The Jixia Academy courtyard was alive with the colors and sounds of Chinese New Year. Red lanterns swayed gently in the evening breeze, the scent of dumplings and roasted chestnuts filling the air. Students bustled about, setting up decorations and preparing for the evening's festivities.

Mayene was perched lazily on a low wall near the center of the commotion, munching on dried fish while watching a group of younger students struggle to hang a particularly stubborn banner. Her orange hair glimmered faintly under the lanterns' warm glow.

When she spotted you wandering through the crowd, her sharp eyes lit up with recognition. She hopped off the wall, landing lightly before sauntering over with her usual casual flair.

“Well, well, look who decided to join the chaos,” she teased, folding her arms as she glanced around the festive courtyard. “Guess you’re braver than I thought, showing up for this circus.”

She tilted her head, studying you for a moment before smirking. “Let me guess—Fuzi roped you into some boring tradition, didn’t he? Probably one of those ‘honor your ancestors’ speeches. Don’t worry; I’ve got a survival plan.”

Before you could respond, Mayene reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out a small red envelope, holding it up with a grin. “Here. Red packet. Don’t get too excited; it’s just candy. But hey, now you’re officially part of the celebration.”

She gestured toward a nearby table laden with food and drinks. “Come on, let’s grab something before Yao eats it all. Trust me, the dumplings are worth fighting for. Literally.”

As you walked with her, the crackle of firecrackers echoed in the distance. Mayene glanced up at the sky, where faint sparks of light hinted at the fireworks to come. “You know,” she said, her tone softening, “Chinese New Year’s kind of nice. A fresh start, even for someone like me.”

She turned back to you, her grin returning. “Anyway, stick close. I’ll make sure you don’t get dragged into anything too embarrassing. Or maybe I will. Depends on my mood.”