Chapter 4 Grandma

The car glided smoothly through the garden and came to a stop before the gates of a lakeside villa. Light streamed through the diamond-shaped windows in the courtyard wall, casting dappled shadows on the stone path.

Zhi Li held Xu Qingying’s hand as they walked toward the villa. Just after passing a field of lavender, a single-eyelidded boy, no more than ten years old and wearing a round-neck T-shirt, emerged from the shadows at the corner.

In his hand, he held a leash.

Soon, a large dog leaped out from behind him—agile, with sleek fur and eyes as blue as the ocean.

It deftly sidestepped a small puddle on the ground and trotted toward Zhi Li.

Zhi Li’s gaze, initially on the little boy, immediately shifted to the big dog. She had never seen such a beautiful dog! And the big dog was smiling at her!

The dog, named Lightning, bared its teeth for a while to intimidate the unfamiliar child, but when it saw the child smiling back, it tilted its head in confusion. Why wasn’t this kid scared? Was it not fierce enough?

Just then, the driver stepped out of the car and waved at the boy, introducing him, “Madam, young miss, this is my son, Wei Liang. The dog he’s holding is Lightning, the young master’s pet. The young master is abroad these days, so Wei Liang takes Lightning out to burn off energy and keep him from tearing up the house.”

Both he and his wife worked for the Jiang family and lived in a house next to the main villa for convenience. They had brought their son from the countryside to live with them just two years prior.

Hearing the driver’s introduction, Zhi Li politely introduced herself to Wei Liang. “Hello, Wei Liang. My name is Zhi Li.”

Her childish voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for Wei Liang to hear clearly.

Wei Liang’s gaze flickered over the way Zhi Li tightly held Xu Qingying’s hand. When he met Zhi Li’s sparkling eyes during her introduction, he was suddenly reminded of his own arrival from the countryside.

But back then, he had been much more nervous than Zhi Li, hiding half behind his father, his voice barely audible when speaking to others.

“Can I call you Zhi Li?” Wei Liang tightened his grip on the leash, then looked up with a warm, gentle smile. “We can play together in the future.”

Zhi Li grinned, her eyes curving into crescents. “Of course, of course!” He could call her Zhi Li, and they could play together!

Lightning barked three times, bright and clear, as if joining the conversation.

Zhi Li waved cheerfully at Lightning, completely unafraid of the dog that had a fierce reputation in the villa area.

Arriving at her new home and immediately meeting a friendly boy and a friendly big dog, Zhi Li instantly relaxed. With her mother by her side, she even had the energy to take in the new house she would be living in as they stepped inside.

It was huge.

Enormous.

The entrance hall alone was bigger than any room Zhi Li had ever seen. And on the wall hung what her mother called a “Large courtyard plate,” said to resemble the moon—a Jade safety buckle.

Zhi Li felt a flicker of happiness.

If the living room was this big, surely the bedrooms would be spacious too. Maybe no one would find her presence troublesome here?

The vast villa was brilliantly lit.

Zhi Li looked up at the dazzling chandelier, its three-dimensional cylindrical lamps arranged in a circle, their bases imprinted with deep blue wave patterns. The light refracted brilliantly, casting beams of light onto the fan-shaped mural.

As she gazed, her attention was completely captured by the mural on the wall.

Xu Qingying followed Zhi Li’s gaze to the side, where an entire wall of Chinese-style marble mirrored panels displayed a series of murals. At the center hung a Green landscape fan installation painting—golden majestic with a unique water pattern.  

It seemed little Zhi Li really liked the paintings on the wall.  

Xu Qingying made a mental note of it.  

The Jiang family members were probably all busy. In any case, as Xu Qingying led Zhi Li back to the bedroom, they didn’t encounter a single Jiang relative along the way.  

Zhi Li, however, spotted a small black device tucked in a corner.  

“Mom, what are these?” Zhi Li pointed at a small machine in the hallway.  

“They’re equipment for tomorrow’s live broadcast. I’ll explain it to you in detail later, okay?” Xu Qingying turned the bedroom doorknob. “For now, let’s take a look at the room we’ll be staying in?”  

As soon as she finished speaking, she switched on the bedroom light.  

