Under the eaves, Lin Qingwan poked at the embroidery basket she was holding, her finger tapping the edge as she stared at the various practice hoops and patterns inside. Her gaze shifted to Lin Qingxu who looked utterly despondent. Slowly, Lin Qingwan leaned closer to Lin Qingxu’s ear and whispered in a gossipy tone. “Elder Sister, do you not like the young miss from the Cui family?”

Lin Qingxu frowned, setting down the basket. She gently touched her cheek with one hand and replied just as softly. “Is it that obvious?”

She thought her acting skills were pretty decent, though.

Lin Qingwan grinned and gave her an exaggerated shake of her head. “Not obvious at all, not in the slightest.”

Lin Qingxu: “…”

“Why don’t you like her, Sister?” Lin Qingwan’s curiosity got the better of her, and she pressed on. “Could it be because she’s so pretty? Are you worried she’ll steal your title as the most beautiful woman in Lotus Village?” She threw out a wild guess.

Lin Qingxu shot her a sidelong glance, her expression somewhere between amused and annoyed. “Didn’t you say before that she was just ‘so-so’ in terms of looks?” she asked, deliberately emphasizing the words.

Lin Qingwan grinned again, showing off her white teeth as she hastily backpedaled. “Of course, of course! There’s no comparison. In all the surrounding villages, you’re the prettiest, the most stunning, the most delicate, the most graceful…”

Lin Qingxu’s mouth twitched as she quickly cut off the increasingly bizarre string of compliments.

“Why, you seem to like her quite a lot, don’t you?” Lin Qingxu turned her gaze back to Lin Qingwan with a hint of a threat in her tone.

Her dislike for Cui Yuying didn’t stem from any real reason. But when it comes to people, the first impression often matters—whether you like someone or not. Even though, admittedly that feeling might change later.

Seeing the stern expression on her sister’s face, one that closely resembled their mother’s, Lin Qingwan gulped nervously and shook her head so hard it looked like a rattle. “No way! If Sister doesn’t like someone, there’s no way I’ll like them either!” She clenched her fists resolutely, her eyes full of conviction.

Lin Qingxu chuckled lightly at her dramatic display.

While Fang Xiu and Cui Yuying spent the entire morning inside the house, Lin Qingxu and Lin Qingwan ended up sitting idly in the courtyard for just as long.

Lin Qingxu perched herself on a low stool, taking advantage of the sunlight filtering perfectly under the eaves. She attempted to follow a pre-drawn embroidery pattern, starting with the simplest floral designs. Carefully, she brought the needle down, pulled the thread through, and repeated the process—her movements so cautious that even her breathing was subdued.

Despite all her efforts, the end result was still a hideous mess.

Lin Qingwan, unable to bear watching any longer, turned her face away with a sigh. “Sister, why torture yourself like this? We should learn to accept our limits!”

Lin Qingxu: “…” Easy for you to say when you’re not the one trying!

When Fang Xiu and Cui Yuying finally emerged from the house, Lin Qingxu was still holding her embroidery hoop. Having resigned herself to the disaster in front of her, she had embraced a “whatever happens, happens” attitude and was stitching away for her own amusement, completely oblivious to their presence.

The red and green mess of fabric in her hands was so conspicuous that Fang Xiu immediately spotted it as soon as she stepped out the door.

In the next moment, Fang Xiu’s expression darkened like a storm cloud.

Sensing trouble, Lin Qingwan panicked and jabbed her elder sister hard with her elbow.

“What now?” Lin Qingxu’s hand trembled, nearly pricking herself with the needle as she hissed in pain.

Before she could get an answer, her gaze landed on Fang Xiu’s stormy face, and her heart skipped a beat. Without hesitation, she flipped the embroidery hoop over, trying to hide the evidence.

Her movements were swift and smooth—at least she thought so—until she noticed her mother’s eyes narrow as they shifted to the hoop. Fang Xiu’s gaze lingered on the messy tangle of threads on the back, her displeasure evident.

