Feng Jian knew something was wrong the moment Han Yue refused wine.
Han Yue refusing wine was like Lian Hua refusing to talk — unnatural.
"You're distracted," Feng Jian said lazily, swirling his cup. "And you've been disappearing every afternoon for two weeks."
Han Yue didn't look up from the scroll in his hands. "I have matters to attend to."
"Matters?" Feng Jian leaned forward. "You? Voluntarily?"
Han Yue turned a page calmly. "Yes."
Feng Jian narrowed his eyes. "Is her name 'Matters'?"
Han Yue's fingers paused for half a second.
That was enough.
Feng Jian gasped dramatically. "There is a 'her.'"
At that exact moment, Li Qian entered the courtyard.
"What are you shouting about?" Li Qian asked, adjusting his sleeves.
Feng Jian grabbed his arm. "He's in love."
Li Qian froze. "Who?"
"Han Yue."
Li Qian looked at Han Yue, who now very deliberately continued reading.
"…With whom?" Li Qian asked slowly.
Han Yue stood. "I have an errand."
Feng Jian jumped up. "See? Suspicious."
Li Qian folded his arms. "We follow."
Han Yue did not look back. "You will regret it."
"That confirms everything," Feng Jian whispered.
They followed at a distance — badly.
"Lower your head," Li Qian hissed.
"You're the one walking like a thief," Feng Jian shot back.
Han Yue stopped in front of a jewelry shop.
Both men froze.
"A jewelry shop?" Feng Jian's voice cracked. "He's serious."
Li Qian blinked. "He skipped wine… for jewelry."
Inside, Han Yue stood before a glass case filled with hairpins and bracelets.
The shopkeeper smiled brightly. "For a sister? A cousin?"
Han Yue hesitated. "No."
The shopkeeper's smile widened knowingly. "Ah."
Han Yue cleared his throat. "Something elegant. Not overly ornate."
"For a refined young lady?"
"Yes."
Outside, Feng Jian pressed his face against the window.
"He's choosing carefully," he whispered dramatically.
Li Qian dragged him back. "You look like a criminal."
Inside, Han Yue picked up a delicate silver hairpin adorned with a small jade blossom.
"This one," he said quietly.
"Excellent taste," the shopkeeper praised.
That was when Feng Jian and Li Qian burst through the door.
"Excellent taste indeed!"
Han Yue froze.
Feng Jian walked straight to him and clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Buying gifts without us?"
Li Qian leaned closer to inspect the hairpin. "Elegant. Subtle. Definitely not for an aunt."
Han Yue sighed. "You two are insufferable."
"So it's true," Feng Jian said gleefully. "Who is she?"
Han Yue paid quickly, ignoring them.
Li Qian blocked the exit. "You owe us an introduction."
"I owe you nothing."
Feng Jian grinned. "Then we follow you again."
Han Yue stared at them both.
"…Fine."
"Fine?" they echoed together.
He exhaled. "There is a small tea courtyard near the eastern garden tomorrow afternoon."
Feng Jian smirked. "She will be there?"
"Yes."
Li Qian's expression softened slightly. "Is she kind?"
Han Yue's voice grew quiet. "Very."
The next afternoon, Feng Jian and Li Qian arrived early.
"You look nervous," Li Qian observed.
"I'm excited," Feng Jian corrected.
Moments later, Lian Hua entered the courtyard with Yue Ning, Fang Mei, and Zhao Rong.
Feng Jian blinked. "It's her."
Li Qian nodded slowly. "The lively one from the gathering."
Han Yue stood as Lian Hua approached.
"You came," she said, smiling.
"I said I would."
Then she noticed the two men behind him.
"…And you brought reinforcements?"
Feng Jian stepped forward dramatically. "Feng Jian. Lifelong friend. Occasional troublemaker."
Li Qian bowed slightly. "Li Qian. I apologize in advance."
Lian Hua laughed despite herself.
Han Yue rubbed his temple. "They discovered me yesterday."
"Discovered?" Feng Jian protested. "You were glowing. It was obvious."
Lian Hua turned pink. "Glowing?"
Li Qian nodded seriously. "He refused wine."
Yue Ning raised an eyebrow subtly.
Fang Mei gasped. "That is love."
Zhao Rong folded her arms. "Tragic."
Han Yue looked mortified.
Lian Hua bit her lip, smiling. "You skipped wine?"
Han Yue muttered, "It was unnecessary."
Feng Jian leaned toward Lian Hua conspiratorially. "He bought you something."
Han Yue shot him a warning look.
"What?" Lian Hua's eyes widened.
Li Qian gestured. "Show her."
Han Yue hesitated, then handed her the small wrapped box.
Lian Hua opened it slowly.
The jade blossom hairpin caught the sunlight.
Her breath softened.
"It's beautiful," she whispered.
Feng Jian crossed his arms smugly. "He spent fifteen minutes choosing."
"Twenty," Li Qian corrected.
Han Yue glared at them.
Lian Hua's smile gentled. "You chose this?"
"Yes."
"I love it."
Feng Jian clasped his hands dramatically. "We witness history."
Yue Ning watched quietly, the faintest smile touching her lips.
Han Yue cleared his throat. "Can we sit?"
They gathered around the table.
Feng Jian leaned back. "So, Lian Hua, what are your intentions with our Han Yue?"
Lian Hua blinked. "My intentions?"
Li Qian nodded solemnly. "He is delicate."
Han Yue stared at them in disbelief. "Delicate?"
"Yes," Feng Jian insisted. "Emotionally."
Lian Hua laughed openly. "Then I promise to handle him carefully."
Feng Jian clutched his chest. "She's perfect."
Yue Ning finally spoke softly. "You two are well matched."
Han Yue glanced at her briefly, then back at Lian Hua.
"I agree."
The teasing continued for nearly an hour.
Fang Mei challenged Feng Jian to a poetry duel.
Zhao Rong debated Li Qian about academy rankings.
Meanwhile, Han Yue leaned slightly closer to Lian Hua.
"Are you uncomfortable?" he asked quietly.
"No," she replied. "I'm glad."
"Glad?"
"That you didn't hide."
He studied her expression. "I don't wish to."
Feng Jian suddenly leaned over. "We can hear you."
Han Yue sighed deeply.
Lian Hua laughed again, more relaxed now.
As the afternoon sun dipped lower, Li Qian stood.
"Well," he said calmly, "she seems formidable."
Feng Jian nodded. "And terrifyingly suited to you."
Han Yue shook his head. "You two are impossible."
"But correct," Feng Jian added cheerfully.
Lian Hua stood as well. "Then we are even. I have friends who are just as relentless."
Fang Mei raised her hand proudly. "Confirmed."
Yue Ning simply observed the scene, quiet but thoughtful.
Feng Jian extended a hand toward Lian Hua. "Officially, welcome. If he ever makes you sad—"
"I won't," Han Yue interrupted firmly.
Lian Hua squeezed his hand gently. "He won't."
Li Qian gave Han Yue a rare approving nod. "Then we approve."
Han Yue blinked. "You approve?"
"For now," Feng Jian said ominously.
Laughter filled the courtyard.