After tidying up the kitchen, Pei Lin dried his hands, lifted the curtain, and stepped out to see Ruan Yue sitting on the edge of the bed. Her soft, flowing hair cascaded down her back as she combed through it with her fingers.
Hearing the noise, Ruan Yue turned around and asked, "Do you have scissors?"
Pei Lin rummaged through the cupboard and handed her the scissors his mother used for tailoring, puzzled about what she needed them for. To his surprise, Ruan Yue took the scissors and was about to cut off a handful of her hair from the side of her face.
Pei Lin's heart skipped a beat, and his hand reacted faster than his brain, grabbing Ruan Yue's scissor-wielding hand. "Ruan Yue!"
She stopped and looked at him emotionlessly, "What?"
As she spoke, she effortlessly broke free from his grasp.
"Why would you cut your hair all of a sudden?" Pei Lin asked, bewildered.
"It's too long; it gets in the way."
"Just braid it, how can it be in the way?"
"I don't know how."
Ruan Yue said offhandedly. Pei Lin's suggestion to braid her hair, like the Third Great Aunt who used cloth strips and wooden pins to keep her hair up, indeed made sense for ease of movement without interference.
However, Ruan Yue, a modern woman with waist-length hair, lacked the skills to style it elaborately and had no hair ties or clips; her long hair was nothing but a hassle.
As Ruan Yue raised the scissors again, Pei Lin quickly said, "I can do it."
Holding the scissors, Ruan Yue quietly watched him.
"Ruan Yue, one's hair and skin are inherited from one's parents; cutting it off casually isn't quite proper. Besides, your hair is so black, shiny, and smooth, so many women would envy such beautiful hair. It would be a pity to cut it off..."
Nonsense! Ruan Yue looked at the scholar trying to persuade her and interrupted his lengthy discourse, "You just said, you can?"
Pei Lin nodded, somewhat awkwardly, "If you don't mind, I can help you."
Ruan Yue didn't care whether her hair was long or short, but Pei Lin's nervous demeanor suggested that in this era, a woman with short hair might be considered outrageous. Better to avoid trouble if possible, and since Pei Lin was willing to help, why not let him?
She put the scissors aside and turned her back to him, "Please do."
Pei Lin breathed a sigh of relief, took out a wooden comb and a hair tie from the box, and stood behind Ruan Yue, ready to comb her hair.
However, as Pei Lin reached out to lift her hair, Ruan Yue instinctively tensed up, like a bow drawn tight, ready to spring.
People who live on the edge never expose their backs to others.
Pei Lin noticed her sudden change, and for a moment, Ruan Yue felt to him like an unsheathed sword, her cold edge sending a shiver through his heart.
"What's wrong?" Pei Lin couldn't help asking.
Ruan Yue breathed out quietly, slowly relaxing, and replied, "It's nothing."
Guessing she might not be used to being so close to someone, Pei Lin stepped back slightly, then picked up the comb and ran it from her scalp to the ends of her hair. After smoothing her hair, he skillfully wove the hair tie through her locks with the hands of a calligrapher.
Ruan Yue initially thought that coiling her hair would be a hassle, and was prepared to let Pei Lin fiddle with it for half an hour. However, after only two to three minutes, Pei Lin's voice came from above her head: "It's done."
So quickly?
Ruan Yue wondered inwardly, instinctively reaching up to touch her own head.
At this point, Pei Lin took a mirror out of the box, holding it up so she could clearly see herself.
Looking at her reflection, this was the second time Ruan Yue had looked at herself since her rebirth. Her face was exactly the same as before her death. Her burn marks had healed due to the medicinal springs, leaving her skin fair and clear without a scar. However, her overall appearance was younger, about sixteen or seventeen years old.
The loose hair on the side of her face had been gathered by Pei Lin and tied back, combed into a small bun, with the remaining hair cascading down to her waist. Her hair did not obstruct her sight nor hinder her movement, yet it portrayed an exquisite image of classic beauty.
