The next morning, Lan Yan looked at the disguised Jun Yelan before her, examining him from head to toe. She tapped her chin and said, "I feel like something is missing."
She glanced around, spotted a feather duster on a cabinet, and modified it slightly into a whisk. She placed it on Jun Yelan's elbow. "Now it's perfect."
Jun Yelan looked at his oversized robes and the whisk in his hand, frowning, clearly uncomfortable. However, seeing Lan Yan's smiling eyes, he nodded. "Since it's good, I'll head downstairs."
"Okay, just wait for me to bring people over," Lan Yan said. She watched Jun Yelan leave through the window and then went out to find Mama Liang. She met her in the hallway and smiled, "Mama Liang, let's go find a Taoist priest."
Mama Liang had assumed Lan Yan was just casually mentioning it and hadn't expected her to actually look. "Oh dear, Lan girl, the world is vast, where would we find one?"
Lan Yan linked her arm through Mama Liang's, stopping her from leaving, and smiled, "Mama Liang, perhaps we'll meet one as soon as we step out. Just trust me, for the safety of everyone in our building."
Seeing Mama Liang's hesitation, she directly pulled her towards the entrance and "coincidentally" saw Jun Yelan.
Jun Yelan nodded slightly at Lan Yan and, following their plan from yesterday, spoke mysteriously, "There's something wrong with this building."
Lan Yan chimed in, "Oh my, this must be a wandering Taoist priest. Esteemed priest, is there anything unclean here? Please come in quickly and help us."
She immediately let go of Mama Liang's hand, walked to Jun Yelan's side, and smoothly allowed Jun Yelan to enter.
"I need to take a closer look," Jun Yelan said, walking into the building and breathing a sigh of relief. He had finally said the words Lan Yan wanted him to say.
Lan Yan followed closely behind, letting Jun Yelan walk around the building and telling everyone he met that he was the newly hired Taoist priest.
The people in the building all looked towards Mama Liang at the entrance, filled with confusion.
Mama Liang had just snapped out of her surprise. They had found a Taoist priest so quickly? And judging by this priest's aura, which seemed to radiate an otherworldly presence, he appeared quite formidable.
She quickly caught up with Lan Yan, glancing at Jun Yelan's retreating back, and mused, "Lan girl, is this person trustworthy? He's not here to swindle us, is he?"
Lan Yan smiled, "Mama Liang, don't worry, I'll pay for the Taoist priest. This is my way of doing something for the building."
This brought a smile to Mama Liang's face, dispelling her earlier doubts. She waved her handkerchief and said, "Lan girl, your heart is too kind, I can hardly refuse."
Lan Yan felt a bit awkward but knew she had to continue the act. "Mama Liang, I think this ritual will take more than a day. What if the Taoist priest leaves and something happens in the building again? Where would we find anyone!"
"I think we should let the Taoist priest stay for a few days."
Mama Liang hesitated, "This..." then Xiao Yun's cry from upstairs startled her. She exclaimed, "Alright!"
Lan Yan smiled, ran ahead to Jun Yelan, and gave him a thumbs-up. This was their signal, indicating they had succeeded.
Jun Yelan was amused by her expression, but then he remembered his current identity and hid his smile. He silently put away the pebble he had just thrown at Xiao Yun's window, which had caused her fright.
The people in the building gathered around Mama Liang, asking, "Mama Liang, are we really going to let this Taoist priest stay?"
"Listen to Lan Yan," Mama Liang replied. She didn't want anything to happen in the building; her entire livelihood was invested here.
The others in the building had no choice but to accept. They usually followed Mama Liang's lead. "Don't you think Lan girl looks very familiar with that person? Lan girl has never been so enthusiastic with anyone before."
"I heard Lan girl was also frightened by something unclean, which is why she's following the Taoist priest," one of the girls said.
The other girls nodded in agreement, finding the explanation plausible. "By the way, it's Lan girl's birthday again soon. Should we prepare something, as usual?"
In the past, Lan girl had always been cold and distant, not getting close to others, so she never celebrated her birthday. Seeing Lan Yan change so much recently, they had to ask.
The other girls unanimously agreed not to prepare anything and then paid the matter no further mind.
Meanwhile, ahead of them, Jun Yelan overheard snippets and murmured, "Birthday?"
Lan Yan was discussing Jun Yelan's accommodation with Mama Liang, arranging for him to stay in the back courtyard, before returning. She saw Jun Yelan's contemplative look and quietly asked, "Jun Yelan, what's wrong? Is it because there are too many people?"
She glanced behind Jun Yelan, where the entire building's occupants were gathered.
Jun Yelan shook his head and fixed his gaze on Lan Yan's eyes. He wanted to ask if she needed anything, something he could give her as a birthday gift to repay her kindness.
"Don't worry, your room is in the back courtyard, where you won't see them often," Lan Yan said. Knowing Jun Yelan's reserved nature and dislike for crowds, she had chosen a room on the very edge.
She then called out, "Taoist priest, you must be tired after performing rituals for so long. Please go and rest first, I'll show you the way." She openly led Jun Yelan away.
Jun Yelan walked beside Lan Yan, noticing her eyes darting around. He chuckled softly, "They didn't follow us."
Lan Yan looked behind her and immediately relaxed, stretching languidly. "Finally, we're safe." She moved her neck and shook her arms, then turned to see Jun Yelan staring at her. She gave an awkward laugh, "I'm just tired."
Strange, why did Jun Yelan always stare at her? It must be because her actions were sometimes too peculiar.
"I know," Jun Yelan said. "I know some ways to relieve fatigue, I can teach you."
Lan Yan's eyes lit up, and she looked at Jun Yelan eagerly, "Really?" However, after she learned the method, she regretted it!
Jun Yelan performed a set of movements in the corridor, lasting about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, then looked at Lan Yan, "Did you get it?"
Lan Yan, whose head was still swaying, was speechless. Jun Yelan walked directly towards her, and her heart suddenly tightened. She exclaimed, "Wait, I'll practice it later."
However, Jun Yelan simply stood behind her and gently held her shoulders, massaging them. From her shoulders to her arms, even her fingers, he kneaded them all, and she immediately felt a sense of relief.
"You have a weak body, practicing these movements regularly will prevent you from feeling tired so often."
Lan Yan rubbed her shoulders and smiled, "So that's how it is. You scared me just now. I'll tell you a secret, I hate exercising the most."
She then winked mischievously. Seeing that the sky was getting dark, she said, "You should go rest, and I need to go back too." With that, she turned, waved goodbye to Jun Yelan, and walked away.
Jun Yelan nodded, standing in the corridor, watching Lan Yan recede into the distance. Only when her figure was no longer visible did he return to his room and sit upright in his chair.
He looked at his right arm, where the wound had almost healed. He then stared at the door and murmured, "It's time for me to leave too."