The next day, Cheng Xiran, who had been busy all morning, was a bit late to pay respects to the old lady. By the time she arrived, her half - sister Cheng Zhiyue was chatting and laughing with the old lady.
"Granddaughter comes to pay respects to Grandmother," Cheng Xiran said with a beaming smile as she walked over. When the old lady saw Cheng Xiran, she nodded with a smile on her face, motioning for Cheng Xiran to sit beside her.
Seeing this, a flash of unwillingness crossed Cheng Zhiyue's eyes. She had been trying to please this old woman for so long but still hadn't managed to sit next to her. Now, as soon as Cheng Xiran arrived, she could.
Thinking of this, Cheng Zhiyue said gently, "Sister hasn't come to pay respects to Grandmother for a long time."
As soon as these words were out, Cheng Xiran clearly saw the smile on the old lady's lips freeze.
Cheng Xiran couldn't help but sigh silently. Originally, the old lady doted on the original owner very much. However, because the original owner was overly infatuated with Helian Duo, and the old lady tried to persuade her a few times, the original owner's temper became more and more overbearing over the years. She even contradicted the old lady and hurt her feelings. Since then, the original owner stopped coming to pay respects early in the morning.
"Granddaughter was seriously ill a few days ago. Only then did I understand Grandmother's kindness to me. I was ignorant and rude to Grandmother before. I come here to apologize again. From now on, granddaughter will surely be filial to you," Cheng Xiran said, pretending to kneel down. The old lady quickly helped her up.
"It's good that you've come to your senses. Grandmother didn't mean to harm you," the old lady said, patting Cheng Xiran's hand. The two of them showed a warm atmosphere, which made Cheng Zhiyue, standing beside them, feel rather embarrassed.
Out of the corner of her eye, Cheng Xiran caught sight of the food box that Cheng Zhiyue had picked up. She rolled her eyes and walked up to the old lady one step ahead.
"By the way, Grandmother. It's getting hot these days. I heard that you've lost your appetite, so I made some refreshing and appetizing pastries myself. Grandmother, please have a taste. I've been busy all morning and even skipped breakfast," Cheng Xiran said.
Cheng Zhiyue's action of reaching for the pastries froze. She was even left speechless by Cheng Xiran.
"Why did you make them yourself? You could just order the servants to do it," the old lady said, but there was no sign of blame in her tone. Instead, she took the pastries that Cheng Xiran offered and ate them.
"I said I'd be filial to Grandmother, so I must do my best," Cheng Xiran said, smiling with pursed lips. "What do you think, Grandmother?"
"They're really good," the old lady nodded. The pastries were not too sweet or greasy at all, just to her taste. The old lady even ate a few more pieces than usual.
"I'm glad you like them, Grandmother. Have some lotus seed tea to freshen your mouth," Cheng Xiran said, offering a teacup. The tea was also well - received by the old lady.
Cheng Zhiyue, who had been ignored, looked ugly. She pinched her handkerchief and then said with a beaming smile, "I didn't expect sister to be so ingenious. From these pastries and tea to that popular novel Anecdotes in the Capital, it seems that sister has been hiding her talents all along."
Hearing this, the old lady's attention was immediately drawn. "What in the capital? What's that?"
"It's a novel written by sister, which is all about her and the Regent. It's spread all over the streets and alleys now," Cheng Zhiyue said, smiling at the old lady. There seemed to be a bit of envy in her tone. "Sister is truly intelligent to come up with such a good idea. In this way, the Regent will surely be attracted to sister."
Cheng Xiran glanced at Cheng Zhiyue and then smiled with pursed lips. This made Cheng Zhiyue's heart skip a beat. How could she be intimidated by this good - for - nothing?
"Is this for real? You really wrote about you and the Regent..." The smile on the old lady's face disappeared instantly. She looked at Cheng Xiran seriously.