"Has she not arrived yet?" Old Master Shen asked Butler Wang who had brought his medicine for him. Old Master Shen sat propped up against a stack of pillows. His hands trembled, and his back was hunched slightly. But even weakened and dying, he still held the authoritative aura of the patriarch of the family. Though lately, that sharpness in his eyes had been dulled by something like regret.
"Not yet, Old Master. But I'm sure she'll be here soon."
A flicker of irritation crossed the old man's sunken face. Ever since he'd been confined to this bed and wait for death, he'd had far too much time to think and look back at the decisions he'd made over the years. Somewhere in between, he was reminded of his eldest granddaughter, whom he had sent away long. Perhaps it was guilt creeping in now that death was knocking at his door, or maybe he felt it was his responsibility to bring her back.
Yet he was told earlier by the driver that she'd refused to come with him, saying she'd rather take a taxi than ride in the car the family had sent.
"Throwing a tantrum like a child," he muttered.
Butler Wang lowered his head slightly. "She is still young. Perhaps she does not understand your intentions back then."
Old Master Shen gave a snort. "Young? She's the same age as Wanwan. Look how mature and understanding Wanwan is. But that girl... she takes after her mother."
Butler Wang wisely chose not to comment. Instead, he pushed the medicine bowl closer. "Please take your medicine first. The doctor said you must not get agitated."
Just like Old Master Shen, there were other people who were also waiting to meet the girl they had not seen in ten years. Though if they were being honest, most of them had hoped they'd never see her again.
.
.
It was a couple of hours later when a taxi pulled up to the front gates of the Shen family estate. The driver went to the trunk and took out a wheelchair. From the passenger seat, an older woman stepped out. Then, she went to the other side and helped a young girl into the wheelchair.
The girl looked fragile, as if the softest wind would fly her away. Her skin was sickly pale, and the color on her face came from her lips, which had a faint natural pink to them. She was dressed simply in loose, comfortable clothes that seemed to hang on her thin frame.
But despite the obvious illness, she was breathtakingly beautiful.
The two guards stationed at the gate certainly couldn't help could not help but look at her for a moment longer.
Aunt Li positioned herself behind the wheelchair and began pushing toward the entrance. The guards, suddenly remembering they had a job to do, quickly moved to block their path.
"Wait! Who are you, and what's your business here?"
"How dare you stop us at the gate! Can you not even recognize the Eldest Young Miss of the Shen family?" Aunt Li snapped.
The guards exchanged confused glances, but then they remembered the jinx who was sent away by the family to lie in the countryside. This...was her? They were surprised and had not expected to see her today. It was clear they were not informed she was returning.
"Please wait here. We'll need to confirm your identity before we can let you inside," one of them said.
"You-"
"Aunt Li," Shen Yelan cut her off in a soft voice. Even her voice sounded weak, and one could not help but feel pity for her. A second later, she lifted a handkerchief to her lips and coughed, which made her whole body tremble.
Aunt Li immediately forgot all about the guards. She quickly pulled out a thermal bottle and poured warm water into a small cup, pressing it into Shen Yelan's hands.
"Here, drink this slowly. Don't strain yourself."
Shen Yelan took a small sip, her hands trembling slightly around the cup.
Aunt Li immeditly forgot the guards and poured some warm water from the thermal bottle and handed it to Shen Yelan.
After making sure Shen Yelan was stable, Aunt Li turned her glare back on the guards who were staring at Shen Yelan with a sympathetic gaze. "What are you still standing there gawking for? Go inside and inform the family that the Eldest Young Miss has returned."
"Yes," the guard immeditly ran inside.
A minute later, he returned with Butler Wang. Butler Wang was startled when he saw Shen Yelan's appearance.
He had heard from reports that she'd been seriously injured in the kidnapping incident and that her health had been poor ever since. The reports had mentioned she was crippled and could no longer walk.
It was said that those who lived in villages had dark and rough skin, but the girl before him looked nothing like that. If anything, she looked like she'd been kept in a glass case all these years. She looked like a porcelain doll, pale and delicate and strikingly beautiful.
"Welcome Miss. Everyone has been waiting for your arrival." Butler Wang greeted her.
Those around immeditly noticed he did not refer to her as Eldest Young Miss. Butler Wang worked under Old Master Shen and took orders from no one but him. His words were often taken as a direct reflection of Old Master Shen's own thoughts and wishes. Right now, with just one sentence, he had told everyone what Shen Yelan's status was before Old Master Shen.
"Thank you, Butler Wang." Shen Yelan looked up at him with those dark eyes. Her expression remained soft, almost innocent. She gave a small smile as if she either didn't understand anything.
Butler Wang took notice of it. It seemed like she was not smart, and it would be really easy to control her.
"Please come inside." He led her inside.
Pushing Shen Yelan's wheelchair, Aunt Li gave a mocking glance at the old butler but the look was gone before anyone could notice.
The girl in the wheelchair sat still, her hands folded in her lap, her expression as gentle and fragile as a flower petal.
If anyone had been watching closely, they might have noticed the faintest curve at the corner of her lips.
But no one was watching that closely.
They were all too busy underestimating her.