The compound was in a secluded area and isolated from the bustling city, with barely any noise around. The dimly lit street lights were hiding in the spruce trees, casting down their shadows.
The autumn air in the capital was dry and dusty. When the wind kicked up, fog would fill the sky, as if a layer of ash sprinkled down. The later the night, the colder it became.
Song Fengwan leaned against the back seat.?Why are those two here? If I had known earlier, I wouldnât have come.
âMiss Song, weâre here,â Qian Jiang reminded. The car had already stopped for two minutes, but she still hadnât moved.
âThank you.â Song Fengwan pushed the door open and got out of the car. Old Madam Fu was already waiting at the door. Song Fengwan was flattered. âGrandma Fu, why are you outside?â
âItâs so cold at night, yet youâre wearing so little. I just knew that Third Son wouldnât know how to take care of people.â Old Madam Fu took her hand and pulled her inside. âLook at how cold your hands are.â
When she found out that something had happened to Song Fengwan, Old Madam Fu had wanted to visit her. But she was afraid that Song Fengwan would be sensitive and suspect that she knew something.
âThird Master isnât here yet?â Song Fengwan looked around but didnât see Fu Chenâs car.
âHeâs stuck in a traffic jam, so heâll be a while. But Fu Xinhan was already brought over in the afternoon, and I got someone to take him out for a walk.â Old Madam Fu held her hand.
She sighed to herself.?Yuxiu is unlucky.
âGrandmaââ Speak of the devil.
Fu Yuxiu was fuming after Song Fengwan said that she didnât know them, causing his girlfriend to get checked like a thief.
He was worried that Song Fengwan would arrive first to gossip about Jiang Fengya, so he pulled her and practically ran over.
âOh, isnât this Yuxiu? Why are you here?â Old Madam Fu narrowed her eyes, neither surprised nor happy.
Song Fengwanâs heart slightly skipped a beat.?So, their visit was a last-minute decision.
âGrandma, canât I miss you?â Fu Yuxiu looked obedient and fawning.
âIs that so?â Old Madam Fu said lightly as her gaze landed on Jiang Fengya.
âHello, Old Madam.â Jiang Fengya had been criticized by Fu Chen because of the way she addressed him, so she didnât dare to address Old Madam Fu as Grandma like Fu Yuxiu did.
She just ran here, so her face was still slightly red. She was panting softly and looked very delicate. She felt uncomfortable under Old Madam Fuâs gaze but still maintained her smile as she let Old Madam Fu scrutinize her.
âYuxiu, why are you so discourteous? Itâs already dark outside, yet you arenât sending her home. It wonât be good if word gets out that you brought a young lady out so late at night.â
Jiang Fengyaâs smile stiffened.?Sheâs chasing us out the moment we arrived?
âGrandma, sheâs my girlfriend,â Fu Yuxiu explained.
Jiang Fengyaâs face looked harmless, so she was likable by many. But why was it that when she was in front of the Fu Familyâ¦
She glanced at Song Fengwan from the corner of her eye.
Song Fengwan frowned.?Does this woman think I was talking bad about her behind her back?
Fu Yuxiu obviously thought of this as well, and the way he looked at Song Fengwan was strange.
Old Madam Fu patted the back of Song Fengwanâs hand. âQian Jiang, bring Wanwan inside.â
âGrandmaâ¦â Song Fengwan didnât want Jiang Fengya to cry and whine, saying she had bullied her the moment she left.
âYouâve had a long day. Go in and rest.â
âOkay.â Song Fengwan nodded. âBig Brother Qian Jiang, Iâll be troubling you to bring the gifts in.â
Old Madam Fu glanced at Fu Yuxiu, âYuxiu, you should go in too. I have something to say to this lady alone.â
âGrandma, letâs go in and talk. Itâs really cold outside.â Fu Yuxiu was nervous as well.
âDo my words no longer mean anything to you? Do you want me to invite your grandfather down from upstairs?â Old Madam Fu sounded displeased. âOr are you afraid that Iâll bully her?â
âOf course not.â Fu Yuxiu gave Jiang Fengya a look before entering the house.
Old Madam Fu was from the south and had a gentle and kind personality. Fu Yuxiuâs mother was a formidable person, yet even she didnât dare to be presumptuous in front of her, let alone him.
Not to mentionâ¦
⦠his grandfather.
