Chapter 39 Grandmother

Just after hearing Lin Ling’s name from Lu Qi’an, Qin Miaoyu received a call from her the very next day.

“I’ll be moving to Aisys after I finish the new car launch project here at Yuhong. They’re expanding and need more people. Do you want to try applying?” Lin Ling asked.

“Why are you suddenly considering Aisys?” Qin Miaoyu was a little puzzled.

She remembered that Lin Ling had been at Yuhong for four years and had never mentioned wanting to switch jobs.

Lin Ling sighed helplessly on the other end. “The company atmosphere used to be great, and the pay was good, so I never thought about leaving. But ever since your incident, things have gotten tense between the general manager and Director Wan, and with Director Li stirring things up, it’s pretty ugly internally.”

“Let me think about it, Senior. I’ll get back to you,” Qin Miaoyu replied.

After hanging up, Qin Miaoyu opened her long-neglected social media feed. As expected, she saw a recent post from Su Qiaohui venting about the toxic atmosphere at work and saying she felt like quitting.

But this didn’t stir much emotion in her. After all, she had already resigned and didn’t intend to linger. As she scrolled down absentmindedly, she happened upon a post from Lu Qi’an.

There were no words, just a photo of a scarf she had bought especially from South City.

She had been shopping with Ji Xuan when she saw the scarf and thought of Lu Qi’an, feeling it suited him perfectly. So she bought it and gave it to him the day she returned to Jing City.

Even though there was no caption, seeing Lu Qi’an’s replies below—she didn’t know to whom—Qin Miaoyu suddenly sensed how much he valued the gift.

It was, after all, just something she’d picked up casually…

A complicated emotion welled up inside her as she turned off her phone and set it on the table, glancing toward Lu Qi’an’s room.

She hadn’t noticed before, but now that she realized he wasn’t home, the two-bedroom apartment that she’d grown used to suddenly felt a little empty.

Something occurred to her, and she picked up the calendar on the coffee table. Lu Qi’an had already been living here for two months. How long had he said he would stay?

Since she was going to meet Lu Qi’an’s grandmother for the first time, she planned to bring a valuable gift, but Lu Qi’an had vetoed the idea.

“She’s seen plenty of nice things over the years. Lately, she prefers practical gifts. She’s been interested in decorating her home with paintings. If you have any of your own, just bring one for her,” he had said.

“Is that really okay? My paintings aren’t famous or anything. What if she feels slighted?” Qin Miaoyu had worried.

“Don’t fret, my mom had a friend paint one for her this time as well. Grandma doesn’t care about those things—she’ll be happy as long as she feels the thought behind it,” Lu Qi’an had reassured her.

In the end, under Lu Qi’an’s persuasion, Qin Miaoyu chose a painting and prepared a red envelope as well.

Old Madam Lu, Cao Xiuhua, had the housekeeper buy lots of fresh ingredients early that morning, intending to cook herself for her grandson and future granddaughter-in-law.

She rarely cooked these days, only occasionally when her grandson visited. But with her grandson’s wife coming for the first time, she insisted on preparing something special.

There was a knock at the door. Thinking it was her grandson and his wife, Cao Xiuhua put down what she was doing and hurried to open it.

But the face outside was not one she wished to see.

“Cao Xiuhua, you’re cooking today? Smells delicious,” Old Master Lu remarked. Having tasted her cooking for years, the aroma was familiar.

Cao Xiuhua’s expression was icy. “If you’re not here for anything important, leave. I’m not hosting you.”

Her attitude made Old Master Lu’s face darken. Remembering the foolish things he’d done in his youth, he had nothing more to say and only asked, “Are Qi’an and his wife coming here for lunch today?”

He had only heard from his daughter-in-law that his grandson would be bringing his wife to visit.

“Yes.”

“Then, may I meet Qi’an’s wife?”

Cao Xiuhua’s face grew even colder. “What’s the point? If you haven’t met her, does that mean she doesn’t exist? Or do you want to keep introducing people my grandson doesn’t like? You refused arranged marriages in your youth for the sake of love. Now that you’re old, why force it on Qi’an? Go on, if you want to see her, find Qi’an yourself.”

Just then, the housekeeper called Cao Xiuhua to help in the kitchen. She shut the door and went inside.

Staring at the closed door, Old Master Lu was speechless. He knew she would never forgive him. He told the driver, Xiao Wang, who had accompanied him, to help him to a bench nearby.

Lu Qi’an and Qin Miaoyu were walking from the parking lot to his grandmother’s house when they saw Old Master Lu first.

Old Master Lu saw them as well. He immediately had Xiao Wang help him up and scrutinized Qin Miaoyu.

Lu Qi’an stepped in front of Qin Miaoyu. “Grandpa, what brings you here?”

Old Master Lu retorted, “What brings me here? Every time you say you’ll bring her to see me, I never see anyone. I heard you’re coming here today, so I came myself!”

Lu Qi’an was unfazed. “You just wanted to see Grandma, didn’t you? She shut you out, didn’t she?”

Old Master Lu glared, a little embarrassed. “Watch your mouth, boy!”

Lu Qi’an guided Qin Miaoyu forward. “Miaoyu, this is my grandfather. Grandpa, this is my wife, Qin Miaoyu.”

After Qin Miaoyu greeted him politely, Lu Qi’an continued, “Grandpa, Grandma is waiting for us inside. Why don’t you have Uncle Wang take you back? We’ll go in first.”

Seeing that his grandson didn’t ask him in, Old Master Lu was deeply disappointed. But knowing his grandson sided with his grandmother, he had Xiao Wang help him leave.

Lu Qi’an knocked, and it was again Old Madam Lu, Cao Xiuhua, who opened the door.

At the sight of Qin Miaoyu, a warm smile immediately lit up Cao Xiuhua’s face.

“Miaoyu, I’m so glad to finally meet you. Come in, come in.”

Qin Miaoyu returned her smile with gentle warmth. “Hello, Grandma.”

“Yes, yes, wonderful. You two sit here. I’ll go to the kitchen—today I’ll show you my special dishes.”

Qin Miaoyu was just considering whether to help when Lu Qi’an spoke up first. “Please, Grandma, go ahead. It’s been so long since I tasted your cooking. Looks like thanks to Miaoyu, I’m in for a treat today!”

As kitchen sounds drifted out, Qin Miaoyu felt a bit uneasy. “Qi’an, are you sure I shouldn’t help Grandma?”

Lu Qi’an smiled. “No need. Grandma’s in great health, and she has the housekeeper to assist. Let’s just look forward to tasting the cooking of a true master chef’s descendant!”