Chapter 59: Sunlight and Silk Ribbons

The morning light streamed gently through the gossamer curtains, draping the polished wooden floor with threads of gold. Birds chirped in the magnolia tree outside the courtyard, and the faint aroma of jasmine from the garden mingled with the steam of freshly brewed tea. It was the kind of morning that whispered rather than shouted—a soft prelude to the day.

Jia Lan opened her eyes to the gentle creak of the window shutter and the warmth of sunlight. She stretched slowly beneath the cotton quilt, blinking away sleep. It had been a full night's rest, the kind only possible in a house steeped in calm and care. She sat up, slipping her feet into her embroidered slippers, and reached for the silk robe hanging on a carved bamboo hook.

In the washroom, the polished mirror caught her reflection—flushed cheeks, smooth hair, bright eyes. The system's blessings over the past three months had not just helped her with studies but revitalized her entire being. From enhanced memory to generous finances and health supplements that kept her glowing, Jia Lan had slowly bloomed into the most graceful version of herself.

The next morning dawned golden and quiet, the kind of spring day that promised warmth without sweat and flowers without pollen. A soft breeze rustled the gauzy curtains of Jia Lan's room as she stirred from sleep, blinking up at the ceiling before stretching luxuriously beneath her embroidered quilt.

"Ah, another glorious day of being spoiled by fate," she murmured, lips quirking in a sleepy grin.

Her system dinged in her mind like a courteous butler.

[Daily Sign-In Reward: 500 yuan, Spring Floral Hairpin Set (x2), Soothing Health Tea Blend]

"Excellent. I shall now officially become the most stylish girl sipping health tea while dripping money."

Jia Lan reached for the peach-hued robe draped over her vanity. She tied it with practiced elegance, then opened the lacquered box from the system sitting beside her mirror. Inside nestled two exquisite floral hairpins—one soft pink peony, the other a bluebell bloom rendered in shimmering enamel and delicate silver.

She carefully twisted her hair up, securing it with the bluebell pin. With a satisfied nod to her reflection, she padded toward the wash basin, her robe trailing behind like a cloud.

Downstairs, the family had already begun to stir. The sounds of pots clinking and the faint aroma of freshly steamed mantou filled the air.

---

The long table was set in the sunny dining hall, bathed in golden morning light. Bowls of soy milk steamed alongside plates of scallion pancakes, pickled radishes, and soft boiled eggs. Grandmother Jia was already seated, adjusting her shawl while reading yesterday's newspaper.

"Good morning, Grandmother," Jia Lan greeted as she walked in, graceful as always.

"Lan Lan, your hairpin looks beautiful today," Grandmother Jia noted, eyes twinkling.

"It's spring," Jia Lan replied with a smile. "A girl must bloom too."

Mother Jia entered from the kitchen, carrying a tray with fresh peach preserves and smiled at the sight of her daughter. "Up early and glowing already. Did you put honey in your bath again?"

"Just inner peace," Jia Lan answered smoothly.

The kitchen buzzed with activity. Jia Wei was leaning over a basket of steamed buns, stealing a bite before being smacked gently on the arm by Xu Li, who was seated nearby with her swollen belly propped up comfortably. Jia Zhe, ever the attentive husband, crouched beside her, adjusting her footrest and offering a cup of warm milk.

Xu Li waddled in next, with Jia Zhe trailing close behind, carrying her cushion like a royal footman. "Honestly, ge," Jia Wei chuckled as he took his seat. "You're making the rest of us look bad."

"I'd carry the sun itself if it meant Xu Li stayed comfortable," Jia Zhe said calmly.

The table chuckled in appreciation.

"I just want to eat in peace," Xu Li muttered as she slowly sat. "And maybe not hear about gender preferences today."

"That woman's already gone," Mother Jia reassured her. "You're safe."

Yao Jing joined them last, rubbing her eyes. "Did I miss anything?"

