He dipped a brush into ink, his movements controlled, graceful. “Fox calligraphy is breath. Center. Intention.” He guided her hand—nottouching, but close enough she felt the warmth of him—and together they formed the first stroke.
Her line wobbled.
“Breathe,” Mingxi murmured.
She did. The next stroke came steadier.
“Good,” he said softly.
Her heart fluttered.
A shadow fell over the parchment.
“My, my,” a familiar voice drawled. “Lessons without me?”
Mingjun strolled in, hands tucked behind his back like a scholar, smirk firmly in place.
“Mingjun.” Mingxi sighed.
“Dà ge,” Mingjun mimicked sweetly. Then he leaned down to Poppy’s level. “You’re doing wonderfully. Here, let me show you a very common greeting.”
He dipped his brush and, with a flourish, wrote:???
Poppy tilted her head. “What does it mean?”
Mingjun flashed the smile of a man who enjoyed chaos on a spiritual level.
“Woàinimeans: ‘You honor me. Good morning.’ A perfect greeting for Mingxi.”
“Mingjun,” he warned, deadly quiet.
But Poppy was already practicing under her breath. “Woàini…” Then she looked up at Mingxi—straight into his eyes—and said softly, earnestly, “Mingxi…???.”
His breath seized, his spine snapped straight, and his ears flushed.
Poppy blinked. “Did I say it correctly?”
Mingxi made a noise that did not belong to the language.
Mingjun leaned against a column, arms folded. “Dà ge is having a spiritual crisis. Lovely job.”
“Mingjun!”
Mingjun bolted, and Mingxi went after him with a dignity that lasted exactly three steps.
Poppy covered her mouth, laughter bubbling out despite the confusion tingling beneath it.What on earth did I say to make Mingxi react like that?
A soft rustle brushed the hallway. Xu Yunlian glided past with a basket of neatly folded linens, serenity in motion.
She paused, taking in the scene with a knowing sigh.
“They are exhausting, aren’t they?” she murmured, voice warm with long-honed patience. “But they mean well.”
Poppy dropped her hand from her mouth. “I… hope so. I tried saying the greeting Mingjun taught me, but Mingxi looked like he was about to faint.”
Xu Yunlian’s brows lifted delicately. “Greeting?”
“He said it means ‘you honor me’ or ‘good morning.’” Poppy shrugged. “Woàini?”
