"You nosy boy, why are you so interested in which friends your sister is spending time with? Weren't you all supposed to be here to visit me, this old woman?" the old madam teased Jian Yujie, her sharp eyes gleaming with mischief.
Jian Yujie instantly deflated, sinking back into his seat, his curiosity still bubbling inside him but unable to express it. He hadn't said he wasn't there to visit his grandmother—it was just that he was more eager to see his little sister, Jian Yiling. After all, she had knitted him this sweater, and he hadn't even had the chance to personally thank her yet!
Finally, Jian Shuxian couldn't hold back any longer. He leaned forward and asked,
"Mom, where's Xiao Ling? She's been staying here for a while now. Is she adjusting well? We came over today specifically to check on her."
Jian Shuxian seemed to think that they had made some progress in persuading Jian Yunzhao. The fact that they could bring up Jian Yiling in his presence without it sparking anger or resentment from him was a promising sign. The old madam observed this exchange thoughtfully, considering it a positive development. She knew, however, that it wasn't just their words that had calmed Jian Yunzhao—recent progress in the surgery plans had also played a significant role.
The old madam answered slowly once again,
"She's adjusting just fine. Don't worry. You know I've got plenty of experience taking care of children. Look at how healthy your three sons turned out under my watch."
Though her tone wasn't harsh, her words carried a slight sting, subtly reminding the couple not to stretch themselves too thin trying to manage everything at once. She noticed Wen Nuan's weary face—dark circles under her eyes, the telltale signs of sleepless nights. After nearly thirty years as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, it was the first time the old madam had seen Wen Nuan look this worn out.
"Mom, that's not what I meant. Of course, we trust you to take care of Xiao Ling," Jian Shuxian replied gently, trying to diffuse any tension.
"All right, all right. She'll be back soon. We're having a BBQ today, and she went out to buy some ingredients," the old madam finally revealed, putting an end to her playful game of withholding information.
Jian Yujie's curiosity piqued once more,
"Grandma, why a BBQ? How did you come up with that idea?"
His grandparents didn't exactly strike him as the kind of people who'd enjoy outdoor grilling.
"What? You think your old grandma can't try something new?" The old madam continued to tease Jian Yujie, clearly enjoying how easily he could be flustered.
Of her three grandsons, Jian Yujie was the most fun to tease. He was quick to react, but never got truly upset.
"Grandma, no, I didn't mean that! You're misunderstanding me!" Jian Yujie quickly denied, his words tripping over each other as he scrambled to defend himself.
"All right, settle down. It was Yu Xi's idea. You know, we Jian and Yu families live in these two big houses with hardly anyone in them. Meals have been so quiet and dull. So, Yu Xi suggested we have a BBQ to make things livelier. Your grandfather and I thought it sounded fun, so we let the young ones handle it."
So the friends the old madam had mentioned earlier were referring to Yu Xi. Jian Yiling had gone out with Yu Xi to buy fresh ingredients for the BBQ.
Just as they were talking, the door opened and in walked Jian Yiling, followed by two men. One of them was Yu Xi, dressed in a light-colored casual outfit. The other man, wearing a black shirt paired with dark gray pants, was Zhai Yunsheng.
Jian Yiling had returned empty-handed, but the two men behind her were carrying bags of supplies. While Yu Xi's presence was expected, seeing Zhai Yunsheng there took everyone by surprise. Even the old madam, it seemed, hadn't known Zhai Yunsheng would be joining them.
But all of that was secondary to Jian Shuxian and Wen Nuan. As soon as Jian Yiling entered, their focus shifted entirely to her. Compared to the two tall men standing behind her, she appeared even more petite and delicate.
Her youthful face and clear eyes made her look just as she had the last time she visited the hospital to see Jian Yunzhao—silent and serene.