Lin He noticed Zi Yu standing to the side, who kept shooting her meaningful glances while pointing toward the front courtyard. Only then did Lin He recall that she had brought Wen Ning Xuan to see her family’s yard. It was improper for the two of them to talk for so long; if their mother heard about it, she’d nag about Lin He not adhering to proper conduct. Thinking this, Lin He immediately called Wen Ning Xuan toward the front yard. Wen Ning Xuan seemed to sense this as well; he offered Lin He a knowing smile, stood up, and walked to the front.

When the group reached the front courtyard, Madam Huang saw them emerging. Instead of annoyance, there was a distinct pleasure on her face. Her smile deepened as she looked at Wen Ning Xuan leading the way. Lin He felt her mother’s satisfaction with Wen Ning Xuan was excessive—she almost blurted out, “Marry my daughter already.”

Xiao Mo, who was in the courtyard, saw them approach and remarked, “Second Brother, how is it? Aren’t Lin He’s house and surroundings unique? I told you, but you wouldn't believe me. Everything in their house is different from ours. I’ve never seen these things anywhere else. I don’t know how He’er’s mind works; it just seems to conceive things differently than others.”

“Xiao Mo speaks the absolute truth,” Wen Ning Xuan said, casting a look at Lin He and smiling.

“Young Master Er is too kind with his praise. Our He’er, she has been this way since childhood. The ideas she comes up with are things no one else could imagine. Look at the things she makes; I honestly don’t know where she gets them. This daughter of mine is certainly peculiar, but thankfully, with her around these past few years, her father and I haven't had to worry about the household.” Madam Huang spoke as if simply narrating facts about He’er, yet her tone was laced with immense pride. To an outsider, this could easily sound like boasting, and Lin He wondered how it sounded in Wen Ning Xuan’s ears.

Hearing Madam Huang, Wen Ning Xuan replied, “Auntie is absolutely right; a woman like He’er is indeed rare.”

“Yes, our He’er is…”

At this point, Lin He was certain her mother was actively marketing her. She rolled her eyes internally and quickly interrupted Madam Huang, calling out, “Mother, didn’t you say you were going to get some pastries for Xiao Mo to eat? Hurry and tell Cai Qing to fetch them!”

Madam Huang finally paused her speech and quickly led Cai Qing inside. Wen Ning Xuan, watching the exchange, raised an eyebrow at Lin He, then smiled before moving toward Xiao Mo and Chen’er. Chen’er was beside them, wrestling with embroidery—a task she could never quite grasp—and looked quite distressed. Although Xiao Mo’s arrival meant Chen’er desperately wanted to play, Lin He had imposed a strict condition: Chen’er had to finish one decent garment before the fifteenth of the eighth month, or she would spend the entire second half of the year confined indoors doing only embroidery. Thus, Chen’er held her needlework, pretending to focus, when in reality, she was just listening to Xiao Mo and the others talk.

Xiao Mo, glancing at Chen’er’s handiwork, scoffed, “Forget it, Chen’er, just stop. I think you need a few more years of study; whatever you make is unwearable outside. It’s fine if you’re slow-witted, but you’re also so lazy. I saw you practicing last time I was here, and after all this time, you still can’t finish a single piece of clothing. You’re hopeless.”

“Second Sister is clumsy, Big Sister scolds,” Little Xiong, who stayed close to Xiao Mo, chimed in.

“Who says? Last time you visited, I was learning how to sew. This time, I’m learning how to cut fabric. They are entirely different things! You make it sound so easy,” Chen’er retorted defensively.

“Is it that hard? Our maids are younger than you, and their knitting is much better than this. Look at what you’ve done—who would ever wear this? You should just let Zi Huan or Zi Yu do it. You’re simply not cut out for this,” Xiao Mo continued, grinning at Chen’er.

“Big Sister, Xiao Mo is saying that about me too. I quit. I’m clearly not going to learn it anyway, so why waste the time? Look, isn’t Xiao Mo’s dress made by a maid?” Chen’er appealed to Lin He.

“No, the worse you do, the more you must practice. Didn’t you hear Xiao Mo say their maids are better than you? You just aren't applying yourself. Look at how your needlework is deteriorating. This isn’t about whether you can learn it; it’s about whether you’re putting in the effort,” Lin He responded, ignoring Chen’er’s plea.

Wen Ning Xuan glanced at the garment in Chen’er’s hand. The stitching was indeed amateurish; he suspected even the five or six-year-old maids in his own household were more skilled. Considering she claimed to have been studying for years, a lack of effort was likely the issue, explaining why Lin He felt compelled to push her. However, seeing Chen’er turn to him with a look of pleading, Wen Ning Xuan intervened. “This kind of skill isn’t developed in a day or two. Since Xiao Mo has come to visit, let Chen’er take these two days off to clear her head. She can resume in a couple of days.”

Chen’er had been thrilled when Xiao Mo arrived, secretly hoping her embroidery duties would be suspended. But when Xiao Mo entered, she remained stuck at the sewing table, and neither her mother nor Big Sister asked her to stop. Even after Xiao Mo interceded on her behalf, it failed. Chen’er’s mind raced, and spotting Wen Ning Xuan sitting nearby, she could only turn to him for rescue.

Hearing Wen Ning Xuan speak, Lin He knew it was just Chen’er’s ploy and was about to refuse when Madam Huang emerged from the inner room. “Indeed, Young Master Er is correct. Chen’er, you may rest for two days, and then return to your work.”

Upon hearing her mother’s decree, Chen’er immediately handed the embroidery to Zi Huan, who was standing by, winked at Wen Ning Xuan, and stuck her tongue out at Lin He. Lin He shook her head and smiled; this girl couldn’t figure out serious work, but she certainly had plenty of cunning ideas when it came to slacking off.

Madam Huang brought out a tray laden with pastries and urged Wen Ning Xuan, “Young Master Er, these pastries were all made by He’er during her leisure time. Please sample them. Now that you are here, don’t be a stranger; treat this place as your own home.”

“Auntie, please don’t call me Young Master Er; it’s too formal. Just call me Ning Xuan,” Wen Ning Xuan said to Madam Huang.

“Ah, alright, then I shall call you Ning Xuan from now on. Come, Ning Xuan, have some pastries; don’t hold back,” Madam Huang replied without hesitation, immediately adjusting her address.

The entire morning passed in the courtyard, filled with laughter and casual conversation. It was rare for Wen Ning Xuan to stay in the courtyard for so long. Though he spoke sparingly, his presence didn't feel cold or distant. When something amusing occurred, he wouldn't roar with laughter like Xiao Mo, but his reaction still conveyed a pleasant sense of ease. He seemed a completely different person from his usual self—like an untroubled teenager, simple and gentle. Lin He much preferred this version of Wen Ning Xuan to the one she usually knew.