Chapter 004: The House from Grandfather, the Jade Bracelet from Grandmother

Grandfather appeared anxious, unable to wait any longer to see his granddaughter-in-law and his precious great-grandchild, but Grandma Xiao held him back.

“Don’t be impatient, old man,” she chided gently. “Xuezheng said she’s resting upstairs. If your granddaughter-in-law wants to sleep, it means your great-grandchild wants to rest too. Don’t go upstairs and disturb them—let’s wait downstairs.”

Grandfather Xiao listened and found her reasoning sound. He laughed heartily, “You’re right, you’re right! The precious great-grandchild is more important. You always know best! But I can’t help feeling impatient…”

Xiao Xuezheng, exasperated, pressed a hand to his forehead and guided his grandparents to the sofa. “Grandpa, Grandma, they’re not going anywhere. Your precious great-grandchild isn’t going anywhere either. Don’t frighten them!”

…

Shi Runrun slept until nearly five in the afternoon.

When she checked the time on her phone, she was startled. She’d slept for so long… Was it because the bed was so comfortable?

Still, she was a guest in someone else’s home, and she thought it was terribly impolite to sleep so late.

She quickly dressed, freshened up in the bathroom, and headed downstairs.

Descending the spiral staircase, she caught sight of the Xiao elders seated on the sofa.

Though advanced in age, both Grandfather and Grandma Xiao bore a resemblance to Xuezheng in both features and demeanor.

So these must be his grandparents, she thought.

Just as she was lost in her musings, the two elders downstairs noticed her on the stairs.

“Runrun!” Grandma Xiao called to her gently.

Runrun responded softly and made her way down. As she reached the bottom, Grandma Xiao pulled her over and seated her by her side.

“Runrun, let me introduce myself. I’m Xuezheng’s grandmother, and this is his grandfather.”

Runrun bowed her head, replying respectfully, “Good day, Sir, Madam.”

But as soon as she finished speaking, Grandma Xiao laughed, patting Runrun’s tightly clenched hands on her lap. “Silly child, what are you saying? Haven’t you and Xuezheng already registered your marriage? It’s time you called us Grandpa and Grandma—we’re all family now!”

That last phrase, “family,” struck a chord deep within Runrun. Memories of being cast out by her own family rose unbidden. Her birth parents had abandoned her, yet here was this elder she’d never met before, treating her so kindly simply because she was carrying Xiao Xuezheng’s child…

She truly felt moved…

Runrun’s lips parted slightly; after glancing at Xuezheng, she softly called, “Grandpa, Grandma.”

Hearing this, the two elders beamed with delight.

Grandfather Xiao’s face broke into a smile unseen for years, while Grandma Xiao’s smile stretched to her ears.

“Good girl! I knew you were a good child,” Grandma Xiao praised.

Grandfather Xiao added, “Runrun, I know the child you carry is our Xuezheng’s. You don’t need to be afraid—feel free to stay here. Xuezheng will treat you well. If he ever bullies you, just come tell us! We’ll set him straight!”

At these words, Runrun shook her head earnestly. “Grandpa… no, Xiao Xuezheng… he hasn’t bullied me. He’s been very kind…”

From persuading her at the hospital to keep the child, to bringing her home, feeding her, urging her to rest—he’d been gentle all along.

Xiao Xuezheng, listening, protested, rubbing his nose. “Grandpa, what are you saying? She’s my wife now. How could I possibly bully her?”

Grandfather Xiao snorted, “You’d better not! Remember, the Xiao family has only one heir each generation—children have always been rare. Now that Runrun is finally expecting, you must treat her well!”

At that, Runrun sneaked a glance at Xuezheng, who nodded at her with a faint smile. Her heart softened at his response.

Would he really treat her well?

Wasn’t marrying her only because he wanted her to keep the child?

Runrun knew there were no real feelings between them; she’d agreed to marry him solely because of the baby. Once the baby was born, she would surely have to leave…

The thought left her unusually forlorn.

Just then, Grandma Xiao broke in, “Enough talk—Runrun, you must be hungry. You’re eating for two now, so be sure to eat more. You’re so thin! Come, let’s have dinner.”

…

Dinner was even more lavish than lunch, perhaps because the elders were present.

At the table, the two elders kept piling food into her bowl until it was nearly a mountain.

Helpless, Runrun looked to Xuezheng for rescue.

But he only smiled and leaned in to whisper, “Grandpa and Grandma hope you’ll give them a chubby grandson, so they want you to eat more. Don’t refuse their kindness.”

Runrun thought, But they’re feeding me as if I were a pig…

She suffered in silence, unable to decline the elders’ well-meaning gestures, and forced herself to eat everything they offered.

After dinner, Mrs. Lin and the maids cleared the table.

At that moment, Grandfather Xiao handed her a folder.

“Runrun, this is a meeting gift from me. I hope you won’t mind.”

Bewildered, Runrun took it and opened it—her almond-shaped eyes widened in shock.

It was a property deed!

Her name was written as the owner.

The red notary seal confirmed it—Grandfather Xiao had given her a house!

She hastily tried to return the folder, waving her hands. “No, Grandpa, this gift is far too valuable—I can’t accept it!”

But Grandfather Xiao simply pushed it back to her, smiling. “There’s nothing you can’t accept. You are now the granddaughter-in-law of the Xiao family, and you’re carrying our precious tenth-generation great-grandchild. Everything in the Xiao family will one day belong to him! You must accept it, or you’ll make me think you dislike my gift!”

Oh heavens!

A house worth at least several million—how could she possibly accept such a gift from the elders?

Just then, Xuezheng leaned over for a look, clicking his tongue. “Isn’t this the villa in the western suburbs I asked you for last year, Grandpa? You refused me every time. But now that you have a granddaughter-in-law, you’ve forgotten all about your grandson. How biased!”

Grandfather Xiao snorted, “How could you compare to my granddaughter-in-law and precious great-grandchild? Step aside!”

Xuezheng grumbled inwardly—if it weren’t for me, how would you have your precious granddaughter-in-law or your coveted great-grandchild?

As the head of the Xiao family, he couldn’t help but think that, now he was married, his status at home would surely plummet.

At that moment, Grandma Xiao smiled mysteriously and produced her own gift.

“Runrun, I have a meeting present for you as well. This is the Xiao family’s heirloom imperial jade bracelet. Now that Xuezheng is married and you’re carrying his child, it’s time this piece is passed to you.”

With that, she gently slipped the gleaming, dazzling jade bracelet onto Runrun’s wrist.