Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Ling Tianya’s qi pao was not only made by Madam Liang, but Madam Liang herself also made an appearance. The dramatic development of events had shocked Third Mrs. Ruan and Ruan Lijia to the bones.
“No…” Third Mrs. Ruan seemed unwilling to let go.
Ling Tianya raised her eyebrows and looked at Third Mrs. Ruan. The two women were truly ridiculous. “Any other questions?”
“The process of making a qipao is very complex and it is impossible to finish a qi pao like this one so quickly!” It was only last week when Ling Tianya was fighting over the Phoenix Ascend with her at the shop, how could she have a new one so soon? Even Madam Liang couldn’t make the qipao and the embroidery in a few short days.
“So many people with higher status than you asked for a qi pao from Madam Liang, and she always refused. How come you could convince her, being from an insignificant family like yours?” Ruan Lijia started to pose questions too.
The questions from the mother and daughter were not completely unfounded, and many people at the party thought about the same thing.
Before Ling Tianya could answer, Madam Liang was annoyed. She glared at the mother and daughter with contempt, “I don’t like what you are saying. Do you think everyone is the same as you, clinging to the powerful and stepping on the weak?”
“You — ” Third Mrs. Ruan’s face turned purple when she sensed the sarcasm in Madam Liang’s quip.
“Hmm! This young lady, Ling Tianya, is my bestie! For my bestie, I would not just make one qi pao, I could make ten for her! In my eyes, no matter how wealthy and powerful you people are, nobody compares to my bestie!”
The crowd was shocked into silence.
“What did Madam Liang just say? She and Ling Tianya are besties?”
“One is a silver-haired elder and the other is a young woman. One is twice the age as the other, and they were besties?”
Madam Liang blinked at Ling Tianya playfully and Ling Tianya returned a smile. They acknowledged each other with a nod.
This interaction between two besties blinded every guest in the room once again.
Then, Madam Liang continued nonchalantly, “What you just said about not being able to make such a qi pao in a few days, it is true.”
Hearing that, Third Mrs. Ruan raised her head immediately and smiled smugly. Only her smile did not last long as Madam Liang said, “But, this qi pao was a piece that I used in a show overseas many years ago. I have kept it with me, but when the young lady asked me about this qi pao, I didn’t hesitate to give it to her. The only thing is, there were only two lilies on the qi pao originally, and I added the two dragonflies in the past few days.”
“Speaking of, I’m sorry to create all this work for you.” Ling Tianya said sympathetically. She knew that Madam Liang Lao was getting old.
“You and I are besties, so no need to apologize!” Madam Liang said big-heartedly.
At that point, Third Mrs. Ruan and Ruan Lijia had run out of accusations. Both of them had a sour look on their faces.
“If this qi pao is so precious, why did Big Grandma cry?” Ruan Lijia asked.
Then, people’s attention was brought back to the matter of why the old lady was crying.
Madam Ruan had stopped the audible sobbing, but tears were still rolling. She fixed her gaze on the qi pao, with an emotion that no one seemed to understand.
“Mom, please don’t cry. Take care of yourself. Tianya is a considerate kid. The qi pao was personally made by Madam Liang, haven’t you always wanted one like this?” Ruan Qishan tried to console his mother.
Madam Ruan looked at Ling Tianya with gratitude in her eyes, before she turned her gaze back at the qi pao.
“It was so long ago…” Madam Ruan was choking up. “I was wearing a qi pao that looked exactly like this one, when I first met your father. He told me that he was immediately drawn to me in that qi pao with lilies and dragonflies, and he decided to marry me that very day. He said that of all the women he had ever met, I was the one who looked the best in a qi pao.”
