Jiang Wan felt uncertain, worried that Old Madam might think she was too young.
But she never knew how to lie: “Grandma, I’m 20.”
Old Madam nodded; the age was about what she had expected. The girl looked like someone who hadn’t seen much of the world.
She was concerned that her grandson might have used some form of coercion or temptation to force this child to marry him.
“Child, tell me honestly—did that rascal Shi Lan use his power or influence to pressure you into marrying him?” Old Madam asked, still uneasy.
Jiang Wan quickly shook her head. “Grandma, no, Uncle Gu… Shi Lan is very kind. I married him willingly.”
Hearing Jiang Wan’s words, Old Mrs. Gu felt relieved.
Although the Gu family was wealthy and influential, they would never resort to coercion or force.
Old Mrs. Gu nodded, then took off the jade bracelet from her wrist and handed it to Jiang Wan.
“I came in a hurry today and didn’t have time to prepare anything for you. Consider this jade bracelet as my gift to you for our first meeting.”
Early this morning, she had just finished her Buddhist prayers in the quiet room when she overheard the servants chatting privately.
Only then did she learn that Gu Shilan had brought a young girl home and that she was pregnant. The old lady couldn’t wait a moment longer and immediately asked the driver to bring her over.
The bracelet was crafted from fine jadeite. Against its emerald-green texture was a faint touch of red, as delicate and lively as the blush on a young girl’s cheeks.
It looked incredibly precious.
Jiang Wan was both flattered and overwhelmed, waving her hands in refusal. “Grandma, this is too valuable. I can’t accept it.”
Old Mrs. Gu patted her hand gently. “Child, you’ve already called me Grandma. If an old lady like me doesn’t give you anything, wouldn’t that make me seem ignorant of propriety? For my sake, please accept it.”
Jiang Wan understood that Old Mrs. Gu said this only to make her feel less burdened about accepting the bracelet.
Having grown up lacking familial affection, she rarely had opportunities to interact with elders like this. Her father and stepmother never spoke to her in such a considerate tone.
For a moment, her heart felt a pang of bittersweet emotion. So this was what it felt like to be valued by an elder.
Looking at Old Madam’s kind smile, Jiang Wan suppressed the mix of emotions in her heart and said sincerely, “Grandma, thank you.”
“That’s more like it. Just accept what Grandma gives you.”
Old Mrs. Gu didn’t say more. She personally placed the jade bracelet on Jiang Wan’s wrist and then examined it for a moment.
“It looks even better on you than it did on me. I’ve kept this bracelet with me for a long time, and it has absorbed Buddhist Aura. It will protect you and the child.”
As Old Mrs. Gu said, the bracelet’s warm, smooth texture brought Jiang Wan an unprecedented sense of peace. “Grandma, you’re so kind to me.”
Old Mrs. Gu chuckled softly. “Silly child, we’re family now. If I’m not good to you, who else should I be good to?”
Gu Corporation Headquarters
Zhang Qian had just finished reporting the project progress to Gu Shilan and was about to leave work when he was called back.
Gu Shilan looked up from the documents on his desk, hesitated for a moment, and asked, “Do you know what girls like to eat?”
Zhang Qian was taken aback for a second before realizing that his boss’s question must be related to Miss Jiang.
He thought to himself, you’ve asked the right person. To please his girlfriend, he had done extensive research on girls’ tastes.
“Small cakes, cookies, milk tea—things like that. Basically, girls all like sweet things.”
Gu Shilan, unusually, showed interest in discussing food and humbly sought further advice.
“Any recommendations?”
As soon as Zhang Qian mentioned this, he got excited and no longer wanted to leave work. He leaned over the desk, thought for a moment, and said, “Boss, I know a place with really delicious desserts, much better than those five-star hotels.”
Hearing this, Gu Shilan stood up briskly, walked to the coat rack, casually picked up his suit jacket, and headed out.
“Lead the way.”
The whole process flowed smoothly, without a hint of haste.
Zhang Qian watched his boss’s decisive back, shrugged, and immediately followed.
The driver had been sent home by Gu Shilan, so Zhang Qian took on the role.
After driving the black Bentley for over half an hour, they stopped on a commercial street. To the left, a dessert shop bustled with young men and women coming and going, indicating good business.
Zhang Qian went inside for a while and returned to the car carrying two bags.
As soon as he sat in the driver’s seat, he turned to Gu Shilan and said, “Mr. Gu, these are the shop’s signature pastries. I bought a little of each.”
Gu Shilan glanced at the sweetly styled bags and nodded. “Good work.”
Zhang Qian started the car and replied, “No trouble at all. It’s my honor to serve you, Mr. Gu.”
When Gu Shilan returned home, he saw Wen Qing walking a shepherd dog in the yard.
He patted Du Du, who had run over to greet him, and asked Wen Qing, “Did anyone visit today?”
“Old Madam came by.” Noticing Gu Shilan’s slight frown, she quickly added, “Old Madam really likes Young Madam. She left with a big smile.”
Gu Shilan had originally planned to take Jiang Wan to the old mansion after getting their marriage certificate on Sunday. He hadn’t expected Grandma to be so impatient, not even waiting to discuss it with him.
Still, although the process hadn’t gone as he’d planned, the outcome matched his expectations.
As expected, Grandma really liked Jiang Wan.
Inside the villa, Jiang Wan was sitting on the sofa watching TV.
Seeing Gu Shilan return, she stood up and went to greet him.
“Uncle Gu, you’re back.”
“Yes.” Gu Shilan immediately noticed the jade bracelet on her fair wrist and smiled. “You met Grandma.”
Jiang Wan nodded. “Yes, Grandma also gave me this jade bracelet.”
She lifted her arm to show him.
The emerald-green jade caught the light, glowing with a soft luster against her fair, slender wrist—truly beautiful.
“It looks lovely on you. Since Grandma gave it to you, keep it on,” Gu Shilan said sincerely. Then, he casually placed the cake he was holding on the table in front of the sofa. “I picked up some pastries on the way home. Wanwan, try them.”
Jiang Wan looked at the two bags, recognizing the packaging from the South City Cake Shop. She had worked there part-time before, but Gu Shilan’s company didn’t seem to be on the way from there.
Noticing Jiang Wan glancing at him secretly, Gu Shilan asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing…” Caught off guard, Jiang Wan quickly shook her head. “Uncle Gu, I’ll eat them.”
Gu Shilan nodded and went upstairs to change.
Jiang Wan opened the bags and saw they were all the shop’s signature desserts. During her part-time job, the shop owner would give unsold cakes to the staff after closing each day.
Because Jiang Wan had designed a pattern for the cake boxes, the owner not only paid her the usual wages but also gave her extra small cakes as a bonus.
When Jiang Yi wasn’t home, Meng Fenyu would have the servants skip her breakfast, so those small cakes had gotten her through many mornings.
Jiang Wan took out a new product, a slice of “Lying Flat Duck” cake, with a lifelike little white duck lying on top.
She couldn’t resist picking up a spoon and tapping the duck’s bottom.
When Gu Shilan came downstairs after changing clothes, this was the scene he saw.
The corners of his mouth couldn’t help but curve upward slightly.