Forged into One, True Scroll of Divine Skill (Congratulations to Little Chen-Monthly Pass Request at Month's End)

An uninvited guest arrived at a small courtyard in Qinghe Lane.

As usual, Zhi Lan returned from buying vegetables in the streets and alleys, only to find a man standing in the courtyard.

"A man?"

Her eyes widened as she stared at the scene before her.

The man wore a flowing azure robe. Handsome and refined, he carried himself with extraordinary bearing, exuding a gentle warmth as he stood there.

Zhi Lan recognized him. She had seen him twice here before; today was the third time.

She had asked her sister who he was.

Her sister had said he was an old acquaintance.

"An old acquaintance?"

She silently committed those words to memory.

When her sister had answered, the expression on her face seemed different from usual.

Within that ever-calm expression, there seemed to be some other meaning.

In the courtyard, she saw only him and not her sister.

Under normal circumstances, she would likely have already stepped forward to question him sharply and berate him into leaving.

But she knew that he was different in her sister's eyes.

Feigning composure, she walked in, only to see the man smiling faintly and giving her a slight nod.

That effortless bearing made her heart skip a beat, and her face grew faintly hot.

"I pay my respects, young master." She gave a curtsy and quickened her pace.

Before she entered the house, You'er hurried out, carrying cups of hot tea in her hands.

"Where is my sister?" Zhi Lan asked upon seeing You'er.

The little girl's face was red, but she said nothing.

Just as Zhi Lan was finding it strange, she saw her sister emerge in splendid attire, cradling a long zither in her arms.

Zhi Lan froze.

Her sister's makeup was breathtakingly glamorous today, completely unlike the sister she