Chapter 12

That night, by the time they left the restaurant, it was already late.

There were still a few pedestrians on the street, walking in twos and threes under the plane trees. The night breeze carried the scent of grass and trees, gently brushing through her hair.

Her deskmate walked her to the entrance of her neighborhood. Before leaving, she couldn’t help but glance back and mutter under her breath, “Nan Nan, you know what? When you smiled today… you looked really beautiful.”

Ran Nannan froze for a moment, as if something had gently tapped against her chest.

“Really?” she said softly, the corners of her lips slowly curving up.

“Mhm.” Her deskmate nodded seriously. “Before, you always felt a little… distant. But today, it was like you were glowing.”

Then she turned and ran off, leaving behind a light, skipping shadow.

Ran Nannan stood there in a daze for a long time, then slowly looked up at the night sky. The moon was partly veiled by thin clouds, casting down only a gentle, diffused light.

She reached up and lightly touched her chest. Her heart was beating fast, and warm.

When she got home, she sat down at her desk as usual. The lamp cast a warm yellow glow across the tabletop. The little porcelain jar sat quietly to the side, as if smiling at her too.

She took out a wooden comb and brushed her hair — three hundred strokes.

In the mirror, her face had a soft, luminous glow, the corners of her lips faintly upturned.

She suddenly thought of the long corridors of Qinghong Courtyard, of the dressing room at the Zhou household, and of the cold bronze mirrors. She remembered the old matron forcing her to train until her waist and legs ached.

But now, she was doing this for herself.

The next day, she posted one of the group photos from the gathering to her social feed.

In the photo, she sat beside the table, turning her head with a smile. Her eyes held a gentle shimmer, her lips curved ever so slightly. The light fell on her face, making her complexion look like freshly peeled white jade.

The comments exploded almost immediately.

[Lin Tang]: OMG Nannan! What’s going on with you lately?!

[Zhou Man]: Did a fairy just descend to earth?

[A Miao]: Spill it now — what secret weapon are you using?!

She looked at her screen, a small smile slowly forming at the corner of her mouth. Her fingers tapped lightly as she typed:

[Just… tried out some traditional face cream I mixed myself.]

[Lin Tang]: Traditional?? Are you serious?!

[A Miao]: Wait what — you make your own stuff now?! You better not be messing with me. I will fight you.

Ran Nannan chuckled softly and replied:

[No lie. Come over sometime and I’ll let you try some.]

Three days later, A Miao actually dragged Lin Tang and Zhou Man over.

It was a sweltering afternoon, the sunlight filtering through the sheer curtains, so quiet you could hear the cicadas chirping outside.

The moment they stepped in, the chatter started.

“Nannan Nannan! Quick — bring out your magical potion! I didn’t wear any makeup today, just so I could try it!” A Miao grabbed her wrist, eyes sparkling like a cat.

“Your house smells amazing,” Lin Tang said suddenly, glancing around. “There’s this faint floral scent… like water lilies?”

Ran Nannan felt a soft flutter in her heart and nodded with a smile. “I mixed a new batch yesterday.”

She had them sit down and served tea and fruit. The three girls chirped like sparrows, flipping through their phones to zoom in on the side-profile photo she posted.

“Your skin seriously looks like a porcelain doll’s…” Zhou Man muttered, envy flickering in her eyes.

A Miao plopped her teacup on the table. “Enough talk — let’s try it already!”

Ran Nannan went to her room and brought out the little porcelain jar.

The moment she lifted the lid, a faint scent of lotus spread through the room — cool and delicate, like a flower blooming on a summer night.

A Miao was the first to eagerly dip a pinky into the cream and spread it on the back of her hand. It melted into her skin almost instantly, leaving behind a soft, dewy glow.

“Ahhh!” she gasped, “It’s so light! Not greasy at all!”

Lin Tang and Zhou Man followed suit, comparing the backs of their hands like kids seeing who glowed more.

Ran Nannan sat watching them, her heart filled with a gentle warmth.

This kind of ordinary, joy-filled scene — full of laughter and friends — had never existed in her past life. Back then, she wore creams only to be chosen, to fetch a good price, to be scrutinized by cold eyes and told, “Whiter. Softer. More delicate.”

But this time was different.

This time, it was her creation, and their admiration was sincere.

“Nannan, you’ve got to make more,” Lin Tang suddenly said, grabbing her hand, eyes bright. “My mom saw your post yesterday and said you looked stunning. She asked if I was using something new. If she tries it and likes it, she might even be willing to pay.”

“Exactly,” A Miao chimed in, leaning closer. “My mom finally agreed to let me manage my own allowance in college. She even said if it’s all-natural and handmade, it’s way better than those expensive imported ones.”

Zhou Man nodded along. “If you start selling, I’m your first customer.”

Ran Nannan was stunned, a sudden warmth blooming in her chest.

After they left, the house fell silent.

The teacups were still on the table, and the breeze outside gently stirred the curtains, letting in sunlight and summer heat.

She sat on the sofa holding the little porcelain jar, lost in thought.

Someone was actually willing to pay for something she made.

Not because of her looks.
Not because of the Zhou family.
Not because she was being chosen by the Cheng family.
But simply because the cream was genuinely good.

She slowly lowered her head, her bangs falling over her eyes.

For the first time, she truly felt… that the path ahead was hers to choose.

That night, she sat at her desk again. The herbal formula the old apothecary had given her was spread out under the lamp. Beside it was a notebook filled with notes on the ratios of lotus stamen, beeswax, and safflower powder, along with feedback from different test batches.

She wrote down today’s date and carefully recorded the responses:

[A Miao]: Lightweight texture, still dewy after two hours.
[Lin Tang]: Spreads smoothly, subtle fragrance, really liked it.
[Zhou Man]: No irritation on sensitive areas.

She let out a soft breath, the corners of her lips lifting slowly.

From Qinghong Courtyard to the Zhou household, from a porcelain doll to someone who could create something others genuinely sought out — it had taken her two lifetimes.

But no matter how slow, she had finally arrived.

Just before she fell asleep, she suddenly received a message from A Miao.

[Nannan, my mom really wants to order some. She said even if it’s pricey, she wants to try it. Hurry up!]

Ran Nannan stared at the screen for a long moment, her fingers slowly curling.

Her heart ached — just a little — but it was full, too, like something warm had finally settled inside.

She let out a soft breath and replied:

[Okay. I’ll make a new batch tomorrow.]