Su Xingyu followed Lu Shifeng inside and quietly and obediently called, "Old Madam."
At the head of the purple sandalwood bed, the old madam raised her eyes tremblingly, and seeing her, a glimr of light reappeared in her originally dim eyes. She gazed greedily at Su Xingyu’s face for a long while, murmuring softly, "So alike... so very alike..."
The aged voice echoed faintly in the air.
Su Xingyu, however, didn’t understand what she ant and instinctively sneaked a glance at Lu Shifeng, hoping he’d give her a hint. But his gaze was calm and unruffled, clearly saying, "I don’t know either."
It was the old man by the bed whose expression changed suddenly, and with eagle-like sharp eyes, he stared fixedly at Su Xingyu.
Su Xingyu was startled, instinctively wanting to retreat, but she controlled herself, straightening her back under his devouring gaze.
The old madam on the bed spoke weakly, "What... relationship do you have with Mu Liancheng?"
Mu Liancheng?
Su Xingyu was taken aback for a mont and then truthfully answered, "That’s my grandfather’s na."
The old madam gasped softly, a complex look of joy and sorrow erging on her wrinkled face, her hand trembled as she pointed at Su Xingyu, "You... you’re Liancheng’s descendant?"
Seeing her so agitated, Su Xingyu felt a bit worried but had to brace herself to answer, "Yes."
The old madam couldn’t speak for a long ti, her aged, withered eyes fixed on her, with concealed emotions hidden within.
The old man by the bed tightly held her hand, solemnly calling, "Aluo."
The old madam seed to awaken from a dream only then, withdrawing her gaze from Su Xingyu. She pulled out her hand from the old man’s grasp, her hoarse voice was like crying yet laughing, "Lu Anguo, look, it’s Liancheng’s bloodline, she’s Liancheng’s bloodline! Liancheng..."
The last two words gradually diminished, like a lantation soaked in blood.
Even Su Xingyu, who didn’t know the truth, felt her heart wrench with pain.
From the fragnted words, she guessed that the old madam must have known her grandfather? What was their relationship? Why did the old madam beco so agitated when her grandfather’s na was ntioned?
And moreover...
The old madam referred to her husband by full na, such a sense of estrangent, yet she only called her grandfather "Liancheng."
Su Xingyu stood quietly by the bed, countless guesses flashing through her mind.
On the bed, the feeble old madam ordered everyone out, "You all leave, I want to talk with Xingyu alone."
Mr. Lu’s face was stern and cold as iron, emphasizing his tone, "Aluo, your health is weak, rest and recovery are important, there’s no rush to et people."
But the old madam just repeated, "You all go out."
In the Lu Family, the old madam was Mr. Lu’s lifeline. Although Mr. Lu was displeased, his face dark and almost dripping, he only let out a heavy hum and got up to leave the bedroom.
A large group of doctors and servants also filed out.
Su Xingyu looked at Lu Shifeng uneasily, and he gave her an encouraging look before leaving as well.
The quiet bedroom was now left with only the old madam and Su Xingyu.
The old madam examined Su Xingyu closely, "Alike... your eyes, your mouth... so much like your grandfather when he was young."
Su Xingyu asked carefully, "Grandma, did you know my grandfather?"
The old madam on the bed fell into silence, her aged and blurry eyes gazing at the delicate patterns on the canopy, lost in so recollection. After a long mont, she withdrew her gaze and said to Su Xingyu, "Help sit up."
Su Xingyu hurried forward, carefully helping the old madam to sit up at the head of the bed, arranging several cushions behind her.
The old madam slid a fine glossy white jade bracelet off her hand and slowly put it on Su Xingyu, "Take it, this is my eting gift for you. It is Shifeng’s fortune to marry Miss Mu; in the future, if he dares to bully you, just tell ."
The jade bracelet was warm to touch, of extraordinary quality.
Su Xingyu refused, "This is too precious, Grandma, I can’t accept it."
"What kind of granddaughter-in-law would complain about receiving a gift?" The old madam feigned anger, her eyes, weathered by ti, looking displeased at her, "Wear it well and don’t take it off, and call Grandma, not Grandmother; it sounds distant."
Su Xingyu’s eyebrows twitched, "I... was just following Lu Shifeng’s way of addressing you."
The old madam understood her aning and said, "Shifeng is the legitimate grandson who will inherit the family business, so his grandfather is stricter with him. The other children in the Lu Family call them Grandpa and Grandma, only he follows the rule of calling them Grandfather and Grandmother, you don’t have to follow suit."
Su Xingyu felt uneasy, not sure if not having to follow him was a good or bad thing.
Was it that the old madam favored her, or did she think she wasn’t fit to be the legitimate granddaughter-in-law of the Lu Family?
Countless thoughts swirled in her mind as she tentatively said, "Grandma, I’m really sorry for causing you discomfort as soon as I arrived, I really didn’t an it, please believe ."
The old madam’s wrinkled eyes finally showed the first hint of a smile since their eting, as if lanting or gratified, "What should I say... worthy of being Liancheng’s descendant? Speaking in such an indirect manner, truly well-mannered. Xingyu girl, no need to be so reserved with ; ask anything you want in the future."
Su Xingyu gave an embarrassed smile, "Um, I just want to know if I have upset you."
"Is it about that callia?" The old madam looked at her chest, where the light red crystal callia had already been removed at so point. The smile in the old madam’s eyes gradually faded, replaced by profound sadness, "That’s not your fault, it’s an old matter." She seed unwilling to say more and urged Su Xingyu to leave.
Su Xingyu, feeling helpless, said goodbye to the old madam and stepped out of the bedroom.
Outside the bedroom, the butler Mr. An was waiting, and when he saw her, he quickly bowed in greeting, "Hello, Young Madam. The Old Master instructed to wait here, he wants to know how the old madam is doing? Could you kindly let know?"
Su Xingyu briefly inford the butler that the old madam was fine.
Only then did the butler feel relieved, smiling as he said to her, "Young Madam, if you follow this path straight ahead, turn left after exiting the east gate, Young Master Shifeng is waiting for you in the little bamboo grove. I need to report back to the Old Master, please excuse first."
Su Xingyu nodded, thanked him, and indeed found Lu Shifeng following his directions.
He was dressed impeccably in a suit, standing with his hands behind his back amidst a cluster of verdant bamboo, watching the leaves drop. His cold, sculpted profile was familiar yet comforting. As soon as her footsteps were heard, he sensed them and turned around.
"Everything okay?" he asked.
"Yes." She revealed a small smile, waving her wrist at him, "Grandma gave this." In the soft sunlight of the little bamboo grove, the white jade bracelet on her wrist glowed with a warm and srizing light.
A flicker of barely noticeable surprise flashed in Lu Shifeng’s eyes. That bracelet was the old madam’s treasure, which she never took off. Yet she gave it to Xingyu on their very first eting?
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