Warm yellow light spilled across the walls.  

Zhi Li took in the room’s layout, her dark, glistening eyes widening slightly.  

By the entrance stood two closets taller than her mother, stretching all the way to the ceiling. Inside, rows of clothes, shoes, and hats were neatly arranged, while a smaller cabinet nearby held sparkling jewelry.  

Turning the corner, Zhi Li also spotted a slim television mounted on the wall, a couch piled with plush toys, and—further inside—an enormous bed laid over a fluffy white rug.  

Already in slippers at the doorway, Zhi Li hurriedly kicked them off upon seeing the rug, her tiny feet sinking into the soft, plush fibers.  

“Mom, this rug is so soft!” Zhi Li exclaimed, her eyes shining as she looked up at Xu Qingying. “Is this your and new Dad’s bedroom?”  

Xu Qingying chuckled, setting Zhi Li’s backpack and small suitcase by the bed. “This is *your* and Mom’s bedroom.”  

The bedroom was a suite, complete with a sleeping area, walk-in closet, lounge space, home theater, and private bathroom. On the way to the Jiang residence, Xu Qingying had asked the staff to prepare some child-friendly essentials. The rest could wait until tomorrow when she’d have time to let Zhi Li pick out things she liked.  

“My and Mom’s bedroom?” Zhi Li froze. “We’re living together?”  

Xu Qingying feigned sadness. “You don’t want to live with Mom?”  

“I do! I *super* do! Zhi Li *super* wants to live with Mom!” She threw herself into Xu Qingying’s arms, nuzzling and whining sweetly. “Zhi Li’s biggest wish is to live with Grandma and Mom!”  

At the mention of Grandma, Xu Qingying’s heart ached.  

Zhi Li didn’t yet fully grasp the concept of death. As she grew older, she’d eventually realize she could never see her grandmother again.  

Xu Qingying gently pinched Zhi Li’s little nose. “It’s getting late. Let me help you unpack first, then I’ll show you around the other areas outside the bedroom.”  

Zhi Li’s expression twisted with conflict, remembering what her cousin had said.  

She was living in someone else’s home—how could she embarrass them? She might have to leave after just a week, or even a single day.  

If she unpacked now, she’d just have to repack later when they left. Wouldn’t it be better to save herself the trouble and use that time to help Mom pack instead?  

“Mom, can we not unpack yet?”  

“Why?”  

“I want to wait a few days.” Zhi Li wasn’t good at lying, but she was afraid that mentioning her cousin’s dream would bring Mom bad luck. She kept her head lowered, mumbling, “I just don’t feel like unpacking right now.”

Xu Qingying mused that perhaps her experiences at the Xu family had left Zhi Li with a sense of displacement, so she gently stroked the child’s hair and said, “Alright, we won’t unpack them just yet. Let me take you downstairs to explore first.”

Zhi Li looked up, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. “Okay!”

Though uncertain how long they would stay, Zhi Li was brimming with excitement as Xu Qingying led her around. The thought of living in such a grand, beautiful place with her mother, sharing a bedroom, made the corners of her lips curl up almost as high as the sun.

The servants working in the villa, whatever their private thoughts, at least greeted Xu Qingying and Zhi Li with smiles, addressing them as “Madam” and “Young Miss.” This friendly atmosphere only heightened Zhi Li’s joy.

As they stepped out of the indoor pool, Zhi Li pointed to a side room. “Mom, what’s this place for?”

From the doorway, they could see a boxwood bonsai inside—sturdy and ancient in style—partially obscuring a tea cabinet with mortise and tenon structure, filled with jars of tea leaves and various tea sets.

“This is the tea room,” Xu Qingying said, guiding Zhi Li inside.

The next moment, Xu Qingying halted. Someone was already in the tea room.

Two teacups sat on the table, suggesting a guest had just left. The delicate aroma of Pu’er tea lingered in the air.

The person in the tea room was none other than the Jiang family matriarch, Song Yin.

Zhi Li also spotted Song Yin, and their eyes met briefly in an unplanned stare-off.

Song Yin, a university professor, carried an air reminiscent of a strict school principal. Her hair was impeccably neat, not a strand out of place, and her gaze held a barely perceptible scrutiny.

