Work Text:
Ning Yingying watches as a small booklet falls out of Liu-shishu's sister's sleeve. She goes to pick it up to return it but when she looks back up, booklet in hand, Liu Mingyan is nowhere to be seen. She looks back down at the booklet and sees it has no writing on the outside. Though she knows she shouldn't her curiosity gets the better of her.
She flips through the booklet, seeing hastily scribbled ideas for Regret of Chunshan? Liu Mingyan is Sleeping Flower Among Willow!? Ning Yingying reads more carefully. It seems to be the beginnings of a flashback scene to when Luo Binghe first came to the sect. It's very…sweet? Nothing at all like how Ning Yingying remembers her Shizun treating Luo Binghe before his qi deviation.
Ning Yingying continues to read the booklet as she makes her way to Xian Shu to find Liu Mingyan. When she gets there she finds she's not sure where the head disciple's residence is so she stops an unassuming looking shimei and asks for directions. Once she's found her way she knocks lightly on the door. She hears shuffling behind the door before it slowly opens.
Liu Mingyan has her veil secured, hiding most of her expression. "Can I help you?" she asks a bit too bluntly.
"Um, yes. You dropped this and I figured you'd want it back." Ning Yingying chirps.
"Oh. Thank you very much." Liu Mingyan takes her booklet back from Ning Yingying's outstretched hand.
"I um- I know I shouldn't have but I looked inside. I love your writing. I will say though, if you're going for realism that's not how Shizun and my shidi were like before the qi deviation." Ning Yingying looks down at the ground. "I could maybe help you get a better picture of their relationship history? Only if you want obviously." As she looks back up she sees Liu Mingyan's eyes practically sparkling in excitement.
"Tell me everything you know." She says very seriously before practically dragging Ning Yingying into her house.