Chapter 5: The Magical Effect of the Pattern  

After dinner, Lin Yumo began preparing for her studies.  

The warm glow of the lamp spilled over the draft paper as Lin Yumo bit her pen, the tip hovering over the final step of a physics formula derivation.  

At some point, the cicadas outside the window had fallen silent, leaving only the faint hum of the air conditioner’s outdoor unit, mingling with the rustling pages of *Essential Vocabulary for the College Entrance Exam*.  

Suddenly, a “knock knock” at the door startled her, causing the pen tip to tremble and leave a small ink blot on the paper.  

“Little Jasmine, I’m coming in.”  

Amid the sound of the doorknob turning, Mother Lin peeked in, holding a bone china cup.  

“Okay!” Lin Yumo set down her pen and glanced at the time on the desk.  

Only then did she realize the clock’s hands had already swept past 9:30. Mother Lin walked softly to her side and gently placed a cup of warm milk on her desk.  

“Why are you still studying so late?”  

She reached out to stroke her daughter’s hair, her fingertips carrying a faint, comforting fragrance as she asked,  

“Didn’t you just finish the high school entrance exams? You should be relaxing a little.”  

Lin Yumo lowered her head, looking at the milk Mother Lin had set down. After pursing her lips, she said softly, “I don’t think I did well… I might only make it into the Regular Class.”  

“I want to work harder this summer so I can test into the Honors Class when we split into arts and sciences at the end of freshman year.”  

Mother Lin’s palm cupped her cold cheek. “It’s okay. Even if you didn’t do well, your dad and I are here for you.”  

Her fingertips lightly brushed the faint dark circles under Lin Yumo’s eyes. “But it’s good to be ambitious… though you should take care of yourself first.”  

She pointed at the steaming milk. “The sun will rise again tomorrow. One night won’t make or break you.”  

“Wu Ma said you’ve been fond of jasmine-flavored things lately.”  

Mother Lin smiled as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind Lin Yumo’s ear. “I specially brewed this with jasmine. Drink it and go to sleep, okay?”  

Moonlight crept into Mother Lin’s smiling eyes, and Lin Yumo suddenly remembered her past life, when she worked late into the night and her phone was always filled with unread messages of her mother’s reminders.  

She nodded and promised, “I’ll memorize five more words, then go to bed.”  

Mother Lin nodded in satisfaction, turning back at the door to add, “Don’t sneak up later to read, okay?”  

As the door closed softly, Lin Yumo picked up the milk and drank it in one go. The warmth traveled from her fingertips to her heart.  

……  

Morning sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, scattering delicate patches of light across the headboard.  

Lin Yumo was jolted awake by her alarm, a strand of hair stuck to the corner of her lips.  

Still half-asleep, she reached for the jasmine tea on her nightstand, the glass cup beaded with tiny droplets of condensation.  

“Huh?” She suddenly froze, staring at her fingers gripping the cup. Her already slender fingers seemed even more delicate and translucent, glowing like pearls in the morning light.  

The tea slid down her throat, carrying the fresh, dewy fragrance of flowers, invigorating her entire body.  

Her slippers slapped against the floor as Lin Yumo practically lunged toward the bathroom mirror.  

The girl in the reflection had skin like peeled lychee, radiant and smooth.  

She couldn’t help but lean closer, her fingertips lightly tapping the mirror. The faint dark circles under her eyes had lightened, and even her nose bridge seemed slightly more defined.  

“This is too magical…” she murmured, then suddenly remembered something. Barefoot, she dashed to the height chart behind the door.  

Holding her breath, she checked the measurement.  

165cm!

In her previous life, she didn’t reach this height until her senior year of high school, but now she’d already achieved it!

The moment the metal scale marked 165cm, she felt a surge of excitement.

She had always wanted to grow taller, and now it was truly happening before her eyes.

“So I’ve already reached 165cm now. How much taller will I grow?”

Imagining herself turning into a giant, she quickly shook her head. She still wanted to reach 168cm—her ideal height.

(Question: What if she keeps growing taller? Will our girl reach 2 meters? Author’s note: Don’t worry, sweetie, I promised 168cm and not a centimeter more!)

Lin Yumo twirled in front of the mirror, the hem of her nightgown flaring gracefully.

She felt there was still some change she hadn’t noticed yet, but couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

Walking into the living room, she saw Father Lin and Mother Lin exchanging glances over breakfast.

“Why is our little Jasmine up so early today?” Mother Lin set down the milk, her gaze filled with curiosity and concern.

Lin Yumo shook her head. “I’m going to be a disciplined girl!”

Father Lin also looked at her. “You do seem much more energetic. Your complexion is rosy, and you look healthier.”

Hearing Father Lin’s words, Mother Lin scrutinized Lin Yumo. “Has our little Jasmine… become prettier?”

Her eyes scanned her daughter like a scanner. “Your skin is fairer, and you seem taller too…”

Lin Yumo calmly bit into her toast and explained, “Maybe… the Jasmine Milk last night was too nourishing?”

Father Lin and Mother Lin didn’t say much, assuming she was just refreshed from waking up.

……

In front of the floor-length mirror at the gym, Lin Yumo finished her last set of yoga poses.

Sweat trickled down her collarbone as she tilted her head back and gulped down the jasmine tea prepared by Wu Ma, letting out a satisfied sigh.

After yoga, sweat rolled down her neck. Her stamina was still a bit weak, and she had almost given up.

Setting down her cup, she returned to her room, grabbed a change of clothes, and headed to the bathroom.

Amid the steam in the bathroom, Lin Yumo suddenly froze, realizing something. Her hands paused mid-wash.

She looked down at the changes on her chest, her cheeks burning fiercely. “Th-this pattern is just too amazing…”

As the warm water cascaded over her skin, she suddenly recalled her reflection in the mirror that morning—not only had her skin improved, but her waistline seemed more defined too.

Blushing, she secretly touched it again. “But… I really like it.”

As the showerhead poured hot water over her, she smiled at her slightly transformed reflection in the mirror.

After stepping out of the shower, her hair was still damp, droplets falling from the tips onto her shoulders.

She sat at her desk and flipped open the gilded planner, her fingers landing on the “Summer Plan” page.

Picking up a pen, she checked off the “Morning Exercise” item.