Just as they were speaking, the sound of light, quick footsteps approached the courtyard gate, followed by a familiar voice calling out, "Aunt, I got some newly arrived fine cotton. It's so soft! I brought some for you to make an undergarment…"
Before she could finish, Yang Huien stepped over the threshold with a bright smile, a small cloth bag slung over her arm.
When she looked up and saw Chen Qing standing in the room, she froze on the spot. Her eyes flew wide, and the cloth bag nearly slipped from her hand.
"Ah… Ah Qing?!"
Yang Huien's voice was filled with incredulous joy. Her gaze swept over Chen Qing from top to bottom, as if to confirm he wasn't a hallucination. "You… when did you get back?"
Chen Qing turned, a gentle smile on his face. "Cousin, I just arrived."
Yang Huien hurried closer and circled him, her eyes sparkling with delight as she murmured, "You're different, really, completely different…"
