will get cold."
As she spoke, she gently pushed them both on the back, urging them towards the bathroom, her eagerness and care warr than any words.
Aliya was amused by her serious deanor; she turned around, the bright green in her eyes once again igniting with a cunning sparkle, fixed sharply on Lin Yu’an.
"Hear that, darling, our ’Alaskan little cook’ commands you to go shower with right away~"
Not waiting for Lin Yu’an to respond, she grabbed his hand and undisputedly led him to the master bathroom on the first floor.
The bathroom door closed with a soft "click," locking from the inside.
As Emily arranged the table, she could vaguely hear the sound of running water from the bedroom. Soon, the monotony of the water was interrupted by so indistinct, suppressed sounds.
It seed to be a short exclamation from Aliya, a burst of rapid breathing, mixed with low groans of pain and pleasure.
Steam, like a thick mist, seeped subtly from the bathroom’s gap, with a moist and warm scent filling the room.
After an hour, the bathroom door finally opened again.
When Lin Yu’an and Aliya returned to the living room in clean, comfortable ho clothes, their entire deanor had completely changed.
Lin Yu’an’s face still bore a hint of fatigue, but more than that, there was a great sense of relaxation and laziness from being completely satisfied physically and ntally.
Aliya, on the other hand, was even more radiant, her already bright cheeks now showing a captivating flush that had not faded since the intense activity.
Her lips appeared plumper and redder than usual, with a charming tinge of satisfaction at the corners of her eyes and brows.
Emily rely smiled at them, her gaze carrying a knowing teasing, without pointing anything out.
By now, the large, dark oak table was arranged into a spectacular display of abundance, various dishes laid out in full.
Everywhere the eye could see was a scene filled with warm holiday cheer, the flickering candlelight gently scattering across the white tablecloth and exquisite cutlery, reflecting the tempting sheen of the food.
Inside, the orange-red flas of the fireplace, the twinkling Christmas tree lights, and each dim wall lamp intertwined to create a warm Christmas atmosphere.
And at the center of the table, undeniably, was a perfectly roasted turkey set on a thick wooden cutting board, its skin an impeccable deep golden brown.
Surrounding the glossy, juicy turkey were caralized lemons, fragrant garlic, and green rosemary and sage sprigs, the rich herb and at aroma intermingling.
But the turkey was not the only star; it was surrounded by a variety of colorful classic dishes, creating a feast for both the eyes and the nose.
Lin Yu’an’s gaze swept over the whole table, a sense of "tradition" instantly welling up in his heart.
He saw that bowl of golden, crispy traditional stuffing made of croutons and herbs, the soul of the holiday.
He saw the gravy boat filled with smooth sauce, the perfect companion to turkey and mashed potatoes.
He also saw the bowl of roasted mini potatoes exuding a rich garlic aroma, and the platter of brightly colored Parsan-roasted carrots.
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