Nian Ueno

Jiang Weixi replied:

[Grandma, I'm pretty free lately, nothing much to do. When would be a convenient time for you to come visit?]

Grandma Ji was very happy:

[You can come anytime. I heard the weather forecast says tomorrow looks pretty good, so why don't you come tomorrow?]

Jiang Weixi:

[Okay, Grandma, I'll go tomorrow afternoon.]

Grandma Ji:

[Hmm, does Xixi like sweets? I'll ask the nanny to make a plate of crabapple blossom pastries and crabapple blossom cakes.]

Jiang Weixi had inquired and learned that the old lady of the Ji family had a sweet tooth, and the last time she got lost, it was because she went out to pick sweetheart flowers.

Although she wasn't particularly fond of sweets, she replied to please the old lady:

[Grandma, I love sweets, and I'm looking forward to the crabapple blossom pastries tomorrow.]

Grandma Ji:

[Xiao Wang's crabapple blossom pastries are absolutely amazing; I guarantee you'll never forget them after just one bite. By the way, my grandson is coming to visit me tomorrow; would you mind chatting with him?]

Is Ji Dongxun coming too?

Jiang Weixi's eyes lit up; of course she didn't mind.

However, we can't be too direct now; we still need to be more subtle.

[Grandma, your grandson is here to see you. Is it inappropriate for me to come over? Or should I visit you another day?]

Grandma Ji:

[What's wrong? Don't you want to see him?]

Jiang Weixi:

[No, I was just worried your grandson would mind. I didn't know if you had spoken to him beforehand, in case he thinks I had ulterior motives and was deliberately trying to get close to him...]

Based on my previous experiences with Ji Dongxun, he is frighteningly vigilant.

Grandma Ji:

[Haha... It seems you know my grandson quite well. That certainly fits his personality. I really didn't tell him about this.]

Jiang Weixi:

[Grandma Ji, Mr. Ji is very famous, it's hard not to know him, and I've heard he doesn't like girls very much... If I go, will I upset him?]

Grandma Ji:

[No, don't worry, I'm here. He can't do anything to you. Come and have fun. Those rumors are nonsense; he doesn't like men.]

Jiang Weixi:

[Well... okay, then I'll come see you tomorrow afternoon.]

Grandma Ji:

[Good girl, I'll have the driver pick you up from your school tomorrow. I figured it wouldn't be convenient for you to get a taxi from there.]

Jiang Weixi:

Okay, thank you, Grandma.

In late October, the weather turned cool.

It rained yesterday, so the soil on the lawns along the street is damp, and the fallen leaves in the tree pits are rotting, turning into fertilizer to nourish the trees so they can sprout new branches and buds again next year.

Jiang Weixi sat in the luxury car sent by the Ji family, which slowly drove away from the city center.

The car window was rolled down halfway, and the view slowly changed from the city's towering buildings to lush, straight trees.

A faint scent of grass and trees, mixed with the fragrance of flowers, wafted in from outside the window.

The sun gradually peeked out from behind the clouds.

It was still cloudy when we left the school gate, but by the time the car reached Nanshan Garden, the sun was shining brightly.

The old lady sat under the crabapple tree, with three or four servants standing beside her to serve her.

"Xixi is here." The old lady was dozing off with her eyes closed when she heard footsteps and woke up. When she saw Jiang Weixi walking over, she gave her a kind smile.

Jiang Weixi sat down on the stone chair next to the old lady of the Ji family, her head slightly lowered, displaying a well-behaved demeanor.

She greeted her politely, "Grandma."

Grandma Ji instructed the servants to bring a pot of flower tea and a plate of exquisitely shaped begonia pastries.

The crabapple blossom pastries were so lifelike, they were practically a one-to-one replica of the delicate, vibrant flowers adorning the branches.

Jiang Weixi took a small sip of the flower tea; the temperature was just right, neither too hot nor too cold.

It contained goji berries, red dates, a little honey, and a large, blooming crabapple blossom floating in the water.

Grandma Ji is a kind old lady with a wealth of life experience.

At first, Jiang Weixi was just trying to please her by chatting with her, and her words were full of flattery.

