One weekend evening, at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Ning Rongrong had started getting ready a full hour early. She wasn't usually one to fuss over her appearance. Back at Shrek Academy, she went barefaced most of the time, tying her hair up any old way before heading out. But today was different.
Her master was coming to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for a banquet today. She had invited him herself.
She searched through her wardrobe, trying on six or seven outfits before settling on a long, lotus-pink dress.
The fabric was soft, lightweight silk, with delicate silver patterns embroidered along the hem. It shimmered softly whenever she moved.
A slender silver chain circled her waist, with a tiny pendant shaped like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda hanging from it. It was a keepsake her mother had left her.
Instead of tying her hair into her usual scorpion braid, she pinned up half of it with a white jade hairpin. A few loose strands fell beside her ears, swaying gently with her movements.
She stood before the bronze mirror, turning from side to side. Then she leaned closer to inspect her makeup. She had defined her brows, dabbed a light touch of rouge on her lips, and dusted her cheeks with the thinnest layer of blush.
She didn't wear makeup often, but today was a family banquet, and her master was coming. She wanted to look... a little prettier.
She took a deep breath in front of the mirror, then turned and went downstairs.
Ning Fengzhi was already waiting in the sitting room. When he saw his daughter coming down the stairs, his hand holding the teacup paused. His gaze lingered on her for several seconds before he set the cup down and said meaningfully, "My little girl has grown up."
Ning Rongrong's face flushed bright red. "Dad! What are you talking about?"
Ning Fengzhi smiled and didn't tease her any further. He picked up his teacup and went back to his tea, though the smile at the corner of his mouth never faded.
Before long, a guard hurried in from outside the residence to report that Elder Yi Chen had arrived.
Ning Rongrong shot up from her chair almost reflexively. Then, realizing she'd overreacted, she slowly sat back down, folded her hands in her lap, and did her best to look composed.
But her slightly tense shoulders and rapidly fluttering lashes gave away how nervous she was.
The moment Yi Chen stepped through the sitting-room doors, the first person he saw was Ning Rongrong, seated off to one side.
He had seen her in so many different states: drenched in sweat during training, triumphant after winning a match, guiltily pleading for mercy after making a mistake, and tugging at his sleeve when she wanted to wheedle him.
But he had never seen her like this before. She had dressed carefully and sat upright, hands folded in her lap, head slightly bowed. Only when she heard his footsteps did she raise her eyes to look at him.
That glance held a little nervousness, a little anticipation, and a little careful delight.
Yi Chen paused at the doorway for less than half a second, then continued inside. First, he cupped his hands to Ning Fengzhi in greeting. "Sect Master Ning, sorry for the trouble."
Ning Fengzhi rose and returned the greeting with a hearty smile. "Elder Yi Chen, you're too courteous. Your visit honors the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Please, have a seat."
Yi Chen took a seat opposite him. His gaze naturally swept toward Ning Rongrong, then he said, "Rongrong looks lovely today."
The tips of Ning Rongrong's ears turned red at once. She lowered her head, pretending to straighten her skirt. Her voice was softer than usual. "Thank you, Master..."
Watching them, Ning Fengzhi lifted his teacup and took a sip without interrupting, but the amusement in his eyes deepened.
The banquet was laid out in the inner hall of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. The dishes were exquisite without being extravagant; clearly, care had gone into preparing them.
Ning Fengzhi sat at the head of the table, Yi Chen sat opposite him, and Ning Rongrong sat across from Yi Chen. But halfway through the meal, she picked up her bowl and chopsticks and quietly moved to the seat beside him, saying, "It's hard to reach the dishes over there."
Ning Fengzhi glanced at her but said nothing. He simply placed a piece of her favorite osmanthus sticky rice lotus root in her bowl.
Ning Rongrong poured Yi Chen a cup of wine, then served him a dish. Her movements were so natural, you'd think she'd done it countless times.
Whenever she served him food, she first watched which dishes Yi Chen reached for most often, then quietly turned those dishes so they were closer to him.
She made these little gestures discreetly, but Ning Fengzhi noticed every one of them—and so did Yi Chen.
After several rounds of wine, Ning Fengzhi set down his cup and suddenly said, "Elder Yi Chen, I have a question. I'm not sure whether I ought to ask."
"Please, Sect Master."
"What do you think of my daughter's progress lately?"
Yi Chen set down his winecup and answered seriously, "Rongrong is highly gifted, quick to understand, and willing to put in the work. Among her peers, her tactical sense and ability to adapt in the moment are both top-notch. If she keeps this up, she'll have a limitless future."
Ning Fengzhi nodded, then changed tack. "And what do you think of my daughter as a person?"
At the question, the air around the table seemed to freeze for a moment.
Ning Rongrong tightened her grip on her chopsticks and lowered her head, pretending to focus on the rice in her bowl. But her ears were practically standing on end.
Yi Chen fell silent for a moment, then replied in a calm, earnest voice, "Rongrong is a wonderful girl. She's clever and kind, dependable, sincere with her friends, and serious about her cultivation. Having her as my disciple is my good fortune."
Ning Rongrong's fingers trembled slightly around her chopsticks. Her eyes grew warm, but she fought it back and didn't look up.
Ning Fengzhi held Yi Chen's gaze for a few breaths, then smiled and lifted his cup. "If that's how you feel, then I can rest easy. Come, let's have another drink."
Yi Chen raised his cup, clinked it against Ning Fengzhi's, and drained it in one go.
After the banquet, Ning Rongrong walked Yi Chen out of the residence.
Night had fallen. Rows of lanterns hung in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's courtyard, their warm yellow light casting soft shadows over the stone path.
They walked side by side, about an arm's length apart, neither of them speaking first.
When they reached the gate, Ning Rongrong stopped and turned to face Yi Chen.
Moonlight spilled across her face, tracing her gentle features. She raised her head to look at him, her gaze filled with a seriousness and determination he had never seen in her before.
"Master."
"Hmm?"
"Today... I didn't invite you just for dinner." Her voice was quieter than usual, but steady. "I wanted you to see that I'm not only serious when I'm on the training ground. I can also be... like this."
She opened her arms and gestured toward herself, showing off her outfit and the way she looked that day.
"I want you to see more sides of me." By the time she finished, the tips of her ears were scarlet, but she didn't lower her head. She kept looking straight into Yi Chen's eyes. "I'm not just your disciple. I'm also... a girl."
The night breeze brushed past, stirring the loose strands beside her ears and the edge of her skirt. Lantern light spread behind her, outlining her in a soft, warm glow.
Yi Chen looked at her. After a moment's silence, he answered, his voice gentler than usual. "I see."
Ning Rongrong's eyes brightened.
"And," Yi Chen paused, "you look lovely."
At last, Ning Rongrong couldn't hold back her smile. Her lips curved into a radiant arc.
She said nothing more. She only took half a step back and waved to him. "Then be careful on your way home, Master! I won't be late for training tomorrow!"
Yi Chen nodded and turned to leave. After he had walked a few steps, he heard Ning Rongrong's voice behind him, softer than before but still clear enough to reach his ears.
"Master, can I invite you to dinner again sometime?"
Yi Chen stopped. He didn't turn around, but the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
"You can."
He continued on, disappearing into the mingled glow of moonlight and lanterns.
Ning Rongrong stood at the gate, watching him walk away. She pressed both hands to her burning cheeks and stayed there for a long while before finally turning and running back inside.
Her steps were light, as if she were walking on clouds.