Cheng Jin had always carried the burden of apologizing to his grandmother, but he never found the right moment to do so. The old lady was particularly stubborn and never showed him a pleasant face whenever they met, let alone have a peaceful conversation with him. In the past few years, Cheng Jin had tried to soften his husband’s heart by bringing gifts to her, but to no avail. When he finally realized his mistakes, he felt too ashamed to face her.

Knowing well that she wouldn’t give him a warm reception this time either, Cheng Jin still decided to visit. Not to win back his husband’s affections, but to sincerely apologize to his grandmother. He hadn’t told his husband, Lu Tao, about this visit. Lu Tao seemed busy, always going to the military department or the military hospital, so frequently that Cheng Jin started to worry about his health. After asking him, Lu Tao pinched Cheng Jin’s cheek, raised an eyebrow, and chuckled, “What do you think could be wrong with me? Kidney deficiency?” Cheng Jin blushed, his worries turning into bashfulness, and whispered, “It’s not impossible…” Given how frequently they were intimate, Cheng Jin was even worried about the effectiveness of his contraception pills.

Lu Tao leaned in closer, “Need me to prove it to you?” After proving his point, Cheng Jin was reassured.

Early in the morning, Cheng Jin began baking a batch of small sweet pastries, experimenting with several fillings until settling on red bean as the tastiest, so he made most of them in that flavor, with the rest being pumpkin and honey. After baking, he carefully packaged the pastries and changed into his outdoor clothes, then drove out.

It took nearly an hour to drive from his home to the You Si family estate. When he saw the coastline, he knew he had arrived. As Cheng Jin parked the car, the You Si family butler greeted him with a smile. Cheng Jin politely returned the greeting. He noticed a particularly striking red car in the parking lot, which looked familiar. After a moment, he felt puzzled, “Yan Qi is here too?”

“Yes, Young Master Yan Qi has already arrived,” the butler informed him. Cheng Jin couldn’t understand why Yan Qi would be invited to a family banquet of You Si Kui. He was about to ask but then realized it might be inappropriate and quickly shut his mouth. He was led into a small banquet hall. As he entered, the chatting crowd paused their conversations and turned to look at him.

Cheng Jin immediately saw his grandmother and became nervous, his prepared apology stuck in his throat. You Si Kui waved him over, “Little Cheng Jin, you’ve arrived, come sit here.” She was seated next to the grandmother, with one seat in between, which she patted, clearly reserved for Cheng Jin.

Relieved, Cheng Jin approached with a smile, “Hello everyone, and hello, Grandma You Si.” He walked over steadily to his grandmother and said in a humble tone, “Grandma, you look beautiful today.”

With the average lifespan on the Imperial Planet now reaching 130 years and many living up to 150, his 80-year-old grandmother indeed looked youthful, her face barely wrinkled, only her hair was graying. The old lady, maintaining a stern face despite the compliment, didn’t smile or look at him, and instead turned to You Si Kui, “Why did you invite him?”

You Si Kui smiled, “Just wanted the youngsters to gather a bit.” Then she introduced to Cheng Jin, “This is my eldest granddaughter, Ai Xue.” Ai Xue, who was beautiful and dressed in a long dress, had a certain heroic look about her. She was one of the two women who had participated in the hovercar race with Lu Tao and others. Cheng Jin smiled at Ai Xue, “We’ve met.”

“We have indeed,” Ai Xue replied with a smile.

The Cheng family, being extremely wealthy and eager to blend with the native nobility, frequently attended such gatherings. Cheng Jin and Ai Xue were about the same age and had met before, though they were not very close.

You Si Kui chuckled, “Right, I forgot, you two are about the same age, you’ve known each other. And you know Yan Qi too, right?”

Cheng Jin glanced at Yan Qi, still puzzled about his presence, and nodded, “I know him.” Yan Qi, dressed in a sleek black suit that accentuated his tall and lean figure, looked effortlessly elegant and handsome. He lazily glanced at Cheng Jin and said, “Of course, I know him. Little Lord Cheng, we almost became partners once.”

This statement changed the expressions around the room; some curious, some frowning. Cheng Jin, of course, was one of the frowners, not out of shame but because he didn’t want his grandmother to hear such things. It made him seem somewhat flirtatious.

Cheng Jin retorted, “That was a big miss, just a joke made by the adults when we were kids.”

“Thank goodness it was just a joke,” Yan Qi replied nonchalantly, with a smirk.

Everyone chuckled, following You Si Kui’s lead in changing the topic, “Little Cheng Jin, what are you holding? Is it a gift for Grandma?”

“Yes, they’re small sweet pastries I baked this morning. Everyone, please have a taste,” Cheng Jin quickly offered.