Lin Qingxu was officially out of options.

“Enough. Stop hiding it and see Miss Cui out.” Fang Xiu snapped, her tone laced with irritation.

After all, her own embroidery skills were second to none—even the professional embroiderers at the textile shop couldn’t compare. Yet somehow, neither of the daughters she’d borne had inherited an ounce of her talent.

Lin Qingxu forced an awkward laugh as she stood up, shooting a covert glare at Lin Qingwan in the process bitterly thinking some lookout she turned out to be.

Lin Qingwan pouted, feeling wronged. How was this her fault?

Cui Yuying stood quietly in place, observing the interaction between the family members. She didn’t openly mock Lin Qingxu, but it was clear she was holding back a laugh, her sparkling eyes curving into crescents of amusement.

Lin Qingxu already didn’t think much of her, and now, being seen in such an embarrassing light only stoked her wounded pride.

Once outside, she strode off with long, determined steps not bothering to check if Cui Yuying was keeping up.

After all, her mother had only said to see her out. How far and in what manner? That was entirely up to her.

Cui Yuying seemed to sense Lin Qingxu’s dislike but didn’t comment on it. She struggled to keep pace, her effort evident in her labored breaths.

After walking a good distance, Lin Qingxu noticed the increasingly heavy sound of breathing behind her. The frustration in her heart gradually eased.

After all, she’d only met Cui Yuying twice. The first time, the girl likely didn’t even know who she was…

“Sister Lin.” Cui Yuying said softly, lagging half a step behind Lin Qingxu. “You can drop me off at the intersection ahead. I can find my way back from there.” Her voice was a little breathless, but there wasn’t the slightest hint of complaint about Lin Qingxu’s brisk pace.

When Cui Yuying stayed silent, Lin Qingxu felt a trace of guilt. But the moment she spoke, that tiny sliver of guilt inexplicably vanished.

“Alright!” Lin Qingxu clapped her hands, her face lighting up with the joy of soon being relieved of her burden.

Cui Yuying pressed her lips together, her expression briefly turning unreadable.

Seeing the bright, almost gleeful look in Lin Qingxu’s eyes as they neared the intersection, Cui Yuying fell quiet. She swallowed the polite refusal she’d planned to offer.

Lin Qingxu, oblivious to any awkwardness didn’t think she was being inconsiderate. Instead, she silently counted the steps remaining until they could part ways.

She had just counted to ten when Cui Yuying’s voice broke the silence again.

“Embroidery is a delicate art. With more practice, Sister Lin’s skills will definitely improve.”

“Mm, is that so.” Lin Qingxu hummed noncommittally, her step-counting undisturbed.

Cui Yuying clutched the small basket hanging from her arm and smiled faintly. “Yes, Sister Lin shouldn’t lose heart.”

Lin Qingxu smiled back but gave up entirely on continuing her silent count.

She wasn’t discouraged. In fact, she had already given up entirely.

Perhaps sensing a subtle shift in the atmosphere, Cui Yuying took another step forward, her voice soft and hesitant. “I’ve just arrived in the village and don’t know many people. I know you’ll be getting married in a few months, but while you’re still here, could I come visit and spend time with you often?”

Lin Qingxu had no tolerance for the delicate damsel act!

Resisting the urge to flee as far away from Cui Yuying as humanly possible, every fiber of her being tensed in protest.

“As for spending time, let’s just forget it. I’m quite busy every day! Between learning embroidery and working in the fields, I don’t have any free time!” Lin Qingxu shook her head so vigorously it was practically a dance, her rejection firm and absolute.

The damsel, no—Cui Yuying, adopted an expression of wounded self-pity, as though silently bearing the blow of rejection with grace.

Lin Qingxu felt her mouth twitch uncontrollably as she averted her gaze. Her mind, however was a cacophony of “Oh no, oh no, oh no..!”

The delicate flower had come to life in person, and it was terrifying!

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