Jiang Xitong: Morning Blossoms/Memory

## Chapter 1: Flower Fest Promise

Narration
Xitong slowly put a basket on a table and fiddled with the neatly arranged flowers inside to welcome the warm spring sun.
Jiang Xitong
Feel free to take one if you want.
Player Selection
▸ Is it for me?
[Player]
It’s for me? Are you sure?
Jiang Xitong
Yes. These are fresh from Flower Fest and are meant to share with close friends, per our custom.
Player Selection
▸ Choose Scotch broom
[Player]
Then I pick… the Scotch broom.
Jiang Xitong
You like Scotch brooms, don’t you?
The buds resembled fledgling canaries and represent abundant vitality. It’s a flower for good health and energy.
▸ Choose moth orchid
[Player]
Then I pick… the moth orchid.
Jiang Xitong
You like moth orchids, don’t you?
It looks very much like a fluttering butterfly, and also symbolizes everlasting friendship.
[Player]
Thank you! These are all very pretty. Did you pick them yourself?
Jiang Xitong
Not all by myself.
[Scene changes to a riverside, with a raised bridge in the distance with a Cloud-style building on top]

Narration
It was during the Flower Fest, when I wandered alone in the Evergreen Garden.
The phone rang. It was a group video call.
Mr. Jiang
Where are you, Jiang Beixi?
Jiang Beixi
I’m editing film at the station.
Mr. Jiang
You’re in the office during Flower Fest? Well, don’t work too hard now.
Jiang Xitong
Jiang Beixi is in Apple Federation, Dad. They don’t celebrate Flower Fest.
Mr. Jiang
Oh, I see.
Jiang Beixi
Are you celebrating together?
Jiang Xitong
No, it’s just me flower watching outside. Mom and Dad are over at Grandma’s.
Mr. Jiang
Beixi and Xitong, do you still recall the game Mom showed you, the one we always played when we go flower watching?
Jiang Beixi
You mean Grass Battle?
Player Selection
▸ What’s “Grass Battle”?
[Player]
What’s “Grass Battle”?
Jiang Xitong
Grass Battle is a traditional game in Cloud Empire based on who can better apply plant names to poetry.
Narration
This game requires knowing both literature and plants.
Our mom is a history professor and taught us a lot through the game.
Mr. Jiang
You guys should play. It will give Jiang Beixi a chance to relax, too.
Jiang Beixi
Isn’t that a kid’s game…?
Narration
I know. This is his excuse to let Grandma spend more time with us, but Jiang Beixi is slow on the uptake…
Jiang Xitong
Speaking of Grass Battle, Jiang Beixi never beat me when we were kids.
Jiang Beixi
...
That was back then. It might not be the case now.
Narration
I see reverse psychology works best on Jiang Beixi.
Jiang Xitong
Why don’t you start and send me pictures? I’ll find the appropriate plant in the garden.
Mr. Jiang

## Chapter 2: Scotch Broom and Jade Hairpin

Narration
Jiang Beixi sent a photo of a shrub with slender, snow-white buds dotting its big leaves.
Jiang Xitong
Ah! This plant’s not common in Cloudcrest, but prevalent in other cities and has many poems written about it.
Of course, I recognize it. It’s a hosta. “In far like plum blossom snow. In front unlike pear blossom moon.”
Jiang Beixi
Good job. But that’s just a warm up.
I remember that was when you just learned a few traditional hairstyles and styled your hair all the time.
Do you recall when you put a hosta in your hair and pretended it was a jade pin?
Narration
I didn’t expect her to mention it. I remember, naturally, but wasn’t going to admit it.
Jiang Xitong
I don’t recall…
Jiang Beixi
You were impressive, Sis, able to dress up your hair as in a reference photo.
And you insisted the “hairpin: be in the exact, impeccable position, too…
Player Selection
▸ Guess you have an immature side too
[Player]
Pfft, I didn’t think you were such a child.
Jiang Xitong
Of course. Who wasn’t young and dumb at one time or another?
Looking back now, that was rather dumb, but it meant a lot to me then.
▸ You’re very cute when you were little
[Player]
You’re actually pretty cute when you’re little.
Jiang Xitong
Cute? You mean rather dumb?
I’ve almost forgotten it entirely, but I see you didn’t… I wonder how long you’ve been making fun of me for that.
Jiang Beixi
So, now it’s your turn.
Jiang Xitong
Okay, how about this?
Narration
I picked out a Scotch broom and showed it to Jiang Beixi on camera.
Jiang Xitong
Well, a Scotch broom should match your hosta well.
Jiang Beixi
Scotch broom…? I get it, you use a broom to sweep fallen hosta away.
What, was I wrong?
Jiang Xitong
You’re quicker than usual on that one.
Jiang Beixi
I’m really not into this, but since you’d always study around this time, I did my share of spying, too.
Narration
I didn’t think she would delve into my Moments.
Mr. Jiang