However, she was soon amazed by the old lady's extensive knowledge and was truly impressed. Her praise was no longer just flattery.

When the old lady heard that she was studying philosophy, she discussed many philosophical ideas about life with her.

Unbeknownst to her, Jiang Weixi was inspired by this conversation, and it seemed that she had found a way out of many difficult life questions.

She was so engrossed in the conversation that she almost forgot the purpose of her visit.

Then the old lady suddenly brought it up: "Oh dear, I forgot, the sun should be setting by now, why hasn't my grandson come yet?"

Jiang Weixi paused for a moment.

The old lady instructed the maid, "Xiao Wang, call Lao Wu and ask if he's coming today or not."

The nanny, who was called "Xiao Wang," was already in her forties or fifties, but in the old lady's eyes, she was still a child at that age.

Aunt Wang took out her phone, dialed Ji Dongxun's number, and conveyed the old lady's message.

After exchanging a few words, I hung up the phone.

Aunt Wang replied to the old lady, "Mr. Ji said he has an urgent meeting this afternoon and will come to see you again tonight."

The old lady nodded, raised her hand to cover her mouth and yawned: "When you get old, your energy is not good, and you want to take a nap after a while."

Seeing this, Jiang Weixi said she had to leave first: "Grandma, do you want to rest? Or I can come and see you another day."

She made a move to get up, but the old lady grabbed her hand.

"My grandson won't be able to come over until tonight, Xixi, why don't you stay here and we can have dinner together tonight?"

Jiang Weixi noticed that the old lady's eyelids were heavy and she needed to rest. Although she really wanted to stay, she politely declined.

"Grandma, I have a club activity tonight. I'll come see you again in a couple of days. You should rest and take care of yourself."

Seeing that she was determined to leave, the old lady did not insist, and only said, "I will have Xiao Zhang take you home."

She instructed the servant to call Xiao Zhang over.

Xiao Zhang is the Ji family's driver, and he's not young anymore.

Jiang Weixi said politely, "Then I'll have to trouble Uncle Zhang."

She returned to school in the same Bentley she had come in.

After Jiang Weixi left Nanshan Garden, the nanny helped the old lady into the house to rest.

Aunt Wang asked, "Madam, what would you like to eat tonight? How about we make a few of Mr. Ji's favorite dishes?"

The old lady waved her hand: "Tell Lao Wu that he doesn't need to come over tonight."

The old lady kept muttering, "I mainly wanted him to see that girl. Now that she's gone, what's the point of him coming back? Maybe next time."

Aunt Wang smiled and said, "Madam, it seems you are quite satisfied with that girl."

Grandma Ji: "Sometimes it takes a bit of fate between people. That girl and I are destined to be together. She's pretty, well-behaved, and quiet. I'm quite satisfied with her. I just don't know if she and Xiao Xun are destined to be together."

Aunt Wang: "Mr. Ji has very high standards. In my opinion, he may not be satisfied."

Aunt Wang felt that with Ji Dongxun's status and position, he had seen all kinds of women, and he might not be interested in a pretty young girl.

Jiang Weixi is good-looking, well-behaved and polite, and her behavior is impeccable, but there's nothing particularly special about her.

Aunt Wang has worked as a nanny for the Ji family for over twenty years and has seen all sorts of people.

Aunt Wang has a son and a daughter. Her daughter is 23 years old this year. Her daughter once saw Ji Dongxun here by chance and then had the idea of ​​marrying into a wealthy family.

She saw through her daughter's thoughts and stopped her in time, then kept nagging her.

As the old saying goes.

Marrying into a higher social class requires swallowing needles.

It's very bitter.

Ordinary girls would simply find someone of equal social standing to marry.

Aunt Wang knew that looks alone were not enough to become the mistress of a wealthy family.

Moreover, her daughter isn't even particularly good-looking.

Fortunately, after her reprimand, her daughter gave up that idea.

The young girl who came today was really lucky. The old lady never wanders off; she only got lost once, and the girl just happened to save her.

After helping the old lady to bed, Aunt Wang had nothing else to do, so she stood next to the neatly trimmed bushes and chatted with the housekeeper.

She still didn't think highly of that young girl and didn't believe she could marry into the Ji family.