***
After entering the house, Song Fengwan sipped her tea. On the other hand, Fu Yuxiu couldnât sit still and paced back and forth.
âSong Fengwan, did you say something in front of my grandma?â
âIâm not that free.â Indeed, he really did want to slander her.
âI know youâre still angry at me for breaking off the engagement, but Iâve already apologized to you. Itâs fine if you donât accept it, but why are you causing trouble again?â
Song Fengwan was speechless.?People in love are fools. Fu Yuxiu is f*cking brainless.
âIâm very busy and donât have the time to cause trouble. Even Grandma Fu didnât know that you were coming to the old residence, so how could I have known? Otherwise, do you think Iâm willing to see you?â
Fu Yuxiu was at a loss for words. What she said made sense.
âDidnât you purposely say that you didnât know us at the entrance just now?â
âItâs dark. I didnât see clearly,â Song Fengwan said self-righteously. âIf you were even one ten-thousandth as good-looking as Third Master, I would have definitely been able to see you from a hundred meters away.â
By using his Third Uncle to insult him, Fu Yuxiu couldnât even refute and could only glare at her angrily.
***
Outsideâ¦
Old Madam Fu pointed to the side of the courtyard and motioned for Jiang Fengya to follow her.
Since Fu Yuxiu left, she became extremely nervous. This old madam had clearly come with unfriendly intentions.
She glanced at the old Fu residence. There was a flight of stairs going straight up, complementing the old residence to look dignified and unreachable.
âWhatâs your surname?â Old Madam Fuâs voice was gentle and soft.
âMy surname is Jiang.â Her voice was quiet, as if she was afraid of something.
âMiss Jiang, what do you want?â
Jiang Fengyaâs face was pale. As the autumn wind blew, her entire body turned cold. âWhat do you mean?â
âOur Fu family chooses our daughters-in-law based on their moral character, not family background. Itâs a pity thatâ¦â Old Madam Fu smiled kindly. â⦠you donât have one.â
âWeâve only met once. How do you know how I am?â
Old Madam Fu was neither anxious nor impatient. âIâve lived for so many years. If I canât tell the difference between humans and ghosts, I would have lived in vain. Little girl, itâs good to have ambition, but donât use it in the wrong place.â
âMy background is indeed not as good as Song Fengwanâs, but you canât degrade me like this. Yuxiu and I are in love, and we have the freedom to be in a relationship. You canât be biased to what others say.â Jiang Fengya knew that she would only be looked down upon if she continued to be timid.
There were tears in her eyes, and she looked extremely wronged.
Old Madam Fu smiled. âPeople should respect themselves. If you love yourself, no one will degrade you.
âDonât cry. It looks like I bullied you.
âBesides, Wanwan has never mentioned you and Yuxiu to me. How can you say without any proof that Iâm biased to what others say? Youâre really good at distorting the truth!â
âI didnât say that Song Fengwanâ¦â Jiang Fengya tried to get around her words, but she didnât expect her to see through it.
âApart from Wanwan and Third Son, thereâs no other person I know who has had interactions with you. Are you implying that Third Son talked bad about you?â
âNo!â Jiang Fengya hurriedly explained.?How did that fiend get involved in this conversation?!
âI am indeed old and have a weaker vision, but I also know that our familyâ¦â She harrumphed. â⦠is not for any old person to enter!â
At this moment, two dog barks came from not far away, and a black shadow ran over.
âOld Madam.â The servant had returned from walking the dog.
Fu Xinhan glanced at Jiang Fengya and snorted before turning around to enter the house.
He was arrogant and looked like a boss.
Jiang Fengyaâs face was as pale as snow under the dim street light.
Their doorâ¦
⦠could even let a dog swagger in, but when she entered the courtyard, she couldnât even step on the stairs, let alone drink a cup of hot tea.
Could it be that in her eyes, Iâm worse than a dog?
Isnât this too bullying?
***
Fu Chenâs car was slowly driving toward the old residence. Qian Jiang was responsible for reporting every detail about Song Fengwanâs incident to him.
His way of doing things was rigid, so he even repeated every word she had said.
Fu Chen narrowed his eyes and looked at his phone.
Fu Yuxiu is not even one ten-thousandth as good-looking as me?
His lips curled up slightly.?This little girlâs tasteâ¦
⦠is as good as ever.