As Jian Yuncheng lost himself in thought, Jian Yiling quietly placed the small cake on the corner of his desk and returned to her own tasks, leaving him feeling somewhat abandoned. Jian Yuncheng lingered in Jian Yiling's study for a while longer, enjoying the cake she had given him and helping her solve a tricky geometry problem.
While working through the math, his eyes fell upon a partially knitted sweater lying beside her desk. It was the same style as the one she had gifted him, though this one was a shade of gray and slightly smaller than the one he had received. This discovery made him realize that the scarf he had received might have been custom-ordered, but the sweater was definitely a product of Jian Yiling's own hands.
A smile crept onto his face as he thought about her dedication. Yet, despite his lingering presence, he never heard her call him "Big Brother." It had been far too long since he'd heard her sweet, melodic voice utter that phrase.
When Jian Yuncheng came downstairs, he mentioned to his grandparents that he planned to take Jian Yiling back home in a few days.
"Are you out of your mind?" Jian Grandma immediately shot down the idea. "You think you can just send her over whenever you like and take her back when it suits you? No way! She's staying with us now. We old folks might not be much good for anything else, but we can certainly take care of her!"
Jian Yuncheng turned to his grandfather for support, but received none.
"Don't look at me," Jian Grandpa chimed in, clearly siding with his wife. "This old house has been too quiet for too long. It's a rare joy to have Xiao Guai here with us; I'm not about to let her go!"
Though his grandfather didn't express his feelings as openly as his grandmother, the affection for his granddaughter was unmistakable.
Jian Grandma continued, "Your grandpa and I have already decided that most of our estate will go to Xiao Guai, including this old house. The rest? You eight can split it however you like! Don't blame us for being biased; you all are just a bunch of rascals!"
The elderly couple had long retired, leaving the family business in the hands of their sons. However, the properties, stocks, and funds under their names represented a significant amount of wealth, enough to ensure that Jian Yiling would never have to worry about her livelihood. This was something He Yan had always had her eye on, considering the staggering sum involved.
"Grandma, I don't mind you giving all the property to Xiao Ling, but what I'm talking about is bringing her back home," Jian Yuncheng clarified, genuinely uninterested in their wealth or their plans for it.
"No chance!" Jian Grandma insisted, a mischievous gleam in her eyes. "You can send her here, but taking her back? Not happening! If you dare try, I'll kick you all out! I won't even open the door!"
Her stubbornness was apparent. Even if Jian Shuxiang or Wen Nuan came, they would receive the same refusal.
Jian Grandpa attempted to reason with his grandson, "Yuncheng, you know about the conflict between Xiao Ling and Yun Ao. This isn't something that will resolve quickly. We need to wait until Yun Ao's hand is healed. So for now, you can trust your sister to your grandma and me."
Jian Grandpa was quite aware that, when the time came for Jian Yunao's hand to heal, he could easily concoct another excuse to prolong Jian Yiling's stay.
Faced with the resolute attitudes of both his grandparents, Jian Yuncheng found himself defeated. At least for now, it was clear that discussing the matter with them would lead to no resolution.