The next morning dawned with soft spring sunlight, but tension hung over the siheyuan like unspoken fog. News traveled fast—too fast. By breakfast time, every neighbor knew Lin Wei had received an offer from the City Construction Bureau.
And everyone had an opinion.
Auntie Zhang cornered him first.
"You should go! You're wasting your talent here. What can this old courtyard give you? A future? A family? Hah!"
Old Mister Wu argued the opposite.
"Nonsense! The moment the talented leave, places like this crumble. Stay! Keep the community alive!"
Uncle Luo placed a heavy hand on Lin Wei's shoulder.
"I'll support whatever you choose," he said. "But don't let pressure choose for you."
Even Old Madam Chen seemed strangely quiet as she served breakfast.
Liu Fang watched him from across the courtyard, biting her lip, conflict swirling in her eyes.
And through all of it, Lin Wei felt a strange sensation…as if the courtyard itself was holding its breath.
Rumors in the Alley
To clear his head, Lin Wei left the siheyuan to buy nails and wood from the supply shop. The alleys outside were bustling with morning life—vendors shouting prices, old men smoking by doorsteps, children running with string-wrapped spinning tops.
But as he passed a small group of workers, he heard something that made him pause.
"Hey, did you hear? Another kid's trying to get into the bureau's training group."
"Who?"
"Zhao Wen. The one from the south block."
"Oh, that boy? Arrogant as anything."
Lin Wei frowned.He had heard that name before—Zhao Wen, son of a carpenter, known for being sharp-tongued, ambitious, and desperate to escape poverty.
"He's furious," another man said. "Says the bureau is wasting time courting some 'nobody handyman' from a back-alley siheyuan."
Lin Wei swallowed.
So the rumors had reached even there.
The System Reacts
A soft chime sounded in his mind.
[Notice: Potential Rival Detected][Zhao Wen — Highly ambitious, skilled in carpentry, competitive natureHe views you as an obstacle on his path.Outcome depends on your upcoming choice.]
Lin Wei rubbed his temples.
As if he didn't have enough problems.
Unexpected Interruption
When Lin Wei returned to the siheyuan, he found someone waiting at the gate.
A tall boy—around seventeen, wearing a green jacket and carrying a toolbox—stood with a confident, almost arrogant posture.
He looked at Lin Wei with sharp, assessing eyes.
"You must be Lin Wei," he said coolly.
Lin Wei nodded slowly. "And you are…?"
"Zhao Wen."
Ah.
So the rumors had traveled even faster than the officials' bicycles.
Zhao Wen stepped closer.
"I heard the City Construction Bureau wants you. Funny—because I've been working toward that for years."
Lin Wei said nothing.
Zhao Wen studied him like a craftsman examining a flawed piece of wood.
"You're younger than I expected," he said. "And smaller."
Lin Wei didn't rise to the bait.
Zhao Wen smirked."Let me be direct. Don't take the offer."
The courtyard fell deathly silent.
Even Auntie Zhang, who was pretending not to listen inside her doorway, froze mid-sweep.
Lin Wei blinked."…What?"
"You heard me. Don't take it. It belongs to someone who's earned it. Someone with real training."
Lin Wei frowned. "I haven't decided anything."
"Good. Then decide properly." Zhao Wen leaned in, voice dropping to a low, sharp whisper. "Because if you take that spot… I will take it back, one way or another."
It wasn't a threat of violence.It was worse.
It was a challenge.
Zhao Wen straightened his jacket, turned on his heel, and walked away.
The courtyard buzzed with shock.
Auntie Zhang nearly dropped her broom.Liu Fang stormed out of her house, face filled with fury.
"That attitude! That arrogance! Wei-ge, ignore him!"
But Lin Wei wasn't angry.
He was thinking.
The system whispered again.
[New Side Quest Unlocked]["Rivalry of the Craftsmen"Strengthen your abilities through effort.The path forward will determine whether he becomes:A rival, an ally… or an obstacle.]
Lin Wei closed his eyes.
His choice had just become far more complicated.
Liu Fang's Quiet Confession
That evening, as he repaired a loose tile on the roof, Liu Fang climbed the ladder behind him.
"Can I sit here?"
He nodded, shifting to give her space.
For a moment, she simply watched the sunset dye the courtyard golden.
Then she whispered:
"…I don't want you to leave."
Lin Wei froze.
Liu Fang looked away quickly.
"I know it's selfish," she murmured. "The job is good. The pay is good. Your future would be bright. But… the courtyard won't be the same without you."
She took a shaky breath.
"And I won't be the same either."
The wind softened.Lin Wei's chest tightened.
But before he could answer, the system chimed quietly.
[Emotional Resonance Detected: Longing][Reward: Heart of Understanding – Increased perception of others' feelings]
The sunset glowed a little brighter.
Lin Wei looked at the courtyard, at Liu Fang, at his own hands.
The decision grew heavier.
And he had only six days left.