Finally, Ruili reverently presented a simply wrapped book and swept the previous offerings aside with a wave of his hand. "The provincial exams are coming up. I heard you’re sitting for them this time, so I dug out my elder brother’s annotated reference books and essays from when he took the exams."
Ji Zhexi looked at the young master, who now rested his chin on both hands, and sighed. "Young Master Zhang, what exactly do you want?"
"What do I want? Naturally, I want you to achieve your aspirations."
Ji Zhexi’s expression flickered before he averted his gaze. "Your kindness is appreciated, but one should not accept unearned rewards." He pushed the annotated books back.
"But Zhexi… you’ve already accepted my favors, haven’t you?"
Ji Zhexi watched as Ruili blinked at him. "What do you mean?"
"Haven’t you noticed how favorable your recent workplaces have been?"
Ji Zhexi’s brow furrowed. So that was why there had been so many job openings lately, why every place he went to hired him on the spot, why the eateries fed him, the fabric shops gave him cloth, even the salt shops handed out salt…
It was all this young master's doing.
"Well?"
Ji Zhexi wanted to return everything he’d received, but the meals he’d eaten made that difficult. He said, "Since I’ve taken your favors, Young Master Zhang, if there’s anything you need, I’ll do my best."
"The Qianyan Mountain temple fair is today, and it’s not far. Accompany me there."
Ji Zhexi set down his brush, pausing in thought before replying, "Very well."
Ruili stood up happily. His morning of persuasion hadn't been in vain.
At the turn of spring and summer, the weather was neither cold nor dry - perfect for an outing. Coinciding with the Qianyan Mountain Temple Fair, many people from the city had come to offer incense and worship, filling the official road with carriages and horses, making it quite lively.
"By the way, Zhexi, which village are you from?"
"Liuxi Village."
Ruili's eyes sparkled at this. "Ah! That village is quite close to our family’s mountain, isn’t it?" He was about to ask more, but Ji Zhexi had already closed his eyes to rest. Ruili gritted his teeth, swallowing the words on his tongue.
The carriage was spacious, but one person sat with a cold expression, eyes shut. If not for his good looks, his demeanor might have been considered life-shortening - even more vexing than his elder brother’s temper. Ruili lost interest in conversation and instead leaned against the window to watch the scenery. The trees were lush and green in early summer.
"Ah! There’s a rabbit over there!"
"Quick, quick, tell the driver to stop!"
Ji Zhexi opened his eyes. "By the time you get down, it’ll be long gone."
Ban Yan still called for the carriage to halt. Ignoring Ji Zhexi’s remark, Ruili scrambled out. The rabbit had been grazing by the roadside but bolted at the disturbance. Wild rabbits were agile and fast, normally it would have disappeared in a flash, but this one moved slowly, never straying too far.
When Ruili caught up, he noticed its hind leg was injured. He immediately gave chase.
"Young Master! Young Master!"
After quite some time with no sign of Ruili’s return, Ban Yan and Ji Zhexi stepped out to wait by the roadside.
"I’ll go look for him," Ban Yan offered.
Just as Ji Zhexi was about to head into the woods, Ruili reappeared from the hillside, disheveled and clutching a gray rabbit.
"Young Master, what happened to you?"
Ruili hugged the rabbit. "I took a little tumble. It’s nothing."
Ji Zhexi frowned. "Get back in the carriage."
"This rabbit’s eyes are so round, it looks quite docile," Ban Yan remarked, wiping the dust from Ruili’s face with a handkerchief while eyeing the soft-furred creature.
"It’s injured. Once we bandage it up, it’ll be perfect to keep in the garden." Delighted with his find, Ruili glanced at Ji Zhexi, who wasn’t feigning sleep this time, and loosened his protective grip on the skittish rabbit. "Tell me, which is cuter, this rabbit or me?"
Ji Zhexi gave him a sidelong glance, avoiding the question, then lowered his gaze slightly. "Your sleeve is torn."
Ruili raised his arm and only then noticed the rip in his left sleeve. The fabric was luxurious but not very durable, which was the reason why he seldom wore such fine clothes, given his restless nature. He adjusted the cuff. "Must’ve snagged on a branch while chasing this little one. Didn’t even realize."
"With tattered clothes, how do you plan to worship properly now?"
Ruili furrowed his brows. True, not only would the crowds today make running into acquaintances embarrassing, but appearing disheveled before the Bodhisattva would be disrespectful. Just as he was at a loss, Ji Zhexi turned slightly, retrieving a needle and thread from a brocade pouch at his waist.
Both Ruili and Ban Yan stared wide-eyed.
Ruili’s heart sank. Sewing his clothes now would be humiliating. He regretted not learning needlework when his little dad had earnestly urged him to study under Xiao Xing'er.
A virtuous wife is a treasure - he’d surely fail on that front. Even if just for appearances, he ought to have mastered the basics.
"Come closer. I’ll stitch it for you."
"Huh?" Ruili froze, but seeing Ji Zhexi seriously matching thread to his sleeve’s color without a hint of jest, he numbly handed the rabbit to Ban Yan and sat beside him.
"These are just ordinary threads, they won’t perfectly match your fabric. Make do for now. Once home, remove the stitches and have a tailor redo them with proper embroidery."
Ji Zhexi pinched the torn sleeve, his slender fingers moving with a grace more akin to a scholar composing poetry than a man mending clothes.
Ruili watched the neat stitches, murmuring sheepishly, "I never imagined a man like you would excel at such delicate work. Quite eye-opening."
"And I never imagined a young master wouldn’t know the first thing about needlework."
Ruili raised his brows, pouting in protest. "You’ve never seen my needlework! How would you know?"
Ji Zhexi said, "Most women and gers vying for a man’s favor present a self-made sachet as a token of affection. You, Young Master Zhang, could gift anything, yet never that. Either your feelings are insincere, or your needlework is lacking."
Ruili was stung but tried to argue. Ji Zhexi tugged the excess thread taut and snapped it off. "Done."
Ruili’s attention shifted to his sleeve. Examining both cuffs, he found them nearly identical - only upon close inspection could one spot the difference. Even Ban Yan couldn’t help praising, "Master Ji’s skill is remarkable."
Ruili ran a finger over the mended seam. The ordinary thread lacked silk’s smoothness, and though it didn’t chafe his skin, it grated on his heart. He glanced at Ji Zhexi, who had already put away the needle and thread, resuming his silent repose.
____
"Young Master, Xiao Hui's (Little Gray) been bandaged up. The vet said it’s fine, just a few days’ rest and he’ll recover."
Ruili sprang from the couch, eagerly taking the rabbit from Banyan and dotingly kissing his ears.
"It’s a shame about that robe, though, it came all the way from Suzhou." Ban Yan eyed the embroidered garment hanging neatly on the stand, sighing. "Shall I take it to the tailor? Perhaps gold thread could salvage it without looking odd."
"No, no!" Ruili stopped him as he reached for it. "There are plenty more like it in the wardrobe. One less won’t matter. Just leave it there."
Ban Yan withdrew his hand. "As you wish, Young Master."
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