Noticing an empty chair, Xu Qingying naturally settled into it with Zhi Li in her lap and nodded slightly at Song Yin. “This is my daughter, Zhi Li.”

Then, she softly introduced to Zhi Li, “Zhi Li, this is Grandma.”

In that instant, Zhi Li recalled her cousin’s words about how wealthy grandmothers were stern and would likely look down on her.

Peering at her new grandmother across the table through the mist of tea steam, Zhi Li nervously tightened her grip on Xu Qingying’s hand. This new grandma seemed even more serious than the stern judges on TV who wielded gavels!

“Hello, Grandma,” Zhi Li called out softly, silently reminding herself that even if Grandma expressed disdain, it wouldn’t matter. After all, she wasn’t the first to do so. Next time, she’d just avoid her.

This was the strategy her maternal grandmother had taught her.

[“You’re still young. When you meet people who say they dislike you, despise you, or look down on you, learn to steer clear of them.”]

At her uncle’s house, there hadn’t been enough space to avoid them. But her new father’s home was big enough for that.

After greeting Song Yin, Zhi Li turned her puzzled gaze to the middle-aged woman beside her. Blinking, she whispered, “Hello, Auntie.”

The housekeeper was taken aback, then chuckled. “I’m the family housekeeper. You can call me Housekeeper Auntie.”

Seeing the housekeeper’s smile, Zhi Li’s eyes instantly brightened.

This auntie smiled at me!

Her grandmother had said that people who smiled at her upon first meeting were showing they liked her. This auntie, just like Lightning and Wei Liang, liked her!

Zhi Li’s lips curved into a sweet, bright grin as she chirped, “Housekeeper Auntie!”

The others present: …

Anyone with ears could tell the difference—Zhi Li’s voice when addressing the housekeeper was dripping with sweetness and softness, a stark contrast to her earlier tone when greeting Grandma.

Song Yin inexplicably felt that Xu Qingying’s demeanor was different from their previous encounters. She had been observing Xu Qingying until now, when the term “Auntie Housekeeper” drew her attention to Zhi Li instead.

The child was exceptionally pretty, with two loosely tied pigtails framing her snow-white cheeks and an innocent expression that didn’t much resemble her biological mother, Xu Qingying.

The housekeeper was thoroughly charmed by the sweet address of “Auntie Housekeeper,” her tone becoming noticeably more affectionate. “The master is away on business and won’t return until tomorrow. The young master has been staying abroad these days and isn’t home.” When mentioning abroad, the housekeeper cast a discreet glance at Xu Qingying. The introductory filming would begin tomorrow, but the young master clearly had no intention of returning.

Zhi Li had heard from the driver uncle in the car that the “master” and “young master” were her new father and brother. She nodded eagerly like a pecking chick, her pigtails swaying with the movement.

Xu Qingying couldn’t help but smile at Zhi Li’s adorable behavior.

Song Yin’s gaze swept past Xu Qingying. This version of Xu Qingying around children seemed to lack the affected flattery and shallow scheming she’d previously displayed in front of Song Yin.

“Since you’re living here, you’re considered part of the Jiang family now,” Song Yin remarked coolly, sipping her tea.

A single strand of hair suddenly stood upright on Zhi Li’s head.

Huh?!

The new grandmother didn’t say she dislikes me!

When Song Yin looked up, she noticed Zhi Li staring at her with wide-eyed surprise.

“…” Song Yin met Zhi Li’s gaze directly, adopting her usual lecturing tone from teaching. “Tomorrow the housekeeper will arrange some classes for you. Make sure to study diligently.”

The housekeeper opened her mouth, wanting to say something but unsure how to phrase it. While the madam often spoke this way to the young master—sometimes even more sternly—and these enrichment classes didn’t have strict achievement requirements, having Zhi Li start classes immediately upon arrival might give outsiders the impression that the madam was subtly implying the child lacked proper upbringing.

Xu Qingying had the same concern. She couldn’t tell whether Song Yin was taking out her dislike for the original host on Zhi Li or simply maintaining her teacher’s habits.

