A Courtyard Full of Rare Medicinal Herbs

The next day, Ji Chuxing was invited by Zhou Sixue to a barbecue at her house. Bo Yanchen drove her there.

The young girl had obviously been up late doing something, as she looked like she hadn't gotten enough sleep. He had woken up in the middle of the night and noticed that there was still light coming from her room. If he hadn't caught her, he suspected she might have stayed up all night.

When they arrived, Ji Chuxing slowly came to, her disheveled hair sticking up. It seemed like she didn't know where she was. It was rare to see the usually sharp girl so dazed, and Bo Yanchen found it rather endearing.

So, Master Bo reached out and pinched her cheek. Ji Chuxing snapped out of her daze and stared at him expressionlessly. It seemed like she could punch him right off the car with a single blow. But Bo Yanchen knew his Star Ji wouldn't hit him, especially since he was still recovering.

Without any hesitation, he smoothed down her unruly hair, "Have fun with your classmates. Call me when you want to go home."

Ji Chuxing yawned and grabbed a box of milk tablets from the small compartment, popping two into her mouth before getting out of the car. "Got it."

Bo Yanchen watched her walk away, smiling, before driving off. Zhou Sixue's house was in the old residential area of Nan City. The neighborhood was a bit of a maze, and Ji Chuxing had to make a couple of turns before finding the right place. Even before she got close, she could hear Wu Hao's loud voice and the aroma of the barbecue wafting through the air.

She didn't even need to check the address; she just followed the smell to find Zhou Sixue's house. It was an old but well-kept courtyard, nestled deep in the alley. The houses here were mostly independent courtyards, each with its own charm.

As soon as Ji Chuxing approached the gate, she was spotted.

"Ji Goddess, you're here!" Zhou Sixue, holding a skewer of chicken wings, her face flushed with excitement, greeted her. "I was just about to look for you. Here, just grilled, have some!"

Ji Chuxing took the skewer without hesitation and praised it, "Delicious!"

Zhou Sixue beamed, "Let me grill more for you. You just eat. I'm really good at this!"

A group of people emerged from inside, "Ji Goddess, you finally made it!"

Ji Chuxing wasn't late; Zhao Feifei and Wu Hao had arrived early. The group of teenagers were running around the yard like wild horses. This was the first time Ji Chuxing met Zhou Sixue's mother.

Mrs. Zhou was a very gentle and elegant woman who looked much younger than her age. She kept the house and yard impeccably clean and organized. The eastern part of the yard was a lush garden and vegetable patch, with flowers blooming in the greenhouse.

"Sixue, is this Miss Ji?" Mrs. Zhou asked, looking at Ji Chuxing warmly.

Ji Chuxing nodded, her face still expressionless but polite, "Hello."

Mrs. Zhou smiled gently, "Thank you for everything. Sixue never tells me these things, but rest assured, we will take legal action against Mo Xue'er."

Ji Chuxing nodded, "If you need anything, let me know."

Mrs. Zhou was taken aback but then smiled, "You kids have fun. If you need anything, just tell Auntie, and I'll get it for you."

Zhou Sixue chimed in, "Mom, Ji Goddess likes milk tea."

Mrs. Zhou laughed, "I'll make it for you personally."

The yard was lively again, and Ji Chuxing didn't need to do anything. Zhou Sixue was busy, cutting fruits and grilling food for her. Perfectly suited for the lazy Ji Chuxing, who ate her fill and wandered around the garden and greenhouse with a skewer in hand.

Amidst the barbecue aroma, she detected a unique, fresh scent near the greenhouse. Zhou Sixue saw her standing there, "Ji Goddess, do you want to see? These are the flowers my mom grows."

Her mom had no other hobbies but gardening. Without waiting for a response, Zhou Sixue pulled her inside.

"These are all my mom's. If you like them, you can pick some to take home."

Ji Chuxing stood in front of a vibrant green flower, touching its dewy bud. The flower resembled a lily but wasn't one. Its fragrance was strong but contained within ten meters.

Zhou Sixue explained, "This is the Emerald Orchid. It's very fragrant and can last a month. Do you like it, Ji Goddess? Pick some to take home!"

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

But Ji Chuxing knew it wasn't called the Emerald Orchid. Its true name was a code: SY-97356-LK. A rare medicinal herb, unlikely to be found in an old residential area. Including the other flowers in the greenhouse, like the pale yellow chrysanthemum, which wasn't actually a chrysanthemum.

Ji Chuxing gently touched the cool, jade-like petals. Pleased with the compliment, Zhou Sixue said, "These are expensive and hard to grow. But my mom can. They sell for a lot, but I'll give you some if you like them."

"Thank you."

"No problem. They're easy to care for. Just put them in a vase. I'll give you more when these wilt."

Ji Chuxing spent some time in the greenhouse, enjoying the comfortable temperature and the many blooming flowers. Many of them were unfamiliar to Zhou Sixue, but she found them pretty. Soon, others joined, admiring the flowers.

Mrs. Zhou brought out freshly brewed milk tea, pleased to see everyone enjoying her flowers. "Take some with you when you leave."

"Thank you, Auntie."

"You're welcome, glad you like them."

As the sun set, Ji Chuxing and the others left. Only Ji Chuxing and Zhao Feifei took flowers, while the boys declined. Mrs. Zhou had thoughtfully wrapped the flowers, and Zhao Feifei cherished hers, making Mrs. Zhou even happier.

Bo Yanchen was waiting outside the alley. He was surprised to see Ji Chuxing with a large bouquet. He glanced and teased, "Who gave you those, Star Ji? Did someone confess to you today?"

Ji Chuxing gave him a flat look and got into the car, "Only someone from the last century would think that way."

Bo Yanchen blinked, "What? You're calling me old-fashioned?"

Ji Chuxing didn't respond. Bo Yanchen chuckled, tapping her forehead, "Don't think I don't understand. Star Ji, you're calling me old-fashioned."

Ji Chuxing glared, "You said it yourself."

Bo Yanchen laughed, "Alright, I said it. It's not Star Ji's fault. But you were thinking it, weren't you?"

Ji Chuxing rolled her eyes, "Are you being unreasonable?"

The driver, Fang He, couldn't help but snicker. Back home, Ji Chuxing found a flower vase and placed the Emerald Orchids in Bo Yanchen's room.

Bo Yanchen sighed, "Now I'll smell like flowers whenever I go out. Is that appropriate, Star Ji?"

Ji Chuxing put away the spray bottle and handed him a green bottle, "Here, use this. It masks the smell."

Master Bo looked at the bottle, "..."