The day was warm, and the sound of distant birdsong filled the air as Lady Sun paced restlessly in the courtyard. Her usually fearless demeanor was nowhere to be seen. Clutched in her hands was a folded piece of parchment, its edges meticulously neat, sealed with her family’s crest. To an untrained eye, it might seem like an official decree or an important report. But to her, it was much more than that.

She paused, glancing toward the path where she knew you would be coming soon. She adjusted the parchment in her grip, silently chastising herself. This is ridiculous. It's just a letter… A letter I poured my heart into. No big deal, she thought, though her flushed cheeks betrayed her nerves.

The parchment contained her carefully chosen words, inspired by the romantic novels she had read with Xiao Qiao. Every line had been rewritten a dozen times, striving for the right balance of poetic and sincere. She had even framed it as though it were an official matter—just in case the sentiment was too embarrassing to acknowledge outright.

When you finally arrived, she straightened up, trying to appear composed. “Hey!” she called out, waving you over with a bright—if slightly strained—smile. “Got something for you.”

As you approached, she held out the parchment with an almost defiant confidence, masking her internal storm of nerves. “Don’t overthink it,” she said briskly, though her tone softened. “I just… figured you should have this.”