“Nuan is here?”
Mr. Yang, the Shi family’s housekeeper, was the first person to notice Shi Nuan. “Hurry over! What are you standing outside for?” he said with a smile.
“It may not be winter yet, but the autumn wind can get pretty cold. Come on in, Nuan. Go say hi to the old man. You have no idea how much he misses you!”
Mr. Yang had been the one to serve and remain alongside Shi Yunsheng all these years. Having stayed in the Shi family home all this while, he was well aware of everyone’s characters and certainly knew how much the old man loved Shi Nuan.
Shi Nuan’s felt tears well up in her eyes. Her hand felt warm in his. “OK, then take me to see grandpa! How has he been? Is he eating well?”
“He’s eating well and is full of energy!” Mr. Yang said with a smile. “You really do care about him. He’s exceptionally happy knowing that you’d come back today.”
Mr. Yang knew Shi Nuan didn’t like being in noisy settings, so they avoided the crowd by passing through the backyard, then headed upstairs to meet Shi Yunsheng.
It may have been Shi Yunsheng’s birthday, but the true motive behind this party was for Shi Jingzheng to make some new connections with well-known businessmen. Shi Yunsheng was already old, so he had little interest in such affairs. If it weren’t for Shi Nuan, he wouldn’t have agreed to this celebration.
Shi Nuan went up to the second floor, walked pass the corridor and reached Shi Yunsheng’s study room. She knocked on the door. “Grandpa! It’s me, Nuan!”
Shi Yunsheng’s eyes instantly lit up. “Come in, Nuan!”
Shi Nuan pushed the door open to see Shi Yunsheng practicing his calligraphy. She walked over with a smile. “Hi, grandpa.”
“Nuan!”
Meanwhile, in the banquet room downstairs, Shi Wei paced back and forth while looking towards the door from time to time. “Mom, didn’t you say Shi Nuan would surely come? Why hasn’t she arrived yet?”
“Don’t worry. Considering how close that brat is with the old man, there’s no way she wouldn’t come. Just be patient!” Jiang Yu was starting to feel anxious too, but Shi Jingzheng had said that Shi Nuan would surely turn up.
“Mommy will surely be on your side. We’ll make sure your grandpa and Shi Nuan approve of your relationship with Xicheng no matter what,” she said while patting Shi Wei’s hand.
“Thank you, mom!” Shi Wei’s eyes reddened as she hugged Jiang Yu. “You always treat me the best, mom. When I get married to Xicheng, he’ll be good to you too!”
“That little brat,” Jiang Yu said as she patted Shi Wei’s head, her eyes full of rage.
If that little brat, Shi Nuan, were to ruin her plans, she would make her pay.
……
By 8pm, almost all the guests had already arrived. Shi Jingzheng was busy introducing Shi Wei and Fu Xicheng to some prominent figures in the corporate world. Meanwhile, Fu Yuqing and his wife just stood by the side watching, increasingly satisfied with their future daughter-in-law.
Suddenly, someone among the crowd asked, “Mr. Shi, it’s the old man’s birthday, but why haven’t I seen him?”
It was only then that Shi Jingzheng awkwardly summoned Mr. Yang over. The housekeeper gave Shi Jingzheng a meaningful glance and said, “I’ll have the old master and Ms. Nuan come down at once.”
Ms. Nuan? Shi Jingzheng’s eyes narrowed. “Shi Nuan is back?”
“Yes. Ms. Nuan has always been very filial. She went to see the old master the moment she came back.” Mr. Yang only stated the facts, but his words weren’t pleasing to Shi Jingzheng’s ears.
Shi Jingzheng’s expression darkened, but he couldn’t lash out in front of all these people here. Furthermore, Mr. Yang worked for the old man, so there was nothing Shi Jingzheng could do to him. “In that case, please call the old man and Shi Nuan down here, Mr. Yang!”
