"My dear, from this moment on, this is your home. You will have a real family to take care of you from now onward." Old Madam Jiang said with a kind, watery smile before adding softly, "And I promise you, no one will ever bully you anymore."
The moment those specific words fell, the expressions on Feng Yan and Jiang Yanna's faces changed subtly, shifting into masks of silent discomfort.
Qiao Meixia also fell silent for a brief, contemplative moment. She looked into the old woman's warm and genuinely affectionate smile and suddenly felt something strange and unfamiliar stirring quietly within the depths of her chest. For the very first time since stepping across the threshold of the Jiang Family residence, she felt a flicker of true warmth.
After they had chatted for a while longer, Old Madam Jiang informed Qiao Meixia that she would be staying overnight at the Old Jiang Residence. She revealed that she had already taken the liberty of instructing the maid to prepare a room for her in advance.
"I did not know what kind of style you would prefer for your personal space, so I simply asked the interior designer to prepare something elegant and simple. I am truly glad now that I did not decorate the room with a pink colour theme again." Old Madam Jiang stated honestly.
Looking at her granddaughter's composed and mature aura now, it was obvious to her that Qiao Meixia would never be the type to enjoy such a frilly or girly colour scheme.
Then, Old Madam Jiang suddenly pivoted and asked a question that caused Jiang Lukang and Feng Yan to instantly become alert and rigid.
"By the way, how is your room at your parents' house?" Old Madam Jiang asked.
Qiao Meixia glanced briefly and neutrally at Jiang Lukang and Feng Yan before calmly answering the question.
"It is not bad." Qiao Meixia replied simply.
Hearing this neutral answer, a wave of relief washed over Old Madam Jiang, but Jiang Lukang and Feng Yan secretly felt the same way for a different reason. To be perfectly honest, neither Jiang Lukang nor Feng Yan had put much thought or effort into preparing a room for Qiao Meixia, let alone personally designing one for her. Jiang Lukang had simply instructed Butler Jun to prepare an ordinary, functional guest room. That was the extent of his concern.
"Come, let us go. I am going to personally show you to your room." Old Madam Jiang said as she prepared to stand up from her seat.
Feng Yan noticed the subtle, hurt change in Jiang Yanna's expression and immediately spoke out to stop them.
"Mother, is all that really necessary?" Feng Yan asked cautiously, her voice laced with a strange edge.
"What exactly do you mean by that?" Old Madam Jiang asked, pausing and clearly not understanding the hidden meaning behind Feng Yan's sudden question.
"I mean, is it really necessary to go through the trouble of specially designing an entire room just for one person? Mother, please do not forget that you still have other grandchildren in this family as well. You cannot afford to play favourites." Feng Yan said carefully, trying her best to sound like the voice of reason.
Old Madam Jiang opened her mouth to reply, but before she could utter a single word, a loud and lively voice suddenly interrupted her from the hallway.
"Grandma... Grandma! Where is my new cousin? Is she here yet?" The boisterous voice echoed throughout the house.
Everyone in the room immediately turned toward the source of the noise. A young girl came rushing inside, her movements full of excitement. Her bright, energetic eyes quickly scanned everyone in the room before stopping directly on Qiao Meixia. Without a shred of hesitation, she immediately hurried toward her.
"Hmm... You must be my new cousin, right?" The girl looked at Qiao Meixia with eyes that were bright, curious, and dancing with excitement.
***This novel is a work with w e b n o v e l. c o m. If it is not read this novel on w e b n o v e l. c o m, then it has been stolen. Thank you, from your shameless author, ZerahNeko***