At night, Xin Jiuwei was checking the New Year's shopping list under the lamp when she suddenly heard a soft "knock knock" outside the window. She opened the window and saw Xin Kui standing outside, her eyes seemingly filled with tears.
"What's wrong?" Xin Jiuwei quickly let her in.
After entering the room, Xin Kui knelt down: "Miss...this servant is in a state of great turmoil..."
Xin Jiuwei helped her up and pulled her to sit on the couch: "Is it because of your brother?"
Xin Kui bit her lip and nodded, taking out a small brocade box from her sleeve: "Just now... Young Master stopped me and gave me this..."
The box was opened, revealing a white magnolia hairpin lying quietly inside. A few tiny pearls adorned the flower's stamen, gleaming warmly under the lamplight. Xin Jiuwei picked up the hairpin and examined it closely, exclaiming in admiration, "Brother has excellent taste."
"Miss..." Xin Kui's voice choked with sobs, "How could someone like me be worthy of such a fine hairpin... Young Master... was he just confused for a moment..."
Xin Jiuwei put down her hairpin and grasped Xin Kui's trembling hand: "What do you feel is unworthy of you?"
"This servant comes from a humble background, and I even... I once harmed the young master..." Xin Kui's tears finally fell. "If it weren't for Miss taking me in, I don't know where I would be now..."
"There's no need to dwell on the past," Xin Jiuwei said softly. "What matters is who you are now and who you want to become in the future." She paused, then continued, "I ask you, if your brother truly cares for you, would you accept it?"
Xin Kui froze, tears welling in her eyes and clinging to her eyelashes: "This servant...this servant..."
"Don't rush to answer," Xin Jiuwei patted her hand. "Think it over carefully. Remember, in the Xin family, no one will look down on you."
With tears blurring her vision, Xin Kui nodded, carefully put away the hairpin, bowed deeply to Xin Jiuwei, and then left.
Xin Jiuwei gazed at the closed door and sighed softly. In her past life, Xin Kui was used and abandoned by Qi Huaiyu, ultimately drowning herself. In this life, she not only saved Xin Kui but also gave her a new life. If Xin Kui and her brother could reciprocate their love, it would be a wonderful thing.
The next morning, just as Xin Jiuwei got up to wash and dress, Xin Yunzhou rushed in, shouting, "Sister! Something terrible has happened!"
"What's wrong?" Xin Jiuwei paused, her hand holding the comb still.
"There's a problem with the New Year's goods order from the shop in the south of the city!" Xin Yunzhou handed over an order form, his brow furrowed. "I clearly ordered twenty jars of osmanthus wine yesterday, but they only recorded ten!"
Xin Jiuwei breathed a sigh of relief, took the form and glanced at it: "I thought it was something serious. Don't worry, brother, I'll have Xin Kui go and ask."
"No!" Xin Yunzhou suddenly raised her voice, then, seeing her sister looking at her with surprise, lowered it awkwardly. "What I mean is... this is such a small matter, there's no need to trouble Miss Xin... I'll go myself..."
A knowing glint flashed in Xin Jiuwei's eyes, and she deliberately said, "Brother has been very attentive to the shop lately."
Xin Yunzhou's ears turned slightly red, and he stammered, "Isn't it... that my maternal grandparents' family is coming..." He suddenly remembered something, "Oh right, today is your birthday, I've prepared a surprise for you tonight!"
"My birthday?" Xin Jiuwei was taken aback, only then realizing that today was indeed her birthday. In her previous life, she rarely celebrated her birthday since her mother passed away, and she didn't expect her brother to remember.
"Of course I remember!" Xin Yunzhou puffed out his chest. "We must celebrate properly this year!" After saying that, he hurriedly left, his back view revealing his undisguised joy.
Xin Jiuwei gazed in the direction her brother had left, a warm feeling welling up inside her. In her past life, Xin Yunzhou was addicted to wine and women; how could he possibly remember his sister's birthday, let alone personally prepare New Year's goods? In this life, he was not only diligent and ambitious but had also become so considerate...
"Miss, Young Master Xiao has arrived." Xin Kui's voice interrupted her thoughts. "He's waiting for you in the front yard."
Xin Jiuwei then remembered what Xiao Xun had said yesterday, "I have something for you," and her heart skipped a beat. She quickly tied her hair up, chose a light pink jacket and skirt to change into, and then applied some lip rouge in front of the bronze mirror before going out.
Xiao Xun was waiting under the plum tree in the front yard. When he saw her arrive, his eyes immediately lit up with tenderness: "Happy birthday, Wei'er."
The way that "Wei'er" was called was so natural and affectionate that Xin Jiuwei's heart skipped a beat. She forced herself to remain calm and asked, "How did you know it's my birthday today?"
"Your brother told me." Xiao Xun took out an exquisite wooden box from his pocket. "A gift for you."
The wooden box was opened, revealing a beautifully bound sheet music book with the title "Three Variations on Plum Blossom" on the cover. Xin Jiuwei opened it in surprise and found that it not only contained many famous pieces but also many blank pages, clearly intended for her to compose the music herself.
"This...this is a rare copy!" Xin Jiuwei stroked the pages with obvious delight. "Where did you find it?"
Xiao Xun smiled: "I pulled some strings. I heard you're a skilled musician, but you're struggling to find good sheet music..."
Xin Jiuwei looked up at him, her eyes filled with emotion: "Thank you." This gift was not only valuable, but even more precious was that he remembered her casual mention of liking to play the piano but lacking good sheet music.
"Want to give it a try?" Xiao Xun pointed to the pavilion not far away, where a guqin had been set up at some point.
Xin Jiuwei walked over with delight, sat down in front of the zither, and gently plucked the strings. The clear and melodious sound of the zither rippled in the morning breeze. She opened "Three Variations on Plum Blossom" and her fingertips danced on the strings.
Xiao Xun stood quietly to the side, his gaze gently fixed on her focused profile. Snowflakes began to fall again, a few landing in her hair like scattered pearls. He couldn't resist reaching out and gently brushing away a snowflake.
The music stopped abruptly. Xin Jiuwei looked up and met his deep eyes, her heart pounding. The two were only inches apart; she could even smell the faint scent of pine on him.
"Xiao Xun..." she called his name softly, her voice trembling slightly.
Xiao Xun leaned down and gently kissed her forehead: "May you be safe and sound every year, my Wei'er."
The kiss, as light as a butterfly's wing, made Xin Jiuwei stiffen, her face burning instantly. She lowered her head, pretending to arrange sheet music to hide her inner turmoil: "You...you're too presumptuous..."
Xiao Xun chuckled, but showed no intention of apologizing: "Your brother has prepared a banquet tonight, may I come?"
Xin Jiuwei nodded, her voice barely audible: "...Mm."
The two sat in the snow for a while longer. Xin Jiuwei played a few pieces, while Xiao Xun listened quietly, occasionally pointing out a few notes that could be improved. The atmosphere was warm and peaceful, as if time had slowed down.
In the afternoon, the Xin household was bustling with activity. Xin Yunzhou had somehow managed to hire a chef to prepare a sumptuous feast. Xin Xiyao also personally made longevity noodles, and Xin's father returned early, bringing back a pair of exceptionally rare jade bracelets.
"Father, this is too precious..." Xin Jiuwei looked at the pair of jade-green bracelets and dared not take them.
Father Xin lovingly took her hand and personally put the hairpin on her wrist: "If your mother were here, she would have given you even better." A hint of sadness flashed in his eyes, but he smiled again, "Today is your seventeenth birthday. In the blink of an eye, my little daughter has grown into a young woman..."
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