## Chapter 3: Phoenix and Butterfly

Narration
Jiang Beixi lost Round 1 but seemed unconcerned. However, she stepped up considerably with her second photo.
This time, the photo showed a looming tree with fiery red flowers contrasting the green leaves.
Jiang Xitong
That’s a flaming poinciana, a plant unique to Wasteland.
Jiang Beixi
You know about Wasteland plants, too. I’m impressed.
Jiang Xitong
It’s called the Firebird Tree because its leaves are like phoenix feathers and its flower like feathers on a phoenix’s head.
Narration
It was Jiang Beixi’s turn to be stunned.
I didn’t want to elaborate, but seeing how surprised Jiang Beixi was, I couldn’t help but speak my mind.
Jiang Xitong
Your channel did a program on this tree.
Jiang Beixi
You saw my show?!
Jiang Xitong
Was that your show? I just happened to come across it while changing the channel.
But I did check and you weren’t quite accurate on certain specifics. We’ll go over that later.
Player Selection
▸ You really cared about Jiang Beixi
[Player]
You actually really care about Jiang Beixi, right?
Jiang Xitong
To be honest, I probably wouldn’t know where she ran off to if I didn’t keep up on the updates for her show.
However, she and her show are improving by the day.
▸ You’re trying to change the subject
[Player]
You brushed it off since you didn’t want to admit you watched it because you cared about her.
Jiang Xitong
Of course. I’m the older sister, after all. I don’t just watch her programs to see how she is but also to keep tabs on her.
She travels a lot and is impossible to get a hold of on moment’s notice.
Narration
Jiang Beixi recovered and returned to her usual composed self.
Jiang Beixi
Alright, since you know it’s a Firebird Tree, you better pray you find a dragon pine in the garden to match it.
Jiang Xitong
Must dragon always be matched with phoenix? Adhering to standard convention and literary mindset is why you always lost to me.
Jiang Beixi
We’ll see.
Jiang Xitong
The dragon indeed can go with the phoenix, but that’s not the only option. You can get creative.
Narration
I said as I walked toward the greenhouse full of bluegrass.
[Scene changes to an enclosed garden]

Narration
As soon as I got to the door, I heard people hollering inside.
Young Girl
We are!
Everyone
The Thousand Autumns Fashion Society!
Girl
And our favorite is!
Everyone
Xitong, the Wardrobe Advisor!
Narration
Through the glass, I saw a group of young girls in Cloud Empire costumes holding up a “Thousand Autumns Fashion Society” banner.

## Chapter 4: Wide-Leaf Magnolia

Narration
The glass greenhouse has been around since we were little, only with more rare plants than we remembered.
I showed every inch of the greenhouse with my phone for Jiang Beixi, and she came to the same sentiment.
Jiang Beixi
I had thought the Evergreen Garden stayed the same, when in truth it housed completely new flowers now.
Jiang Xitong
Flowers weren’t the only thing to change. People who watched them and their perspectives, too.
Before, I felt the flower walls were enormous. But not now.
Jiang Beixi
Also, after changing my perspective, I realized you actually have a tolerant side.
That’s why you refused to see the fangirls and risk killing their enthusiasm by pointing out the errors in their design, right?
Jiang Xitong
Not at all. I just didn’t want to cause a commotion.
Jiang Beixi
That’s also true and something about you that never changed.
Narration
Jiang Beixi laughed and so did Dad.
Jiang Xitong
That’s enough. If you got nothing else, it’s my turn.
If you lose to me again, how about shooting a video on traditional Cloud Empire costumes for me next time you come home?
Jiang Beixi
Free labor again?
Jiang Xitong
Are you going to admit defeat?
Jiang Beixi
What if I win?
Jiang Xitong
I’ll design the perfect Cloud Empire costume along with the best hairstyle for you, personally. How’s that?
Jiang Beixi
I’m trying to figure out if I should lose or win… This is quite a problem.
[Player]
So, did you come out on top at the end?
Jiang Xitong
Well… You’ll figure it out when you see my new video.