Yan Xixi laughed bitterly. "But how do I explain this to Director Huang? If she had told earlier, I could have figured sothing out. But now that it’s co to this, how can I back out?"
"Then what should we do?"
Yan Xixi gritted her teeth, deciding she couldn’t worry about that now. To her, Huang Ying was truly a ntor and a friend. Besides, Huang Ying’s elderly aunt had been deeply depressed for years after her only daughter’s suicide, almost to the point of a ntal breakdown. Going to Xiaojue’s aunt’s birthday party would just be adding flowers to a brocade, a nice but non-essential gesture. Huang Ying’s elderly aunt, however, was different. How could she disappoint that poor old woman? Since she’d already promised, what kind of person would she be if she backed out at the last minute?
"Xixi, if you don’t go this ti, I’m afraid you’ll truly have a falling out with Huang’s mother. After this, don’t expect her to ever give you a pleasant look."
Yan Xixi gave a bitter smile. Deep down, didn’t she also want to get along with Huang’s mother? But the relationship between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law wasn’t like that of a mother and daughter. Very small things could be blown out of proportion. It had been so hard to finally get Huang’s mother to compromise and acknowledge her place—who would have thought sothing so ill-tid would happen now.
She even began to feel despondent. Perhaps there truly is such a thing as fate, she thought. Otherwise, why would sothing so terribly cliché happen?
「The next day.」
She got up very early. After picking up the prepared gift, she had just stepped outside when Huang’s mother called.
"Xixi, are you ready? Xiaojue’s father and I will co pick you up together."
Yan Xixi mustered her spirits. "Auntie, I’m so sorry. Director Huang is already waiting for downstairs. But I promise you, I’ll co back imdiately after lunch. I’ll definitely attend the birthday dinner for Xiaojue’s aunt."
"..."
"I’ve also prepared a gift for her, a red envelope. I’ll bring it with tonight."
Huang’s mother replied coldly, "No need."
"Auntie, I truly have no choice. I promised soone over a month ago. Please try to understand. I will definitely be back tonight..."
Huang’s mother hung up abruptly.
Yan Xixi gritted her teeth and walked out of the residential complex gate. She saw Huang Ying poking her head out of the car window, smiling. "Xixi, quickly, get in."
Seeing her carrying so many things, Huang Ying said, "Xixi, why go to such expense?"
"The elderly lady is celebrating her seventieth birthday; it’s only right."
Huang Ying sighed softly. "This won’t delay your important matters, will it?"
"No, it’s the weekend. I’m free."
Only then did Huang Ying set off, relieved.
This was Yan Xixi’s first ti attending such a grand birthday celebration for an elder. There were only two or three tables of close relatives. Because the elderly aunt was from a family that had lost their only child, the atmosphere felt particularly desolate. Even though she wore the festive clothes her nieces and nephews had bought, she still looked utterly haggard. When the elderly aunt saw Yan Xixi, she actually stood up and, trembling, reached out her hand. "Xixi... you’re Xixi?"
Yan Xixi stepped forward to support her. Suddenly, she thought of her own mother.
"Xixi, our whole family thanks you... If it weren’t for you, Ya Zi’s injustice would never have been righted in her entire life..."
Ya Zi was the nickna of her deceased daughter.
The relatives also gathered around, all talking at once, and were very warm and friendly towards her.
Yan Xixi was filled with a multitude of emotions. Her action back then was truly unintentional, and purely for her own benefit, yet she had unexpectedly earned such deep gratitude from the old woman.
After lunch, as she was saying her goodbyes, the elderly aunt personally saw her out and handed her a large box of local specialty products. Yan Xixi was about to decline, but Huang Ying whispered, "Take it. My aunt will only be happy if you accept."
So she had no choice but to accept the items.
"My aunt’s spirits are much better now," Huang Ying said. "She used to fall ill often and sotis couldn’t even recognize many of her own relatives. But today, even though it was the first ti she t you, she recognized you imdiately and rembered you. Xixi, I really don’t know how I can ever thank you enough."
Yan Xixi smiled faintly. "It was really no trouble at all."
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