Chapter 60: Morning Grace and Quiet Resolve

Sunlight filtered through the gauzy curtains, painting soft golden stripes across Jia Lan's room. The chirping of morning birds blended with the faint clatter of breakfast preparations in the kitchen downstairs. Jia Lan stretched in her bed, savoring the brief moment of stillness before the day unfolded.

She slid off the mattress and padded over to the basin stand, dipping her hands into the cool water. Her morning routine was a small ceremony of grace—one she had cultivated to appear just as refined as the elite young lady she was expected to be.

After cleansing her face, she applied a light dab of rosewater and tied her hair into a neat low bun with a silk ribbon dyed pale jade. Her outfit for the day was thoughtfully chosen: a high-collared cream blouse with delicate embroidery of plum blossoms along the sleeves, tucked into a long pleated navy skirt that swayed with every step. She added a thin woolen shawl over her shoulders, woven with silver threads, to keep the spring chill at bay. On her feet, soft cotton socks and black embroidered shoes completed the ensemble. Her accessories were minimal—a pair of pearl drop earrings and a jade bangle gifted by her grandmother.

As she looked into the mirror, she smiled faintly. Outwardly composed, inwardly chaotic—that was the life she lived. And today, like every other day, she would carry both faces with practiced ease.

The dining hall was already lively when Jia Lan arrived.

Xu Li sat at the table in her soft morning robes, her eight-month belly gently rounded beneath her layers. Jia Zhe hovered nearby, placing cushions behind her back and setting a warm bowl of millet porridge by her side.

"Zhe-ge," Xu Li chided with a helpless smile, "I'm pregnant, not porcelain."

"You're porcelain with value," he replied calmly. "And I'd rather be careful than regretful."

Mother Jia laughed softly from her seat. "Let him fuss. A husband like that is a blessing."

Jia Wei walked in next, ruffling his damp hair with a towel. "If Xu Li is porcelain, then I must be made of rock. I didn't even get hot water for my tea this morning!"

Yao Jing, bringing in a plate of scallion pancakes, rolled her eyes. "You didn't ask. If I served you like Zhe-ge serves Xu Li, your ego would triple in size."

Grandfather Jia cleared his throat with amusement. "It already has."

Laughter rang out. The table was laid beautifully—mantou stacked high in a bamboo basket, sliced salted duck eggs, pickled radish, and a light tofu stew. The kitchen aunt had also made spring vegetable dumplings, fragrant with chive and mushrooms.

Jia Lan poured herself a bowl of soy milk, her elegant fingers steady. She took her time eating, listening to her family's cheerful bickering like one might enjoy the soft rhythm of a favorite song.

"Lanlan," Mother Jia said, setting down her chopsticks, "you've been glowing more than usual. What's your secret?"

Jia Lan smiled mysteriously. "Good food, better tea, and no unnecessary stress."

Grandmother Jia raised an eyebrow. "That sounds like system-level wisdom."

Jia Lan coughed into her soy milk. "Just…studious girl logic, Nai Nai."

Xu Li giggled. "Well, it's working."

Just then, Jia Wei's eyes narrowed. "Speaking of studying, are you still reading those thick books before bed? I passed your room last night and the lamp was on well after midnight."

"I finished the last section of modern history," Jia Lan admitted lightly. "And yes, I'm officially done with high school content."

Mother Jia blinked in surprise. "Already?"

"Thanks to a little...natural talent," Jia Lan said, waving a hand. "Now, I'll be focusing on mock tests."

"That's my little sister," Jia Wei declared proudly. "Beauty and brains."

"Brains come first," Yao Jing interjected, "so she doesn't end up with a brother like you."

Everyone chuckled again.

---

Later That Morning – Youth Arts Bureau

The warm glow of early light poured through the Bureau's tall windows, spilling across tidy stacks of posters and crisp files. Jia Lan sat behind her desk, sipping chrysanthemum tea while she reviewed the revised event calendar.

Wang Fei passed by with a quiet nod, dropping off a neat envelope. "New printing approvals," he said gently. "Director Xu is pleased with your spring layout. Again."

Jia Lan raised an eyebrow playfully. "He says that every season."

"Because you make his job easy."

Before she could respond, Sister Li leaned in from the hallway. "Little Jia, come pick the fabric for next month's youth art uniforms. You have the best taste!"

Jia Lan smiled as she rose. "I've been waiting to save us from the horrors of khaki."

As she followed Sister Li, Wang Fei watched her for a moment—his gaze thoughtful, but unreadable. Then he turned back to his tasks, expression calm.

---

That Evening – Home Again

After returning home, Jia Lan carried her tea to the study and sat by the sunny window. Her system chimed softly, invisible to all but her.

> 📜 Check-in complete.

🎁 Reward: "Mock Exam Paper Set - Level: Elite," and

🧧 Bonus: 2,000 yuan + gourmet Swiss chocolate (assorted).

Jia Lan blinked. "Wow. That's...unexpectedly luxurious."

She reached for the stack of system-generated mock papers on her desk—complete with annotations, answer keys, and difficulty scaling. No courier, no package, just there, instantly as always.

With a grin, she unwrapped the first piece of chocolate and popped it into her mouth.

"It's good to be me," she whispered.

She had now completed all the high school content in record time, aided by the system's enhanced memory boost. It was effortless. Her brain felt like an open river—everything flowed and stayed.

With a deep breath, she opened the first mock test and began.

The window breeze was gentle. The blossoms outside swayed.

Inside, a girl reborn studied with calm ferocity, the faint taste of chocolate still on her tongue, and victory in her eyes.

The house fell into a hush after dinner. Xu Li had retired early, gently coaxed into bed by Jia Zhe. Grandmother Jia was reading on the veranda, glasses perched low on her nose, while Grandfather Jia fiddled with the old radio, trying to catch a performance of Peking opera.

In her own room, Jia Lan sat on her bed, brushing out her long hair slowly. Her vanity mirror caught the golden flicker of the lantern light, reflecting her calm expression. A steaming cup of peppermint tea sat nearby, its aroma soothing.

She flipped through her mock test booklet one more time, not to study, but simply out of habit. Satisfied, she placed it neatly back in the drawer.

"Enough for today," she murmured. "Can't conquer the world in one night."

Stretching, she rose to close her window, pausing to breathe in the cool spring air. The scent of blooming jasmine reached her nose, and far away, someone was still playing a flute—a lingering melody that tugged at memory.

Jia Lan smiled and turned away, slipping beneath the quilt. As she settled in, the system chimed once more.

She hugged her pillow close. Her thoughts wandered—Xu Li's brave smiles, her family's steady love, her own silent victories. This life was becoming more than survival. It was full.

And in that full, beautiful quiet, Jia Lan drifted into sleep—safe, strong, and certain the best was yet to come.