Watching her old friends come to wish her a happy birthday, Grandma’s spirits were high, frequently exchanging pleasantries with everyone. But throughout the process, a hand that couldn’t hide the marks of time was always clasping Sheng Shaochen’s arm, sometimes even resting her head entirely on her grandson’s shoulder, as though afraid that if she let go, her grandson would run away and leave her behind.
"Congratulations, Old Madam, wishing you a heaven full of blessings and a long life surpassing the pines."
"Old Madam, may your luck be as boundless as the eastern seas and your life as enduring as the southern mountains."
Suddenly, Old Madam waved her hand and said, "Alright, alright, go watch the show, everyone. Every year it’s the same few lines. Can’t anyone come up with something fresh?"
At that moment, someone immediately said, "Wishing Old Madam to be forever eighteen, with a constant companion by her side!"
Hearing this, Old Madam burst into laughter. "Hahaha, well said. What I really hope for now is that my little beau can find more time to come back and accompany this old lady. Even if I lost ten years of my life, it would be worth it."
Saying this, Old Madam’s grip on Sheng Shaochen’s arm tightened even more.
She was just too fond of this feeling. She had always adored her grandson ever since he was little. Watching him grow up day by day, yet, because of his fear of women, she couldn’t even get close to him.
Now that she had the chance, she clung to him whenever they met, as if trying to make up for all the happy moments the two had missed out on in the past twenty years.
Sheng Shaochen, on the other hand, let her cling to him and lean on him. Years ago, when the Sheng Family nearly faced disaster, it was his Grandma who had gritted her teeth and single-handedly led the Sheng Family out of trouble, leaving bloody footprints along the way. He knew all too well how much suffering and sweat she had endured for the Sheng Family. He had always regarded his Grandma as an omnipotent goddess.
Now, as the goddess aged, her tenderness towards him showed no sign of diminishing; it even deepened day by day. This bond of blood, thicker than water, made Sheng Shaochen treasure her all the more. As he accompanied the old lady to the opera, he listened to her narrate the play while peeling fruit for her to eat.
"My Chenchen, Grandma is old now. If only you hadn’t had this phobia of women in earlier years, I would’ve traveled the ends of the earth with you. Alas, it’s a pity."
"Grandma, it’s not too late. When I have time, I’ll take you to all the places you want to go."
"You’re lying. Even if you had the time, you wouldn’t take this old woman with you. You’d rather take a young and beautiful girl, holding hands on the romantic seashore, watching the sunrise and the sunset. The sea breeze would come, the waves would wet the pretty girl’s cheeks, and you would go to dry them for her, kissing her cheeks..."
As Mrs. Lai spoke, she began to drift into her beautiful memories. Bai Yueru quickly coughed softly and said, "Mom, the reason you can lean on your grandson is all thanks to a girl."
"Ah, that girl, where is she?" Old Madam turned to look at Sheng Shaochen. "On such an important day, why didn’t you bring her to meet Grandma?"
Old Lady had heard early on that her grandson’s peculiar phobia of women had been cured by a girl, and she was eager to see what kind of girl she was, capable of such a feat.
"Grandma, she will be here soon." Sheng Shaochen glanced at his watch, his brow furrowing slightly as he called Guan Jiu, "Where are you, why hasn’t she arrived?"
"Young Master, there seems to be news about the mastermind behind the Ye Shengli falling case. I’m on my way to check it out. Lady Ye Shu has just been brought over. Haven’t you seen her?" Guan Jiu sounded surprised.