Shao Yan squinted her eyes and then she turned to look at Li Xiqing while thinking, "So sneaky, Xiqing, you know Grandma"s weakness right away?"
Li Xiqing just slowly pursed his lips, and patted Shao Yan on her hands, and then he turned to Grandma Wu and continued to say, "Father collects jade for fun. He always appreciate Chinese culture and wishes that all of his children have the same appreciation. I hope Grandma doesn"t mind, these jade stones were from Father"s own collections."
Grandma Wu, who had been staying silent all this time, suddenly said solemnly, "Yan Yan"s grandfather was also a jade collector. My first gift from him was a small jade ring, it was as white as snow and when Shaoying was born, I gave that to her," Grandma Wu turned to Risa and patted her hands, "The Ring that you turned to pendant, that you have been wearing, that is the one."
And then Grandma Wu turned to Shao Yan, her voice trembled slightly as she said, "We didn"t get the chance to see you when you were born," she paused to try to control her emotion, "Grandpa had also set aside some gifts for you."
Shao Yan could not help to start tearing up. Li Xiqing grabbed her hands that she had been clenching closely on her lap, as she turned to look at Li Xiqing, a few drops of her tears started to fall.
Li Xiqing felt his heart was squeezed tight upon this sight. And despite knowing the elderly might frowned on his action, he reflexively raised one hand and swiped her tears on her cheek. Li Xiqing then cupped his hand on her cheek for a few seconds before he quickly let go
Looking at the emotional scene in front of her, Risa started to get pulled into the current as well. She quickly lifted her head up, and waited for a moment. Before she brought her head down and coughed lightly, "Uh, Grandma, the necklace is so pretty, do you want to try it on?" Risa started to say, hoping to distract everyone from the gloomy mood that had started to set in.
Shao Yan, despite feeling a little down, quickly chimed in as well, "Oh, try it on, Grandma, let me have a look."
Grandma Wu was still brus.h.i.+ng her thumb on the surface of the jade stone absentmindedly. But unknowingly to her own self, Grandma Wu had started to warm up to this newfound family, her granddaughter and....grandson in law.
Grandma Wu lifted her face up and looked at Shao Yan, "Yan Yan, come, help me put it on."
Shao Yan was surprised at her call, she slowly got up from her chair and walked over to stand beside Grandma.
Grandma Wu handed her the embroidered box and Shao Yan took it gently with two hands. She took out the necklace from the box. And as Shao Yan lifted it up, the light shone through the jade; creating a beautiful rainbow halo around it.
Grandma Wu and Risa could not help but admire at the cla.s.sic beauty of the vintage looking necklace
Shao Yan slowly circled her arm in front of Grandma, and put the necklace on her.
When Shao Yan turned to see her again, Grandma Wu looked so regal and elegant with the necklace, a surprised gasp escaped from her.
"Grandma, why do I feel like saying "Long live Empress Dowager, may long life of blessing upon you, long life of blessings*." Hehe Grandma, you look so amazing!"
Grandma Wu chuckled at her joke, she playfully patted Shao Yan on her hand, "You cheeky brat, don"t tease your old Grandma here."
Shao Yan beamed and grinned at her, and then she started to walk back to her seat, but before she could walk away, Li Xiqing stop her in her tracks.
"Grandma, why don"t I take a picture of you, Yan Yan and Miss Wu?"
Before Grandma Wu answered him, Risa quickly said, "Xiqing, you are one of our family now, you can call me Risa or Shaoying, it"s fine."
And then she poked Grandma playfully on her arm, "Grandma, Xiqing is right, let"s take a picture, the three of us."
Shao Yan also nodded cheerfully at the suggestion, she quickly took out her phone and handed it over to Li Xiqing. And then Shao Yan walked back to stand next to Grandma and started to pose, "Hurry, hurry, Xiqing, let me have a picture of Grandma."
Li Xiqing smiled and nodded at her, and he swiftly took a couple of pictures of the three beautiful women.
His wife was smiling ever so brightly to the camera, with one hand was placed on Grandma"s shoulders. Risa stood quietly next to them and also smiled solemnly at the camera, and her hand was also placed on Grandma"s other shoulder
Li Xiqing ordered some flower tea for everyone to enjoy after the light meal. As everyone was holding onto their tea cup, Li Xiqing took out the second gift that he had brought.
It was a smaller rectangular shape box, wrapped in purple velvet cloth. He pa.s.sed the box to Risa, "This is a gift for our first official meeting. Thank you for taking care of Yan Yan all this time."
Risa was surprised that she also got a gift. She put down her cup and opened the box. It was a set of silk scarves with different colors and designs.
"Yan Yan told me that you always put on stylish scarves in the winter because you got cold easily, so she suggested to gift you more of these. We hope you like them." And as he finished, he turned to Shao Yan and gave her a smile.
Shao Yan was genuinely surprised this time. She remembered that she only mentioned this one time when she just started to be mentored by Risa a few weeks ago.
"Xiqing, I felt so grateful that Risa took the time to train me. I feel like I"ve wasted a lot of her time," Shao Yan said dejectedly one time during their dinner together.
She had her head down for a while, and then she suddenly raised both of her fists into the air, "After all of this is done, I think I"ll just get her thousands of scarves to bribe her feelings. Hehe!" And then she turned to Li Xiqing and said, "Praise me, aren"t I smart?" And her lips slowly turned into a mischievous grin.