Purple hydrangeas, hibiscus, and gentian;

Golden globeflowers and chrysanthemums;

Red clusters, pink peonies, multicolored peonies, pure white gardenias, and lilies.

Dressed in a white, floral-patterned kimono with a long, elegant black kimono coat draped over her shoulders, Mrs. Jiutiao stood under the dripping eaves, admiring the garden during the rainy season.

The sound of rustling kimono sleeves came from behind.

She did not turn around and spoke softly, "It's that time of the year again."

Jiutiao Meijie stepped forward, stopping a palm's distance behind her mother, also gazing at the garden that could almost be called a maze.

Her eyes swept across most of the flowers, finally resting on the roses.

After this year's White Valentine's Day, the Shinbashi villa had been receiving a bouquet of roses every day.

There were also the May roses her mother used for her baths, which she'd smelt while snuggling under the covers as Dubian Che brought them to her bed.

She was also wearing a kimono, the color of wisteria, with the Jiutiao family crest embroidered on the back with gold thread.

The mother and daughter stood together, with servants standing far behind them. Seen from a distance, they resembled a ukiyo-e painting of ancient nobles.

The beautiful scene was interrupted by the sound of heavy, thudding footsteps.

"Head of the house, young miss," Jiutiao Shensheng stopped two meters away, "the preparations for the ceremony are all complete; the monks from the Capital City have been arranged to stay at the Haode Temple."

"Thank you for your efforts," Mrs. Jiutiao said indifferently.

Jiutiao Shensheng did not speak, bowing silently instead.

The rain pattered down, a fog rising in the courtyard, enveloping everything in a white haze, with the white flowers disappearing from sight first.

"There's another matter I need you to handle."

"Yes."

◇

June nineteenth, Saturday.

The weather had been clear for two days that week, but come Saturday and Sunday, it had started raining again.

"I can't go today, I'm taking a leave," Dubian Che called Kiyono Lin.

"Why?" asked Kiyono Lin, pausing in her dressing on the other end of the phone.

"Meiji asked me to make a visit; it seems to be the anniversary of the previous head of the Jiutiao family."

Kiyono Lin continued getting dressed, "You're not blood-related to the Jiutiao family, nor have you married in. Why are you going?"

"To make up the numbers?"

"Understood."

Nothing more to say, but the phone line remained open.

Dubian Che gazed out at Meiji Shrine's forest in the rain, listening to the sounds of hands sliding into sleeves, the rustling of a pleated skirt zippering up, and a bow tightening on the other end of the line.

Once Kiyono Lin had finished dressing, she said in a cold and soft voice, "Pervert."

"Beep beep," she hung up.

"I don't believe you didn't know the phone wasn't hung up," Dubian Che spoke to the rainy season.

After bathing and changing his clothes, he left a note on the table for Mayi Asuka, who was still sleeping.

"Visiting Meiji's, please tell Mr. Xiaoquan for me, Dubian."

Pen pressing down on the paper, he picked up an [umbrella] and left the house.

It was his first time visiting the Jiutiao family's mansion alone; previously, either Jiutiao Meijie would come to fetch him, or they would first go to Shinbashi and then head there together.

The taxi stopped at the bottom of a steep slope, beyond which was a private residential area off-limits to traffic.

Dubian Che paid the fare and began climbing the slope alone, umbrella in hand.

Upon reaching the top, he saw the imposing walls and lush greenery of the Jiutiao family's vast estate.

Many cars were parked at the main gate, with numerous men in black suits and women dressed in plain kimonos entering the residence.

As Dubian Che walked past, they all greeted him hurriedly.

Once inside, he didn't go to the main hall, but first ran to Jiutiao Meijie's bedroom.

She had slept there the night before and was certainly not up yet; plus, every time he visited, he was required to change into a kimono — today's would probably already be hanging on the kimono rack.

He pushed the door to the bedroom open and was surprised to find it empty.

However, the kimono intended for him was indeed laid out on the rack.

As he began to change clothes, the door opened.

"You startled me!" Dubian Che hastily redressed in his trousers.

"Afraid of me? What have you done to feel guilty?" Jiutiao Meijie closed the door and walked over.

"My body belongs to Meiji, of course, I need to protect it well," Dubian Che removed the kimono, dressing in it piece by piece.

"Sweet talker," as Jiutiao Meijie wrapped her arms around his waist, helping him with his sash.

After he was dressed, Dubian Che noticed that his garment also bore the Jiutiao family crest.

"This is?"

"From now on, you are one of the Jiutiao family," Jiutiao Meijie finished adjusting his under-kimono collar and Black Feather Weave, "let's go, darling."

"Shouldn't I be addressed with titles like 'Your Highness' now that I'm wearing a kimono?" Dubian Che embraced Jiutiao Meijie as she turned to leave.

"Hands off!"

"That black kimono looks really good on you, different from before."

Jiutiao Meijie smacked his hand that was sliding into the front of her kimono, "Don't mess it up!"

"Then, should we do what we did last time?"

"Today is the anniversary!"

"Oh."

"Listen to me!"

Dubian Che had intended for a quick tryst, but Jiutiao Meijie indulged him until she eventually pushed away.

After both had bathed and redressed in their kimonos, they leisurely made their way to the Buddha Hall; it was already past ten in the morning.

The Jiutiao family's private Buddha Hall was as expansive as a tourist attraction, grand and dazzlingly golden.

Sandalwood smoke wafted gently through the air; the rhythmic beat of wooden fish and the low chanting of dozens of monks filled the hall.

In front of the Buddha Hall, relatives of the Jiutiao family whom they had seen during the New Year were kneeling.

Dubian Che followed Jiutiao Meijie to the very front and knelt beside Mrs. Jiutiao.

"Good morning, dear Mother," Dubian Che greeted her with a bow.

Mrs. Jiutiao slowly opened her eyes, glanced at him, and simply nodded slightly.

At this moment, she was entirely different from the person who drove cars, wore jeans, and baseball jerseys — the same beautiful face, but the impression she left was of two different people.

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