"So you remember this old woman is still alive, huh?" Old Madam Luo scoffed when she watched her eldest grandson enter through the doors.
"Nainai¹," Ziyan smiled dotingly and sat on the floor next to her. He took her hand in his and soothingly rubbed it, "I told you something came up yesterday."
Old Madam Luo scoffed, "You can take your excuses somewhere else. Do you really think I don't know you have been avoiding me?"
"Could you blame me?" Ziyan gave her a knowing look.
Old Madam Luo tsked and gave her son a disapproving look. "I only want you to get married. Am I asking too much from you?"
Ziyan did not reply. Instead, he picked up the pastry from the table in front of them and took a bite from it.
"Umm, this is good. Where did you buy it from?" He asked butler Shen who was standing a couple of feet away.
"They are from the newly opened bakery on Jade Street." Butler Shen replied.
A soft smile played on his lips as he knew this was Ziyan's attempt to change the topic. This of course resulted in Ziyan getting a slap on the back of his head.
"Ow," Ziyan rubbed his head, "Do you know this is considered physical abuse in today's world? It can even lead you to jail."
Old Madam Luo narrowed her eyes, but a hint of a smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "Physical abuse? Jail? You brat, I've been disciplining you since you were in diapers, and now you're lecturing me about the law?"
Ziyan grinned, the playful banter between them easing the tension in the room. "I'm just saying, Nainai, the world has changed. You need to keep up."
"Keep up? If anyone needs to keep up, it's you, Ziyan. Your younger cousins are all married or engaged. Every day, people ask me when you'll settle down. I'm tired of making excuses."
Ziyan sighed, his expression softening. "Nainai, you know the reason yourself. Those people are just waiting to make a mockery out of me"
Old Madam Luo's expression softened slightly as she took in Ziyan's words. She had watched him rise to the top with pride, only to see him crumble all because of an accident that left him with day blindness.
"Ziyan, I know people can be cruel, but you need someone by your side, someone who can share your burdens, celebrate your joys, and stand with you through the tough times."
"Don't I have you?" Ziyan
"I won't always be there with you,"
"Don't say that. Believe it or not, Nainai, you've still got a hundred more years to live." Ziyan looked at her, his expression serious.
Old Madam Luo gently cupped Ziyan's cheek, her fingers trembling ever so slightly. "Ziyan, I've never questioned your decisions or tried to force anything upon you. I know you've been through so much, and I understand why you're hesitant."
She paused for a second and gently removed his glasses. Ziyan blinked as the sudden light hit his eyes, a flicker of discomfort crossing his features. He didn't move, though, his eyes squinting as they adjusted to the harsh light.
Old Madam Luo's heart ached at the sight. She brushed her fingers over his eyelids. Her touch was gentle, as though she were handling something fragile and precious.
She continued softly, "I know it's selfish of me, but I'm asking you to let me be selfish just this once. I want you to consider my request, to find someone who can be by your side."
Ziyan took a deep breath, his thoughts swirling as he considered his grandmother's plea. He had always known that his family cared deeply for him, especially his grandmother. He could see how much his accident had impacted her, just as it had affected him.
"Alright," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "If you have someone in mind… someone you believe could be a good match for me, then I will marry her."
Old Madam Luo's eyes widened slightly, and a glimmer of hope brightened her expression. "You will?"
Ziyan nodded. "Yes. I trust your judgment."
Old Madam Luo's eyes sparkled as she clapped her hands together. "Shen! Fetch the album with the pictures of the young ladies from influential families. It's time we got to work."
Ziyan's eyes widened in dread, feeling a headache coming on. He has just agreed to her request and was already dreading it.
"Perhaps we should discuss the marriage agreement with the Xiao family first." Butler Shen reminded her.
Old Madam Luo's smile faltered and then disappeared completely. Her eyes darkened, and she muttered under her breath. "That wretched agreement… Set up by that old fool of a husband of mine. Why he ever thought it was a good idea to bind our family to the Xiaos is beyond me."
Ziyan had always been aware of the marriage agreement between the Luo and Xiao families, but he had never paid much attention to it. The idea of marrying the Xiao's daughter had never bothered him before anyway.
He remembered Aurelia Xiao from the few times he had met her at family gatherings. She was polite, graceful, and seemed genuinely kind. But that was before his accident, before he became "useless" in the eyes of society.
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1 Nainai: Chinese word for grandma