Bao Mingyuan felt a tinge of sadness!
The old lady was close to eighty, and who knew how many years she had left.
Su Ruanruan sensed that the atmosphere was amiss.
She took the old lady’s hand, smiling as she said: "I will accompany the Old Lady."
The Bao old lady found great comfort in this.
She leaned back in her lounge chair, recounting the past: "The last time I listened to Boss Yan’s opera was with the Sun Family’s Old Lady, it’s a pity..."
Back then, after Bao Mingyuan’s wife passed away, he remarried her rival in love, which led to a riff between the Bao and Sun Families, with no contact for nearly 20 years.
This was the old lady’s heartache.
It was also Bao Mingyuan’s heartache.
He touched his cigarette case but ultimately set it down.
Su Ruanruan remained silent.
In the end, the old lady waved her hand: "I don’t know whether this old frame of mine would scatter, whether I’d get the chance to meet my in-law’s grandmother again, or listen to Boss Yan’s opera with her one more time!"
Bao Mingyuan finally couldn’t resist and pulled out a cigarette to clench between his lips.
He said with difficulty: "I have troubled the Old Lady."
With some sorrow in her voice.
Su Ruanruan remembered what Madame Gu had said.
Madame Gu had said: For the Old Lady’s birthday, it needs to be lively and graceful.
Su Ruanruan had an idea in her mind.
When she departed, Bao Mingyuan saw her out.
He wasn’t in a good mood.
Feeling somewhat sorry for the Old Lady.
Su Ruanruan smiled slightly: "Uncle, rest assured, the Old Lady will definitely be happy on her birthday."
Bao Mingyuan sighed softly: "Just do your best!"
Su Ruanruan knew he didn’t believe it.
She didn’t say much more.
The Old Lady treated her well, and on her birthday, she was going to give the Old Lady two surprises.
Su Ruanruan got even busier.
Running around without a moment’s rest.
During this time, she took a long trip.
Nobody knew where she went.
By the time she returned, the Bao family’s opera stage was already set up.
Right in the courtyard behind the Bao Mansion.
Gui Zhi accompanied the old lady in admiration, exclaiming: "It’s really nice!"
The old lady’s vision was blurry; she put on her reading glasses to take a closer look.
After studying for a long while, the old lady turned to Gui Zhi and said: "It doesn’t look quite right to me! These banners and flags are exquisite and beautiful, much like Boss Yan’s own setup."
Gui Zhi giggled behind her hand: "You’ve been yearning for it so much, maybe your eyes are playing tricks on you!"
Gui Zhi added: "Boss Yan is in B City! How could his things appear in our home?"
Indeed, she must have been seeing things.
In the distance, Mrs. Bao and Xia Minglan stood together.
Mrs. Bao whispered: "Minglan, how is your part coming along?"
Xia Minglan gracefully answered: "Guess who I’ve managed to invite?"
Mrs. Bao watched her intently.
"It’s Mei Changqing, a disciple of Boss Yan," Xia Minglan said composedly: "He was reluctant at first, but after I visited him several times alone, he finally agreed to come."
Mrs. Bao was delighted: "To have a disciple of Boss Yan is indeed fortuitous."
She held onto Xia Minglan’s hand, saying: "With this, we can be quite confident."
The old lady loved Boss Yan’s opera.
If he could not come, but his disciple did...
The old lady certainly wouldn’t want to miss that!
Mrs. Bao’s gaze tenderly met Xia Minglan’s: "You’re a really capable girl!"
Xia Minglan smiled lightly: "It’s most important for the Old Lady to be happy."
She added: "I heard Su Ruanruan recently went out for a trip, she really lets down the good intentions the Old Lady has for her."
Mrs. Bao sneered: "She really thinks she can handle this household!"
She was, after all, more experienced and instructed Xia Minglan: "Keep the news of Boss Yan’s disciple coming to Jiang City a secret! On the night of the Old Lady’s birthday, we’ll give everyone a wonderful surprise."
They were in conversation.
He nodded towards Xia Minglan: "What are you two discussing?"
Xia Minglan spoke openly: "I’m discussing with my Aunt about the opera stage for the Old Lady’s birthday."
She praised: "It’s set up beautifully, Ruanruan has put a lot of effort into it!"
Bao Ziqi looked over in that direction...
Indeed, the opera stage was ready.
But after a bit of searching, he didn’t see that slender figure.
Bao Ziqi felt a slight loss.