Mother Song couldn’t stand her posture. "A young lady shouldn’t slouch like that! What kind of impression are you making? You’re a young lady from a prestigious family now, not some guttersnipe who hangs around with death row inmates."
Si Mingjing pretended not to hear and sat however she felt comfortable.
Mother Song harrumphed heavily.
Song Pianlan also laughed inwardly. Si Yao was once such a graceful and noble young lady, yet the daughter she bore has none of the refinement expected of a young lady from a prominent family. She’s even worse than a country bumpkin. If only she were a bit uglier, a bit darker, that would be perfect! And yet, this little wench’s face is as tender as a flower. Isn’t Prison Star a wild land? How did she manage to stay so fair and delicate?
Although Song Pianlan was sneering inwardly, her face wore an apologetic expression. "Mingjing, last night when Grandfather and I went to the Ye Family, it wasn’t that we deliberately doubted your medical skills. A doctor’s heart should be like a parent’s; we were simply trying to be thorough."
Si Mingjing inwardly laughed at Song Pianlan’s blunder, but her face showed a carefully crafted arrogance. "It doesn’t matter. My medical skills can withstand any test. As the saying goes, ’True gold fears no fire,’ and real talent will always shine through. If Aunt hadn’t made such a scene at the Ye Family, they wouldn’t have realized my medical skills are actually better than hers. It’s a blessing in disguise, really. I should be thanking Aunt for it."
Song Pianlan was furious upon hearing this, but she looked at Si Mingjing with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. "That’s good then. Aunt has prepared a welcome gift for you—it’s an apology gift too. We’ll be family from now on. Follow me upstairs to get it."
Si Mingjing gave a slight hum of acknowledgment.
Once upstairs, Song Pianlan retrieved a small velvet box from a cabinet stacked with jewelry boxes, opened it, and handed it to Si Mingjing.
"See if you like it. I’ll help you put it on."
It was a platinum bracelet, a precious piece that shimmered with dazzling light. When placed on Si Mingjing’s slender wrist, it accentuated the fairness of her skin and the delicacy of her wrist bones.
The bracelet was inlaid with tiny diamonds and looked quite valuable, yet Song Pianlan showed no sign of reluctance and, instead, eagerly helped Si Mingjing put it on.
After fastening the bracelet, Song Pianlan lavished her with praise, "Indeed, this bracelet suits you perfectly."
Si Mingjing lifted her wrist, examining it closely, a deliberately joyful smile playing in her intelligent eyes. "Aunt, you shouldn’t have spent so much. Are these real diamonds?"
Song Pianlan asked, feigning surprise, "You can tell?"
Si Mingjing put on an even greater show of adoring it. "I love real diamonds! This is the first diamond bracelet I’ve ever owned."
Song Pianlan noted her apparent greed and scoffed inwardly: When your mother, Si Yao, gave me a diamond necklace back then, even I wasn’t as openly overjoyed as you are now. Truly an unsophisticated country bumpkin from Prison Star. Hmph! Go on, adore it. Just wait until the banquet; you’ll be the laughingstock then.
A scheme formed in Song Pianlan’s mind, and a mocking, cunning glint flashed in her eyes.
Si Mingjing pretended not to see the scheming look in Song Pianlan’s eyes. After going downstairs, she deliberately showed off the bracelet to Fang Jing.
"Aunt gave it to me."
Fang Jing recognized the bracelet. Her expression flickered almost imperceptibly, but she quickly composed herself with a polite smile and complimented, "It’s lovely!"
Fang Jing discreetly glanced at Song Pianlan.
Song Pianlan returned a knowing look.
Then, a shared smile, anticipating some drama, touched the eyes of both Song Pianlan and Fang Jing.
Si Mingjing’s cherry lips curved slightly; she smiled too. Since Song Pianlan had already set the stage, how could she not let them perform to their hearts’ content? But as for who would have the last laugh, that would depend on their own abilities. Si Mingjing didn’t know what scheme was connected to this bracelet, but suddenly, she found herself eager to see what would happen.