Ruan Yue was very satisfied, she moved her gaze from the mirror and looked into Pei Lin's eyes, saying seriously, "It looks very good. Thank you."
Pei Lin packed away the scissors, comb, and mirror, offering a slight smile, "It's nothing. I often helped my mother comb her hair in the past. I will help you from now on. You don't need to think about cutting your hair anymore."
Ruan Yue responded with a soft hum. Then, as if sensing something, turned to look out the window. A young girl was carrying a basket and walking in their direction. Judging by her trajectory, she seemed to be coming for Pei Lin.
The girl happened to glance in Ruan Yue's direction. Ruan Yue reacted swiftly, immediately moving to the other side, out of her sightline.
"Ruan Yue?" Pei Lin asked, puzzled by her sudden change in movement.
Ruan Yue's glance directed him to look outside. After seeing Mei Yan standing outside the yard, Pei Lin understood.
"She has come to look for you, hasn't she? Don't let her see me," Ruan Yue said in a lowered voice.
Pei Lin nodded, opened the door, and went out, leaving Ruan Yue inside the house.
"Lin'an brother!" Mei Yan's youthful voice rang out, her joy being easily discerned.
"Yanyan, are you looking for me? What's the matter?" Pei Lin's soothing voice followed.
Ruan Yue subtly peeped from the edge of the window while staying concealed, observing the situation outside.
"My mother asked me to find you to write a letter, tell elder brother to come home on the fifteenth of this month, and on the way back, to buy some wine, meat, and sweet pastries," answered Mei Yan.
"Is it because someone is visiting your home?" Pei Lin casually asked.
Seeing Mei Yan laughed, her eyes squinting with joy, she replied, "A matchmaker has brought a marriage proposal for my brother from someone in Crimson Petal village. On the sixteenth, their family will come to meet ours."
"I see, congratulations!"
While they were talking, the two walked to the entrance, located just a few steps away from Ruan Yue.
Pei Lin stopped in his tracks, looking at Mei Yan and said, "Yanyan, I won't invite you inside. You can wait here, and I will bring the letter out once it's finished."
Mei Yan was slightly taken aback, the smile on her face faded a bit, "Is it because of that poor girl?"
Pei Lin hummed in agreement, not saying much more. Merely stating, "It will be fine soon," he pushed the door open, entered the room, and carefully closed it behind him, preventing Mei Yan from glimpsing the situation inside.
Inside the room, Ruan Yue leaned against the wall, quietly watching him. Pei Lin smiled at her, moved to the other side to collect brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone, and laid them out on the table. He then lifted a small jar to fetch a bottle of clear water from the kitchen before starting to prepare for writing a letter.
Witnessing Pei Lin's actions, Ruan Yue thought for a moment, walked over, and sat down next to him. She took over the bottle in his hand, poured some water into the ink stone, then serenely picked up the ink stick and started to grind ink.
Pei Lin watched Ruan Yue with surprise in his eyes. Her movements were steady and unhurried, her demeanor poised and adept, indicating she was not a novice.
How many girls from ordinary families knew how to grind ink? Ruan Yue's articulate manner further suggested she had been educated. What could her background be? And about her injury? Could someone possibly recover that quickly?
...
Pei Lin found himself entranced as he watched the thick, dark ink seep out from under the inkstick in Ruan Yue's hand.
Ruan Yue noticed his gaze, looked up at him with indifferent eyes, unsure of why he was dawdling. After a while, Pei Lin was still staring blankly at the ink, so Ruan Yue had no choice but to tap her finger on the table.
"Knock! Knock!"
The sound snapped Pei Lin back to reality. Ruan Yue's eyes, clear and emotionless, gazed at him. Her lips, red as cherries, parted slightly as she gently reminded him, "There's still someone waiting outside."
Pei Lin offered an embarrassed smile, sat down on the stool, dipped his brush in the ink, and began to write on the paper.