With Qi Yubai’s words, the Old Madam of the Qi family did not say anything further.
She had always trusted her grandson completely. With him around, Yinyin would never be bullied.
Thus, the three of them did not continue discussing the matter and instead resumed their meal, chatting about other trivial topics. Naturally, it was still the Old Madam and Lanyin doing the talking, while Qi Yubai was responsible for picking food for them. Perhaps because of their earlier interaction, when Qi Yubai served her food again, Lanyin still couldn’t help but glance at him, but she was no longer as tense as before.
“Have you told your maternal grandmother about the matter with the Xiao family?” the Old Madam asked Lanyin.
This matter had been difficult to bring up before.
But now that it had already been settled, there was no harm in mentioning it.
As expected, Lanyin did not mind. Smiling, she replied, “The day I left the Earl Manor, I wrote a letter to my maternal grandmother informing her of this matter. Based on the travel time, she should have received it by now.”
“She will be happy for you.”
The Old Madam nodded, then looked at Lanyin and spoke.
Hearing this, Lanyin smiled and nodded in agreement. “Yes, she will definitely be happy for me.”
There was not the slightest hesitation in her voice. Among all her relatives and elders, her maternal grandmother had always been the one who trusted and cherished her unconditionally, no matter what she did.
Because of this unwavering love from her elder, Lanyin’s mood improved. She took a bite of the Dongpo tofu that she had placed in Qi Yubai’s bowl. The tofu, pan-fried with minced meat, was rich and fragrant. She hadn’t eaten it earlier, but now that she took a bite, she found it quite satisfying. No wonder Qi Yubai had eaten so many pieces before. After finishing, she continued speaking to the Old Madam, “I was thinking that once things at the shop are settled, I would go to Jinling to visit my maternal grandmother.”
In her past life, her greatest regret was that she had spent so much time worrying over the affairs of the Earl Manor that she forgot to live her own life and neglected her maternal grandmother, to the point that she never even got to see her one last time.
Now that she had a chance to start over, what she wanted most was to visit her grandmother in Jinling.
The matter of the separation had been resolved, and soon, she would need to focus on managing the shop. Once everything in Bianjing was arranged, she would go to Jinling and spend time with her maternal grandmother.
Of course, besides keeping her company, there was something else she had to take care of.
In her previous life, her grandmother’s illness had been truly strange. Just a short while before, they had still been exchanging letters, and her grandmother had never mentioned being unwell. In fact, she had even written about visiting Bianjing once the weather improved. Yet, only a few months later, instead of welcoming her grandmother, she received news of her passing… In her past life, by the time she heard the news and rushed over, her grandmother had already been laid to rest, and she had no way to investigate further.
If it was truly an issue of health, then in this life, she would do everything she could to find skilled doctors and properly nurse her grandmother back to health.
If it wasn’t…
Lanyin’s red lips pressed together slightly, and her downcast eyes suddenly darkened.
The Old Madam did not notice her change in demeanor at that moment, but Qi Yubai, who had been watching her all along, did not miss it. He knew how deep her bond was with the Old Madam Wang and understood that one of her greatest regrets in her past life was her grandmother’s death…
He could still remember the anniversary of Old Madam Wang’s passing.
Dressed in mourning attire, she had rushed from Bianjing, covered in dust. The once composed and dignified woman had, on that day, completely lost her usual grace and restraint, crying uncontrollably before the elder’s memorial tablet.
The people and things she wanted to protect—this time, he would protect them alongside her.
“Eat your food.”
He placed a piece of plum-glazed pork ribs into Lanyin’s bowl.
Lanyin only snapped out of her thoughts when she heard his voice. She followed the sound and looked up at Qi Yubai, only to find that he, too, was looking down at her.
Even though he hadn’t said anything, Lanyin still had the odd feeling that he had seen through all her thoughts. This left her both surprised and amused.
She must have been thinking too highly of Qi Yubai. He was, after all, only human, even if he appeared like an unattainable deity, free of worldly desires.
Yet, under his gaze, the sorrow brought by memories of her grandmother’s passing in her previous life gradually faded away. She responded softly and then lowered her gaze to finish the piece of plum-glazed pork rib in her bowl.
The Old Madam of the Qi family thoroughly enjoyed watching their interaction.
She was delighted and even ate half a bowl more of rice than usual. She had initially wanted to ask whether Lanyin had written a letter to her family, but considering her strained relationship with them and that younger sister of hers, she ultimately chose not to bring it up.
It was only after the meal, while the maids came in to clear the table, that she pulled Lanyin aside for a long chat, reluctant to let her leave so soon.
Since there was nothing urgent at night, Lanyin decided to stay a little longer.
While they conversed, Qi Yubai did not leave either. He simply sat beside them, quietly shelling pine nuts.
From time to time, Lanyin glanced at him. He remained calm and composed, sitting there under the warm glow of the lamps. His jade-like features showed not a hint of impatience. Seeing this, she couldn’t help but feel admiration—Master Qi truly was good to his grandmother.
It was rare to see men of his age willing to sit patiently with their elders like this.
Perhaps it was because she had been raised by her grandmother since childhood, but Lanyin had always deeply appreciated those who were filial to their elders. At this moment, her gaze toward Qi Yubai unconsciously softened.
The Old Madam, however, understood that his attentiveness had a purpose beyond filial piety.
As the night wore on, she instructed Yanhuan to gather the pine nuts Qi Yubai had shelled and pack them into a small embroidered pouch. Lanyin initially thought the Old Madam was saving them for later and didn’t give it much thought—until the elderly woman suddenly pressed the pouch into her hands.
Lanyin froze.
