She called out, 'Come in.' Turning around, she once again saw the Maid Xu Meilin entering the room.
"Young Madam, the Old Madam invites you to the main hall." Xu Meilin said politely.
Liu Yiran blinked. "Old Madam wants to see me? Why?" she asked softly.
Xu Meilin shook her head slowly. "I'm not aware, young madam."
Liu Yiran frowned, sifting through every memory of her wedding and what followed in her previous life, but nothing came to her. Other than giving her jade bracelet,that she already received,then what could it be?...Eventually, she gave up with a sigh.
So she gave a small nod to the maid and quietly followed after her.
Upon entering the main hall, she found Old Madam Chen settled on the sofa, looking calm and peaceful,there was a hint of smile on her face.
Seeing her Liu Yiran heart become softened, she wore a gentle smile and stepped forward to greet the Old Madam.
Seeing her, With a warm smile, Old Madam Chen beckoned, "Ah, Xiao Ran, come sit by my side."
Liu Yiran blinked and took a seat beside Old Madam Chen.Don't understand why Grandma Chen so excited.
The gentle warmth in Grandma Chen's face made her heart soften.
Even in her previous life—despite all the foolish mistakes she'd made—Grandma Chen had never stopped care her and doing everything that she could to protect her.
"Come, look at this. It's the gift Grandma specially chose for you." Old Madam spoke with excitement, carefully taking out a purple box.
Liu Yiran startled, don't know how to rejecte Grandma's enthusiasm.
With a bit of hesitation, Liu Yiran reached out and took the box.
With slightly curious she opened the box, she was stunned. Inside lay a beautiful pair of earrings—the pink lotus design matched perfectly with the color of the dress she was wearing now.
Just by looking at them, she could tell this jade earrings were priceless.
The green jade seemed to emit a soft, mysterious radiance that words could hardly capture.
"Grandma… this is too much. I can't accept it. I've already received a gift from you."Liu Yiran spoke in a flustered rush.
"Are you taking about jade bracelet? It is a customary gift for daughters-in-law of the Chen family.
But these earrings are different—they were carefully chosen by Grandma. I personally want to give you this.
Xiao Ran, is it that you don't like them?"Grandma Chen asked with unsure tone.
"No, Grandma, how could I not like it? It's the most beautiful earrings I have ever seen, It's just… it looks so valuable, I feel like I don't deserve it," Yiran said flusteredly.
"Child, how can you say you don't deserve it? You are this Fang Lianhua's granddaughter-in-law—if anyone deserves this, it's you.
And look at these earrings, full of vibrant colors. They're meant for young girls like you to wear. Tell me, apart from you, who here is still a young girl?
Sigh... I birthed two sons, and both of them delivered nothing but smelly boys.Not even one little girl for me to dress up! These earrings can't grow mold in my drawer, can they? Hurry up, take them".
Liu Yiran felt her breath catch. This scene had never appeared in her previous life.
Even though Grandma Chen had loved her deeply back then, she only gifted her the jade bracelet much later, making up for what she couldn't give during the tea ceremony.
But the earrings—these dazzling, unfamiliar earrings—were completely new. It shows that how much Grandma Chen value her. It seemed that in this life, fate itself was shifting.
A part of her couldn't bring herself to accept it. She felt unworthy of Grandma's warmth and kindness.
In this family, only person she felt truly wronged was Grandma.
No matter what she was like, Grandma never allowed her to be wronged. Yet in the end, she was the one who disappointed Grandma.
She couldn't bring herself to refuse Grandma so blatantly, but accepting the gift felt painful too. Trapped in her own turmoil,She sat there helplessly, not knowing what to do.
"Grandma, I—" Liu Yiran tried to refuse again, but Grandma Chen interrupted her with a slightly angry tone.
"Girl, since you already call me Grandma, why are you still being so formal? Don't be shy, take it, and wear it, let me see. "
Under Grandma Chen's earnest gaze, Liu Yiran's words got stuck in her throat, and she finally accepted the gift.
And under Grandma Chen's eager gaze, she reclutenly put on the earrings.
Grandma Chen's eyes sparkled. The girl in the pink dress, with jade lotus earrings swaying gently, looked ethereal and luminous—so much so that Grandma Chen felt quietly proud of her choice.
"Ah Ze, come have a look. Aren't the earrings Grandma picked look beautiful on Xiao Ran?"
Grandma Chen's cheerful voice startled Liu Yiran, leaving her momentarily stunned.
Following Grandma Chen's gaze to the spot behind her, she turned her head.
Chen Zeyan had been on his way to meet some of his friends when he spotted his grandmother and his new young wife talking. For some reason, made him pause and stay where he was.
Hearing his grandmother call him, he stepped forward and came to stand beside them. His gaze naturally fell on his young wife.
He didn't know much about jewelry, but even he could tell that the earrings suited her very well.
He instinctively nodded and added, "It looks good."
Liu Yiran was dumbfounded; she had no idea he was even there all the time.
She froze on the spot hearing him, What in the world was going on? The man colder than an ice pillar had just praised her looks? did he even know what beauty is?She must be dreaming.
But Grandma Chen became the happiest of them all; she couldn't stop smiling.
Chen Zeyan glanced at his watch and said, "Grandma, I'm heading out for a bit."
Grandma, still smiling like a happy bee, didn't bother to stop him. "Ok, ok… go on then. Take care!"
"Xiao Ran, see? Ah Ze also agrees Grandma's eye is sharp," she said with a grin.
Liu Yiran could only force a smile onto her lips, unsure how to respond, could only stare after Chen Zeyan's retreating back.She can't guss what he's thinking.
Back in her room, Liu Yiran paused before the mirror, her eyes lingering on her own reflection.
Just as Grandma had said, the earrings were really beautiful— they also perfectly matched her youthful self.
But it also made her feel guilty.
Even if she blamed others, she knew clearly that she was the one who caused Grandma's death in her previous life. It was a fact she could never change—her own foolishness had led to the death of the only person in this family who truly loved her.
The imperial city was a place of opulence, overflowing with wealth and grandeur.
There was famed 'Moonlight Palace' a Luxurious Lounge was favorite gathering spot for rich second generations. In the private room which glittered under soft amber lights, every inch of it—from the velvet folds to the ornate carvings—crafted to enchant.
Yet all that luxury couldn't mask the heaviness in there. Where Four figures sat in silence, the friction between them stronger, faint tension sharpening the air.
"Well.. seems we need to be careful with the next product line. The government is trying to get involved."
A calm yet resonant voice pierced the tense silence.
All eye shifted at Huo Rongxu, who had just spoken.
"It isn't as if we're planning something awful or illegal. If everything goes smoothly, the public will benefit first. I truly don't see the problem," Yan Mozhou said, annoyance flickering in his tone.
"That is exactly the problem. How could the government possibly let a bunch of businessmen swallow such a piece of big apple for themselves?" Ling Yichen scoffed and looked over at the man who hadn't said a single word until now. "Chen Zeyan what do you think we should do.?"