Qin Gengxin looked at Jiang Ruolan's probing expression and coldly said with slight dissatisfaction, "You're going to the Xian Residence today?"
Jiang Ruolan nodded in agreement. She shifted her gaze to his face and saw the seriousness in his eyes. "Why are you looking at me like that? It's as if I'm about to face a calamity."
However, Qin Gengxin only smiled. "If I were to say that a calamity is about to befall you, would you believe me?"
"You're the one who's facing a disaster! You jinx!" Jiang Ruolan frowned, "Tonight is Old Man's birthday banquet! What could happen there?"
Qin Gengxin did not comment and only gave a cold laugh. Seeing that Xian Guiying was here, he restrained himself a little. He squinted his long and narrow eyes and said, "Send a message to the Old Man for me. Say that Qin Gengxin will go and show his filial piety to him another day."
Qin Gengxin and Xian Zihao had been brothers for many years, so it wasn't strange that Old Man Xian knew him. Jiang Ruolan nodded.
When they left the company with a cab, Xian Guiying didn't speak at all, but Jiang Ruolan could feel that there were too many emotions hidden in her silence.
Since she didn't say anything, Jiang Ruolan didn't ask any further. She simply covered Xian Guiying's hand with her hand and smiled at her.
Most of the time, when you don't understand a person's growth and experiences, asking too many questions is not good. The best way to do that is to stay silent.
It had been two months since her last visit to the Xian Residence. At that time, it was Mid-Autumn's season, but now, it was already winter.
Since it was Old Man Xian's eighty-fifth birthday, there would be a lot of people coming and going to the Xian Residence to congratulate him. Xian Zihao might not have let Jiang Ruolan purposely dress up, but how could she not understand.
She was wearing a white ink shirt and a long skirt. Since she had not yet combed her hair, she tilted it slightly in front of her forehead, and also wore a simple and generous white diamond hairpin.
It was rare for Xian Zihao to wear a white suit. Although it was white, there was no frivolity about it. On the contrary, it accentuated his elegance.
Usually, he would dress in both black and gray suit when he was working, carrying a deep and steady aura with him. Today, he was wearing a moon-white suit with a well-cut body, which made his handsome face impeccable. His intimidating black eyes shone with bright starlight.
Because of his outstanding appearance, Jiang Ruolan did not expect the faint smile on his face today to be so breathtaking.
After getting off the car, Xian Guiying was unwilling to continue walking with the two of them and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Apparently, they arrived early, and there weren't many people in the Xian Residence yet. Those people who came to congratulate them wouldn't come tonight. Maybe tonight was just a family banquet.
A few workers were moving the stone foothills in the front yard of the Xian Residence.
"To the left, to the left, to the front, to the front, yes, that's it! Alright, it's done!"
Jiang Ruolan turned her head to look at the empty garden. Not long after that, the workers had tidied up the ground with red bricks and connected it with several bright and vibrant crystal lamps.
Not far away, Old Man Xian was accompanied by several servants of the Xian Residence. He was watching the workers lighting the crystal lamps. His bright eyes were filled with satisfaction. Although the Old Man was usually quiet, but as an old man, he was still pleased with this kind of celebration.
Not long after, a beautiful figure walked out of the Xian Residence and stopped next to the Old Man. "Grandpa, mom said that Senior Zhou is about to arrive!"
"Alright, then. Liuxian, go give a call to Zihao and Guiying. See why these two unfilial grandchildren haven't arrived yet!" Old Man Xian held onto his walking stick with a bit of displeasure in his eyes.
"No need to call us. We're already here!" When Xian Zihao saw Old Man Xian, he walked over at a slightly slower pace. During that time, he lowered his head to look at Jiang Ruolan, indicating that she should act more naturally.
Jiang Ruolan had always been very natural. Before she had come to the Xian Residence, she had spent a long time building up her mentality, thinking that no matter what the Old Man wanted to do to her, she must endure it.
She would rather play dumb with a mischievous smile than make the Old Man unhappy. When she thought about it, since she would see Old Man Xian again in the future, her footsteps had become a lot more relaxed.
No matter what, Jiang Ruolan had already arrived here, and she had Xian Zihao by her side, so she should not have felt afraid.
Old Man Xian turned around to look at them. When he saw Jiang Ruolan, the smile in his eyes dimmed. His expression didn't look good, but it wasn't as cold as last time.
Without waiting for the Old Man to speak, Jiang Ruolan gave him a polite smile. "Grandfather, happy birthday. I wish you good luck, your life is longer than Nanshan¹."
"I don't dare to say I have a longer life than Nanshan. The only thing I'm afraid of is that this Old Man has lived for too long, and I've always been in your way." Old Man Xian snorted coldly and looked away from her.
He then glanced at Xian Zihao and his expression turned even worse, "You stinking brat, you brought Jiang Ruolan here again. You are purposely going against me!"
Jiang Ruolan looked embarrassed, but Xian Zihao just smiled. "Ruolan is your grandson's wife, and today is grandpa's eighty-fifth birthday. If she doesn't come, how could you find out more about her?"
The Old Man's face turned green as he glared at him angrily. It was obvious that before he could show his might, his grandson had already taken him over.
The meaning behind Xian Zihao's words was obvious. Since Old Man Xian didn't like Jiang Ruolan and since she couldn't come, he wouldn't come either.
Old Man Xian looked at Jiang Ruolan. Although he didn't like her, her manners were not bad.
"Grandpa, sister-in-law is here to celebrate your birthday, you should be happy. If you have such a filial granddaughter-in-law, maybe one day you'll be able to hug your great-grandson earlier and have fun with him for four generations. Isn't that many times better than an outsider who always wants to interfere?" Xian Guiying, who had run off somewhere just now, suddenly walked over with a teasing look on her face.
"That's right, there are some outsiders who don't know what's going on with them." Cui Liuxian, who had been scolded by Xian Guiying, smiled confidently.
She stood beside the Old Man and quickly changed the topic, "Now, in front of grandpa, other than some outsider who had ulterior motives, the rest are all treasures that grandpa saw grown up with his own eyes, don't you think so, grandpa?"
.
.
****
Glossary:
¹ Nashan means "Giant God Mountain".
