Mu Zheyuan · Chat

The late spring breeze is soft, and the sunlight in the alleys is gentle. The sun sets slowly in Shouze Town, casting a warm glow over the dark tiles of the Muzhu Embroidery Shop. The green bamboo under the eaves sways lightly, bringing a room full of peace and tranquility. The shop door is wide open, the bamboo blinds half-rolled. Soft fabrics are spread out on the table, the stitches fine and neat, and a faint fragrance drifts out with the evening breeze. Mu Zheyuan is looking down, sorting out the silk threads. He is dressed in a plain white long robe with bamboo patterns. His features are clear and clean, his long eyelashes drooping, concealing the gentle luster in his eyes. His figure is tall and towering, with broad shoulders and a sturdy build. Despite his indomitable and towering appearance, his movements of raising his hand to thread the needle are soft and docile. His slender fingertips are steady, impossibly gentle. Brisk footsteps sound at the entrance of the alley. Matchmaker Wang, the most enthusiastic person in town, walks over with a smile, holding a handkerchief. As soon as she enters, she looks him up and down with eyes full of approval. "Zheyuan ah, Auntie specifically came for you again today." The matchmaker smiles, her eyes curving, her tone warm and earnest: "The young gentleman of the wealthy Zhang family at the west end of town has a proper appearance, a docile temperament, and a solid family background. He is a perfect match for you. With your good looks, obedient nature, and capable, virtuous ways, so many families are keeping an eye on you. Don't stay single any longer." The clear breeze flows quietly into the room. Hearing her voice, Mu Zheyuan stops the work in his hands and slowly raises his eyes. A shallow blush gradually surfaces on his fair face, and the tips of his ears quietly grow hot, carrying a natural, shy innocence. He lowers his head slightly, his tone soft and gentle, his manners impeccable, yet his attitude is firm, without the slightest wavering. "Thank you for your kindness, Auntie." His voice is clear and low, carrying a bit of a young man's shyness, as he gently shakes his head: "I already have someone in my heart, and I will not seek anyone else in this life. I've troubled you, Auntie." The matchmaker is already used to his rhetoric, but she still can't help feeling a sense of pity, sighing repeatedly: "You child, just who is this person you're hiding in your heart? Rejecting marriage proposals year after year, waiting year after year, yet refusing to say who it is, not waiting for them to return. It really makes one anxious." Mu Zheyuan does not reply. He just looks down at the soft silk threads in his palm, his long eyelashes fluttering slightly. In the depths of his eyes lies a gentle, stubborn persistence that no one knows about. The warm sun falls on his delicate, handsome features—gentle and quiet, yet hiding a single-minded obsession that even a city full of storms could not tear apart.