She looked at the Old Madam and hesitated. “Grandmother Qi…”
“Take it, have them as a snack later,” the old woman said with a smile, knowing that Lanyin was not used to accepting others’ kindness. She added, “I have plenty.”
Her tone left no room for refusal.
Seeing this, Lanyin instinctively turned to Qi Yubai, hoping he would speak up for her.
But how could Qi Yubai possibly say anything?
This was exactly what he had intended to do—his grandmother had merely voiced it for him.
However, when Lanyin looked at him with that slightly pleading gaze, Qi Yubai was caught off guard.
He had never imagined that, once she shed the thorned armor she usually wore, Lanyin could be this soft, this vulnerable.
It reminded him of the cat he had brought back from Jinling. Most of the time, it ignored people, but whenever it wanted food, it would look up at him with the same pitiful eyes, as if utterly certain that he would relent.
Qi Yubai did, in fact, relent.
Under such a gaze, there was no way he wouldn’t.
He… had never been able to refuse her.
Watching her, he unconsciously curled his fingers slightly within his sleeve, absently rubbing the smooth surface of the Buddhist prayer beads he always carried.
After a brief silence, he finally caved under her expectant gaze. He said in a low, steady voice, far gentler than when he spoke to outsiders, “If you don’t like them, you don’t have to take them.”
Lanyin didn’t dislike them.
On the contrary, she quite enjoyed eating pine nuts. But these were shelled by Qi Yubai, one by one, for his grandmother. Though she had promised the Old Madam that she would no longer be overly formal with them, she still didn’t have the audacity to accept something that carried such sincere filial affection.
So she did not deny his statement.
Feeling relieved, she turned back to the Old Madam, her tone now more confident, and echoed Qi Yubai’s words, “Grandmother Qi, I don’t like pine nuts. You should eat them yourself.”
The Old Madam of the Qi family certainly did not miss the brief exchange of glances between the two.
She had watched with her own eyes as her grandson’s usually indifferent gaze softened little by little, only for him to utter such obviously insincere words. At that moment, she almost felt like she no longer recognized him.
Was this still her grandson?
His beloved hadn’t even entered the household yet, and he was already listening to her every word like this. If she did become part of the family in the future, just how much would he spoil her?
Thinking of all the people outside who used to criticize her grandson, the Old Madam had never thought they were wrong before. But now—
She chuckled and shook her head.
That was why, in this world, no man was truly as cold as ice. The moment he met the person he loved, even glaciers would melt on their own.
Finding it amusing, she didn’t insist any further. With a trace of regret, she simply gestured for Yanhuan to put the pouch away. Noticing how Lanyin visibly relaxed, she then asked, “Are you leaving now?”
Lanyin nodded. “It’s about time. I have to wake up early tomorrow, so I should head back, wash up, and get some rest.”
The Old Madam knew she had an important task tomorrow. Although she was reluctant to part, she couldn’t keep her any longer. So, she simply nodded and said, “Then go back and rest early.” However, she did not let Lanyin leave alone and instead turned to Qi Yubai. “You should escort Yinyin out.”
“Grandmother Qi, that’s not nece—”
Lanyin instinctively tried to refuse, but as soon as she met the elderly woman’s warm and gentle gaze, the words she had spoken at dusk echoed in her ears. Unable to reject her outright, she could only turn once again to Qi Yubai for help.
But the man who had just helped her earlier had already smoothed down his robes and stood up.
He stood not far away, waiting for her. The lamplight cast his tall figure into a long shadow. His upright posture was like an unyielding green bamboo. When she looked over at him, he gazed back at her, his jade-like face illuminated by the flickering glow. His dark eyes shimmered under the light.
“Let’s go,” he said.
Since he had already spoken, Lanyin naturally had no reason to refuse.
Yet, in her heart, she felt somewhat guilty.
She was troubling him once again.
At first, when she approached the Qi family’s grandmother and grandson, she had simply wanted to make up for the regrets of her past life, particularly the debt she owed Qi Yubai. But the more time she spent with him, the more she felt like she was only accumulating further debts toward him.
She didn’t even know if she could ever repay it all in this lifetime.
With that thought in mind, as she bid farewell to the Old Madam and followed Qi Yubai outside, she couldn’t hold back her emotions and, in a hushed voice tinged with guilt, said, “Apologies, my lord.”
Qi Yubai lowered his gaze toward her.
Lanyin thought he was questioning the meaning behind her words, so she continued, “I promised Grandmother Qi that I wouldn’t be overly formal with her anymore, so there are some things I can’t refuse… which means I can only trouble you instead.”
“There is no need to apologize.”
Qi Yubai finally looked at her and spoke.
Above them, the vast sky was filled with stars, some unknown constellation twinkling in the deep blue-black expanse. Tianqing and Ting Yun trailed a few steps behind them.
She and Qi Yubai walked out of the courtyard together, stepping into the covered corridor. The hanging lanterns on either side swayed gently in the night breeze.
Then, she heard his voice again.
“I am very happy.”
Happy?
Lanyin turned to him in surprise.
Happy about what?
Qi Yubai looked at the woman standing so close to him. They were near enough that he could hear her steady, quiet breaths, could catch the faint scent lingering on her body.
She used rose dew.
He had never been particularly fond of such fragrances in the past, but now, he found himself wishing he could move just a little closer—close enough to take in the scent more clearly.
The falling embers of the lamp’s flame flickered over her.
Looking at Lanyin’s vibrant and expressive face, for a brief moment, Qi Yubai had the urge to lay everything bare before her. Yet, the string of rationality deep within him pulled taut just in time, restraining him.