Not only did he come back early, but Song Shuling was also following behind. Apparently they had come back together.
The sun rose in the west today?
Song Jiawei, who was chatting with Old Master Song and Old Madam Song, actually looked out the window to check. Overcast sky, no sun.
Among the surprised faces in the room, only the delight on Old Madam Song's face was genuine: "Ah Xing, you're back! Come over to Granny quickly."
Zhong Ruanxing walked over with a gift. Old Master Song knocked his tobacco pipe and put on a stern old-fashioned face. "Can the company spare you? You're back so early?"
As soon as she heard him speak, Old Madam Song got angry and twisted his ear. "You stubborn old fool, if you've got nothing nice to say, keep your mouth shut! Ah Xing, come, sit next to Granny. Look at you, you've gotten thinner again. You're not eating well, are you?"
How unfair! Zhong Ruanxing had just weighed herself yesterday. She'd been eating and exercising on time this past month, and had even gained two pounds!
But to elders looking at their juniors, they would always think the young ones were too skinny.
Zhong Ruanxing allowed Old Madam to hold her hand and inspect her fondly, with laughter in her eyes. "Granny, I have been eating well, don't worry about me. I was going to come back and see you when I had time, but work has been too busy." Then she asked caringly, "How have you been recently?"
Good heavens, this was the longest sentence her little grandson had said to her since he returned to China!
Old Madam Song was extremely happy, smiling till wrinkles bloomed on her face. "Very good, very good! Granny is in great health!"
When her third son's family passed away in a car crash years ago, Old Master Song had insisted on sending his seven or eight year old grandson abroad, ignoring her opposition. Old Madam Song had fought fiercely with Old Master Song over it, even returning to her natal home and threatening divorce, but in the end she still couldn't change Old Master Song's stance.
Jin Xing was sent to a foreign land. Old Master Song showed extreme contempt towards him, causing everyone around to not dare say a nice word about the boy. Old Madam Song looked at tiny Song Shuling and cried rivers of tears every day.
But in a family like this, many things were out of her control.
In the first few years she still flew abroad to visit a few times. Her little grandson was very happy to see her each time, and would always ask, "Granny, have you come to bring me home? I'll be very obedient, please bring me home. I miss Daddy and Mommy so much, and Grandpa and little sister too."
But each time, her reply would only disappoint the little boy.
She watched the light in his eyes grow dimmer and dimmer, until later visits when she couldn't even see her grandson.
At school, at the shooting range, at the equestrian center, in the library. Each time, she would get all kinds of excuses. Old Madam Song knew her grandson was unwilling to see her.
If she couldn't give him hope, then she shouldn't let him be disappointed over and over again.
She felt guilty towards third son's family, and even more loving guilt towards her grandson Jin Xing. When he finally grew up and returned to China, she wanted to make up for everything, but discovered he was no longer the obedient child who would hold her hand and affectionately call her Granny.
He had grown up so outstanding, so brilliant, and also so cold and distant.
Often, Old Madam Song would regret not having insisted at that time. Even if her grandson avoided her, she shouldn't have given up visiting him just because she couldn't bear to see the disappointment in his eyes. Whenever she thought of this, eating and sleeping became difficult for Old Madam Song. When she died and went below ground, how would she face third son's couple?
Only heaven knew how much she wanted to get close to her little grandson, yet felt too guilty to approach.
But today, one laughing "Granny" from Ah Xing was like seeing that obedient and sensible little grandson from the past again.
As Old Madam Song smiled, her eyes grew moist.
Zhong Ruanxing didn't notice anything off with Granny. She opened the gift box and handed it over, "Granny, this is for you. See if you like it."
The last time she had received a gift from her little grandson was over twenty years ago.
Old Madam Song felt she was undeserved of such favor. She didn't even glance at what was in the box, "I like it! Granny likes it very much! Anything you give, I'll like it no matter what!"
On the side, Song Jiawei twisted her lips disdainfully.
Since Song Jin Xing arrived, Granny had completely ignored her. Neither old person showed any impartiality!
Zhong Ruanxing smiled, "Have a look first, if you don't like it I'll get you something else next time."
Only then did Old Madam Song look inside at the gift - a set of jade plaques depicting scenes from the Kunqu opera "The Peach Blossom Fan". One glance revealed the thought put into selecting it. Old Madam Song's emotions churned, unconsciously gripping her grandson's hand tightly, "I like it, I really like it."
Old Master Song heavily knocked his tobacco pipe and let out a cold snort.
Zhong Ruanxing felt the old master's tsundere personality was rather cute. She handed over another gift box, "Grandpa, this is for you."
Old Master Song glanced at him and said sarcastically, "Oh, there's one for me too?"
Zhong Ruanxing smiled coquettishly, "How could I forget about you?"
She took the initiative to open the box. Old Master Song looked inside at the four scholar's treasures with a face of disdain, carelessly picking through them, "Just these things."
Old Madam Song was furious, "Do you want them or not? If not, give them to me! I treasure them greatly! Ah Xing, come, give them to Granny!"
While disparaging the gifts, Old Master Song deftly closed the box and placed it behind him, "Go on, you don't even write, what do you want these for? Wasteful!"
Old Madam Song was so angry her eyes flipped upwards, "Keep pretending then!"
Her little grandson was finally intimate with her for once. Old Madam Song didn't want to let go of the hand she was holding. Zhong Ruanxing just sat there and chatted a bit with the old lady about work and daily life. She didn't need to actively fawn, just talking about some ordinary things made Old Madam very happy.
Zhong Ruanxing had taken Song Jiawei's place, naturally making Song Jiawei very unhappy.
But she could only swallow her unhappiness. Glancing over, she saw Song Shuling sitting on the sofa with a silly smile, staring at the jade bracelet on her wrist. Having no outlet for her anger, she dared to take it out on Song Shuling.
Walking over to sit next to her, she said sarcastically, "Did your brother take the wrong medication today? Fighting over company interests is one thing, now he's even competing for favoritism!"
Song Shuling had always been deferential to her. In the past when she badmouthed Song Jin Xing, Song Shuling would gang up with her. She didn't expect Song Shuling to be hopped up on drugs today too, actually daring to retort her. "My brother is just chatting a bit with Grandpa and Granny, how is that competing for favoritism?"
"My brother, my brother." Song Jiawei's nose was almost crooked from anger. "Calling him so affectionately, do you really think he's your brother? Forgotten how he used to treat you?"
Unexpectedly, today's Song Shuling was oil-proof and water-proof. "Of course he's my brother! I was foolish before, that's why brother ignored me."
Song Jiawei: "!!!"
Damn, just what kind of brainwashing package did Song Jin Xing feed Song Shuling?