RenJie began living with the Yao family, dividing his days between working in the teahouse and practicing his calligraphy with Yao Zixian. Yao Zixian, an extremely talkative person, would talk endlessly about trivial things, but whenever the topic turned to himself, he would dodge RenJie's questions with jokes or change the subject altogether. In the end, RenJie could only turn to Yao XinYue for answers.
The Yao family spanned three generations. The current head and his wife had two children—a son and a daughter. Though the son married late, he was blessed with a son, and two years later, a daughter
That daughter was Yao XinYue.
The Yao daughter married well—her husband was one of Xia City's most eligible bachelors, a man with fine looks and a respected cultivation background. Their marriage brought honor to the Yao household, and the birth of their son, the firstborn grandson, was a cause for celebration.
But the happiness was short-lived.
Barely two years after the child's birth, her husband's affair was discovered. The Yao daughter, proud and fierce, could not bear the insult. She threatened divorce, certain he would relent. But to her disappointment, her husband agreed without hesitation, choosing his mistress over both wife and son. Even when she threatened to take the child away, he remained unmoved.
Humiliated and broken-hearted, she returned to her maternal home. The scandal spread throughout Xia City like wildfire, whispered from teahouse to market stall. Even within her own household, her return was met not with sympathy but cold disdain. She was denied the courtyard befitting her status and told to stay in the servants' quarters. She bore the humiliation for less than a month before exploding in fury when a servant mocked her.
It was the family matriarch who finally took pity on her and allowed her to move into a small, unused courtyard. The Yao family was not poor, but neither were they extravagant. The courtyard where their daughter had previously stayed had been converted into Yao XinYue's courtyard.
One was her disgraced daughter, while the other was the only granddaughter of the Yao family. It was obvious who held more importance in the matriarch's heart.
Even though Yao Zixian had taken back the Yao surname, the shadow of his parents' divorce clung to him like smoke. In the eyes of the family and to the public, he was tarnished.
The matriarch summoned her daughter and warned her coldly. If she were to stir any more trouble, she would be thrown out of the Yao family.
Yao Zixian's mother could only sulk back into her room, but her bitterness festered. And she turned that bitterness upon her son.
"Because Auntie feels that with a son, her status as the wife would be stable. But her husband was a love-blinded fool. He threw away both his wife and son for that woman, but do you know what angers me the most?" Yao XinYue's voice trembled with anger.
RenJie's brow furrowed as she continued.
"It's the way she treats Ling gege."
To Yao Zixian's mother, her son was nothing more than a failed bargaining chip. After the divorce, she treated him like air, except when she needed someone to lash out at.
"You had one job, and you couldn't even do it right! What was the use of giving birth to such a useless thing like you?" Yao Zixian's mother would scream and hurl abuse. Sometimes the abuse would turn physical as his mother would throw whatever was within her reach.
Yao Zixian would remain silent, his gaze lowered, doing his best not to provoke her further.
One day, Yao XinYue came to visit and heard shouting from inside his courtyard. Just as she raised her hand to knock, her aunt's shrill voice pierced through the door. Alarmed, she entered without knocking.
She found Yao Zixian in the corner, silent, watching his mother rage and throw things at him. Before she could cry out, Yao Zixian's head snapped up. His eyes widened in panic. He rushed over and pulled her into his arms.
She froze, too stunned to move. Then, a ceramic bowl smashed against his head, shattering into shards.
"Gege! Gege-!" she gasped, tears springing to her eyes.
"It's okay. It's okay," he whispered, shielding her with his body as they retreated. More objects rained down on them from behind.
"What's going on? Why is Auntie-" she began, only for Yao Zixian to clamp a hand gently over her mouth, eyes pleading for silence.
Yao XinYue clutched at his sleeve, unwilling to let go. Seeing her expression, Yao Zixian shouted over his shoulder.
"You're scaring her!"
That only enraged his mother further.
"You ungrateful brat! Who do you think you are, shouting at your mother?!"
She stormed out, hand raised. Yao XinYue flinched, instinctively grabbing Yao Zixian.
But the woman halted, her gaze landing on her niece. Her hand lowered.
"Ah Ran, why are you here?"
Yao XinYue trembled in Yao Zixian's arms, too shaken to speak. She looked up to him, and her eyes widened in horror.
"Ling gege, you're bleeding!"
Blood trickled down his forehead, crimson against pale skin. Yao Zixian wiped it away with one hand and stroked her back gently with the other.
"Ah Ran, don't be afraid. It's nothing."