The pastries were taken away by the butler and soon brought back in individual plates with cutlery and drinks. Cheng Jin nervously took a seat next to his grandmother, noticing the small knitted blanket on her lap that he had made, which relaxed him a bit. When his grandmother’s serving was brought, Cheng Jin quickly offered, “Grandma, let me cut it for you.”

“No need,” the old lady’s tone was cold and distant, mirroring Lu Tao in some respects. “My legs may be useless, but my hands still work. I can do it myself.”

Cheng Jin awkwardly withdrew his hands. You Si Kui attempted to lighten the mood, “Little Cheng Jin is so well-behaved and skilled, not just with clothes but also desserts. These pastries are delicious, much better than what’s sold outside, not greasy at all.”

Cheng Jin, flattered, cautiously watched his grandmother’s reaction. She elegantly cut the pastry into small pieces, took a bite, and without agreeing or disagreeing with You Si Kui’s comment, she took a second piece, easing Cheng Jin’s anxiety slightly.

However, Yan Qi chuckled, “Grandma You Si might be exaggerating. How could they be that tasty? The desserts from my cake shop are a hundred times more delicious.”

You Si Kui, slightly exasperated, “You kid, your cake shop has expanded worldwide, how can you compare?”

Cheng Jin was puzzled, “Expanded worldwide?”

“Yes,” You Si Kui smiled, “the prize you won last time was sponsored by Yan Qi.”

Cheng Jin’s eyes widened, “Sunny Cake Shop is yours?”

“It’s not ‘ours’, it’s ‘mine’,” Yan Qi said leisurely, his arrogance making Cheng Jin lose any desire to continue the conversation, suddenly understanding why his brother had advised him not to get too involved with him. You Si Kui tried to smooth things over again, “The weather is lovely today, Ai Xue, why don’t you take Yan Qi for a walk? Little Cheng Jin, you should take your grandmother out to enjoy the sun too. It’s winter, and such sunny days without wind are rare, perfect for a walk.”

Eagerly, Cheng Jin stood up, “Sure.” He looked at his grandmother, still tentative, “Grandma, shall I push you?” As he reached for her wheelchair, she said, “No need, I can do it myself.”

Today’s wheelchairs were highly intelligent, not only sensing obstacles and choosing the correct paths but also adjusting modes for stairs, making them safe and stable aids. Watching his grandmother wheel herself out, Cheng Jin was unsure what to do until You Si Kui nudged him quietly, “Go help her push.”

Clutching his fists, Cheng Jin hurried after her, grabbed the handles of the wheelchair, and offered again, “Grandma, let me push you.”

This time, the old lady didn’t firmly refuse.

You Si Kui was clearly giving them a chance to be alone. As they reached the outdoors, no one else was around, and a wide avenue stretched ahead, one side facing the sea and the other lined with the You Si family’s expansive buildings. The setting was serene and quiet, with beautiful scenery.

After a short silent walk, Cheng Jin finally gathered his courage, “Grandma, are you cold?”

“Not cold.”

Cheng Jin felt hot, his palms sweating, “I’m knitting a hat, scarf, and gloves for you. I’ll have Lu Tao bring them over once they’re done. I chose cashmere yarn, so it’ll definitely keep you warm when you go out.”

The grandmother was silent for a moment before speaking, “You don’t need to try to please me like this.”

“I’m not… trying to please you…” Cheng Jin’s voice was strained as he looked down, “I just feel sorry for you. I’ve been wanting to apologize. If it wasn’t for my stubbornness, you wouldn’t be like this now… Grandma, I’m sorry. I know saying sorry can’t make up for everything, but I still want to apologize to you!” He released his hold on the wheelchair and stood in front of her, his face full of shame.

The old lady looked at him intently, her face rarely showing smiles or any other expressions, always stern. Even now, her lips were tightly pursed. After seeing the tears falling from Cheng Jin’s eyes, she finally spoke, “There’s no need to cry in front of me.”

Cheng Jin hurriedly wiped away his tears, “Sorry, I just couldn’t help it…” He didn’t want to cry; it seemed like he was trying to gain sympathy.

The old lady said, “I recognize the good changes you are making now, but what you did back then not only hurt me but also my grandson. The rift between you two isn’t something that can be mended just by my forgiveness.”

Cheng Jin felt a pang in his heart as tears rolled down again. He sniffed, “I know.” He took a deep breath, “I came to apologize not just because of Lu Tao, but because I truly realize my mistakes. Grandma, I’m sorry.” He bowed deeply to her.

The old lady turned her head away, her gaze settling on the distant sea horizon. After a long while, she said, “I forgive you.”