After leaving the bridal shop, the two went to pick up the gifts they had prepared in advance and then headed to the Jiang family’s old residence.

The Jiang family had been a prominent family for over a century, which was why they were able to marry into a top-tier family like the Pei family back then.

However, by the time Jiang Chenlin’s mother, Jiang Ruo, came along, a terrorist attack occurred during a family gathering abroad, causing the younger generation to suffer heavy casualties. Otherwise, Jiang Ruo wouldn’t have had to find a husband after the death of her intended marriage partner.

The alliance between the Jiang and Pei families had gradually diminished after Pei Jingyan’s father passed away, and now they had little contact with each other.

Su Qingran had often visited the Jiang family’s old residence in elementary school, but since starting university, she had become busier and visited less frequently. However, Jiang Chenlin’s parents had watched her grow up, so they were quite familiar with each other.

The butler greeted them and led them inside, where Jiang Ruo and Wen Yue were waiting. When they saw Su Qingran, they smiled and said, “Ranran, we haven’t seen you for two months! Why do you look thinner?”

Then Jiang Ruo turned to her son and asked, “Chenlin, have you not been taking good care of Ranran?”

Before Jiang Chenlin could respond, Jiang Ruo took Su Qingran’s hand and placed a stone in her palm. “Ranran, I found this while on a business trip to Xinjiang recently. They say it’s a piece of genuine Hetian jade. If you like it, you can use it for carving.”

Upon inspection, Su Qingran realized it was indeed a natural stone, but it was from Xiuyan in Liaoning Province, classified as river-polished jade, not Hetian jade, and its value was much lower.

To a layperson, the two types of jade are difficult to distinguish, as both have a skin on the surface.

Over the years, Su Qingran had received several jade pieces from Jiang Ruo, some real and some fake, but she had always accepted them for the sake of face. Sometimes, she would carve small items and return them to Jiang Ruo.

Her carving skills had evolved from clumsy to proficient, and regardless of the results, Jiang Ruo cherished everything Su Qingran made.

As the two women chatted, Wen Yue personally brought over a fruit platter. “Xiaoran, don’t just talk to your aunt. Try the grapes I grew.”

“Wow, the grapes in the garden are ripe?” Su Qingran’s eyes lit up. She picked one up, peeled it, and popped it into her mouth, savoring the sweet and sour juice.

For years, Wen Yue had dutifully fulfilled his role as a live-in son-in-law, tending to the garden, growing flowers, and experimenting with recipes to satisfy his wife’s taste buds. He never interfered with the company’s affairs.

“Yes, homegrown grapes ripen a month or two later than those from the market. They just started ripening last week. If Chenlin hadn’t brought you here today, I would’ve picked them and sent them to your studio,” Wen Yue said, peeling a grape for Jiang Ruo with natural ease.

Jiang Ruo, accustomed to his attentiveness, accepted it gracefully and asked a servant to bring her new nail polish, wanting Su Qingran to help her apply it.

On the side, seeing that everyone was busy, Jiang Chenlin also started peeling grapes. He skewered one with a toothpick and held it up to Su Qingran’s mouth.

Su Qingran felt a bit embarrassed, but with both hands occupied painting Jiang Ruo’s nails, she had no choice but to open her mouth to accept the grape. The delicate nail brush, dipped in polish, soon painted a lotus flower on Jiang Ruo’s fingernail, perfectly matching her sky-blue qipao.

When Su Qingran reached for a tissue to wipe her hands, Jiang Ruo smiled and said, “Don’t worry about them. We women are busy with our own things. If they want to feed us, let them!”

The living room was filled with warmth and laughter.

That was until the butler’s slightly surprised voice came from the entrance: “Young Master.”

Everyone in the living room turned toward the foyer.

Pei Jingyan stood there, wearing a brown striped knit sweater, a black trench coat draped over his arm, and black casual pants. It wasn’t his usual formal suit, but his entire presence still exuded a reserved intensity.