"Only your chance to grab the flakiest pancake," Jia Lan teased.

Jia Lan set out dishes—steamed pork dumplings, shredded tofu in sesame oil, stir-fried radish leaves, and slices of sweet bean cake. She then brought out the honey she'd signed in two days ago.

"This," she announced, placing the small jar of golden honey in the center of the table, "is spring sunshine in edible form."

Father Jia tried it first. "Delicious. This is better than anything from the store."

Xu Li tasted a spoonful. "Perfect for tea and baby-safe too. Lan'er, you're a marvel."

"I do what I can," Jia Lan said, hiding her proud smirk.

Breakfast continued in warm banter, the table a lively buzz of overlapping stories, reminders, and familial warmth.

---

The Youth Arts Bureau, as always, wore its usual weekday hush. Jia Lan stepped into the wide corridor, her steps soft against the waxed wooden floor. A vase of plum blossoms decorated the entry table, its perfume mingling with the faint scent of paper and ink.

At the Youth Arts Bureau, the spring mood carried through the quiet office. Sunlight slanted through the tall windows, illuminating stacks of paper and half-completed watercolors drying on wire racks. Jia Lan walked in just as Wang Fei was adjusting the bulletin board.

"Morning, Comrade Jia," Sister Li called out from her desk, sorting calligraphy portfolios.

"Morning, Sister Li. You look especially radiant today. Is that a new brooch?"

"It is! My niece sent it from Shanghai. Plastic, but elegant!" She preened.

Jia Lan laughed and walked to her office, passing by Wang Fei, who was hunched over a stack of administrative papers. He looked up, offered a small nod. "You're early."

"I prefer the calm," Jia Lan replied, setting down her files. "The chaos waits for 10 o'clock."

"Or for Sister Zhao," Wang Fei added with a smirk.

As if summoned, Zhao Meiling appeared around the corner holding a tray of ink samples. "Who said my name?" she demanded.

Wang Fei pointed to his papers. "The work. Always blames you."

"Smart boy," Zhao Meiling huffed, then handed Jia Lan a sheet. "Review this flyer by noon, please. It's for the children's mural project."

Jia Lan smiled, taking it. "With pleasure."

The day drifted peacefully, the usual flow of tasks unfolding with no disruption. It was the kind of workday that whispered rather than shouted.

Returning home in the late afternoon, Jia Lan placed her satchel by her desk. The warm light of the setting sun painted her room in gold.

She pulled out the mock test paper set gifted by the system days ago. Her photographic memory perk had turned study into a pleasant challenge rather than a burden. The papers were printed in clean typeset, annotated with helpful tips.

"Let's see," she murmured, flipping to mathematics. "Quadratic equations... oh, my old friends. Let us duel once more."

Her pen glided across the page. Unlike the worn textbooks or confusing state-printed materials from the bureau, these papers were intuitive, almost elegant in design. The kind of material that made her laugh at how easy learning could be when explained properly.

"Should I thank the system or file a complaint for turning me into a nerd?" she mused, twirling her pen.

Hours passed gently. She paused only to sip the tea blend she'd brewed earlier—scented with osmanthus and honey, smooth and calming.

By dinnertime, she had completed one subject and already color-coded her plan for the rest of the week. Her inner voice, ever dramatic, whispered, "Ah yes, world domination one test paper at a time."

From outside, she heard Xu Li laughing softly. The smell of simmering lotus root soup drifted in. Jia Lan closed her notebook, stretching.

Peace, she thought. This is peace. And I will protect it fiercely.

She opened her notebook and began to write:

March 25th. The house is quiet again. The wind smells like plum blossoms. I passed another practice test. And the system gave me another chocolate bar. I'm beginning to think it really likes me.

She closed the book with a soft smile.

Tomorrow was a new day. Who knew what the system would send next?

But for now, she had her family, her dreams, and the kind of peace that made every little thing—tea, honey, or laughter—taste just a bit sweeter.