A Courtyard Full of Rare Medicinal Herbs

The next day, Ji Chuxing went to Zhou Sixue's house for a barbecue at her invitation.

Bo Yanchen drove her there.

He had no idea what the girl had stayed up late doing again last night, but she looked as though she hadn't gotten enough sleep.

He had gotten up in the middle of the night and noticed a light under her door. He guessed that if she hadn't been caught, the girl might well have stayed up all night.

Ji Chuxing only slowly woke up once Bo Yanchen had brought her to the place. The little tuft of hair on her head bobbed, and she seemed unsure where she was.

It was rare to see the girl so groggy, and Bo Yanchen thought she was really cute.

So Second Master Bo raised a hand and pinched her cheek.

Ji Chuxing was groggy no longer. She looked at him expressionlessly.

It seemed that the next second, she could send Second Master Bo flying out of the car with one little fist.

But Bo Yanchen knew his Xingbao would never have the heart to hit a patient like him.

Bo Yanchen saw nothing wrong with it at all. In one smooth motion, he moved his hand to the top of her head and pressed down the little tuft of hair that refused to stay flat. "Have fun with your classmates. Call me when you want to come home."

Ji Chuxing yawned at length, took a box of milk tablets from the little cabinet beside the seat, and tossed two into her mouth before getting out of the car.

"Got it."

Bo Yanchen watched her walk away and chuckled. Only then did the car pull out of the alley.

Zhou Sixue's home was in an old residential neighborhood in South City. It was in the old part of town, and Ji Chuxing had to turn two corners before she found the place.

Before she got close, she heard Wu Hao yelling loudly inside.

Even the aroma of barbecue wafted out, and it smelled pretty good.

Ji Chuxing didn't need to check the address at all. She could find Zhou Sixue's house just by following the smell.

These were old homes, and Zhou Sixue's was at the very end of the alley. It wasn't one of those old tenement buildings, though, but a separate courtyard house that looked to be quite a few years old. The houses in this alley were mostly arranged in groups of courtyards.

Ji Chuxing had barely reached the entrance when she was spotted.

"God Ji, you're here!"

Zhou Sixue was still holding a skewer of chicken wings. Her cheeks were flushed, and a smile spread across her face. "I was just about to go look for you. Here, these just came off the grill. Have some."

Ji Chuxing took them without hesitation, had a bite, and offered her praise freely. "Delicious!"

Zhou Sixue was even happier. "I'll grill some for you in a bit. You just have to eat. My barbecue is really good!"

A group of people came out from inside. "God Ji, you're finally here!"

Ji Chuxing wasn't late. Zhao Feifei, Wu Hao, and the others had arrived early.

A group of boys and girls raced wildly around the courtyard like horses freed from their reins.

Ji Chuxing met Zhou Sixue's mother for the first time.

Mrs. Zhou was a very gentle woman. She looked young, not at all like someone in her forties, and was very elegant. She kept the Zhou household neat and orderly, and the eastern side of the courtyard had been turned into a flower and vegetable garden. It was lush and green now, and flowers were blooming in the greenhouse.

"Sisi, is this your classmate Ji?" Mrs. Zhou looked at Ji Chuxing gently.

Ji Chuxing nodded. Although her face was still expressionless, it was clear that she was polite. "Hello."

Mrs. Zhou smiled gently. "Thank you for what you did this time. Sisi never tells me about these things, but don't worry. We'll definitely sue Mo Xue'er and hold her legally accountable."

Ji Chuxing nodded. "If you need anything, just tell me."

Mrs. Zhou froze for a moment, then smiled.

Classmate Ji was still a child. How could she go to a child for help? She had probably said that because she was Sisi's classmate.

Even so, she smiled and agreed. "Have fun, all of you. If you need anything, tell me right away, and I'll go buy it for you."

Zhou Sixue said, "Mom, God Ji likes milk tea."

Mrs. Zhou smiled. "I'll make some for you myself."

The courtyard became lively again. Ji Chuxing didn't have to lift a finger. Zhou Sixue ran back and forth, cutting fruit and grilling barbecue for her.

