At her own birthday banquet, Madam Ruan said that to Ling Tianya in front of everyone. It was her public announcement that the future first lady of the Ruan Family could be no one else but Ling Tianya. In a way, that helped Ling Tianya establish her status in the Ruan Family. Because of that, people with keen eyes could easily tell that Madam Ruan had even higher regard for the future granddaughter-in-law who had yet to marry into the family than the wife of her own son.
There was no one who didn't know that the old lady adored her grandson, because she would always talk about him. Back when Guan Meiyi was rumored to be marrying into the Ruan Family, both Ruan Qishan and Wang Yazhi admitted to it by default. Only the old lady never accepted it, nor did she try to hide her dislike of Guan Meiyi.
At the time, everyone thought that the old lady was too fond of her grandson, Ruan Zeyan, so she felt that no woman was good enough for him.