The next morning, the lanterns still fluttered gently in the breeze, some of them half-collapsed, their silk scorched by candle wax or torn by the rowdy aftermath. What had begun as a refined cultural gathering had ended in a spectacle—just not the kind the organizers had hoped for.
At the Jia residence, the atmosphere was charged.
The entire family had gathered in the central salon. Grandfather Jia sat at the head, cane resting against his knee, his silver brows furrowed in a thunderous line. The matriarch, Grandmother Lin, poured herself a cup of chrysanthemum tea but didn't sip it. Her sharp gaze was focused on her son.
"They tried to trip her," she said coolly. "In public. On Lantern Festival. Before the city's eyes."
Jia Chenghai nodded grimly. "And failed. Pathetically. But not without stirring whispers."
"She even tampered with the lantern scripts," muttered Yao Jing, pacing behind the couch like a storm contained in silk. "Swapped out Jia Lan's name scrolls with her own—just to get called up by the host. How desperate can one get?"
Xu Li, poised and radiant in a lavender robe, crossed one leg over the other and sipped her tea delicately. "Not just desperate, darling. Dull-witted too. Her calligraphy couldn't even hold up under scrutiny. I heard an old poetry judge laughed."
"Like a goose honking," added Jia Wei with a grin.
Jia Lan, seated quietly in the corner with her hands folded, let out a low breath. "I don't mind the stunt. It's the arrogance—thinking I wouldn't notice, or worse, that I wouldn't have the standing to defend myself."
Her eldest brother, Jia Zhe, turned from the window. "You didn't need to defend yourself. You just stood there. The audience judged for you."
"I know," she said, smiling faintly. "Still. It's exhausting."
Her mother, Lin Shunhua, reached over and gently smoothed a hand over her hair. "You handled it well, Lan'er. They flailed, and you soared."
Jia Chenghai's voice cut through the moment like a blade.
"They made a fool of themselves. But let's not assume they're done."
Everyone turned to him.
"They wanted attention. And they're not used to being ignored. That makes them dangerous."
Grandfather Jia rapped his cane once against the floor. "Then let's ignore them harder."
Laughter rang out across the salon.
But Jia Lan's gaze stayed thoughtful. "They're not just attention-seeking. They're trying to climb."
"And using you as the ladder," her mother added with quiet steel.
Grandmother Lin finally took a sip of her tea and set it down with finality. "Then it's time to remind them: ladders can be pulled away."
lanterns swaying gently outside the windows, their warm glow starkly at odds with the heated conversation inside.
Jia Lan sat on the plush brocade couch, her face calm and unbothered, as if she hadn't just witnessed Liu Fenfang attempt a dramatic public sabotage. She sipped warm osmanthus tea, her posture the epitome of grace.
But her grandmother, Old Madam Jia, was not as calm.
"That shameless girl tried to embarrass you in public?" she fumed, her voice sharp. "And that husband of hers just stood there, pretending not to notice! I should've known nothing good would come from letting country people visit."
"Mother," Jia Chenghai said gently, "they're from Father's village. He meant well."
"Mean well?" Old Madam Jia glared at her husband. "It's because of your so-called village pride that they even stepped foot into this home! Now look at our poor Lan Lan!"
Grandfather Jia sighed and lowered his gaze. "I thought... they were just trying to find their footing in the city. Who knew they'd turn so shameless?"
Jia Lan raised an eyebrow, hiding a smile behind her teacup.
Poor Lan Lan?
She was dressed in moonlight silk, her reputation untarnished, while Liu Fenfang left the festival red-faced and ignored, having failed spectacularly in her schemes. If anything, she should've sent her condolences.
Across the room, her eldest brother, Jia Zhe, sat with a deep frown, arms crossed. "Let them try anything again. We won't be so polite next time."
Xu Li, his wife, chimed in from beside him. "That Liu Fenfang's face was already three layers thick, and she still tried to upstage our Lan Lan? Pathetic."
Second brother Jia Wei cracked a sunflower seed between his fingers and spat the husk into a porcelain dish. "And Shen Yimin… thinking people should worship his wife just because she married into the city? They act like the rest of us were born under cabbage leaves."
Even Yao Jing, his energetic wife, added cheerfully, "Maybe next time I'll 'accidentally' trip her. Just once. For balance."
The whole family laughed—except for Grandfather Jia, who looked stricken.
"I didn't mean for this," he said quietly, looking toward Jia Lan. "Lan Lan, you know that, right? I just thought… since they're from home…"
Jia Lan reached forward and took his hand gently. "I know, Grandfather. I know your heart is soft. It's why we all love you."
Old Madam Jia gave an indignant huff. "Soft is good. But next time, let your softness stay in the countryside. I won't let these rats run amok just because they know our family name!"
Grandfather Jia sighed and looked down at his cane. "I'll make this right."
"No need," Jia Chenghai interjected coldly. "I already have. Let's just say Liu Fenfang's little attempt at social climbing has earned her a very steep drop instead."
Everyone turned toward Jia Chenghai, eyebrows raised.
"Darling…" Lin Shunhua smiled calmly. "What did you do?"
He sipped his tea with perfect elegance. "Oh, nothing. Just reminded a few city officials who their real allies are."
Yao Jing grinned. "Now that's my father-in-law!"
Jia Lan had to bite back a laugh. Her grandmother's fury was both justified and deeply endearing.
My family's like a team of cute little villains, she thought wryly. Adorably savage, and all mine.
As her grandmother fussed over her, patting her hands and muttering about brewing goji berry soup, Jia Lan leaned back into the plush cushions, warmth blooming in her chest.
This was what real protection looked like. Not public shows or empty gestures, but a circle of people who saw her, believed her, and stood in front of her like a shield the moment the world dared to threaten her peace.
Even if those threats came wearing borrowed suits and too-tight green dresses.
Outside, the lanterns flickered in the sky, but inside, the warmth of familial love wrapped around Jia Lan like armor. No matter how cunning the so-called heroine and her meekly loyal male lead tried to be—Jia Lan would never fall.
They might've brought drama, but she had something stronger: a family with claws. And no one messed with the Jia family and got away unscathed.