Hearthfires and the Sound of Reading in the Old Alley, Season 5

About the story

Shen Nian’an’s life takes a turn for the better on every front. She passes most of her self-study examinations, pays off all her debts and is formally accepted as Gu Qingyuan’s apprentice, putting both her career and her studies on firmer ground. Meanwhile, Lu Chengze stops hiding his concern and begins looking after every aspect of her daily life. He stays up with her on Lunar New Year’s Eve and joins her in burning paper offerings, puts her photograph in his own album and gives her a calligraphy brush for her birthday. Shen Nian’an finds herself blushing with a racing heart. Everyone around them can see how Lu Chengze feels, but she is the last to realize it; all that remains is for the two of them to acknowledge their feelings.