I feel right at home in the world of the courtyard house.

As the sun set, the autumn afterglow cast a warm, golden glow on the gray walls and black tiles of the courtyard house. Qin Huairu, carrying a worn cloth bag, had just stepped into the front yard when she was stopped by Uncle Yan Bugui, the third uncle, who emerged from the east wing.

"Huai Ru, off work?" The third uncle pushed up his glasses, a smile plastered on his face, but his eyes swept over Qin Huai Ru like searchlights. He was still holding a watering can in his hand.

"Uncle, are you watering the flowers here?" Qin Huairu stopped in her tracks, her heart tightening slightly, but her face still wore her usual gentle smile, though she looked a little tired.

"That's right," the third uncle nodded at another potted plant and said slowly, "This afternoon, when that kid Sha Zhu came back from get off work, his voice was so loud that the whole courtyard could hear him. He was shouting that you've become the head of the guesthouse? Is that true?" He squinted and the corners of his mouth turned up, but his smile seemed to carry a hint of scrutiny and assessment.

Qin Huairu knew this couldn't be kept secret; there were hardly any secrets in the courtyard, especially with Sha Zhu's inability to keep a secret. She nodded, her tone calm: "It's true, Third Uncle. It was just announced today."

"Hey! This is great news!" The third uncle raised his voice, attracting the attention of passersby. "Squad leader, that's no ordinary person! Your salary... must have increased quite a bit, right?" He asked casually, but his grip on the teapot tightened slightly.

Qin Huairu sighed inwardly, knowing this was the crux of the matter. She smoothed a stray strand of hair from her forehead and gave a wry smile: "You're joking, Third Uncle. I've only been transferred from the workshop to the guesthouse for a short time, and I'm not very experienced. I've become a foreman, but my salary... is still calculated based on my original position, without any increase." She deliberately emphasized the words "without an increase," knowing that saying this would save her a lot of trouble and envy.

Sure enough, a complex emotion flashed across the Third Uncle's face, a mixture of relief, disappointment, and a subtle balance of "I knew it." A sour feeling practically seeped from every pore of his skin.

"Oh...I see. That's because the leaders value you. That's a good thing! From now on, our institute will have 'our own people' at the guesthouse." He spoke with hidden meaning, and then made a few more small talk, asking if the work was hard and if the colleagues got along well. Every sentence revolved around the guesthouse and Director Li Jing'an.

Qin Huairu responded to the conversation flawlessly, but her mind was already back at the Central Courtyard. Having finally managed to escape, as she walked towards the courtyard, she felt the gaze still lingering on her back, and she quickened her pace.

As soon as I entered the moon gate of the central courtyard, a tall figure stood there; it was none other than Sha Zhu.

He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, and upon seeing Qin Huairu, he immediately grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth, and approached her with a smirk: "Sister Qin, you're back! How was it? Did Third Uncle block your way at the door? I bet he did!"

Looking at his carefree smile, Qin Huairu couldn't help but feel a hint of resentment, her tension from the past few days and the frustration from dealing with him earlier turning into a complaint: "You're so quick to talk! It's not even a sure thing yet, and you've already made it known to the whole hospital."

She gave Sha Zhu a reproachful glare, but her tone softened unconsciously. In this courtyard, Sha Zhu's concern was one of the few that wasn't driven by much ulterior motive.

"What's wrong with talking about this? It's great news!" Sha Zhu didn't care at all. He followed Qin Huairu to her house and his voice was still loud. "Guesthouse supervisor! Sister Qin, you've risen to the same level as me in no time! Looking around this courtyard, apart from Li Jing'an who lives in the small courtyard, it's just the two of us!" He puffed out his chest, looking very proud.

Qin Huairu stopped in front of her own doorstep, turned around, and shook her head helplessly: "Stop talking nonsense. I'm just an empty title of 'class monitor,' I haven't received a single pay raise, how can I compare to you, the real canteen monitor? Don't embarrass me."

"You can't say that," Sha Zhu said, becoming more serious and lowering his voice. "Li Jing'an is a good person, and he's methodical in his work. Since he promoted you to be the squad leader, I think a raise is just a matter of time! Everyone can see how hard you work."

He paused, scratched his head, looked around, and lowered his voice even further, "Sister Qin, the Mid-Autumn Festival is almost here, do you want to... do something to thank Director Li for his promotion? I... have some money on hand, you can borrow it first." He stammered a little, but his eyes were very sincere.

Qin Huairu's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately waved her hand, her voice soft but firm: "Absolutely not! Zhuzi, I appreciate your kindness, but this gift cannot be given."

Seeing Sha Zhu's puzzled face, she explained, "Li Jing'an promoted me because he thinks I'm a reliable and efficient worker. If I had given him a gift, who knows what people would think? Would they say I got this squad leader position by giving gifts? Wouldn't that tarnish Li Jing'an's reputation and narrow my own career path?"

Sha Zhu blinked, seemingly agreeing with her reasoning, yet also a little worried for her: "But..."

"There's no 'but' about it," Qin Huairu interrupted him, her tone resolute. "You'll listen to me on this. I'll remember your kindness." She patted Sha Zhu's arm, giving him a reassuring smile.

Seeing that she had made up her mind, Sha Zhu could only mutter a couple of things: "Alright, as long as you know what you're doing. If you need any help, just let me know." Then he sauntered back to his room.

Watching Sha Zhu's retreating figure, Qin Huairu's smile slowly faded. What Qin Huairu had "given" to Li Jing'an was far more than any ordinary gift. Serving him at the courtyard at night, and at the guesthouse during the day—she had given her own body. In her eyes, this squad leader was nothing more than a deserved reward for these "efforts."

The news of Qin Huairu's promotion to squad leader was like a pebble thrown into the seemingly calm waters of the courtyard, its ripples spreading outwards to every household.