Tan You stopped torturing herself and simply propped her chin on one hand, watching Wang Jue create. She watched as the balls of dough became perfectly obedient in Wang Jue’s hands. Wang Jue even used a small carving knife to sculpt various lines.

Tan You gradually became mesmerized, as if a magical world was unfolding before her eyes. They were just simple balls of dough, but after Wang Jue worked them, they were instantly transformed.

Wang Jue finished a rough model and checked the time, seeing it was already nearing midnight. Wang Jue pursed her lips. When she looked up, she saw Tan You staring intently at the dough sculpture.

Then, her eye twitched when she saw the neat cubes, rectangular prisms, and cylinders Tan You had arranged in front of herself.

Tan You smiled. "All done? I was completely captivated. You’re truly amazing."

Wang Jue said shyly, "This is the only thing I’m really good at; I’m no good at anything else. Do you want to learn?"

Tan You was tempted. "I do want to learn, but I don’t think I can handle it. For example, this..."

She said, pointing to the dough sculpture that was taking shape, "Even though the face isn’t clear yet, I can already see that ethereal, fairy-like quality."

"You have an eye for aesthetics," Wang Jue said. "As for the rest, it can all be developed with practice."

Tan You’s heart skipped a beat. "Then, should I give it a try?"

Wang Jue didn’t hold back and generously shared her notes with Tan You. It helped that the two of them had hit it off; after all, she wouldn’t normally be willing to share such precious notes with just anyone.

Receiving this ultimate guide from Wang Jue, Tan You felt as if she’d found a priceless treasure. She had a greedy nature—whenever she saw someone else’s strengths, she wanted to master them for herself. But life is only so long, and it’s already a great achievement to focus on doing one thing well in a lifetime.

It would already be incredibly difficult for her to master tea tasting and dough sculpting in this lifetime, and both required one to quiet their mind and study them slowly. ’Fortunately, I have a quiet personality and can sit still. I should be able to learn at least a little in the end, right?’

Before seven in the morning, Tan You arrived at the old house. Wang Jue hadn’t come with her this time. Dough sculpting required a quiet environment, which could be found anywhere.

When she got to the old house, Xu Liang was already up. Seeing Tan You, he smiled and said, "You’re back? I already got the dough proofed. I was just waiting for you."

Tan You didn’t hold back her praise. "Teacher Xu is an all-rounder now. You didn’t even know how to start a fire before, and now you even know how to proof dough."

Xu Liang wasn’t the least bit modest. "Of course. Say, if I quit being a photographer in the future, do you think I could open a breakfast shop?"

"You should probably just stick to bowing to the almighty dollar. A breakfast shop can’t get by on just steaming buns," Tan You chuckled. "You even made custard filling? Impressive, Teacher Xu."

Xu Liang said smugly, "I learned just by watching once. Am I amazing or what?"

"Amazing!" Tan You praised sincerely. "Hasn’t he gotten up yet?"

"Nope," Xu Liang shrugged. "Probably tired from the trip. I saw the light in his room was on until midnight. What’s with that look? I was up all night editing footage. I didn’t sleep a wink."

"I’m going to catch up on sleep after breakfast. By the way, why didn’t Wang Jue come? I need to film some footage of her, too."

Tan You replied, "She prefers a quiet environment and doesn’t like to be constantly on the move. Have you finished editing my part?"

Xu Liang nodded. "Yeah. If Wang Jue is staying in town these next few days, I’ll just go there to film her. Besides, our aunt has a room for me over there anyway."

Tan You shot him a glare. "You can go, but you have to come back at night."

"Don’t worry!" Xu Liang’s expression was full of glee. "I definitely won’t give anyone a reason to gossip. Seriously, though, I have high hopes for your collaboration this time. Are you thinking of collaborating with anyone else?"

Tan You furrowed her brow. "I haven’t decided. We’ll see. In any case, Wang Jue’s part will take time. I’m wondering if I should release a different video first and postpone the collaboration with Wang Jue a bit."

Xu Liang was indifferent. "It’s all the same to me. You look good no matter what you film anyway. By the way, what dance are you planning to do this time? Are you making the costume yourself again? That’s a lot more footage for me to get."

"We’ll see. I only have time to work on it in the afternoon. In the morning, I have to go to Uncle Qiao’s to learn about the art of tea." Tan You was busy pinching the small buns closed. "This custard filling you made is pretty good. It smells delicious. I’ll bring some to Wang Jue this afternoon."

The two of them were talking softly in the kitchen. Wen Zhe stood outside watching, and he suddenly found the scene incredibly jarring.

He wanted to exchange a few words with Tan You, but she was terribly busy. In the morning, she would push her bowl and chopsticks aside the moment she finished breakfast and head out. She would drag her exhausted body back just before noon. Then she would bustle about in the kitchen, and in the afternoon, she’d sit in front of the sewing machine for hours.

After two days of this, Wen Zhe couldn’t stand it any longer. Seeing Tan You about to leave again after breakfast, he called out to her, "This is my first time here. Can you show me around?"

Tan You raised an eyebrow slightly. "It’s a little inconvenient. How about this afternoon? I have to go learn tea tasting this morning."

Wen Zhe asked, "Can’t I go with you?"

Tan You found it amusing. "If you want to come, then come along. But I’ll be very busy and won’t have time to entertain you."

Wen Zhe grew anxious. "I promise I won’t bother you!"

Tan You was indifferent, so she brought Wen Zhe along when she went to the tea factory that morning. While she was at Uncle Qiao’s, struggling with the tea leaves, Wen Zhe sat to the side, bored out of his mind.

Watching Tan You stare with a pained expression at a cup of plain tea—having to identify not only the roasting temperature of the leaves but also their variety, flavor, and aroma—made Wen Zhe’s own scalp tingle.

Uncle Qiao was usually a man of few words and saw nothing but good in Tan You. When it came to tea tasting, however, he bristled with anger.

"You’re full of Spiritual Energy in every other respect, so why are you so slow to grasp this?" After composing himself, Uncle Qiao sat down to the side in a huff.

Tan You was also troubled. "Uncle Qiao, you have an extraordinary sense of smell and taste, but my sense of smell is only decent. When it comes to taste... I’m really just an ordinary person. Truly."

Uncle Qiao looked smug for a moment. "That’s true. My sense of taste is indeed sensitive. As for you, just take your time. It’s rare for anyone to be interested in these things nowadays."

"But I like it! That’s why I have to trouble you to teach me more, Uncle Qiao, right?" Tan You gave him a flattering shoulder and back rub, smiling like a total suck-up. She was someone who could swallow her pride and wouldn’t put on airs.

’If you want to learn something but still act all high and mighty, no one’s going to put up with you.’

Wen Zhe watched as Tan You showered Uncle Qiao with a torrent of flattery, praising him until he was grinning from ear to ear. He had never seen this side of Ji Li before. In fact, Wen Zhe began to doubt: was the Ji Li from his memories the same Ji Li he was seeing before his very eyes?

Tan You couldn’t have cared less what Wen Zhe was thinking. After arranging to continue with Uncle Qiao the next day, she left the tea factory.