Chapter 103: Are You Trying to Pursue Me?

Chapter 103: Chapter 103: Are You Trying to Pursue Me?

Standing outside the door was Song Jing.

Ji Huan was surprised, but at the same time, not entirely.

"Wait for me a moment."

Before he could speak, Ji Huan rushed back into the courtyard, took the copy of *Selected Works of the Times* from the bookshelf in her room, ran back to the main gate, and handed it to Song Jing.

"I’ve been busy lately. I just finished copying this in the last couple of days. I hope I didn’t delay you."

Song Jing took it, tucked the lantern under his arm, and casually flipped through it.

"No delay..." He stared at the script in the book, which was completely different from her usual style. His expression was hard to make out, but his voice held a hint of pleasure. "This is very thoughtful of you."

Ji Huan knew what he meant, but she said nonchalantly, "I use this script for the books I copy for the bookshop too. If the style is too unique, customers will have a hard time just reading the words, let alone paying for it."

The touched feeling in Song Jing’s heart came to an abrupt halt. He sounded a bit helpless. "Why must you tell the truth? Can’t you just let people think well of you for a little longer?"

’And let me think I was, at least, a little special to you.’

"Nope." Ji Huan waved her hand dismissively. "It’s a small business. We operate with integrity, honest with young and old alike."

’She was in it for the money, not to curry favor. If she wanted everyone to praise her, she might as well write in her own blood.’

"You... Sigh."

Song Jing didn’t know what to say. He then remembered his real reason for coming.

He took a long, thin box from his sleeve and handed it to Ji Huan. "This is for you."

’A thank-you gift for real?’ Ji Huan took it doubtfully.

’I really want to tell him not to bother. This back-and-forth of thank-yous is too much trouble.’

’But saying that would make me seem ungrateful.’

The box was long and thin. She opened it, and inside lay an object shaped like a hairpin.

Ji Huan took it in her hand to examine it closely. The hairpin was made of wood, but it was polished very smooth. The body wasn’t perfectly straight; it had a slight curve. The top seemed to be carved with some kind of flower.

"It’s a crabapple blossom. I noticed that on the last page of the books you copy, you always draw one of these flowers as your mark, so I..." Song Jing explained, his voice a little awkward.

It was customary to place a mark in an inconspicuous spot on books copied for the bookshop. That way, if there were any problems, the person responsible could be easily identified.

Ji Huan nodded. She did quite like crabapple blossoms, but...

"Are you trying to court me?"

She looked up at Song Jing and suddenly blurted this out.

After giving her the gift, Song Jing had been forcing himself to look calm, but his heart was actually beating a little fast. So when he heard her words, he didn’t react right away.

"Court you? Why would I court you..."

"Uh, never mind."

The moment the words left her mouth, Ji Huan realized how inappropriate the question was.

’This isn’t the era I came from. Whether Song Jing understands what "court" means or not, and whether his response was a question or a denial, I’m not going to repeat myself.’

’Besides, I’m probably just overthinking it.’

’Song Jing looks so calm. He’s not even blushing, and his eyes look rather serious. How is that the face of someone about to confess their feelings?’

’She knew how these things were supposed to go.’

’In a typical confession scene, the male lead pulls out a token of his affection, looking either deeply emotional or completely flustered. A shy blush is a must, and you should practically be able to hear his heart pounding through the screen...’

’But look at this. It’s a dark and windy night, a cold breeze is blowing, and the two of us are standing here talking so formally. There are no romantic pink bubbles at all. It’s more like two members of a criminal gang making a secret rendezvous.’

Ji Huan was instantly relieved. ’I thought giving a hairpin in ancient times was always a token of love.’

She closed the box, gave it a little shake at him, and said with a sense of relief, "Thanks."

Seeing her accept it, Song Jing’s tightly clenched fists slowly relaxed, then tensed up again. "Do you l-like it?"

Ji Huan nodded without hesitation. "I like it a lot."