As it happened, the lazy Ji Chuxing didn't want to lift a finger either. Once she'd eaten her fill, she took a skewer and wandered around the vegetable garden and greenhouse.

Amid the barbecue aromas filling the courtyard, she caught a fresh, unusual scent at the entrance to the greenhouse.

Zhou Sixue saw her standing there. "God Ji, do you want to have a look? My mom grew these flowers."

Her mother had no other hobbies; she simply liked growing flowers.

Before Ji Chuxing could say anything, Zhou Sixue had already pulled her inside.

"My mom grew all of these. If you like any, you can pick them and take them home."

Ji Chuxing stood in front of a jade-green flower and reached out to touch its lush green bud.

The flower resembled a lily, yet it wasn't one.

Its fragrance was rich, but it seemed to control itself, never drifting more than ten meters away.

Zhou Sixue said, "This is a Jade Orchid. It's very fragrant, and it'll keep a room smelling nice for a month. Do you like it, God Ji? Pick a bunch to take home later!"

Ji Chuxing smiled. "It's nice, a very rare variety."

But Ji Chuxing knew it wasn't called a Jade Orchid. Its real scientific name was a code.

Sy-97356-lk.

A rare medicinal herb that seemingly couldn't possibly appear in this old residential courtyard.

As were all the flowers filling the greenhouse.

That pale yellow chrysanthemum wasn't actually a chrysanthemum.

Ji Chuxing lowered her head and gently touched the Jade Orchid, which was cool and smooth as jade.

Zhou Sixue was delighted to hear Ji Chuxing praise it. "Of course! This flower is expensive. Nobody else can grow it, but my mom can. I heard it sells for a lot, but if you like it, you can have it."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. It's easy to care for. Just put it in a vase when you get home, and when it withers, I'll give you some more."

Ji Chuxing stayed in the greenhouse for a while. Autumn had already arrived in South City, but the temperature in the greenhouse was just right, and many flowers were in bloom.

Zhou Sixue didn't recognize many of them either. She simply thought they were pretty.

Before long, the others were drawn over too, and they all admired the flowers.

Mrs. Zhou came out carrying the milk tea she'd made. Seeing that everyone liked the flowers she'd grown, she looked quite happy.

"Pick a bunch each to take home when you leave."

"Thank you, Auntie."

"You're welcome. I'm glad you like them."

Ji Chuxing and the others didn't leave until the sun was almost down.

Although Mrs. Zhou's flowers were beautiful, none of the boys took any. Only Ji Chuxing and Zhao Feifei left with a big bouquet each.

Mrs. Zhou had thoughtfully wrapped the flowers for them. Seeing Zhao Feifei hold the flowers she'd given her so dearly made her even happier.

Bo Yanchen's car was already waiting outside the alley. He was rather surprised to see Ji Chuxing come out carrying a big bouquet.

He glanced at it and asked with a smile, "Who gave you those? Did someone confess to you today, Xingbao?"

Ji Chuxing gave him an expressionless look and got into the car with her flowers. As if she couldn't hold it in, she said, "Only someone from the last century would think that."

Seeing a girl with flowers and assuming someone had confessed to her.

"Hmm? What?"

Bo Yanchen paused. "Are you insulting your brother?"

Ji Chuxing said nothing.

Bo Yanchen seemed amused. He tapped her forehead with a slender finger. "Don't think I can't tell, Xingbao. You insulted me, saying your brother was old-fashioned."

Ji Chuxing glanced at him. "You said that yourself."

Bo Yanchen laughed again. "Fine, I said it myself. It has nothing to do with our Xingbao. It's just what Xingbao thinks anyway."

Ji Chuxing: "..."

She held herself back again and again, then looked at him strangely. "Are you being unreasonable?"

Fang He, who was driving, finally couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.

Bo Yanchen: "..."

After they returned, she found a vase and put the whole big bunch of Jade Orchids in Bo Yanchen's room.

Bo Yanchen didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "From now on, whenever I go out, I'll smell of flowers. Xingbao, is that appropriate?"

Ji Chuxing put away the spray bottle and handed him a bottle. "Here, this is for you."

After a pause, she added, "It can cover the smell."

Second Master Bo looked at the green bottle of floral water now in his hand. "..."