The jasmine incense in the Yuelao Office curled into thin wisps as Chen sat at her desk, her workbook open before her. The page, once filled with hasty notes about talisman colors and marriage book codes, now waited for a new kind of wisdom. She dipped her brush in ink, pausing for a moment as Zhang’s words echoed in her mind. With a steady hand, she wrote, “Matchmaking is responsibility, not end” across the top of the page, the characters neat and firm.
Xiao Yu wandered over, balancing a stack of “Book Lover Compatibility Files” in her arms. “Still reworking your notes?” she asked, nodding at the workbook. Chen pushed the page toward her, and Xiao Yu’s eyes softened as she read the new mantra. “Zhang told me this once, but I never really got it until now,” Chen admitted, tapping the ink with her brush. “I used to think tying the thread was enough. But it’s just the first step.”
Wang appeared beside them, holding a tray with two cups of hot jasmine tea. He set one down for Chen, his gaze falling on the small pile of talismans beside her workbook—pale green ones etched with calming runes. “Patience Talismans,” he noted with a smile. “Smart choice. Those work better than Fortune Boosters for new pairs.” Chen nodded, picking up one of the talismans. Its surface was cool to the touch, a stark contrast to the fiery red of Destined Love Talismans.
“I’m adding Understanding Spells too,” she said, pulling out a roll of yellow paper. “For couples who get stuck like Shen and Su. Magic that helps them listen, not just connect.” Li walked past, her red thread pin glinting, and glanced at the workbook. “That’s the mark of a real Yuelao,” she said approvingly. “Not just weaving threads, but tending to them.”
Chen closed the workbook, the new notes a promise to herself. She picked up a Patience Talisman and tucked it into her pocket, ready for her next assignment. The Porcelain Goblin, peeking out of her drawer, popped a cookie into his mouth and grumbled, “About time you stopped rushing.” Chen laughed, feeling lighter than she had in weeks. This was her new rule—care over speed, responsibility over results. And for the first time, she felt truly ready to be a Yuelao.
