Fang Miaomiao woke up to find it was already dark.
Across from her, Wen Yanan sat on a single armchair, diligently flipping through a manga.
Fang Miaomiao took a moment to adjust. "Kid, when did you come in?"
Wen Yanan closed the book and met Fang Miaomiao's gaze. "Around four. You were already asleep when I came in."
"Thank you for covering me with the air-conditioned blanket."
"You're welcome."
Fang Miaomiao didn't miss the slight blush on Wen Yanan's ears and chuckled, shaking her head. She hadn't expected the little guy to be so tsundere.
"Why didn't you sleep in bed?"
"To feel the breeze."
"There's air conditioning."
Fang Miaomiao: "..."
This child.
A knock sounded at the door, followed by the voice of a servant from outside.
"Madam, dinner is ready."
"Alright."
Fang Miaomiao washed her face in the bathroom to clear her head before going downstairs with Wen Yanan.
Before reaching the bottom of the stairs, she heard the old madam's laughter from the living room downstairs, occasionally punctuated by the silvery giggles of a young girl.
Fang Miaomiao raised an eyebrow slightly.
In the book, the Wen family had four children. The youngest was Wen Zhiyan, with three older brothers: Wen Zhimò, Wen Zhiyu, and Wen Zhijia.
Wen Zhimò had passed away, but the book hadn't detailed the cause, only that he was gone.
As for the other two, apart from the male protagonist Wen Zhijia's father, Wen Zhiyu hadn't been described much either.
However, she was certain the Wen family had no daughters.
Yet now, a girl's laughter was making the Wen family's old madam roar with delight.
She couldn't shake off a feeling of impending trouble.
Ah, if only she could travel back in time, she would never have agreed to Wen Zhiyan's proposal.
The stairs were finally descended amidst Fang Miaomiao's thoughts.
"Miaomiao is here."
A woman with a gentle demeanor on the sofa greeted her, and a flood of memories hit Fang Miaomiao.
That gentle-looking woman was called Xie Wanqing.
On the night the original host and Wen Zhiyan registered their marriage, Xie Wanqing had called Wen Zhiyan away with a single phone call. Not only that, but she had even sent Fang Miaomiao a message from Wen Zhiyan's WeChat to provoke her.
The original host's marriage to Wen Zhiyan was merely to secure a steady provider and a backing, and she didn't particularly like Wen Zhiyan to begin with, so she paid no mind to Xie Wanqing's provocation.
But this Xie Wanqing had the audacity to overstep, openly entering their apartment and even making thinly veiled insults to the original host.
The original host, not one to be bullied, had raised her hand and slapped her. But in a melodramatic twist, this scene was witnessed by Madam Ran, who had come to deliver food.
Well, the original host couldn't clear her name even if she jumped into the Yellow River. Madam Ran disliked her even more because of this incident, thinking she was not only vulgar but also crude and violent.
Xie Wanqing stood up from the sofa and greeted Fang Miaomiao with a smile, "Miaomiao, long time no see."
Fang Miaomiao took a step back, avoiding the hand she extended towards her, and quickly appraised her from head to toe.
Xie Wanqing was petite and delicate in appearance. Her white dress accentuated her gentle demeanor, giving her the impression of a soft young lady.
Unfortunately, her prominent cheekbones made her look a bit petty, and she also seemed like someone not to be trifled with, creating a disharmonious impression.
Seeing that Fang Miaomiao was neither responding nor greeting her, Xie Wanqing was unfazed. She nodded slightly and sat back down beside Madam Ran.
Madam Ran took Xie Wanqing's hand. "Why are you greeting her? Someone from a humble background, with no manners. Greeting her is beneath your status."
Xie Wanqing glanced apologetically at Fang Miaomiao before replying to Madam Ran with pursed lips, "Auntie, she must have some strengths we haven't seen yet if she made Zhiyan brother marry her."
Madam Ran didn't pick up on that. "Right, Wanqing, how long are you planning to stay in the country this time? Why don't you stay and intern at Zhiyan's company?"
"But, Auntie Lian, wouldn't that be inappropriate?"
"What's inappropriate about it?" Madam Ran patted Xie Wanqing's hand and said affectionately, "You know Auntie Lian likes you the most."
If it weren't for Fang Miaomiao appearing out of nowhere, she would have definitely tried to set up Wanqing and Zhiyan.
"Thank you, Auntie Lian."
Fang Miaomiao raised an eyebrow at their private conversation and casually found a place to sit. Just as she was about to pick up her phone to scroll through videos, she heard someone's joyful voice.
"Brother Zhiyan, you're back."
Then, the owner of the voice ran to the door and smiled at the person standing there.
Wen Zhiyan's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. "Why are you here?"
Xie Wanqing's smile faltered instantly at his words. She stood up straighter and looked at Wen Zhiyan with unease, "Brother Zhiyan, am I not supposed to be here?"
"Of course she's welcome. Wanqing is my guest, so why can't she be here?" Madam Ran stepped forward and shielded Xie Wanqing. "Do I need your permission to invite a guest into my home now?"
"Mom, you know that's not what I meant."
Madam Ran didn't even look at Wen Zhiyan. She patted Xie Wanqing reassuringly, "Don't be scared, Auntie is here."
Looking at the figure enveloped outside the doorway, she looked like a pitiful little thing.
"Why are you back so late? It's almost time for dinner."
After saying that, Fang Miaomiao walked past the two people standing at the door and pushed Wen Zhiyan's wheelchair.
"Old Madam, it's getting late, and everyone must be hungry after a day of work. Shouldn't we have dinner soon? What do you think?"
This wasn't the first time Fang Miaomiao had talked back to Madam Ran, and just as she was about to reprimand her, she felt a tug on her clothes.
Looking down, she saw Wen Yanan looking up at her earnestly, "Grandma, eat."
"Oh, my good grandson wants to eat," Madam Ran's anger subsided considerably when she saw her grandson speaking to her.
This afternoon, after confirming the ingredients for dinner, she had called her sons Wen Zhijia and Wen Anlan. Both of them had claimed to have sudden matters to attend to and couldn't come back.
Normally, she would have believed them, but today was different. Fang Miaomiao was at the old residence, and whenever she was there, Anlan wouldn't come back.
Therefore, she believed it was all Fang Miaomiao's fault. She didn't know what the old man was thinking, letting Fang Miaomiao come back to recuperate. It was pure annoyance.
"Alright, why are you all standing at the door? If you don't want to eat, all of you go back to your rooms." The old man, who came out last, saw the scene and sternly reprimanded them. "Is it proper for an elder to trouble a junior? What would people say?"
Madam Ran, though angry, knew that continuing would yield no good. She led Wen Yanan towards the dining room.
"Miss Xie, and you?"
Xie Wanqing's face turned pale, but she maintained the etiquette of a well-bred young lady. "Grandpa Wen, it's getting late, and I should be going. Grandpa Wen, please enjoy your meal. I won't disturb you."