Beicheng Street is a famous cultural street in Beijing.

In the parking area outside No. 23 Beicheng Street, two cars stopped one behind the other.

A young man got out of the front car, carrying something steaming hot and fragrant.

The door of No. 23 was open, with a sign above it in elegant calligraphy that read “Dye and Carve.”

Seeing someone at the door, the shop assistant, Xiaoyun, quickly shouted inside, “Ranran, your boyfriend is here!”

Su Qingran, who was recording a video appraisal, silently gestured to Xiaoyun. In front of her, the camera was focused on a string of Nanhong agate beads she held in her hand.

“Your Nanhong is Baoshan material, persimmon red, but the ultraviolet light shows a fluorescent reaction, indicating it has been treated with glue, so its true value should be about one percent of the price you paid. All your items have been appraised, and I will return them to you shortly.”

After finishing this sentence, Su Qingran ended the video recording. When she looked up, her eyes softened with a smile, “Chenlin!”

Jiang Chenlin walked over, carrying a food box, and said naturally, “I knew you’d be busy, so I went to Jindingxuan and packed your favorite dishes!”

Su Qingran leaned in and sniffed, “Ah, my favorite boneless mustard duck feet, right?”

Jiang Chenlin lightly flicked her forehead, “Little dog nose, you could smell that already!”

He said as he headed to the room at the back of the shop.

The place was a small three-bedroom storefront. The living room was the main hall where Su Qingran displayed her carved works, and the master bedroom was her studio, with nothing but her work tools inside.

Another bedroom served as a private guest room, with a sofa and a coffee table where Su Qingran usually ate her meals.

The last bedroom had a bed and a wardrobe. When Su Qingran was too busy with her carving work, she’d rest here instead of returning to school.

Jiang Chenlin placed the food box on the coffee table, about to unpack it when Xiaoyun called out from the front, “Ranran, a customer is here!”

Su Qingran was focused on the duck feet, and hearing about business, she frowned slightly.

She looked up, and her expression froze for a moment when she saw who had entered.

It was Pei Jingyan.

Pei Jingyan was Jiang Chenlin’s half-brother from his mother’s side. They had all been neighbors before, but for some reason, Su Qingran always felt a bit afraid of this neighbor, who was five years older than her.

The man was dressed in a dark gray wool coat, his skin pale and cool. His features were finely chiseled, but his aura was so heavy that it seemed to make the air around him oppressive.

There was no extra expression on his face. Only when he met Su Qingran’s gaze and saw her brief hesitation did his steps pause.

Although Su Qingran felt a bit intimidated by him, a guest was a guest. She quickly adjusted her emotions and smiled at Pei Jingyan, “Mr. Pei, are you here to buy some carved pieces?”

Pei Jingyan locked eyes with Su Qingran without blinking and spoke in an emotionless tone, “Miss Su, I want to order a custom bead string.”

Su Qingran nodded and realized they were both still standing, so she quickly invited Pei Jingyan to sit, “Please have a seat, Mr. Pei. Could you tell me what kind of beads you want? You can specify the material, size, and purpose.”

She sat down as well, pulling out a notebook to take notes.

Pei Jingyan looked at her slender white fingers and said, “I’m not sure about the material, but it needs to have 108 beads. The purpose is to calm the mind and settle restless thoughts.”

Su Qingran paused slightly, surprised.

After all, most customers who ordered carved pieces wanted items like Pixiu (a mythical creature for wealth), monkeys, or nine-tailed foxes, usually with the intent to bring good fortune, rise in status, or ward off disasters.

This was the first time someone had made a request like Pei Jingyan’s in the six months since Su Qingran had opened her shop.

But she respected the customer’s choice and simply nodded, “So the main goal is to settle restless thoughts. Nothing else is needed, right?”

Pei Jingyan’s pupils contracted ever so slightly, “It’s not to remove restless thoughts.”

His eyes seemed like deep, unfathomable whirlpools as he carefully enunciated, “It’s to calm the restless thoughts, just soothe, not eliminate.”

Su Qingran was startled by his gaze and suddenly felt a bit reluctant to meet his eyes.

She quickly nodded, “Got it, just to soothe. Do you have any preferences for the color?”

Pei Jingyan shook his head.

Su Qingran stood up and walked to a nearby cabinet.

The cabinet looked like one you’d see in a traditional Chinese medicine shop, with each door labeled in the same strong, bold handwriting as the shop sign.

She opened two compartments and took out some beads, bringing them to Pei Jingyan.

“These three: one is blue amber, one is sea willow, and this one is jade. Which do you prefer?”

Pei Jingyan took them, and Su Qingran continued, “Blue amber is a type of amber, very light. Even if you make a 108-bead string, it won’t be heavy. It’s considered one of the seven treasures of Buddhism, and a master once said, ‘Amber is a sacred item in the Buddhist world, a spiritual treasure that brings happiness and peace.’”

“As for sea willow, its scientific name is black coral. In ancient times, it was used to make smoking pipes, believed to have purifying properties. After long use, it forms a patina and can purify the soul, calm emotions, and lower blood pressure.”