He was like the cold snow on a winter mountain, suffocating the atmosphere with a chilling pressure.

Su Qingran’s fingers were still holding onto Jiang Ruo’s, and Jiang Ruo was lamenting how Su Qingran had never done her nails before because of her carving work. She was now insisting that Su Qingran do a set of nails to match her traditional Chinese wedding attire before the engagement.

At that moment, Jiang Chenlin was about to feed Su Qingran the fifth grape, and their eyes met. In that split second, Jiang Chenlin moved the toothpick an inch closer to her lips, subtly provoking a silent battle.

Su Qingran, accustomed to being fed by now and with her hands still occupied, instinctively opened her mouth to take the grape.

The moment she saw Pei Jingyan, however, she suddenly snapped back to her senses. She didn’t dare chew, letting the grape roll around her tongue before tucking it into her cheek, which puffed out slightly.

Pei Jingyan’s gaze swept over the group, his deep and indifferent eyes betraying no emotion. It was as if he hadn’t noticed that his arrival had shifted the cozy, familial atmosphere into one of suppressed awkwardness.

Only when he took a step forward did the others seem to come back to their senses.

Jiang Ruo smiled and said, “Jingyan, you’re back? Why don’t you stay for dinner tonight?”

Though her words were polite, they carried a hint of formality, as if speaking to an unfamiliar guest.

Wen Yue, however, greeted him more familiarly. “Jingyan, just got back from the company? Try some of the grapes your cousin and Xiaoran have been raving about!”

Pei Jingyan nodded, went to wash his hands, and upon returning, his gaze swept across the sofa.

Su Qingran and Jiang Ruo were sitting on the large sofa, with Jiang Chenlin on the adjacent loveseat at a 90-degree angle, helping Su Qingran peel grapes. Wen Yue sat next to Jiang Ruo.

This left the space on Su Qingran’s other side empty.

With everyone’s eyes on him, Pei Jingyan walked straight over and sat down next to Su Qingran.

There was about enough space between them for one more person, but Su Qingran still felt the subtle sinking of the sofa beside her.

Instinctively, she straightened up, feeling the tension build on her left side. Realizing she still had a grape in her mouth, she quickly chewed and swallowed it before turning to Pei Jingyan with a polite and composed smile. “Mr. Pei.”

She had rarely encountered Pei Jingyan at the Jiang family’s old residence since growing up.

When she addressed him like this, she felt it might be somewhat inappropriate.

After all, Pei Jingyan was Jiang Chenlin’s half-brother. She should have called him “brother” instead.

Su Qingran bit her lip, swallowing nervously, and instinctively tried to correct herself.

However, before she could speak, a lazy voice interrupted her thoughts. It was Jiang Chenlin, unexpectedly addressing Pei Jingyan as “Brother.”

It was the first time in years.

Pei Jingyan showed no surprise at the term. He remained as calm and reserved as ever, nodding slightly to Su Qingran before turning his gaze to Jiang Chenlin.

He offered no verbal response.

Jiang Chenlin didn’t seem to mind. It was as if calling him “Brother” had merely been a formality. He continued peeling grapes and attempted to feed Su Qingran once again.

When the grape reached Su Qingran’s lips, this time, she didn’t automatically open her mouth. Instead, she took the toothpick from Jiang Chenlin’s hand with a smile and said, “I can’t eat any more, or I won’t have room for Aunt Chen’s cooking later.”

Aunt Chen was the Jiang family’s cook, known for making homestyle dishes reminiscent of a grandmother’s cooking. There was a time in elementary school when Su Qingran was a picky eater and didn’t like the food at home, so she often came to the Jiang family’s house for meals.

Wen Yue, always perceptive, noticed the slight awkwardness after Jiang Chenlin’s attempt to feed Su Qingran had failed. To lighten the atmosphere, he said with a smile, “Xiaoran, Aunt Chen had some personal matters today, so you won’t get to taste her cooking. You’ll have to make do with trying some of the dishes your uncle has been experimenting with!”