Zi Yu didn't quite understand and, after pondering, remained silent. Lin He saw Zi Yu's expression and smiled, offering no detailed explanation, merely telling Zi Yu to watch the maids making pastries. As mooncakes were new this Mid-Autumn Festival and somewhat expensive, many people would still buy other kinds of pastries; none of those could be overlooked.

During her days here, Lin He was incredibly busy, researching different mooncake flavors and often working alongside several maids. She truly did nothing but eat, sleep, and work. She woke up early and stayed up late finishing the day's tasks. Even if she didn't have to physically participate in every step, Lin He had to oversee everything because mass-producing mooncakes was a first-time venture, and the maids were not yet proficient; they struggled to master some aspects. Moreover, with the Mid-Autumn Festival fast approaching, time was becoming tight.

A few days before the Mid-Autumn Festival, the first batch of gift-box mooncakes was finally completed. Several boxes of every style were made. Lin He thought Uncle Wen must be waiting, so she asked Da Bao to arrange for someone to deliver them. There were ten styles, one of each, and Lin He also sent several new boxes of other flavors, also packed in gift boxes, as presents for Uncle Wen’s family for the festival. Just as Da Bao was leading people to load the items onto a carriage, Wen Ning Mo arrived.

Da Bao greeted him with a smile, "Little Mo, you're here. Perfect timing, these things are for your family. You can ride back in our shop's carriage later and take them with you. Come take a look."

Little Mo stepped inside, noticed the boxes stacked in the shop, and walked over, saying, "Are these the new gift boxes your shop is debuting this year? The boxes are quite lovely. I wonder what the contents look like. Let me see."

Saying that, he reached for the boxes, but Da Bao stopped him. He instructed a maid to fetch a mooncake from the kitchen for him to sample. Little Mo took a few bites and remarked, "The taste isn't bad. There’s a faint osmanthus fragrance, and it’s not too cloying. Are all the ones in this box the same kind?"

Da Bao nodded, "Yes, they are all like this, but each style has a different flavor. You'll know once you taste them back home; there are many varieties."

Little Mo nodded and sat down on a nearby chair, saying somewhat listlessly, "Da Bao, have someone send these mooncakes to the Cai Die Xuan. My father is there. I’m not going back yet; I’ll stay for dinner since He'er is here."

Lin He glanced at Little Mo, sensing that Wen Ning Mo was different from usual today. Normally, he was talkative and always energetic, never quiet. Today, he was unusually still, sitting quietly in a chair—very strange.

Da Bao must have also noticed Little Mo’s oddness. He exchanged a look with Lin He before leading the men outside to move the goods. Lin He sat down next to Little Mo and asked softly, "Little Mo, is something troubling you?"

Little Mo stared at Lin He for a while, then turned his head aside after a long pause, answering, "No."

"Is it that Uncle Wen keeps you confined at home every day, making you feel stifled? How about waiting until after the Mid-Autumn Festival, and you can come spend a few days at my place? I can talk to Uncle Wen," Lin He suggested.

Wen Ning Mo initially remained silent, just looking away. After a long stretch, he finally spoke, "He'er, do you all think I only know how to play and can’t do anything else? That I can never measure up to Second Brother?"

Little Mo’s words startled Lin He. Wen Ning Mo was indeed acting strangely today. He never discussed such serious matters with Lin He, and to compare himself to Wen Ning Xuan—Lin He was stunned into silence, merely watching him.

Little Mo continued, "You don't need to answer. I know that’s what you all think. Otherwise, you wouldn't have..." He abruptly cut himself off.

"Wouldn't have what? Little Mo, what’s wrong with you today? Did Uncle Wen scold you or something?" Lin He pressed him.

"No, it’s just that I suddenly feel useless. Everyone in the family has their own duties, but I spend my days doing nothing. Father always says I’ve been spoiled by Mother, that I’m nothing but a dissolute dandy. But what’s so bad about being a dandy?" Little Mo said softly, gazing into the distance.

Seeing Little Mo’s demeanor, Lin He smiled and said, "You are still a long way from being a true dandy. Those dandies wouldn't worry about things like this. You’re still young; this is the age for learning. Study hard now, learn useful things, and when you grow up, you can do whatever you wish. Don't overthink it. No matter what others say, I think Little Mo is wonderful." Lin He felt that thirteen years old was truly still a child, so she spoke gently to coax him.

"Really?" Little Mo asked, his eyes shining as he fixed them on Lin He.

"Of course, it's real. Have I ever lied to you?" Lin He answered readily, not asking which specific statement Little Mo was referring to.

Little Mo stayed with Lin He for the whole afternoon, and his mood brightened considerably, his conversation flowing more freely. Since the first batch of mooncakes was done, the remaining maids could manage the production; Lin He only needed to check in occasionally. Since Lin He had more free time, Little Mo stayed for dinner. To cheer him up, Lin He cooked a few dishes herself. Little Mo was delighted and remarked that it would be wonderful if he could eat Lin He’s cooking every day. Lin He laughed, "Do you expect me to become the cook at your house, demanding my services daily?"

Little Mo squinted and smiled too. After finishing dinner there, he didn't linger long and headed home.

During the days leading up to the Mid-Autumn Festival, Lin He stayed at the shop. The maids continued to process mooncakes and pastries daily. By the fourteenth day of the eighth lunar month, all custom orders for mooncakes and pastries had been fulfilled. Da Bao and Lin He planned to return home the next day to celebrate the festival. Two of the shop assistants also planned to go home for the holiday. Da Bao arranged for a few maids and one assistant to open the shop in the morning, closing it in the afternoon, as everyone truly deserved a good rest after such a busy period.

On the evening of the fourteenth, Da Bao and Lin He were finalizing the accounts in the shop, preparing to leave the following morning. Wen Ning Xuan arrived, saying his father had sent the festival gifts and that they were already loaded onto a cart. Lin He did not stand on ceremony with Wen Ning Xuan, asking Da Bao to find someone to unload the gifts, and asked Wen Ning Xuan to relay her thanks to Uncle Wen.

While Da Bao went to find help unloading, Zi Yu had disappeared somewhere. Only Wen Ning Xuan and Lin He remained in the courtyard. Wen Ning Xuan chuckled lightly, "No need for thanks."

Lin He looked at Wen Ning Xuan and said, "I’m going home tomorrow for the festival. Your whole family celebrates together, right?"