It had become a bit of a routine.
Every few days, Xu Qingling would stop by Lin Mu's family shop — sometimes to pick up tea, sometimes just to chat. She never stayed long, just enough time to ask a question or comment on a new blend, then disappear like a passing breeze.
But even her short visits had begun to leave a quiet mark on Lin Mu's days.
She had a calming presence — the kind that didn't disturb the air when she walked in. She listened attentively, smiled with her eyes, and carried herself with the unhurried grace of someone who appreciated the little things.
Lin Mu found himself looking forward to her presence more than he'd like to admit.
---
That afternoon, while sorting freshly packaged sun-dried pear slices, Lin Mu's mother peeked at him from the doorway.
"That girl with the canvas bag," she said teasingly, "comes by often now."
Lin Mu cleared his throat and kept packing. "She likes the tea."
"She likes the person making it," his mother said with a smirk, then disappeared back into the kitchen.
He sighed softly, hiding the smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
---
In the portable world, time passed differently. The summer sun lingered long over the hills. Lin Mu had expanded the garden, built a bamboo trellis for climbing beans, and dug a shallow pond near the grove of peach trees.
The pond's water sparkled, and lotus seeds from the system had already begun to sprout.
One evening, as he sat beside it sketching packaging ideas in a notebook, the system chimed:
---
[New Feature Unlocked: Outdoor Dining Table (Foldable Bamboo Style)]
• Status: Available for crafting
• Use: Can host up to 4 guests
• Bonus: Increases customer affection when used in tastings or gatherings
→ Would you like to craft one?
→ Yes / No
---
Lin Mu blinked in surprise.
It wasn't a business feature. It was… something different. Something softer.
He tapped Yes.
Within seconds, the system generated a lightweight bamboo table and two matching stools. He placed them under the old jujube tree near the pond. The air smelled of summer herbs and peach blossoms.
A simple space.
Peaceful.
Private.
---
The next day, Xu Qingling returned — holding a notebook and a gentle smile.
"I wanted to ask…" she began, "would it be possible to come see your garden?"
Lin Mu's heart skipped. He hesitated. "It's… not here."
"Oh?"
"It's a private place," he said carefully. "I go there alone to grow the things I use. But I can bring you some samples no one else has tried yet."
Xu Qingling didn't press. She just nodded with understanding. "I'd like that."
---
Later that evening, in the portable world, Lin Mu laid out a small tea set on the bamboo table. He prepared three blends:
Peach blossom white tea — light, fragrant, perfect for early summer.
Jasmine mint, as always — her favorite.
And a new one: Osmanthus and dried pear, mellow and sweet.
He filled a wooden tray with the samples, labeled each by hand, and tied a soft linen ribbon around the box. The next morning, when Xu Qingling arrived, he was waiting on the porch with the bundle in hand.
"For you," he said. "A private tasting set."
She accepted it with both hands. Her fingers lingered on the ribbon.
"Thank you, Lin Mu."
She opened the box there and then, and chose the osmanthus and pear blend.
"Would you like to try it with me?" she asked.
Lin Mu blinked.
"Now?"
She nodded. "If you're free."
He hesitated for a heartbeat… then nodded.
---
They walked a short distance to the old temple garden nearby — a quiet space with crumbling walls, wildflowers, and an old stone bench under a pomegranate tree. Lin Mu brought his travel set: a ceramic teapot, two cups, and a thermos of spring water from his portable world.
He prepared the tea with quiet care, rinsing the leaves, warming the cups, letting the aroma rise with the steam.
They sat in silence at first, listening to the wind.
"This is really good," Xu Qingling finally said, sipping slowly. "Sweet, but not heavy. Like… the feeling after reading a nice poem."
Lin Mu smiled. "It's made from the pear tree behind my house."
She glanced sideways at him. "You're a quiet person, Lin Mu."
"Is that bad?"
"No," she said. "It's nice. Everyone's always rushing somewhere these days. You… feel still."
He looked at her thoughtfully. "You're quiet too."
"I wasn't, before," she said, a little sadly. "But life slowed me down."
They sipped tea in companionable silence.
---
Before she left, she turned to him. "You know… when this exam is over, I want to take a small trip. Somewhere green and slow. Maybe visit a farm, or a tea house in the mountains."
Lin Mu said, gently, "If you ever want to sit and drink tea under a peach tree… I might know a place."
Xu Qingling looked at him for a long moment.
And smiled.
"I'll hold you to that."
---
That night, in his portable world, Lin Mu added a second bamboo stool to the table and trimmed the jujube tree so its shade would fall more evenly.
Then he sat, alone, watching the moonlight ripple across the pond.
He wasn't sure what this feeling was — this quiet anticipation.
But he liked it.
He didn't want to rush.
The best tea needed time to steep.
And so did some things… in the heart.
---
End of Chapter 5