153: Chapter 153 When the Plums Ripen: Childhood Sweetheart Male Lead 31

Early winter was approaching, and cold mists were beginning to form. On this day, a fine drizzle was falling.

The rain in Suzhou was not as biting as that in the north; no matter the season, it always carried an intricate and delicate feel.

Early in the morning, outside Tingyu Pavilion.

Half-asleep, Nan Li heard a soft call coming from downstairs.

"Zhaoyu."

The voice was low and pleasant, cutting through the curtain of rain as if imbued with moisture.

Drowsily opening her eyes, Nan Li put on her slippers, walked to the second-floor window, and gently pushed open the carved wooden window.

A cool, crisp breath rushed toward her. In an instant, her gaze was locked onto the person downstairs, and all her sleepiness vanished.

Amidst the weaving fine rain, Meng Zhu stood quietly in front of the bluestone steps of Tingyu Pavilion.

He was holding a large, cyan long-handled umbrella.

Beneath the umbrella was an exquisitely tailored white vintage suit.

The fabric shimmered with subtle, dark cloud patterns, and the right shoulder featured a pattern of a black bamboo forest. The cut fit him perfectly, accentuating his tall and upright figure with broad shoulders and a narrow waist.

This outfit was extremely demanding on whoever wore it, requiring a specific temperament.

Yet worn by Meng Zhu, it brought out the noble elegance and scholarly refinement of an intellectual family to the absolute extreme.

Through the hazy threads of rain, Meng Zhu raised the edge of his umbrella, looking up at Nan Li by the second-floor window, his eyes dyed with a faint, gentle smile.

Nan Li dazed for a moment before suddenly remembering that she was still in her pajamas and unstyled, instantly panicking.

"Brother Courtesy Name, wait a moment for me!"

Recovering her senses with slightly warmed cheeks, she hurriedly dropped those words and closed the window.

While doing her makeup, Meng Zhu's outfit flashed through Nan Li's mind, completely filled with how he looked standing in the rain.

Thus, an indescribable little thought suddenly surged in her heart.

She pulled open her wardrobe and dug out a rarely worn white dark-velvet long cheongsam.

She usually wore split styles.

Wearing a long cheongsam like this naturally felt quite vintage, matching Meng Zhu's outfit perfectly.

Nan Li already had a great figure, and the cheongsam clung closely to her shape.

It vividly outlined her slender, palm-width waist and exquisite curves to the fullest.

Covering it with a moon-white cashmere cloak, the white fox fur at the collar made her palm-sized face look even more vibrant and delicate.

Finally, she slanted the gold-and-jade hairpin into her coiled bun.

When Nan Li pushed open the front door of Tingyu Pavilion, an unusual brilliance flashed in Meng Zhu's eyes.

She looked like a wealthy young lady stepping out of old times—elegant and noble, yet soul-stirringly captivating.

"Let's go."

Meng Zhu's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. With two umbrellas—one cyan and one purple—they walked out side by side.

The car ride was not far, and in the blink of an eye, they arrived at Yuxiang Mountain.

The two walked up the mountain on the bluestone slab path, surrounded by swirling clouds and mists in quiet serenity.

Along the way, there was no teasing, only occasional casual chats and exchanged smiles.

In the drizzling rain, there was an upright and scholarly young master, and a delicate, gentle young lady.

Their figures were elongated on the bluestone steps, as if spanning a century of time.

[Did you guys take pictures?]

[If this were used as a phone wallpaper, it would be simply stunning!]

[It's no longer just about a handsome guy and a beautiful girl; it's a match made in heaven!]

[Nan Li is really growing up, actually dressing up and styling herself deliberately in front of Meng Zhu.]

[That's right, a woman dresses up for the one who pleases her.]

Leaving aside the screen-licking bullet comments.

Walking for about twenty minutes, the two stopped in front of a large courtyard gate halfway up the mountain.

On the plaque with gold characters on a black background above the courtyard gate, four large characters were written in a flourishing cursive style— "Zhuoyu Studio".

Few people knew that this was the most mysterious place of Zhuoyu Company.

It specialized in the world's top artificial jade carvings, jade engravings, jade ornaments, and gold jewelry.

Presiding inside was the technological treasure of the Meng Family's main lineage.

And Zhuoyu Company was precisely one of the foundations of the main lineage, as well as private property passed down from generation to generation among the legitimate eldest sons.

Just as the two walked to the entrance, a middle-aged man dressed in a Tang suit welcomed them out.

His face was full of smiles. As he stepped forward, his gaze brushed against their attire, which made them look like a match made in jade, and a trace of awe involuntarily flashed across his eyes.

Immediately after, his line of sight caught the gold-and-jade hairpin on Nan Li's bun.

A Match Made in Heaven.

This was the name of that hairpin.

The man's pupils suddenly shrank, and he lowered his head in fluster.

"Young Master, You..."

"Ahem, Uncle Zhao."

