After hanging up the video call, Mother casually asked, “Did Grandmother ask you to go see her?”
Su Zhaotang put her phone aside, let out an “ao-wu” sound, and pounced onto Mother like a lively little Corgi.
“Yes, and she asked Haoxuan to come along too.”
“It’s about time to visit her. We asked them to live with us long ago so we could take care of them, but the two elders insisted otherwise, complaining that the city is too noisy for them.”
Mother gently stroked Su Zhaotang’s head as she spoke, her expression tender.
“Mother is free tomorrow, I’ll go with you.”
“Great! I’ll go find that brat later and remind him to get up on time tomorrow.”
Hearing this term, Mother tapped her forehead with a finger.
“What ‘brat’? Speak properly.”
“Wuwuwu, Mother, you’re biased! Can’t I even say that about him now?”
Su Zhaotang argued unreasonably.
“Oh yes, yes, I’m biased. Who bought you all those bags filling the walls of your walk-in closet?”
Su Zhaotang looked up and met Mother’s death glare.
She giggled coyly and said, “How can you hold that against me, Mom?”
Mother glared with her beautiful eyes and snorted.
On a winter morning, the sunlight gradually brightened, warming the snow-covered city.
After the three members of the Su family packed their things, they had the driver set off. Su Haoxuan looked half-asleep; as soon as he got in the car, he buried his head and slept, oblivious to the world outside.
Seeing him like this, Mother Liu Xinruo leaned forward and patted his forehead.
“If you keep staying up late like this every day, I might not be able to deal with you, but I’ll get your dad to!”
It must be said that although Su Dad appears gentle and refined, he is truly strict when disciplining his son—he really does hit when necessary.
Last time, when Su Haoxuan sneaked out with classmates to ride motorcycles and Su Zhiyuan found out, he gave him a beating that left him bedridden for three days.
“Mom, I’m just letting loose during the holidays. With your son’s intelligence, it won’t affect my studies.”
Su Haoxuan spoke lazily.
Hearing this, Su Zhaotang rolled her eyes twice.
“Oh right, I had no idea you were so smart,” she said sarcastically.
“Shut up, don’t say anything,” he retorted. Whenever his sister opened her mouth, trouble was sure to follow.
“I’m done with you. I’ll call your dad,” Mother said.
“Don’t, Mom! I’ll change, I promise! Just don’t tell Dad—he really hits!!”
Su Haoxuan instantly became wide awake.
Mother snorted coldly, while Su Zhaotang snickered quietly beside her.
Su Grandfather and Grandmother lived in a countryside villa in the suburbs, surrounded by mountains and rivers, with fresh air. The villa’s walls were painted in a beige hue, exuding the rustic and natural charm of a rural style.
The courtyard was filled with various flowers—roses, jasmine, lavender—all blooming in competition, filling the air with fragrance. There was also the small vegetable garden Grandmother tended to, full of life.
In the villa’s courtyard, a winding path paved with stone slabs meandered through lush green grass on both sides.
Antique rocking chairs and wooden tables and chairs were scattered across the lawn, where the two elders usually rested and chatted. Occasionally, friends would come over to gather.
The car stopped at the villa’s entrance. Hearing the sound, Su Grandmother walked out, her steps unsteady but her face beaming with a smile.
As soon as Su Zhaotang got out of the car, she skipped and bounced inside, calling out cheerfully, “Grandpa, Grandma, I’m here!”
She tied her hair into a loose bun, looking lively and adorable. She wore a simple, fresh little white dress, paired with a long coat that revealed two slender, fair legs, like fine mutton-fat jade.
Her delicate face radiated the youthful energy of a young girl.
“Oh, my precious granddaughter, come let Grandmother take a look. I’ve missed you so much after not seeing you for so long.”
Grandfather followed steadily behind Grandmother, his usually stern face now lit with a smile.
Su Zhaotang ran over and hugged Grandmother tightly, planting a loud kiss on her cheek with a “mwah.”
“I missed you, Grandmother!”
“Oh, and Grandfather, I missed you too,” Su Zhaotang said impartially.
Grandfather snorted. “Playing favorites—you didn’t hug me first.”
“Come on, I’ll hug you, I’ll hug you,”
Su Haoxuan stepped forward cheekily, spreading his broad arms wide.
Before he could even embrace him, the old man pushed him away disdainfully.
Su Zhaotang laughed mercilessly at him from the side.
Mother Liu Xinruo then stepped forward to greet them.
“Dad, Mom, let’s go inside first. It’s cold out here.”
“Yes, yes, let’s go in first. We can talk inside,”
Old Madam happily led Su Zhaotang by the hand as they walked inside.
Once everyone was seated, Auntie Wang brought over tea.
She set out cups for each of them, but only the one in front of Su Zhaotang was a steaming cup of milk tea.
As soon as Su Zhaotang saw it, her heart felt sweet and warm—it felt so good to be remembered.
She picked up the cup and took a small sip, the rich milky flavor spreading in her mouth.
“Zhaozhao, now that you’re back in the country, are you planning to make your studio your main career?” Grandfather’s deep voice suddenly asked.
“Yes, Dad doesn’t want me to work too hard. Isn’t it nice to open a studio that aligns with my expertise? Besides, our family’s company will have this guy here to take over in the future,”
Su Zhaotang said.
“Oh ho, so you’re just going to walk away without a care, huh?”
Su Haoxuan widened his eyes and glared at her, as if he’d pounce on her if she dared say no the next second.
“Ah-ha, dear brother, you must remember that your sister is now married. How could I still cling to the Su family’s business?”
Su Zhaotang blinked her eyes, looking innocently at him.
“Right, you don’t need to worry. You’ll still get money every month anyway.”
He said in a faint, lingering tone.
Su Zhaotang helplessly spread her hands.
Su Haoxuan gritted his teeth, thinking, “I really want to hit her.”
At this, Old Madam spoke up and asked,
“Zhaozhao, since you and Ling Jing are already married, when do you two plan to live together?”
She stared directly at her.
Su Zhaotang was taken aback by her question. Hesitantly, she said, “Shouldn’t that be something he brings up, not me? I’m a girl, you know—I have my pride. It’d make it seem like I’m eager to do something with him.”
Su Zhaotang pouted. Although she knew that living together was an inevitable step after marriage, it definitely shouldn’t be her who brought it up first.
Grandfather took a sip of tea, rolling his two walnuts in his hand as he played with them.
Then he spoke slowly, “Zhaozhao, while it’s true you shouldn’t be the one to bring it up first, you still need to keep this matter in mind. Once you’re married, you should act like it, or else people might gossip. Understand?”
Su Zhaotang turned her head toward her grandmother, looking at her pleadingly with pitiful eyes.
“Oh dear, looking at me won’t help. Even though your marriage was rushed, feelings still need time to develop. Now you’re living apart, not commuting together, and not spending time with each other—how is that supposed to work, my dear?”
After speaking, Old Madam waved her hands in a gesture of helplessness.
Su Zhaotang covered her face and let out a long sigh, her expression full of worry.
This time, it was Su Haoxuan’s turn to watch the show. He teased, “Right, should I help you get in touch with my brother-in-law?”