"Lian'er, didn't you say that Zhi Jia and An Lan were coming back tonight?" the old man shook his head helplessly. "Do you want to go to the kitchen to order dinner and see if An Lan's favorite ingredients have arrived?"
Ran Lian paused her playful touching of Wen Yan An's fingers. "Yes, I remember. You guys talk, An An, do you want to go to the kitchen with Grandma? Grandma will make you something delicious."
Wen Yan An glanced at Fang Miao Miao, then at her grandfather, and nodded before following Ran Lian.
As the two walked away, the pavilion fell into silence, with the croaking of frogs under the lotus flowers occasionally audible.
The old man chuckled, fiddling with the teacups on the coffee table.
His movements were so fluid that one couldn't bear to look away.
"Miao Miao has become much more composed compared to before."
"People grow up as they get older," Fang Miao Miao replied politely.
She quite liked and respected Wen Zhi Yan's father.
The old man was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Well said, 'grow up as they get older.' It seems you've become smarter now."
"Then do you know why I wanted to keep you here alone?"
"The elder has his reasons for handling matters, and we juniors simply need to listen sometimes," Fang Miao Miao said flatteringly.
The old man poured Fang Miao Miao another cup of tea. "Have a taste?"
Fang Miao Miao took a big sip and closed her eyes, puckered by the bitterness.
It was too bitter, comparable to coffee.
She felt like her teeth were about to fall out from the bitterness.
Could tea really be this bitter? Forgive her for not appreciating it.
"Your brain has grown, but your temper has reverted back so quickly," the old man sighed helplessly. "Tea needs to be savored slowly."
"Elder, people are diverse, and their preferences are varied. Some like soft drinks, some are keen on spring water, and of course, some cannot appreciate tea."
The old man snorted, "You little thing, you're lecturing me now. Is there something unsatisfactory behind this that you want to scold me for?"
Fang Miao Miao was inwardly shocked but quickly said, "Why would the elder say that? You are our elder, and we juniors naturally must be respectful."
"And what if I were to lecture you?"
Fang Miao Miao frowned, carefully composing her thoughts before replying, "What elders say to juniors is mostly guidance, and we must listen. But in this new era, collisions between the two sides are inevitable. What juniors can do is listen."
As for whether to act, and how to act, that was up to the juniors.
The old man was silent for a moment, then smiled, "Flatterer, your tongue is quite nimble. I'm afraid you'll just talk and not act."
Fang Miao Miao cried out in protest.
"Then tell me, why didn't you come back to Yu Yuan last week?"
She then recalled from memory that the old man had asked the original owner to come to Yu Yuan last week. However, although the original owner had agreed, she had not shown up on time, nor had she offered any explanation.
Fortunately, it was the old man; if it had been that old lady, she would have been reprimanded severely.
"I know I was wrong. I was busy with variety show contracts during that time and forgot later," Fang Miao Miao explained, her mind racing.
The old man then glared at her. "I thought I had offended you, so you refused to return to Yu Yuan."
Fang Miao Miao immediately plastered on a smile, got up, poured tea, and handed it to the old man as an apology. "Please, elder, don't hold a grudge against a junior with such a poor memory."
The old man looked at her for a while before accepting the tea and taking a sip. "Lian'er, her temper is like that, sharp-tongued but soft-hearted. Don't be angry with her."
"The elder misunderstands," Fang Miao Miao's smile lessened slightly.
The old man knew that his wife's tendency to be argumentative and look down on others was unpleasant, but what could he do? He changed the subject. "Regarding that incident with Wang Qing, what are your plans?"
Although the production team had not released the video, they would find out anything they wanted to know.
Thinking of this, the old man was angry again: their Wen family's daughter-in-law, being bullied by someone of such low status, if this were to get out, would their Wen family have any face left in high society?
"Find evidence and post it online, demanding Wang Qing publicly apologize to me," Fang Miao Miao stated her thoughts.
The old man waited for a moment. "Is that all?"
That was all.
But seeing the old man's expression, she dared not say anything more.
She then thought from a wealthy person's perspective and hesitantly asked, "Compensation for medical expenses, mental distress?"
"Fang Miao Miao," the old man patted the stone table, exasperated, "Is your brain filled with water?"
He had just been pleased that she was starting to use her brain, and now it seemed her brain was just for decoration. No wonder she was bullied so much before; she deserved it.
"Huh?" Fang Miao Miao was confused. Besides an apology, compensation, reputation, and money, was there anything else?
"You, you, how did you get even dumber?" the old man glared at her, then waved his hand. "Alright, I won't count on you for this."
"Are you still going to participate in that variety show?"
Fang Miao Miao nodded. "Of course, I signed the contract."
Moreover, that little brat Wen Yan An had something to say to Cui Yong Si, and perhaps he could become a friend for Wen Yan An.
As for Shen Jia Ni and Wang Qing, she would be wary and wouldn't be so careless this time.
After that, the old man asked a few more questions, even about her and Wen Zhi Yan, but she managed to evade them with lighthearted banter.
After chatting for a while, the old man's energy clearly waned compared to before.
"Alright, your illness has just recovered, and you need to rest well. The servants will take you to Zhi Yan's room later. Get some good rest."
"Thank you for your concern, elder."
"Don't be rude. What do you call me?"
Fang Miao Miao, feeling wronged, opened her mouth and called out, "Dad."
Led by a servant, Fang Miao Miao arrived at Wen Zhi Yan's room.
"Madam, when dinner is ready, we will come up to call you. You can go in and rest now."
Fang Miao Miao opened her mouth, but by the time the maids left, the refusal had not even been spoken.
She sighed slightly, then pushed open the room door. A faint, pleasant fragrance emanated from within.
The room was large, more like a small suite than a bedroom, with a bathroom, a walk-in closet, and even a small study. Thick carpets covered the floor, and the overall style was minimalist, a decorating style she liked.
Fang Miao Miao glanced at the meticulously cleaned large bed. After a moment's thought, she decided to sleep on the sofa by the balcony.
A gentle breeze wafted through the balcony into the bedroom.
In a daze, Fang Miao Miao fell asleep.