Meng Zhu's tone was very polite, but his gaze was very sharp.

"Have the things I instructed you about in advance been arranged?"

Glanced at by that gaze, Uncle Zhao's thoughts stalled.

He remembered the instructions given in the chat group: today's visitor was Miss Zhaoyu, not the Young Madam...

Yet he couldn't help looking at Nan Li's hairpin again, a layer of cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

He changed his words extremely quickly, bowing respectfully.

"Young Master Courtesy Name, Miss Zhaoyu, everything has been arranged. Master Lin has been waiting for a long time; please follow me."

Nan Li cast a suspicious glance at Uncle Zhao. She knew of Yuxiang Mountain's existence, but she had never been here before.

Yet today she always felt that this middle-aged man's gaze towards her carried an indescribable awe.

However, she didn't think much of it and followed Meng Zhu across the threshold.

The interior decoration of Zhuoyu Studio was somewhat vintage, yet understated luxury.

The air was permeated with a faint scent of sandalwood and the unique cool, crisp aura of jade. The group walked all the way to the reception room like this.

Pushing open the door, they saw a person.

Nearing sixty, slightly plump in build, with a peaceful complexion.

His graying beard was not long, neatly trimmed, and his brows and eyes carried a smile.

"Uncle Lin."

"Courtesy Name, is this Miss Zhaoyu?"

As soon as they entered, Meng Zhu nodded in greeting, but Lin Songnian didn't even look at him, instantly locking his gaze onto Nan Li.

With a smile on his lips, Meng Zhu gently patted Nan Li's shoulder.

Nan Li understood; clearly, this person was a genuine uncle-figure, not just a polite title.

Thus, she also spoke up following Meng Zhu.

"Hello Uncle Lin, I am Zhaoyu."

"Good, good, come over and sit."

The few of them sat by the tea table to make small talk, and Nan Li obediently brewed tea out of habit.

Before they had spoken two sentences, Meng Zhu's phone rang; it was a matter regarding the company.

He raised his eyebrows slightly and turned to say to Nan Li.

"Zhaoyu, go ahead with Uncle Lin with peace of mind. I'll come pick you up later."

"Okay."

Nan Li nodded obediently. Before coming, Meng Zhu had told her that today's purpose was to come carve jade.

"Uncle Lin, then I'll have to trouble you."

Before leaving, his gaze signaled the hairpin on Nan Li's head, and he turned around, pulling the carved wooden door shut.

Lin Songnian had previously received the news. When Meng Zhu said Zhaoyu was coming to carve jade, he had asked a couple more questions.

Learning that the two had not yet confessed their feelings to each other, he instantly felt a bit disdainful of Meng Zhu.

Now seeing him signal the hairpin, he completely ignored it.

He knew what Meng Zhu meant: don't let slip about the hairpin.

But what kind of person was Lin Songnian?

Having laid down his carving knife for nearly ten years, nowadays he only did work for the Meng Family's main lineage.

Even if he didn't say it explicitly, he was going to drop a subtle hint.

So he looked at Nan Li with a smiling face.

"Zhaoyu, come, follow me to the studio."

Upon arrival, Lin Songnian took out two special sheets of paper from a rosewood box.

This paper was extremely thick and stiff, its surface even shimmering with fine gold flakes, and it felt exceptionally good to the touch.

"Uncle Lin, what is this?"

"This is specially made gold-flecked hard xuan paper, used specifically for making seal drafts."

Lin Songnian spread the paper on the desk and handed over a wolf-hair brush fully saturated with Hui ink.

"Come, write down two names."

He pointed to the first sheet of paper.

"On the first one, write 'Nan Li'."

He paused, the smile at the corners of his mouth deepening.

"On this second one, write 'Nanshi Zhaoyu'."

Only then did Nan Li suddenly understand.

So carving jade meant carving a seal.

But why did he suddenly bring her here to make a jade seal?

Unable to figure it out, she stopped thinking about it.

She lifted her brush and focused. Since childhood, she had been trained by her grandfather alongside Meng Zhu.

Although she hadn't practiced for a long time, her small regular script in hairpin style remained delicate and dignified.

"Good, fine calligraphy."

While Lin Songnian picked up the paper to scrutinize it, Nan Li propped up her chin.

Looking at Lin Songnian, she muttered softly, unintentionally.

"I wonder why Brother Courtesy Name suddenly brought me here to make a jade seal."

Lin Songnian's hand paused slightly.

He raised his head to look at the pretty girl, then looked at the hairpin, his eyes rolling thoughtfully.

"Lass, this hairpin of yours is very pretty. Does it have a name?"

Nan Li was stunned, subconsciously touching the gold-and-jade hairpin.

"I don't know. It was a gift from Brother Courtesy Name, and I also think it's very pretty."

Lin Songnian smiled enigmatically and said softly:

"In the ancestry of the Meng Family, there is also an heirloom gold-and-jade hairpin. I wonder if you've ever seen it."