Madam Xie had already completely forgotten about her own grandson. She warmly took Yu Zhiwan’s hand.
“Zhiwan, come on. Come inside with Grandma. Let’s have a chat.”
Old Master Xie happily chimed in, “Yes, yes! Zhiwan, let’s go inside. Don’t worry about Jingmo for now! Grandpa and Grandma will introduce you to everyone.”
Left behind, Xie Jingmo: “?”
Grandpa, what exactly are you saying?
Just then, the parrot hanging by the window suddenly screeched:
“Get married! Wedding night! Have a baby soon! Wedding night! Wedding night!”
Yu Zhiwan instinctively turned her head.
What did this parrot just say?
Wedding night?
Madam Xie glanced at the parrot, feeling terribly embarrassed.
“Zhiwan, this parrot is called Pangpang. I have no idea who taught it to say such nonsense!”
Yu Zhiwan: “…”
Pangpang? What a unique name.
Not far away, Xie Yunzhou: “…”
Let us mourn for three seconds over Pangpang’s original name—Pineapple.
And what did Grandma mean by “I have no idea who taught it”?
It was obviously Grandpa and Grandma constantly talking about weddings and grandchildren. That’s how the parrot learned it!
At that moment, the servants brought in the gifts that Xie Jingmo and Yu Zhiwan had brought from the car.
There were so many bags and boxes that they could barely carry them all.
Besides some expensive health supplements and tea sets, Yu Zhiwan had specifically bought an exquisite pair of vases after Xie Jingmo told her that his grandmother loved flower arranging.
Since his grandfather enjoyed chess, she had also bought him a white-jade chessboard and matching chess pieces.
Seeing how thoughtfully chosen the gifts were, Madam Xie’s face lit up with delight.
“You really put so much thought into this, dear. Grandpa and Grandma both love them!”
Old Master Xie couldn’t bear to put the chess set down.
He practically wanted to run to his old friends immediately and brag:
Look! This chess set was given to me by my granddaughter-in-law! You don’t even have a granddaughter-in-law!
More importantly, the gifts were perfectly suited to their interests.
It was obvious that Yu Zhiwan had asked Xie Jingmo about their preferences and discussed the gifts with him.
Perhaps the young couple had even chosen them together.
It seemed they were getting along quite well.
Old Master Xie felt deeply relieved.
Jingmo’s parents had passed away when he was young, and he and his wife were getting older too. Who knew when they might leave this world?
Now that Zhiwan was by Jingmo’s side, the young couple could accompany and support each other for the rest of their lives.
That was enough to put his and his wife’s minds at ease.
Once they entered the living room, Xie Jingmo introduced Yu Zhiwan to the other members of the family.
Yu Zhiwan greeted each of them one by one.
Old Master and Madam Xie had three children.
Xie Jingmo’s father was the eldest.
Unfortunately, after getting married and having a son, he and his wife both passed away, leaving behind their only child, Xie Jingmo.
Xie Jingmo also had a second uncle and aunt, who had a pair of fraternal twins—a daughter named Xie Yuntang and a son named Xie Yunzhou.
Xie Yunzhou had always been dissatisfied about being the younger twin. He firmly believed that he should have been born first and been the older brother.
Xie Jingmo also had an aunt, who was sitting on the sofa with her husband. The couple had chosen not to have children and had remained deeply affectionate throughout their many years of marriage.
These were the people closest to Xie Jingmo.
Old Master Xie also had other siblings, so the Xie family had several branches spread across different cities, with some relatives living overseas.
Today, Xie Jingmo had brought his newlywed wife back to the family home.
The significance of the Xie family’s young madam was obvious.
Even relatives who lived overseas would make a special trip back to meet her.
However, because everything had happened so suddenly, they hadn’t been able to return immediately. Xie Jingmo told her they could meet them gradually in the future.
Yu Zhiwan nodded.
She had heard before that Xie Jingmo’s parents’ deaths were something the Xie family preferred not to discuss, and that they might have been connected to some sort of family secret.
Now that she was here, it seemed the rumors might actually have some truth to them.
Not a single person present—not even Old Master or Madam Xie—mentioned their deceased son and daughter-in-law.
After Yu Zhiwan finished greeting Xie Jingmo’s second uncle, aunt, and his aunt and uncle-in-law, Xie Yuntang approached her.
She was wearing a pale moon-white qipao and had a bright, charming smile.
“Sister-in-law, I’m Yuntang. My brother can marry—”
She paused.
“—can marry you, and it’s truly his good fortune!”
Yu Zhiwan froze.
Did she almost say that Xie Jingmo was the one marrying into her family?
Xie Jingmo, however, didn’t seem to care at all.
He lazily curled his lips.
“That’s right. It’s my good fortune.”
Yu Zhiwan: “…”
Is this part of their act of showing affection in front of Grandpa and Grandma?
But there was no need to say that he was marrying her!
Xie Yuntang had a bold and easygoing personality. The more she looked at Yu Zhiwan, the more she liked her.
Before long, she had already affectionately linked arms with her.
“Sister-in-law, let’s add each other on WeChat later, okay? It’ll be easier to keep in touch.”
Yu Zhiwan nodded.
“Sure.”
Then she suddenly noticed something.
The pale moon-white qipao Xie Yuntang was wearing was one of her own designs.
Noticing Yu Zhiwan staring at her qipao, Xie Yuntang’s eyes immediately lit up, as though she had found someone who shared her interests.
“Sister-in-law, do you think this dress is pretty too? It’s designed by Wan Yan! I absolutely love her designs!”
“She’s never shown her face either. She’s so mysterious! It’s just a shame that Wan Yan only works with the Yu family. Ugh, I really dislike the Yu family, but for Wan Yan’s designs, I have no choice but to painfully buy their clothes.”
“Sister-in-law, I don’t mean to look down on the Yu family. I just can’t stand how they have their own biological daughter but still favor their adopted daughter, Yu Xiangxiang!”
“And I heard from my brother that you’ve already cut ties with the Yu family. Good for you, Sister-in-law! From now on, we’re your family. We’ll have your back!”
Yu Zhiwan froze slightly.
A warm feeling spread through her heart like a spring.
Family.
Have your back.
Those were words she rarely heard.
And they touched her deeply.
“Yuntang, thank you. And don’t worry. Wan Yan won’t work with the Yu family anymore.”
Xie Yuntang froze.
Then her face immediately lit up with excitement.
“Sister-in-law, you know Wan Yan?!”
“Wait, you’re studying fashion design too! Do you know Wan Yan? What does she look like? How old is she?”
Only then did Yu Zhiwan realize that she had accidentally let something slip.
She suddenly didn’t know what to do.
Should she tell everyone that she was Wan Yan?
Just as she hesitated, Xie Jingmo suddenly spoke.
“Alright. You’ve been talking so much. Let your sister-in-law rest for a while.”
Xie Yuntang: “?”
Seriously, Brother? Can talking really make someone tired?
Xie Yunzhou chuckled as he peeled an orange, looking completely unsurprised.
“Just wait, Xiao Tang. There’ll be plenty more times when our brother neglects his younger brother and sister for the sake of his wife!”
Yu Zhiwan: “??”
What does he mean by neglecting his siblings for his wife?
Xie Yunzhou smiled mischievously at Yu Zhiwan.
He was handsome, with one corner of his mouth raised in a carefree, playful grin.
“Hello, Sister-in-law! I’m Xie Yunzhou. I’ve heard your name for a long time. It’s great that we’re finally family!”
I’ve heard your name for a long time?
Finally family?
A trace of confusion appeared in Yu Zhiwan’s beautiful eyes.
“Did you know me before?”