The cold winter swept through the long streets, the north wind biting, and Jing City in January already had a frosty vibe.
Even with the bustling city, there was a hint of desolateness.
Lin Zhiyi got out of the taxi with her bag and quickly pulled up her aged sweater to cover half of her face.
As she turned around, she saw that the usually solemn gates of the Gong Mansion were festooned with lights and decorations.
It wasn’t the Spring Festival; what was so important?
Lin Zhiyi greeted the security guard and quickly walked in.
Liu He was instructing the servants under the porch.
"Mom."
"Zhiyi, you’re here. What’s this? It’s wrapped so nicely."
As she spoke, Liu He reached out to open the bag.
Lin Zhiyi immediately hid it behind her back, "It’s nothing, just picked it up on the way. What’s the occasion today? Why so grand?"
Liu He made sure that the servants had swept up the leaves before pulling Lin Zhiyi to the dining room.
"Old Mr. Gong has invited some guests, and he specifically asked me to prepare. I guess my hard times are finally over. Do you see the flowers I arranged? Aren’t they beautiful?"
Lin Zhiyi glanced outside the window as Liu He had directed.
The flowers in the window scene were delicate and pretty, clearly well-maintained.
The beautiful sight deeply impressed her, even felt a bit dazzling.
She snapped back with a smile, "Beautiful."
In the dining room, the servants presented the prepared tea and fruit for Liu He’s inspection.
Liu He, with her ladylike posture, examined them, her satisfaction indescribable.
Lin Zhiyi went along with her act; after all, it was the first time in many years that she could make decisions in this home.
While smiling, a noise came from outside.
"Third Young Master."
He had arrived.
Lin Zhiyi stood up, subconsciously clutching the bag in her hand.
With no one else in the dining room right now, she considered giving it to him straight away, to avoid having to find him privately later and risk being seen by others.
As she was thinking, Old Mr. Gong’s affable laughter suddenly echoed at the doorway.
"Xiao Ran is also here. It seems Gong Chen has taken good care of you."
"Thank you for having Third Young Master pick me up."
A woman’s voice sounded from a few steps away.
Soft and gentle, not pretentious at all, and in fact quite pleasing to hear.
However, this voice strangely felt familiar to Lin Zhiyi, yet she couldn’t recall anyone who would make Old Mr. Gong so tender.
The next second, the woman who entered side by side with Gong Chen caught her eye.
She was sitting in an electric wheelchair, moving slowly; her white cashmere dress entirely covered her legs, and she seemed as soft as a dollop of cream.
It immediately reminded Lin Zhiyi of the flowers Liu He had placed outside, lovely and eliciting care.
Most importantly, she was holding Gong Chen’s hand.
Lin Zhiyi stared blankly at their clasped hands, and it took a moment before she realized the woman was smiling at her.
"Who is this..."
Old Mr. Gong glanced at Lin Zhiyi with a hint of sarcasm, "The... stepdaughter from your second brother’s family." freewёbnoνel.com
At first, Lin Zhiyi thought the woman might be one of Gong Chen’s relatives, similar in status within the Gong Family.
She quickly smiled, "Hello, Lin Zhiyi."
"You... were the one in the hospital restroom, right? I remember your voice." She smiled brightly, quickly grasping Lin Zhiyi’s hand, "Thank you so much, I’m Sang Ran."
"Don’t mention it, I was just about to find you to repay the money, let me give you the money..."
"No need to repay me, give it to him instead," Sang Ran tapped Gong Chen’s arm lightly, even while sitting in the wheelchair, her smile was radiant, "Consider it repayment for the coffee I owed you previously, how could you not tell me there was such a beautiful young niece at home, I didn’t even prepare a gift."
"It’s okay."
Gong Chen did not look at Lin Zhiyi, just softly smiled down at Sang Ran.
Lin Zhiyi was no fool; she instantly realized that this Sang Ran was not a relative of the Gong Family.
She had never seen Gong Chen smile so comfortably at any other woman.
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