Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Yuan Tangzhong accepted the instruction. When Old Mistress saw that it was time, she ordered the servant, “Go to the back hall to invite Ruoxin and her mother for lunch.”
Everyone gradually moved to the dining hall while chit-chatting. The servant had only been gone for a short when Zhao Ruoxin came down from the second floor of the villa with Zhao Yanni.
This was Mu Chenyan’s first meeting with Zhao Yanni. Rumor had it that she was a remarkable beauty in the past when she was married to Luo Hai’s Shu Family. At the time, the Shu Family was still intact, and they held a high status among the aristocratic families.
Unfortunately, one false step led to many more. Zhao Yanni’s secret affair with her private doctor was found out, and Shu Heng was so enraged that he drove her out of the house, along with the child with the bad heart.
Back to modern day, her healthy daughter had died in an unexpected tragedy, she herself had become mentally deranged, and her current husband was a gambling addict. As fate would have it, she had to use this identity of hardship to find refuge under someone else.
One could only feel sorry for everything she’s been through.
Mu Chenyan watched the Zhao clan’s mother and daughter come walking one after another before sitting down beside Old Mistress.
Zhao Ruoxin was dressed dazzlingly. The clothes she wore was a dress that Old Mistress had probably gotten custom-made for her in preparation for the Spring Festival.
Although she did not grow up in a wealthy and influential family, one had to admit that her poised aura was no less exceptional than those of the socialites in Luo Hai.
However, Zhao Yanni was having the jitters. Even though she was wearing a set of clean clothes, she gave off a sense of shabbiness. Her hair wasn’t neat, and her gaze was frantic and fearful. She glanced at the crowd and she panicked, holding on tightly to a part of Zhao Ruoxin’s dress.
“Xiner… Scared… I’m scared…”
No one knew if this kind of behaviour was normal for her, but she seemed to be extremely nervous at this moment.
After hearing Zhao Yanni’s say this, Zhao Ruoxin’s expression changed.
She tugged at her mother’s shirt and rebuked her in a low voice, “Mother, they are all the members of the Yuan Family. What’s there to be afraid of? “They provide you with food and drink, and yet you’re still afraid. Would you prefer to return to City C?”
Perhaps it was because Zhao Ruoxin’s tone was so full of disgust that even an insane person could detect it, but Zhao Yanni was terrified, and she kept shaking her head. “I don’t want to go back. I don’t want to go back…”
City C seemed to bring up horrible memories. When Zhao Ruoxin brought it up, Zhao Yanni physically trembled in fear.
“Then sit down and eat quietly. After lunch, I’ll bring you to the garden to play.” Zhao Ruoxin changed her tone to that of a mother coaxing a child.
Zhao Yanni held on to Zhao Ruoxin’s clothes and would not let go. Zhao Ruoxin smiled at Old Mistress helplessly. “Grandmother, I’ve requested not to have Mother come, look at her now…”
Old Mistress Yuan let out a sigh and comforted her. “Yanni, all that has happened is in the past now. Don’t think too much. The reason we invited you over today is to accompany Xiner for the festival.”
When Zhao Yanni saw Old Mistress’ kind eyes, she quietened down a little and cautiously sat down next to Zhao Ruoxin. Old Mistress was rather courteous to this insane woman. Everyone else at the table had their reservations toward this pair of mother and daughter who were outsiders. Therefore, the matter weighed on their minds while they ate.
The Yuan Family’s banquets were all the same in Mu Chenyan’s eyes. She was truly an outsider who could not grasp the situation, hence she gave the cold-shoulder to the Zhao clan’s mother and daughter who were of unknown origin.
After lunch, the sons and daughters of the Yuan Family surrounded Old Mistress and chatted with her. On the other hand, Mu Chenyan bid farewell to Old Mistress with the intention of returning to Hibiscus Garden for an afternoon rest.
When Mu Chenyan left, Yuan Xuan walked her all the way to the little garden before saying in a low voice. “I guess you must be exhausted from yesterday night? “Ask Ah Fu to give you a shoulder massage and knead your back to loosen you up a little.”
