Breakfast in Silk, Smiles in Camphorwood
The scent of soy milk and sesame filled the hallways, gently coaxing Jia Lan from her thoughts. She slipped into soft house slippers—embroidered with delicate plum blossoms—and padded out of her bedroom.
Outside, the Jia family's grand residence came into full view. Polished wood floors gleamed beneath the sunlight pouring in from open windows, where lace curtains danced gently in the morning breeze. Antique vases lined the corridor, each holding fresh cut camellias.
A pair of maids offered quiet greetings as Jia Lan passed. She returned the nods, maintaining that delicate balance between grace and aloofness—just as the original Jia Lan would.
She descended the curved staircase with practiced elegance, her silk robe whispering at her ankles. As she turned the corner into the dining room, the sight before her nearly made her stumble.
A table the length of a small boat was already set. Fine porcelain bowls, bamboo baskets filled with steaming dumplings, sliced fruit arranged in perfect spirals, and silver chopsticks rested atop embroidered napkins. Everything was gleaming, from the polished sideboard to the crystal teapot gently steaming in the center.
At the head of the table sat a woman of supreme dignity—Lin Shunhua, her mother. Hair pinned into a graceful twist, she wore a soft jade cheongsam and sipped tea with a serene expression.
"Lan Lan," Lin Shunhua said without looking up. "You're up late today."
"I… didn't sleep well," Jia Lan replied smoothly, pulling out a chair beside her mother.
Lin Shunhua glanced sideways. "Nightmares again?"
Jia Lan hesitated. "Something like that."
Before her mother could prod further, footsteps echoed from the other end of the room. Jia Chenghai, her father, entered with a newspaper under his arm. Dressed in a tailored jacket and ironed trousers, he looked like a man carved from confidence and quiet authority.
He raised a brow. "Our little lady has finally graced us with her presence."
Jia Lan gave a soft laugh. "I thought I'd leave some spotlight for the rest of you."
He chuckled and ruffled her hair as he passed, surprisingly gentle for such a stern-looking man. "Still sharp-tongued."
Soon, the rest of the family filtered in.
Jia Zhen, her eldest brother, arrived first with Xu Li, his stylish and composed wife, whose sleek bob and cat-eye eyeliner were the envy of the entire courtyard.
Next came Jia Wei, her second brother, more laid-back, sleeves rolled to the elbows, followed by Yao Jing, his bubbly wife who greeted everyone like sunshine on legs.
And finally, their elder sister Jia Ruiyu walked in on the arm of her gentle husband Zhou Heng. Both were warm and smiling, bringing with them a wave of laughter that filled the room.
The breakfast was cheerful, filled with clinking porcelain, exchanged jokes, and passing dishes.
"Lan Lan, you look extra glowy today," Xu Li said with an amused glance.
"I agree," said Yao Jing, leaning in with curiosity. "What soap are you using?"
Jia Lan pretended to pout. "Why? Were you all thinking I looked dull before?"
Everyone laughed.
> Ding! Mood Point +1: Family Bonding
The blue screen popped up briefly, invisible to the others.
Jia Lan's lips curled. So even positive interactions gave points?
Good to know.
Her spoon paused above a bowl of congee as a thought struck her. This family—their kindness, warmth, and easy affection—none of it matched the cold villainess backstory she'd expected. She'd assumed the original Jia Lan was a lonely, bratty bird in a gilded cage.
But now? This family doted on her.
Why had the original turned out so wrong?
Or maybe… maybe this version of Jia Lan could rewrite the story.
After breakfast, Lin Shunhua waved her hand. "Go see your grandfather. He's on the veranda."
Jia Lan stood and nodded obediently. "Yes, Mother."
She made her way past the inner courtyard garden, where koi fish swam lazily beneath a stone bridge, and arrived at a large shaded veranda where two elderly figures sat beneath a ceiling fan.
Her paternal grandfather, Jia Yusheng, wore a crisp white tunic. His posture, though aged, still carried the air of military command. A long scar ran across one brow—a badge of past glory.
Beside him, her grandmother, Madam Chen Meiyun, sat knitting with practiced ease. Her eyes, sharp and warm, lit up when she saw Jia Lan.
"Lan Lan," Jia Yusheng grunted. "Still sleeping in?"
"She's young," Chen Meiyun scolded lightly. "And she looks lovely today."
Jia Lan sat between them, heart oddly full.
"Come," said Jia Yusheng, "Tell me. What plans does our youngest Jia have for the day?"
She tilted her head. "I was thinking of reading for a while. Maybe help tidy the art room upstairs."
The old man grunted approval. "Good. Don't waste your brain."
> Ding! Location Detected: Jia Residence Veranda Reward Unlocked: Elegant Aura – Social Grace Bonus (Passive)
Jia Lan exhaled softly.
A new life, a powerful family, a warm home.
And a cheat system.
If she played this right, she wouldn't just survive this novel.
She'd thrive in it.
To be continued...