The sun filtered softly through gauzy curtains, draping golden warmth over the polished camphorwood floors of the Jia family home. The tranquility of the elite neighborhood was undisturbed—birds chirped outside in the courtyard, and the scent of rosewood, old books, and osmanthus floated gently through the halls. It was a slow, unhurried morning, the kind where time moved like warm molasses.
On a chaise by the open lattice window, Jia Lan sat in a pale cotton robe embroidered with tiny plum blossoms. Her skin was porcelain-smooth, glowing softly in the light, as if kissed by morning dew. Her long black hair fell in graceful waves, untouched by curlers or combs, yet naturally elegant.
Even in stillness, she emanated an aura of poised refinement—an effect of her system's earlier rewards.
> ✨ Reward Log:
Day 1: Skin Like Porcelain — Graceful Glow (Permanent)
Day 2: Elegant Temperament Aura (Permanent)
There was no need for makeup, no need to posture. She was like a pearl resting quietly in velvet—subtle, but impossible to overlook.
A soft knock at the carved wooden door interrupted her quiet contemplation.
"Lan'er, are you awake?" Lin Shunhua's warm, lilting voice came from the hallway.
"Yes, Mama. Come in."
Her mother entered with the maid Xiao Qin, who carried a basin of warm water steeped in rose petals. Lin Shunhua, ever the epitome of grace, wore a light celadon housecoat with white piping, her hair pulled back in a simple twist. Her elegance was effortless, cultivated through decades of refinement.
"You didn't sleep poorly, did you?" she asked gently, sitting beside her daughter and brushing a lock of hair behind her ear.
"No, Mama," Jia Lan said, smiling faintly. "I was too comfortable."
Lin Shunhua chuckled. "Good. Your second brother wanted to inspect the bureau himself, you know. Said he didn't trust anyone else to check the arrangements."
Jia Lan raised a brow. "Is he starting a private investigation unit?"
"Your father had to stop him from marching there last night," her mother said fondly, shaking her head.
A soft laugh came from the hallway as Jia Ruiyu entered in a fitted periwinkle qipao with hand-embroidered cranes. Behind her, Xiao Qin reappeared with a breakfast tray.
"Already trying to charm the workplace, aren't we?" Ruiyu teased as she sat beside Jia Lan. "Our little lotus blooming before sunrise."
"Sister, if you keep praising me, I'll float off into the clouds."
"You're already halfway there."
The air was filled with warmth and quiet affection as the family gathered. Breakfast was light yet refined—congee with red dates, salted duck eggs, delicate steamed buns, and preserved lotus root. The table setting was simple but elegant, just like the household that prepared it.
Jia Chenghai, passing by in his gray tunic uniform, stopped at the doorway.
"Lan'er," he said in his deep, commanding tone, "remember, if anyone mistreats you—even slightly—speak up. We're not sending our daughter into the world to be stepped on."
"I know, Baba," Jia Lan replied sweetly. "I'll keep my eyes open."
Soon, even Xu Li and Yao Jing peeked in. Xu Li wore a dark green blouse with a smart collar, her short hair set perfectly. Yao Jing, on the other hand, arrived in her usual bright prints, full of noise and color.
"Keep your chin up," Xu Li advised, gently fixing a pin in Jia Lan's hair. "Smile, but not too much. You're a Jia daughter, not a street performer."
"And if anyone bullies you, just say the word," Yao Jing added, arms crossed. "I'll bring pickled radish and shame them into silence."
"Jing-jie, that might be more terrifying than helpful," Jia Lan laughed.
Even Madam Qiao Meiyun, her stately grandmother, emerged from the sunroom in a neatly pressed tunic and cane in hand.
"You look proper," she declared after inspecting her. "Remember: You're not there to serve tea. You're representing our household."
"Yes, Grandma."
When Jia Lan stepped out the front door, a quiet procession of relatives trailed behind her like a royal send-off. Outside the courtyard gates, the Jia family's black Shanghai-brand sedan waited.
"Your grandfather insisted on sending you by car," Lin Shunhua said. "He doesn't like the idea of you jostling about on the tram."
Jia Lan simply smiled. She knew this was just their way of showing love.
As the car rolled past the ivy-covered walls of the neighborhood, whispers floated through the air.
"I heard Jia Lan is starting work today."
"She's even more elegant than her mother."
"Didn't she just recover from illness? How is she glowing like that?"
But Jia Lan remained composed, head held high. Her Elegant Temperament Aura made it easy.
---
The Youth Arts Bureau was a solid, red-brick building surrounded by iron fencing and carefully pruned shrubs. A relic of post-revolution function, it stood dignified, quiet, and somehow slightly intimidating.
> ✨ Check-In System Activated!
Location Detected: Youth Arts Bureau
✅ Day 3 Reward Unlocked:
Artistic Insight + Steady Hand – Enhances creative intuition and hand precision (Permanent)
A gentle tingle spread through her fingertips. Jia Lan blinked as her perception subtly sharpened. Her gaze lingered a moment longer on color contrasts, lines, and texture. Everything seemed more... harmonious.
"Interesting," she murmured under her breath. "That might be useful."
Inside, a uniformed clerk guided her through the entrance.
"Comrade Jia Lan? You're assigned to the Materials and Exhibition Office, third floor. The stairwell's on the left."
"Thank you."
The stairwell creaked as she ascended. The walls were lined with yellowed posters—some revolutionary slogans, some brightly colored art pieces from prior youth exhibitions. The scent of ink, paper, and aged wood permeated the corridor.
On the third floor, she adjusted her blouse slightly, took a breath, and walked in.
The office quieted at her arrival.
She stood at the entrance, soft-spoken but composed. "Hello, I'm Jia Lan. Reporting for work."
The clerk nodded briskly. "You'll be helping with design layouts, poster preparation, and record filing."
As she stepped further inside, all eyes lingered for a moment—on her smooth, glowing skin, her calm gaze, and her poised demeanor.
No one said anything outright, but it was clear they were curious.
She smiled softly, as if unaware of the attention, and took her seat quietly.
Even on her first day, Jia Lan didn't need to announce herself.
The air around her did it for her.