Gong Mingyi looked at Gong Siyu in surprise for a long while.
He squinted his pair of pale eyes that were solemn and stern but devoid of anger, as if he was trying to find out some clues from his grandson's eyes. "How come I've never heard of Ji Tianshi's direct descendant?"
"Because their family has always kept a low profile and never appeared in person. In fact, in the basement of their courtyard house in the first ring road, all of Ji Tianshi's paintings are there."
As soon as Old Master Gong heard that there were many more paintings created by Ji Tianshi, his eyes lit up!
The authentic paintings of Ji Tianshi were probably the only greatest love of Gong Mingyi's life.
"Can we go see it?"
Gong Siyu chuckled notoriously and shook his head regretfully.
"No way, we're not married yet, so I can't make such a request. However, once she becomes your granddaughter-in-law, you can not only look at it, you can bring it home too."
Gong Mingyi was really tempted.
However, after thinking about it for a while, he suddenly realized that something was amiss.
He glowered at Gong Siyu sternly and kicked his back.
"You kid! How dare you try to bribe me with this painting!?! Your grandmother wanted you to come back because she wants to set you up with the daughter of the An Family. Both we and her family have long intended for you two to get engaged."
Gong Mingyi loved the painting on the table, but his tone was stern as he said, "You've only come to tell me now that you have another person in mind. Aren't you embarrassing us?"
After speaking, Old Master Gong suddenly sighed again.
"Siyu, Grandpa loved you the most since you were a child because your mother passed away early. Have you forgotten? Your mother used to be from the An Family."
"Your grandmother and I agreed to the An Family's suggestion, which is for you two to get married, because we wanted to make up for the regrets we had back then. An Lan is a good girl, and she's beautiful. Try to get along with her. That child is quite likable."
Gong Siyu's face turned cold when he heard Gong Mingyi mentioning his late mother.
It was aloof and unwelcoming.
"But Grandpa, don't you forget, my mother died of depression because of an emotionless marriage to a noble family. My father never loved her in his life. Before they got married, he was already in a romantic relationship with Lu Qianyun. No one knows how much my mother suffered. I only know that the year my mother died, Gong Siyi was born."
With some hatred in his narrow eyes, he continued, "I've been putting up with it for so many years and acknowledged a woman who indirectly killed my mother as my stepmother. Grandpa, I won't repeat my father's mistake of marrying a woman I don't love. I won't accept an arranged marriage with another noble family and create another tragedy."
Old Master Gong was silent for a moment. There was a touch of sorrow in between his brows.
He saw the cold and determined side of his grandson.
After letting out a deep sigh, he said, "Siyu, feelings can be nurtured."
His cold, harsh lips curled into an evil and stern smile.
"Grandpa, I happen to be the kind of person who falls in love at first sight and settles on that person for the rest of my life."
"That's why I want you to meet her!"
He forcefully shifted the conversation back to that topic again.
"Grandpa, if you promise to stand by my side from now on and pave the way for your future granddaughter-in-law, I'll agree to meet that woman." Unmoved, Gong Siyu discussed the terms of the deal.
"If there's a chance, let me meet that little girl. I'll take a look at her before deciding if I want to help you go against that unruly old woman Shen Manqing!" Gong Mingyi said with a low and rumbling humph, standing with his hands behind his back. He sounded extremely authoritative.
Gong Siyu immediately grinned and said, "Grandpa, you're the best."
After seeing Old Master Gong, Gong Siyu was considered to have returned home. Hence, Gong Siyu was eager and ready to hit the road to accompany Ji Younai.
However, man proposes, God disposes.
He wondered how the "Empress Dowager" Shen Manqing got hold of the news.
She found out that Gong Siyu had returned.
She rushed home soon after she left.
She happened to run into Gong Siyu.
Old Madam Gong, Shen Manqing, was returning to the mansion alone.
Blocking the entrance to the mansion, she glared coldly at her grandson who was striding out of the house.
Her cold sharp eyes were fixed on his body through the carved silver and gold-tinted glasses.
Her aura and arrival were like that of a queen's, suddenly causing tension to arise in the surrounding atmosphere.
Even though she was over 70 years old, her domineering aura of a powerful woman of authority did not hide her grace and excellence. Her mannerisms were full of nobility, and she carried herself well. She maintained a youthful appearance and looked like she was only in her fifties.
The old lady's powerful aura didn't make Gong Siyu feel any pressure.
He shrugged and immediately went forward to give Shen Manqing a big hug.
It made her smile for a moment, but she soon began looking austere and stern again.
"Stay for dinner before you leave. You're not going anywhere without my permission!"
"..."
In the entire Gong Family, the most frightening and difficult to deal with was none other than "Empress Dowager" Shen Manqing. She was a terrifying existence whom even the head of the family, Gong Mingyi, didn't dare to openly go against.
Why? It was because his fear towards her came from within.
Gong Siyu's heart sank, and he was full of helplessness.
His plan to quickly go home and accompany Ji Younai was foiled.
He could only pick up his cellphone to call Ji Younai.
However, there was strangely no answer again.
Although Gong Siyu was born in a wealthy family, he grew up without experiencing sufficient parental love and he was, in fact, an extremely insecure person. Yet, Ji Younai suddenly stopped answering his calls.
The uneasiness within him overwhelmed him and caused his imagination to run wild, leading to his displeasure.
His expression turned cold and indifferent. It was as if everything that he looked at was covered in frost.
Shen Manqing ordered Gong Siyu to the study where she began interrogating him.
His gaze was gloomy, and his face was extremely hostile.
Old Madam Gong was first stunned, after which her expression changed subtly.
She understood her grandson extremely well. Once he was unhappy and lost his temper, she would not be able to persuade him at all. Her grandson was hard to coax and just like her, he was hot-tempered and hard-hearted.
"You haven't been home for so long. Don't you miss Grandma?"
With a sullen expression, Gong Siyu picked a vintage mahogany chair in Shen Manqing's study and sat on it.
He chuckled wryly and said, "Grandma, why would I dare to come home to this place? Ever since I was a child, there had been many instances where I would have died if I hadn't been careful enough."
Shen Manqing's face turned frigid as she knew who Gong Siyu was referring to.
"You must have enough evidence to make such claims!"
"Oh, I did have evidence at the start, but I accidentally killed it."
He sneered with a vicious gaze. Gong Siyu was extremely callous and even more terrifying than the elderly woman in the study.
"I heard that the one who saved you was a girl."
Shen Manqing's enigmatic cold eyes caught the subtle changes in Gong Siyu's expression.
"Did you also hear that that girl is staying at my home right now?" The sneer on his lips deepened. "Grandma, if you have something to say, why don't you just say it directly? Since when have you been so careful about what you say to me?"
Well aware of the old lady's tactics and the moles that she had planted in his home, Gong Siyu cut to the chase with a hostile expression.
"Little Yu, I won't ask how many women you are dating now. Young people should date when they are supposed to, but you can't just marry any random, sordid woman, do you understand?" After a pause, she added, "I'll have the An Family come over in the evening and have dinner together with us. An Lan will also be here, so prepare yourself."
Upon hearing this, Gong Siyu stared at Shen Manqing coldly for a moment.
He suddenly stood up with a sarcastic expression and a sinister and vicious smile.
"Grandma, you said that the Gong Family will not accept any sordid person with a messy background. In this case, can you tell me why you let Lu Qingyun, an eighteenth-tier actress who killed my mother, marry into the family?"