’She hadn’t owned a single piece of jewelry this whole time. At first, she couldn’t afford it, and later, it never even occurred to her to buy any.’

’This was probably related to her profession and habits from her past life. And while she liked gold and silver, she wasn’t particularly fond of wearing things made of them on her head.’

’A wooden hairpin is so much better. The dark material, the simple and elegant design... there’s a certain graceful, rustic charm to its unadorned simplicity.’

"As long as you like it." Song Jing’s ears felt hot. He figured they must have turned red, but thankfully, it was too dark for Ji Huan to see.

"My purse is a bit light right now, so I couldn’t buy you anything better. I had to make this myself..."

"Wait!" Ji Huan cut him off. "You made this yourself?"

When Song Jing nodded, Ji Huan looked at him in disbelief. She immediately took the hairpin out again, examining it over and over while clucking her tongue in admiration.

"Not bad, Song Jing! I never knew you had this kind of skill. If you don’t pass the exam..."

She made a few spitting sounds and quickly cut herself off.

’I almost said he could be a carpenter if he fails to become a Scholar. Isn’t that just cursing him with bad luck?’

Song Jing had already guessed what she was about to say and just smiled, unconcerned. "I was thinking the same thing. If I don’t pass, I’ll open a shop in town to support my family."

"No, no, no, what I just said doesn’t count. You’ll definitely pass this time."

Ji Huan felt a little embarrassed, but she also gained a new appreciation for Song Jing’s clear-headedness.

’His willingness to open a shop in town if he fails... that alone makes him so much better than those who fail exam after exam but keep trying, knowing nothing but how to study, and dragging their whole family down with them.’

’Those are the ones who truly fit the saying, "a scholar is good for nothing."’

"But what if I really don’t pass?" Song Jing pressed, his tone sounding like a joke, but with a hint of seriousness.

Ji Huan had intended to offer some platitudes, like saying it was impossible for him to fail and that he was sure to pass this time.

But when her eyes met Song Jing’s, she suddenly changed her mind.

’If someone is genuinely seeking advice, then she should respond with equal sincerity.’

"So what if you don’t pass? It’s not the end of the world. Life isn’t just about the imperial examinations. True, the exams are the fastest way for a humble scholar to climb the ladder, but it’s like an army of thousands trying to cross a single-plank bridge. Victory is admirable and wonderful, but you don’t have to die if you fail, right? They say there are three hundred and sixty professions, but the paths you can choose are countless. Whether you’re serving in the grand halls of the court or living in the remote mountains, whether you become a top official or a simple village carpenter, isn’t the important thing just to live your life well?"

Ji Huan finished her speech, thinking that Song Jing must be stressed about the upcoming exam and that it would be good to help him relax.

But when she was done, Song Jing didn’t react for a long time.

Ji Huan’s heart began to pound. ’Did my words fail to comfort him? Did I just make things worse?’

"Um... Actually, ’an army of thousands’ is a bit of an exaggeration. The odds are better than crossing a single-plank bridge..."

Suddenly, Song Jing laughed.

It wasn’t his previous distant, polite smile, nor was it a faint, unintentional twitch of his lips. He laughed out loud, a sound full of relief and clarity.

Ji Huan didn’t interrupt him. She even felt a little emotional.

’They say the college entrance exams can drive you crazy, and medical school can make you stupid. She’d been through both, so she was something of an expert. She could really understand how this junior of hers, Song Jing, was feeling.’

"Thank you. I’m very happy today." Song Jing stopped laughing and pointed to the box in Ji Huan’s hand. "I’m glad you don’t mind it. When my circumstances improve, I’ll give you something better... as thanks for what you said today."

"Don’t. This one is perfect. I don’t need anything better," Ji Huan refused without a second thought.

’She only accepted the hairpin because it was made of wood. She wouldn’t have taken it if it were gold or silver.’

’A gift that valuable would be too much pressure, not to mention... what if he then asked her for another "thank-you" gift in return...’

At that thought, Ji Huan grew wary.