Not wanting Zhi Li to overthink it—as the plot had suggested the child might—Xu Qingying gently touched Zhi Li’s small ear, about to offer reassurance. But then she encountered Zhi Li’s utterly astonished expression.

“Are these classes very, very expensive?”

“Very expensive,” Xu Qingying seized the opportunity, quickly adding, “Your grandmother is paying.” So you don’t need to worry about Mommy’s finances.

Zhi Li: “!!!”

Zhi Li was completely stunned. Not only did Grandmother not express dislike upon meeting her, but she was also paying for very expensive classes? She’d never had formal lessons before.

Nobody would spend money on classes for someone they disliked! This new grandmother didn’t dislike her at all?!

Xu Qingying keenly sensed the change in Zhi Li—it was as if a radiant, multicolored sunflower had suddenly bloomed atop the child’s head.

“Thank you, Grandmother!” Zhi Li seemed to grow little fluttering wings, nearly floating off her chair with excitement. “I’ll study super hard!” Grandmother was spending so much money on her lessons—she had to work diligently and never let Grandmother discover she’d been deemed too unintelligent even for kindergarten.

Song Yin responded with a noncommittal “Hmm,” then picked up her teacup for another sip. As the liquid touched her lips, she frowned slightly—since when did pu’er tea taste this sweet?

Seeing Zhi Li so happy, Xu Qingying’s expression softened. “Then I’ll take Zhi Li upstairs first.”

Once Zhi Li decided someone didn’t need to be avoided, she became very proactive in her expressions. Before leaving, she waved to Song Yin and the butler, her voice sweet and soft, “Goodnight, Grandma! Goodnight, Auntie Butler!”

The butler replied with a smile, “Goodnight, little Zhi Li.”

As the sound of Xu Qingying and Zhi Li’s departing footsteps gradually faded, the reception room was left with only Song Yin and the butler, so quiet that even the clinking of teacups sounded crisper.

The butler said softly, “Little Zhi Li seems quite different from Madam.”

“Xu Qingying never raised Zhi Li herself.” Song Yin massaged her throbbing temples with her fingers, unable to hide her displeasure. “Once Zhi Li gets used to Xu Qingying’s schemes, it’s hard to say if she can remain this innocent.”

Recalling Xu Qingying’s past actions in the Jiang family—sowing discord, feigning weakness, contacting the media—the butler couldn’t claim they were all misunderstandings. She could only speculate, “Perhaps she just wanted a voice in the family? That way, she could bring Zhi Li back sooner.”

Song Yin scoffed. “If Xu Qingying truly cared about Zhi Li, why sign up for a parenting show? It’s been a month since she married in, and she only thinks of bringing Zhi Li back to the Jiang family right before the live broadcast? Does she want to use Zhi Li to clean up her reputation, or prove to the whole internet what a qualified stepmother she is by using Zhi Li as a benchmark?”

Reminded by Song Yin, the butler sighed deeply. “Such a sweet child like Zhi Li… how did she end up with Madam as her birth mother?”

Hearing this, Song Yin glanced at the butler. “Whether she’s sweet or not, we’ll see in time.”

“Madam,” a servant hurried in, “someone claiming to be from the ‘Shining Children’ production team called. They said Madam just informed them her biological daughter will appear on camera tomorrow, and they’d like to interview you and Young Master.”

Song Yin frowned in displeasure.

So Xu Qingying was only bringing her biological daughter back because Jiang Yuexiao, her stepson, wasn’t returning, afraid the preview episode would fall flat. What a pity the child looked at Xu Qingying with such adoration.

She took the call, her tone brooking no argument. “Thirty seconds.”

The production team member was startled by the abrupt opening, scrambling to prepare their questions. [Now that you’ll be living under the same roof with both children, as their birth grandmother and step-grandmother, will you treat them equally?]

To Song Yin, this was a pointless question. How could she treat a child Xu Qingying just brought back the same as one the family had raised for eight years?

Song Yin replied coolly, “No.”

[Uh…] The production team hadn’t expected such bluntness. [Then may we ask, if the two children have a conflict, you—]

“Three seconds left.” Song Yin interrupted. “Goodbye.”

Hanging up decisively, Song Yin took another sip of tea, her brow slightly furrowed.

The earlier sweetness had indeed been an illusion.