Ink droplets fall.

A black, wet stain spread across the paper, rippling outwards.

Like prayer beads in the morning, they shattered and fell to the ground.

Yan Zhuoxu stared at the ink stain, his gaze calm and unreadable.

After a moment, he put down his pen.

I took the paperweight and covered the damp spot.

"Enter."

The sound was flat and without waves.

Shen Zhiyi pushed open the door, her skirt trailing behind her as she stepped across the threshold.

Yan Zhuoxu's gaze fell on the spot at her feet, then on the cluster of pale golden osmanthus blossoms, before he subtly looked away.

"What is it now?"

Shen Zhiyi walked over, placed the lamp oil on the table, and said with a smile, "I originally intended to give this lamp oil to the master before leaving the temple."

"Unexpectedly, the rain washed away the rocks, making it impossible to descend the mountain."

"It is the will of Heaven."

"I'll just have to bring this lamp oil over first."

"I hope the master can use it."

She opened the white porcelain oil bottle, and the finest styrax incense wafted out.

It's the scent he usually uses.

"Why not use osmanthus?" His voice was very calm, and it carried a strangely questioning tone in the empty meditation room.

Shen Zhiyi paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Osmanthus flowers are common, but what is given to a master must be unique."

Yan Zhuoxu lifted his eyelids and looked at the ever-burning lamp not far away.

Perhaps it was the wind that rose.

So the flames flickered a few times and still did not calm down.

Shen Zhiyi added, "Today I passed by the main hall and heard you explaining the scriptures. I found it very interesting."

"The mountain road is blocked. Perhaps even Buddha thinks that I have a connection with the master."

"They want me to stay at the temple for a while longer."

The lamp flame crackled and popped.

Yan Zhuoxu's gaze fell back on her face, the dimness of the room casting a faint shadow between her eyebrows and eyes.

But it couldn't diminish her brilliance in the slightest.

He parted his thin lips slightly, his voice not loud, but cold and clear, like ice shards cutting through lukewarm water, "Since you know I don't like people getting close, why do you keep testing me and going to the trouble of getting close?"

"Benefactor Shen, what is your request?"

The smile on Shen Zhiyi's face froze instantly.