Rong Yu was dumbfounded.
Had she heard correctly? An elderly lady was sending flowers to her elderly son?
Her son, an octogenarian, at this age, still had an admirer, and it seemed, a rather fervent one...
Old Master Ji's face flushed crimson.
Having such a private matter exposed before his own mother felt utterly mortifying.
Ji Zhiyuan pressed his lips together and explained, "Old Madam Mei and the old master were classmates. I heard she pursued him with great fanfare back then, but the old master firmly refused and ended up happily marrying our grandmother."
He avoided the old master's murderous glare and braced himself to continue, "Later, when the old master lost his wife in middle age, and Old Madam Mei also lost her husband around the same time, she launched a new round of pursuit... However, the old master didn't agree, and Old Madam Mei eventually quieted down. Now, after... let me calculate, roughly over thirty years, is Old Madam Mei... rekindling an old flame?"
"Shut up, shut up!" Old Master Ji's face burned redder. Muttering, he said, "Back in school, Mei Wan was the class monitor, and I was the teacher's headache. She was always on my case about studying. I genuinely have trauma from that, I couldn't avoid her fast enough. Who would be so foolish as to marry her... It's been quiet for over thirty years, why is she suddenly pestering me again?"
Rong Yu spoke up, "Could this sudden behavior of hers be due to some change in her life circumstances?"
"I don't know." Old Master Ji's eyes grew slightly red. "A Yuan's grandmother... she died too early. I really wish Mother could have seen what an excellent wife I married..."
Rong Yu took his hand. "The fact that you still miss her so deeply proves she didn't marry the wrong man."
"Wah..."
Old Master Ji felt like crying.
He had no parents, struggled to grow up alone, and finally met the love of his life, started a family, and had a child. That family of three was so happy.
But the good times didn't last. His wife fell ill and passed away, and all that happiness vanished like a bubble.
His son was just a tiny little thing back then, and the times were rather turbulent, even Furong Manor was sealed off... Those years, he truly didn't know how he endured them.
Finally, when the situation stabilized, his son grew up, married, had children, and the cold, quiet Ji household gradually became lively again.
But then, his son and daughter-in-law both met with misfortune and passed away...
He raised his five grandsons one by one, just as he had raised his son...
Over seventy years of life had made him taste every kind of heart-wrenching pain the world has to offer.
"Mother—"
Old Master Ji wailed.
Rong Yu held him, her own eyes also welling up despite herself.
The two elders weeping in each other's arms put Ji Zhiyuan on high alert, completely at a loss for how to console them.
Just then, someone returned at the entrance. He quickly said, "Great-grandmother, Old Master, A Chuan and Tang Jin are here."
Old Master Ji, concerned about face, hurriedly pretended to look for his cane and went to secretly wipe his tears.
Rong Yu took a tissue, dabbed the corners of her eyes, and by the time she looked up, she had regained her usual composure and calm.
"Grandpa Ji, Brother Ji, Miss Rong." Tang Jin greeted them with a smile. "Tomorrow is the Lantern Festival, right? My mother made some yuanxiao by hand and asked me to bring some over. The taste might not be that great, but it's the thought that counts."
She already knew that Rong Yu was the old master's lifesaver, Ji Laowu's tutor, and lived with the Ji family.
"Please thank your mother for me." Old Master Ji had already composed himself and suddenly remembered something. "Tomorrow's the Lantern Festival, so that means today is Valentine's Day, right? A Chuan, didn't you prepare anything?"
Rong Yu was taken aback.
So today was Valentine's Day.
No wonder someone proposed at the aerospace institute, no wonder her elderly son received flowers.
She thought of the Valentine's Days that belonged to her and Ji Zheng.
That man wouldn't send flowers, but he would cook for her. Those hands that held guns could actually make a whole table of delicious food.
He would weave all sorts of ornaments from dried leaves and grass—rings, necklaces, bracelets...
When he was busy, he'd be gone for over half a year. During his breaks, he'd disguise himself as a student and 'coincidentally' meet her in class...
That was the romance that belonged to her and him.
A bitter smile escaped Rong Yu's lips.
For her generation, love was a letter left unfinished amidst gunpowder smoke, a lovesick knot tied around a rifle barrel, a gaze so intense it felt scalding when looking at each other across a sea of people, yet not daring to even call out the other's name...
Young people today could finally walk openly under the sun, enjoying the beauty of love.
She saw Tang Jin blush shyly, saw Ji Jingchuan awkwardly drink water, and couldn't help but smile along.
Old Master Ji invited Tang Jin to stay for dinner.
Tang Jin sat openly beside Ji Jingchuan.
After the meal, Tang Jin spoke up, "A Chuan, I heard you know how to garden. Could I see the flowers you grow?"
Ji Jingchuan nodded. "I'll take you to the greenhouse."
With about a meter between them, they walked one after the other towards the greenhouse.
Old Master Ji wore a worried expression. "Why do I feel like these two haven't officially gotten together yet? This pace is way too slow."
Rong Yu said, "It's only a matter of time."
She could clearly sense the spark between them.
"It'll definitely happen today," Ji Zhouye said mischievously. "Old Master, come on, let's go listen to what they're talking about."
Old Master Ji nodded vigorously.
The old and the young, followed by Duoduo, the three of them crouched outside the greenhouse.
Voices came from inside.
"This type of tree is very hard to keep alive, yet it's growing so well here. I heard it can be used to make tea."
"The soil in this pot seems different from the others, no wonder this orchid survived."
"What kind of grass is this..."
Old Master Ji's eyes widened. "When these two kids are together, why do they only talk about plants and flowers?"
Ji Zhouye was exasperated. "Fourth Brother is too dawdling... Wait, hold on, what did I miss? How did they suddenly end up in an embrace?"
Tang Jin swore she didn't slip on purpose.
Perhaps the servants had just watered the floor. It was wet, she didn't notice, her foot slipped, and she almost fell, but Ji Jingchuan caught her just in time.
Somehow, she found herself in Ji Jingchuan's arms.
Pressed against his chest, she heard his heart pounding strong and steady. Her face instantly flushed crimson, and she quickly pushed away from Ji Jingchuan to stand properly.
"A Jin," Ji Jingchuan began. "The old master asked if I had prepared anything for Valentine's Day. Actually, I had it ready a while ago..."
He crouched down, picked up a pot of orchids from the floor, and offered it to her.
Old Master Ji almost fainted. "At this season, the orchid isn't even blooming. This is practically a pot of dirt with a blade of grass. This child has no sense of romance at all. This is just tragic."
"Stay calm, Old Master," Ji Zhouye whispered, suppressing his excitement. "That shiny thing on the orchid leaf, what is it?"
Duoduo widened her eyes. "It's a necklace! Oh my, what a beautiful necklace."
Tang Jin was stunned.
A few days ago, while searching for inspiration, she had asked Ji Jingchuan to accompany her shopping. At the time, she had glanced at this necklace a few extra times. How could she have imagined this man had secretly bought it?
The necklace itself wasn't particularly expensive. What was precious was his thoughtfulness.
Ji Jingchuan stepped closer.
Tang Jin lifted her face.
"This isn't suitable for kids, don't look!" Old Master Ji covered Duoduo's eyes. After a moment, he let go. "Oh, never mind, you can look. Your Fourth Uncle is too much of a coward, he doesn't even dare to kiss her... Wait, no, you'd better not look after all!"
Then, Tang Jin stood on her tiptoes and actively kissed Ji Jingchuan on the cheek.
