Lin Wanwan finally shook her head and said, "Grandma has to figure things out for herself. You can't always be the one to mediate. No matter how much others say, it's better to figure it out yourself."

Qian Qian stared at her for a while and said, "You are more thoughtful than Grandma. You are right. You are indeed very smart and you live life with clarity. It is Grandma who doesn't understand."

Lin Wanwan hugged her and they rested their heads together. "Grandma isn't that she doesn't understand. Grandma is just worried and confused. She's too concerned about me, isn't she?"

"You have such a sweet tongue, your little mouth is covered in honey," Qian Qian said, gently patting her arm again and again as she looked at her hesitant expression.

"Grandma, just say what's wrong. Didn't you say you were going to treat me like your new granddaughter?"

"Let's go sit in the courtyard outside, standing is tiring."

"Okay, I'll go get the snow frog. You go first."

Lin Wanwan went to the dining room and told Lu Feng, "I'm going to the courtyard to have tea with my grandmother. We'll talk later."

Lu Feng nodded, told her to wait a moment, and turned to go upstairs.

A short while later, Lin Wanwan saw him come down with a very thick shawl.

"Put this on. It's still a bit windy outside. Your voice sounds a little off. The snow frog seems to be cold. I'll have Auntie heat it up and bring it out for you."

"Okay, then I'll go keep Grandma company."

The two were very close, and Lu Feng lowered his head to kiss the top of her head.

Lin Wanwan then turned and went to the small garden.

"Grandma, the flowers here are growing so well," Lin Wanwan exclaimed, looking at the garden full of flowers.

Qian Qian sat in the wicker chair, turned her head and reached out to her, "Come sit down."

Lin Wanwan placed her hand in her palm, "Grandma, I still like holding your hand, and I still like your scent."

Qian Qian laughed heartily at her coaxing, "What do I smell like? Do I smell like an old person?"

Lin Wanwan shook her head and said, "No, it's just the smell of sunshine and freshly baked bread. It's placed on this little table, making people feel warm inside."

Qian Qian patted her hand without saying anything.

Lin Wanwan wasn't in a hurry, so she sat with her. The aunt brought over the heated snow frog and a plate of snacks. "Lu Feng asked me to bring these over," she said, turning to hand the shawl to Qian Qian. "Dr. Qian, Lu Feng asked me to bring these over."

Qian Qian put on her shawl and smiled, "Lu Feng is really considerate. I could tell from how you two got along before."

Lin Wanwan nodded noncommittally. She couldn't drink tea, and neither could Qian Qian, because drinking tea would keep them awake at night. So Lin Wanwan brewed her some fruit and flower tea, which she made herself, and Qian Qian quite liked it.

Was your senior brother strict when he taught you?

"Senior Brother Cheng? He's not fierce at all, quite patient, but he's very demanding."

Qian Qian smiled and said, "Your maternal grandfather used to work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He retired at the age of fifty-five. He said he wanted to hand over the stage to young people. Why keep occupying the position?"

He took a sip of hot tea and continued, "Later, he couldn't stay idle at home, so your school rehired him to teach. Your grandfather agreed without hesitation, and he taught 'Diplomacy' and 'International Affairs and International Relations'."

“My grandfather never mentioned that he had ever taught. I only found out when my senior took me to school.”

Qian Qian just smiled and said, "Your senior brother also studied 'law' like you. Later, he double-majored in 'international affairs and international relations.' It was very tough. He was also your grandfather's favorite student. He was the one who supervised your graduate students."

As if recalling something, he slowly took a sip of tea and continued, "Later I remember he came to our house once, and your grandfather asked him why he wanted to study 'law'. He said the same thing as you, 'Law is not the ultimate goal. He is studying 'international affairs and international relations' so that he can go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.'"

Lin Wanwan was a little surprised, but she didn't interrupt. She roughly knew what Qian Qian wanted to say to her.

“Your maternal grandfather asked him the same question: why not study ‘international affairs and international relations’ or ‘diplomacy’ directly? He said that the road to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is long and he was not sure if he could do it. Law happens to be a subject he is very interested in, and it is also a major that can be applied to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

Qian Qian turned her head to look at her and asked with a smile, "Doesn't she look a lot like you?"

"Indeed, perhaps it's fate that brought my senior brother and me together."

"Indeed, your senior brother looks gentle, but he's not close to anyone. The few who came to pay New Year's visits that day were the ones he was closer to. Your senior brother seems gentle to everyone, but he's actually quite aloof. He's very nice to you, though."

Has he talked to you about his family?

Lin Wanwan shook her head. "No, my senior brother doesn't like to talk about those things. Sometimes he just talks to me about things he likes, like painting in his spare time and riding horses when he's in a bad mood. I even begged him to teach me to ride horses after I have a baby. He said he has a horse farm in the suburbs of Beijing and plays tennis when he's free. We even made a promise to play together in the future."

Qian Qian always had a smile on her face. "Your senior brother doesn't like to talk about his family. Your grandfather and I have known him for over ten years and only found out a little bit about him. He agreed to teach you to ride horses?"

"Yes, my senior brother said that if I want to learn again after I give birth, he will teach me. He said there is a very beautiful white horse in his horse farm that I can ride."

Qian Qian turned her head and looked at her for a while before saying, "That white horse is his favorite foal. He delivered it himself last year and trained it personally. He cherishes it dearly. When Ziju asked him for it, he wouldn't give it to her, not even letting her ride it."

Qian Qian reached out and brushed a stray hair from her temple. "Our girl is beautiful and smart, no wonder she's so likable."

"Grandma~" Lin Wanwan didn't know what to say.

"Your senior brother grew up with his grandparents. His parents separated when he was very young and divorced. His father was a playboy who only knew how to squander money. Later, Grandpa Cheng cut off his financial support. Who would have thought that he would directly publish a notice in the newspaper to sever ties with his family and run away abroad."

Qian Qian sighed, "A few years ago, the situation in China was not good. Although his grandparents were not persecuted, they suffered a lot and passed away in less than two years. At that time, your senior brother was taking the postgraduate entrance examination. Your maternal grandfather and I saw that he was alone, so we often invited him to our house to study and have a meal."

"Grandma, do you want me to never see my senior brother again?"

Qian Qian turned her head, smiled, and shook her head. "Nannan, Grandma isn't saying this because she wants you to do anything. Your senior brother is so busy. Even if you were lovers, let alone just being ordinary friends, he probably wouldn't have time to spend with you."

Lin Wanwan lowered her head and thought for a moment, then looked up at Qian Qian and finally said, "Grandma, 'liking' is a very precious feeling, and my senior brother is very good."

Sometimes words are inadequate, and at such times, no matter what she explains, it seems inappropriate.