Li Yuming’s Villa.
Lanni rushed over after being called by her mother in the morning. They would depart at 11, so she had so ti to chat with her.
Li Yuming smiled brightly and led Lanni to her old room. There were a few gowns on the bed as well as new shoes and accessories.
She smiled as she touched the hem of a delicate, cream dress. "Are these for ?"
Li Yuming nodded. "Do you like them? You can wear one of them this afternoon and keep the rest for ocassions that may need them."
Lanni frowned curiously. "This afternoon?"
Realizing that it had slipped her mind, Li Yuming slapped her forehead. "The national art exhibition is being held today. Would you like to accompany ?"
Lanni felt her hands suddenly tremble. She recalled that there was indeed such a thing. How could she forget about it? Although her mother didn’t rember to give her an invitation, it didn’t seem right for her to not go to support her.
Li Yuming saw how helpless Lanni looked and her heart sunk. Even so, she understood that her daughter had gotten quite busy after getting a job. She took her small hand and rubbed it gently. "It’s alright if you already have plans for the day. It’s my bad for forgetting to tell you about it earlier."
Lanni felt guilty. "I’m sorry, mum. It’s just that I already promised dad to go to Lakeside City today. I don’t think I will make it back in ti for the exhibition."
"Lakeside City? You are not going to the Xia family, are you?" Li Yuming was startled.
"I am. Luna and Xiehan are coming too."
Li Yuming relaxed slightly when she heard that Xiehan was going along. Even so, she couldn’t pretend to be comfortable about the fact that Lanni was going to that place. How could she be at ease? However, if she pointed out her insecurity, it would only trigger a fight and that was the least desired thing at the mont.
She swallowed and casually asked, "
Why did he tell you to go over on such short notice?"
Lanni was relieved when Li Yuming did not react explosively to the news. She had co out with it since she didn’t want to hide things from her mother, but she hoped that the latter would not be against it. Hearing her question, she rubbed the vracelet on her wrist as she explained.
"Dad didn’t think of it before. He thought that I would definitely say no if he brought it up, but I know he really wants to go."
Li Yuming sighed. "You know that I don’t want you to go. However, I don’t want to fight about it."
Lanni hugged her. "I don’t want to fight about it either, mum. I’ll take care of myself."
"Be careful, okay? Both of you." Li Yuming insisted as she hugged her daughter emotionally.
"We will." Lanni returned the hug but was suddenly confused by her mother’s words. Both of us...? Although they both knew that she was going with Xiehan why did she suddenly feel like her mother’s words ant sothing else?
Before she could think much about it, Li Yuming pulled her to her painting studio.
Lanni looked around and was awed by the new paintings that she had not seen before. Were they going to be displayed at the exhibition?
That didn’t seem right. The paintings for the exhibition should have been submitted at least a week earlier. However, she was sure that they were new. Her mother’s talent had improved trendously.
Li Yuming smiled when she saw her looking around with her eyes full of worship. The best kind of acknowledgent she could ever receive was appreciation from the only people who mattered to her.
She smiled dotingly and took out a scroll, opening it up in front of Lanni. "This is for you."
Lanni opened it imdiately, curiously studying it. It was a simple landscape painting with a calm sky and a river flowing downhill, between two rows of colorful trees. The sun had just set, and its last, final rays reflected onto the river, giving the whole painting a calming effect. It was almost hypnotozing as she stared at the river for a long ti. She glanced at the tiny na written above Li Yuming’s pen na: [Sunset].
"Do you like it?" Li Yuming asked.
Lanni returned to her senses, realising that it was indeed a painting made specifically for her. Sothing about it made her feel a strong connection at first glance.
"I love it. Thanks mum." She hugged her and her gaze trailed back to the painting. The more she looked at it, however, the more she felt that there was sothing odd about it. It was almost as though there was sothing missing.
After a few more glances, she finally realized it. "Mum, is there another piece? Was it from a set of two?"
"No. It’s the only one." Li Yuming denied it. As if sothing had snapped in her mind, she hurriedly Lanni away. "I made cupcakes earlier, I’ll let you carry so during your trip. Give so to Xiehan later."
Lanni didn’t think too much about it and followed her out of the studio. If she had glanced at the painting behind the door, she would have realized that it was the second piece of hers. They were almost identical; only that the other piece was less vibrant, with the rising full moon powerfully shining its rays against the flowing river. When placed side by side, one would realize that it was indeed one continuous piece. [The moon rises after sunset]
Li Yuming must have been prepared before. She exited the kitchen within a few minutes, carrying a small colorful basket with her. Aside from a box of cupcakes, there were oranges and apples.
She was just about to complain about her dislike for oranges when she paused. It wasn’t that Li Yuming didn’t know that. However, she realized a fact when she thought about it. Weren’t oranges and apples recomnded for pregnant won? Why would her mother give her that?
Li Yuming shrugged when she noticed her gaze. "Just carry them on your trip. No one’s eating them here anyway. If Xiehan doesn’t like them either, you can give them to your friends."
Lanni nodded but her eyebrows slightly raised. Li Yuming should know Xiehan’s preferences better than anyone. How could she not know that the only fruit Xiehan liked was pineapples?
Was she thinking too much...?
Deciding not to ask and shatter her little fantasy, she carried her basket back and waited for her father to pick her up.
...
As soon as Lanni stepped out of the door, Li Yuming contacted one of her security details. "Get a team to follow the young miss."
Actually, she was wondering whether she should follow Lanni herself. If the Xias did anything to her, how could she stay calm while entrusting Lanni’s life to bodyguards?
After thinking through it a few tis and reminding herself that Xiehan would be there too, she sighed and sat down to calm herself. Bodyguards would be sufficient. If not, at least she should trust Xiehan, right?
...
In the end, Li Yuming was too worried for nothing.
Not only were the Xias looking forward to seeing Lanni, they welcod her warmly too.
Xia Hanchen proudly paraded himself with each daughter holding onto one arm. He must be the happiest man in the world.
He smiled as he introduced Lanni to his family. "Cupcake, this is my cousin. You can call him Uncle Yuguang."
"Hello, Uncle Yuguang." Lanni politely greeted the young-looking man before her, finding him familiar.
"They are already so old. Why do you still use such childish nas on them?" An old man with a head full of white hair walked into the living room, shooting Xia Hanchen a glare.
Xia Hanchen smiled in response to his words. "Who what if they’re old? They will forever be my cupcake and my pumpkin even when they’re 50. Father, how have you been?"
"Grandfather." Luna greeted the elderly man too, and Lanni finally understood that he was their grandfather.
Xia Hanchen helped Lanni to the elderly man’s side as the latter sat on a comfort chair. "Father, this is my other daughter, Lanni. This gentleman is her boyfriend, Xiehan. The man beside Luna is her fiancé, Xingyu." the forgotten sons-in-law were finally rembered.
The elderly man studied Lanni from head to toe, as though confirming her identity.
She smiled gently. "Grandfather."
He hurled out his hand to take hers. "It’s been years. How have you been?"
"I’ve been fine." Lanni was not used to the man’s scrutinising gaze, so she wanted to recoil to the side. However, she felt more comfortable when she saw Luna’s reassuring smile, and she held the elderly man’s hand.
The latter was pleased. "I have been hearing about how talented you are. Besides, you girls have grown into beautiful young won, just like your mother back then. I wonder what this punk was thinking, ssing up when he had married such a beautiful and kind woman."
"Father!" Xia Hanchen roared at the side.
The elderly man shot him a glare. "Am I wrong?"
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