But Yao XinYue had had enough. She grabbed his hand and dragged him straight to their grandmother's courtyard.
When the matriarch saw her beloved granddaughter barging in, her peaceful afternoon tea was shattered. Her eyes fell on Yao Zixian's bloodied forehead, and her expression darkened.
Although this grandson of hers had a disgraceful background, he was still her grandson. Since Yao Zixian has taken the Yao surname, he is a descendant of the Yao family. To hurt him is to hurt the bloodline of the Yao family.
"Who did this to you?"
Before Yao Zixian or his mother could speak, Yao XinYue shouted.
"I saw it with my own eyes! Auntie was throwing things at him, Ling gege got hurt protecting me!"
Yao Zixian's mother rushed in behind them, her face twisted in false calm.
"I was only disciplining my son. Am I not allowed that right? Ah Ran, you're too young to understand. Ah Ling has always been disobedient-"
"There are ways to discipline a child. You have gone too far," the matriarch snapped.
"Mother-".
"Enough, I warned you before. Do it again, and you will be cast out. I don't care if you are my daughter."
Her daughter bit back a retort, lowered her head, and muttered, "Understood."
A physician was summoned. After examining Yao Zixian, he reported signs of long-term malnourishment and past injuries.
Furious, the matriarch ordered that Yao Zixian move into her own quarters to recover, where his mother could not reach him. Yao Zixian's mother tried to protest, but one glance from the matriarch silenced her.
"From then on," Yao XinYue said proudly to RenJie, "I went to Grandmother's place every day. Ling gege would always buy me snacks when we played."
RenJie, however, didn't take the bait. He had always competed with her for Yao Zixian's attention, but after hearing the story, his heart ached. He was not in the mood to bicker with her.
"You saved Zixian ge," he said quietly.
Yao XinYue's smugness faded into something softer. "We're siblings. I would do anything for Ling gege."
The heartfelt moment was gently broken by the soft thud of a parcel being placed on the table between them. Startled, both children looked up to see Yao Zixian standing there with a playful grin on his face.
"Look what I brought back today," he said as he began unwrapping the package with a flourish.
The aroma reached them before the contents were fully revealed. Their eyes lit up at the sight.
"Cake!" they exclaimed in unison.
"Not just any cake," Yao Zixian said proudly, puffing out his chest. "It's the famous cherry blossom cake from East Garden Pavilion."
He pushed the plate forward.
RenJie's heart swelled. Despite everything Yao Zixian had gone through, despite the pain, the abuse, and the loneliness, he had still grown into someone gentle, someone who thought of others. Someone kind.
Staring at him, RenJie couldn't hold it in.
"Zixian ge… you are really amazing," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper.
Yao Zixian froze, caught mid-motion. He blinked once, then chuckled as he reached out and ruffled RenJie's hair.
"It's that easy to win your praise, huh?" he teased. "If I'd known sooner, I would've brought back five boxes. Since you like it so much, eat more. It's all yours."
But his light teasing faltered when he caught sight of RenJie's eyes, red-rimmed and damp.
Zixian's smile faded. He turned toward Yao XinYue, frowning. "What did you say to him?"
She raised her hands in protest. "I didn't do anything!"
"You definitely said something. RenJie has a soft heart, stop bullying him."
"It's not Ran Jie's fault," RenJie quickly cut in, shaking his head. "I was the one who asked."
Yao XinYue nodded solemnly in agreement.
Yao Zixian looked at the two of them and sighed. "What's past is past. There's no need to keep turning over old wounds. Let it rest, and eat the cakes I nearly got into a fight to bring back."
RenJie nodded and picked up a slice. The soft sweetness of cherry blossom filled his mouth, but underneath it, a subtle bitterness lingered, like spring petals falling in the wind. Beautiful, fleeting, and tinged with sorrow.
As the three of them sat around the small table, the afternoon sun streamed in through the open window, casting golden shadows across the floor. The scent of cherry blossoms lingered in the air, mingling with laughter and crumbs.
For a moment, it felt like this small world of theirs was safe. Simple. Whole.
RenJie stole another glance at Yao Zixian, who was busy scolding Yao XinYue for stuffing her mouth too quickly. He memorized the curve of his smile, the warm light in his eyes, and the way he gently pushed another piece of cake toward him.
Zixian ge really was amazing.
RenJie didn't say anything more, but quietly vowed to become someone strong enough to protect Yao Zixian in the future.
Outside, the wind rustled the plum trees in the courtyard, and spring was here.