The Bai family has a house rule: When you're out and about, only say what can be said.
Her father made it when he was a censor. He lost his official hat, but it took a while to get used to changing the rules. Bai Zhiyan had kept quiet for sixteen years. Only after moving with her father to Luming Academy did she finally find someone to talk to.
Their neighbor was a courteous, well-mannered young man. The two families shared a kitchen, and before she could get a word out, her father told her to take over a bowl of braised pork, saying it was a gesture between colleagues and the neighbor should try some.
Wen Xu opened the door next door, looking wary. He took the bowl, but didn't invite her in.
The next day, the bowl came back, washed spotless, with a note tucked inside: "The meat was a little too salty."
Bai Zhiyan clutched the note, furious for half the night. She was the one who'd braised that meat! ༽◺_◿༼
From that day on, she made a point of competing with the neighbor. When she brought over vegetables, she included a note:
"This humble woman reports: The instructor used too many scallions in the cooking, masking the fish's freshness. Please refrain from doing so in future."
The note came back the next day with three characters written in red ink: Understood.
Her cat climbed over the wall every day. He said it was improper, yet the cat bed on his side of the wall was even thicker than the one at her house.
When she got caught in the rain, her father called out for her to drink something hot. Wen Xu had already brought over ginger soup, divided into three portions and labeled with the times to drink them.
Bai Zhiyan feared nothing in this life, except hearing Instructor Wen say, "It's improper."
Wen Xu stood ramrod straight and bowed deeply. "Master Bai, this junior has a request, though it may be improper."
"What is it?"
"I ask for your daughter's hand in marriage."
Bai Han remained perched on the wall. "Wen Xu, I thought of you as a brother."
Wen Xu added, "I'll teach Master Bai's classics course next term in your place."
Bai Han climbed down from the wall. "My good son-in-law!"
Theme: A gentleman is careful in private, except when it comes to her.
The blurb was screenshotted and saved on August 26, 2026.
Cover art is being rushed into production.
Theme: Hold yourself to a strict measure, treat her like spring.
