Jia Lan and Aunt Li walked back toward their courtyard, the sound of their footsteps crunching faintly against the stone path. Jia Lan forced her expression to stay calm, but inside, her thoughts were anything but.
When they finally reached their own gate, Aunt Li pushed it open, the familiar creak of the hinges greeting them. The courtyard was quiet and orderly, swept clean that morning. A faint fragrance of pine drifted from the small brazier set up by the wall, where a few dried twigs smoldered gently to ward off the cold.
Jia Lan let out a slow breath. The moment she stepped inside, the little world seemed to wrap around her again peaceful, steady, her own space untouched by nonsense men who tumbled into her path.
"I'll go to the study for a while," Jia Lan said casually, handing her scarf to Aunt Li. "There are some things I want to read."
"Alright, miss," Aunt Li replied, her lips twitching as if she were still suppressing laughter. "I'll warm some water for tea. Call me if you need anything."
Jia Lan nodded and slipped across the stone-paved yard into the study room.
The study smelled faintly of sandalwood and ink. Sunlight streamed through the lattice windows, landing on the neat rows of books stacked on polished shelves. The large wooden desk by the window gleamed, recently dusted, and on it sat her brushes, inkstone, and a small porcelain vase with a single sprig of plum blossom Aunt Li had placed there earlier to brighten the room.
Jia Lan sat down heavily in the carved chair, propping her chin on one hand. The encounter replayed itself in her mind the ridiculous way that man had babbled, the way he had stared at her as if she were some sort of celestial being.
Her lips pressed together. Honestly… what nonsense. What was that introduction even supposed to be?
She drummed her fingers against the desk, irritation buzzing faintly under her skin, then sighed. "Forget it. I'll just study for a while and calm down."
Pulling a book closer, she flipped it open, the faint rustle of pages soothing her. For a moment, the world outside nosy neighbors, silly men, even her own irritation faded into the background. Inside her courtyard, inside her study, she felt steady again.
But even as she tried to distract herself with the neatly written words on the page, her mind refused to settle. The characters blurred together, and frustration welled up again, prickling like thorns under her skin. No matter how hard she tried to shove the memory aside, that man's foolish look and awkward words replayed themselves in her head, making her want to slam the book shut.
"Of all the people I could've met today, why did it have to be a such man who doesn't even know how to form a proper sentence? Is this retribution for saying life was too smooth this morning?"
With a huff, she pulled out a crisp apple from her planting space as if biting into it would vent her irritation. The fruit crunched sweetly, the juice bursting across her tongue, and despite her mood, the taste softened her thoughts.
"Mn, this is too good. I should plant more fruit trees later. At least apples won't babble my ears off."
As she chewed, the system chimed gently in her mind:
Check-In Complete: Reward
200 yuan
Her lips curled faintly. Money and more money now this was the kind of company she preferred.
Meanwhile, back at the Mu household, Grandma Mu was practically glowing with mischief. She poured tea for her husband, Uncle Ji, and said with a laugh,
"You should've seen him, old man! Our proper, educated Mingrui standing there like a wooden pole, babbling his age, his job, almost even his address! He nearly scared that poor Miss Jia away."
Uncle Ji chuckled deeply, stroking his beard. "So the boy, who always acts so steady in front of us, turned into a fool at the sight of a girl?"
"Heavens, yes!" Grandma Mu smacked her knee, grinning from ear to ear. "And not just any fool a red-eared, stammering, lovestruck fool. If you had seen his face, you'd have thought he swallowed his tongue."
From the corner, Shen Mingrui groaned, his face scarlet. "Grandma, Grandfather ....must you exaggerate? I was simply… introducing myself."
"Introducing yourself?" Uncle Ji teased. "Boy, you looked ready to hand her your entire household registry. Why stop there? You should've just proposed on the spot—saved us all the trouble later!"
Grandma Mu burst out laughing at that, clutching her side, while Shen Mingrui's ears turned crimson, burying his face in his hand
Grandma Mu laughed harder, waving her hand. "Oh, don't tease him too much. Though, I must admit, it's been a long time since I've seen our Mingrui look so silly. It's refreshing."
Shen Mingrui rubbed the back of his neck, still flushed, but his mind drifted back to the moment Jia Lan's eyes had locked on him. So clear, so bright, even when annoyed.
His lips quirked unconsciously. She was angry, but she looked beautiful even in anger.
And so, while his grandparents laughed at his expense, Shen Mingrui's thoughts remained foolishly sweet: Maybe if I see her again, I can… introduce myself properly this time. Without blurting out my address.
As dusk settled, a soft amber glow draped itself over the courtyard, blurring the edges of the tiled roofs and casting long, gentle shadows across the flagstones. The faint chill of early evening was balanced by the warmth drifting from the kitchen, where Aunt Li moved about with practiced ease. The sound of chopping vegetables, the bubbling of a simmering pot, and the comforting aroma of soy, ginger, and freshly steamed rice filled the air, making the house feel lively and safe.
Jia Lan had retreated to her study after washing her hands and changing into a fresh set of simple home clothes. She laid out her pens, notebooks, and tomorrow's documents with meticulous care, smoothing the pages with slender fingers as if each gesture could also smooth her restless thoughts. Her desk lamp flickered to life, casting a pool of steady light across the desk, while the faint call of sparrows returning to their nests echoed outside the window.
She paused for a moment, gazing at the outlines of trees swaying lightly in the evening breeze, then exhaled, pushing away all distractions. Tomorrow, her work at the bureau would resume, and she had no intention of being caught unprepared. She wanted her mind clear, her focus sharp untangled from the memory of a certain foolish man who had barged into her day like a loud, clumsy interruption.
The thought of Shen Mingrui's earnest, babbling face tried to creep back into her mind, but Jia Lan pressed her lips together, determined to ignore it. With a soft shake of her head, she bent back over her notes, letting the calm rhythm of study steady her heart, while the comforting sounds of Aunt Li humming in the kitchen reminded her that, at least here, in this little corner of the capital, life remained firmly within her control.