"Madam, Third Young Master."
The three walked into the corridor, where the Yan family's old butler came to greet them.
"Uncle Cui, this is my girlfriend. You can call her Xiao Huai."
Before Uncle Cui could speak, Aunt Yan, who was walking ahead, chimed in, "Her surname is Tong."
Uncle Cui then smiled at Tong Xiaohuai, "Miss Tong!"
"Hello, Uncle Cui!" Tong Xiaohuai smiled and nodded at him.
Once inside, Yanbo went over to help his mother take off her scarf and coat, but she dodged him and took off the scarf and coat herself, handing them to the maid beside her.
Yan Bo didn't say anything, turned around and took the scarf and coat that Tong Xiaohuai had taken off, and handed them to the maid along with his own, saying, "Put them in my bedroom."
Another servant brought up hot tea and handed it to everyone one by one. After Tong Xiaohuai took the tea, she put it on the coffee table next to her, picked out the gift for Yan Ma from the several bags of gifts, walked up to Yan Ma, bowed slightly, and handed the gift over with both hands.
"Auntie, this is a small gift for you. I just picked it out randomly because I didn't know what you liked."
Yan's mother glanced down at the box in her hand, then looked up and sized her up a few more times, but showed no intention of taking the gift. Instead, she raised her hand and beckoned the old housekeeper over.
"Could you bring me that red envelope you wrapped last time?"
Tong Xiaohuai was somewhat puzzled, but dared not ask any questions. Moreover, since Yan's mother did not seem to intend to accept the gift, she stood there feeling very awkward and helpless.
Seeing this, Yan Bo quickly walked over and sat on the armrest, put his arm around Yan's mother's shoulder, and gently pushed her, "Mom, Xiao Huai went to a lot of trouble to buy this gift, please accept it."
Tong Xiaohuai also said, "Auntie, I am a junior. If there is anything I am wrong or lacking, please feel free to tell me."
Even in front of her own parents, Tong Xiaohuai had never been so submissive.
But for Yanbo, and for her relationship with him, this little grievance is nothing.
Mother Yan's heart softened in the end. She glanced at her youngest son silently, but in the end, she couldn't resist the expectant and pleading look in his eyes, and slowly reached out to take the box.
Just then, Uncle Cui returned with a red envelope, which Aunt Yan took and handed to Tong Xiaohuai.
"I really like the birthday present, thank you."
Tong Xiaohuai hesitated whether to accept the red envelope, but Yan Bo winked at her, signaling her to accept it first.
The red envelope wasn't thick. Judging from the feel of it, if Tong Xiaohuai wasn't mistaken, there should be a bank card inside.
Tong Xiaohuai probably understood what Yan Ma meant.
It seems I'm not really favored by this elder. The red envelope I gave back is probably enough to buy that Duan inkstone.
However, this red envelope definitely cannot be returned now.
"Thank you for the red envelope, Auntie!"
Yan Bo knew his mother very well. He glanced thoughtfully at the red envelope in Tong Xiaohuai's hand, then gave Tong Xiaohuai a reassuring look.
"Mom, look what gift Xiao Huai bought for you?" Yan Bo said, already taking the box and opening it.
"Mom, Xiaohuai has been picking out gifts for you and Dad for over a week, which has made me quite jealous. Let me tell you, we've been dating for so long, and she's never given me a decent gift."
Yan Bo's aggrieved and jealous expression finally brought a slight smile to Yan's mother's usually calm face.
"Wow, Mom, this cheongsam is so beautiful."
Yan Bo's praise was not an exaggeration at all.
This cheongsam was handmade by the largest cheongsam workshop in China. From design to production, it was all done by top designers. The embroidery alone took more than a dozen people working together for more than two months to complete.
Previously, Tong Xiaohuai had asked for Yan Bo's mother's measurements, and Yan Bo could roughly guess that she was going to send his mother a set of clothes, but he did not expect that she would send such a cheongsam that was both an art piece and a practical item.
Although Yan's mother disliked Tong Xiaohuai from the bottom of her heart, her gaze was also drawn to the cheongsam at this moment.
Just like when she first saw that Duan inkstone, she felt both repulsed and unable to resist wanting to possess the gift.
I gently lifted a corner of the cheongsam with my hand, feeling the smooth texture of its silk satin.
"It really is beautiful..." Yan's mother couldn't help but murmur a soft exclamation.
She looked up at Tong Xiaohuai thoughtfully, "You have good taste!"
“Auntie, this cheongsam workshop is quite famous in L City. My mother also likes the clothes there. I took a liking to it at first sight and felt that this cheongsam would suit your temperament very well.”
Tong Xiaohuai's words were half true and half false. It was true that Tong's mother liked the clothes produced by this workshop, but Tong Xiaohuai chose this cheongsam with her mother's help and under her mother's guidance.
"Your... mother?" Yan's mother tried hard to search for information about Tong Xiaohuai's mother.
The information gathered from the previous investigation only detailed the information about Tong Yunxiang, also known as Tong Boss, and Tong Xiaohuai. As for Tong Xiaohuai's mother, it was only mentioned briefly. She only remembered that the information said that Tong Xiaohuai's mother was in poor health and lived a secluded life.
"Well, my mom has done a lot of research on these things, but I know very little about them," Tong Xiaohuai honestly revealed her background.
She knew very well that she was only half-baked, and if she said that directly, there would be no problem. But if she tried to mislead others into thinking that she was a full bucket of knowledge, it would only make people more disgusted.
Yan's mother didn't ask any more questions. She turned her gaze back and began to seriously admire the cheongsam in her hands.
Yan Bo winked at Tong Xiaohuai again, then sat obediently next to his mother, listening to her explain the meaning and origin of the embroidery.
Tong Xiaohuai didn't really know much about these things, but he listened attentively while holding his hot tea.
Yan's mother didn't deliberately make things difficult for Tong Xiaohuai, but she also didn't show much enthusiasm.
She didn't even ask Tong Xiaohuai any questions after she entered the room.
Clearly, she was showing Tong Xiaohuai and Yan Bo through her actions.
She had no interest in anything about Tong Xiaohuai, so she didn't ask a single question.
Yan Bo and Tong Xiaohuai weren't fools; of course they understood these things.
But no one wanted to expose it, so the conversation basically revolved around that cheongsam.
Tong Xiaohuai felt fortunate that even if Yan's mother didn't like her, at least she liked the gift, so the atmosphere of their first meeting wasn't too cold.
After a while, the maid brought up some more snacks. Yan's mother glanced at the plates of snacks on the table and was somewhat surprised.
When did you start buying Cantonese dim sum for your family?
The maid quickly replied, "It was brought back by the Third Young Master!"
Yan Bo chimed in, "Oh, these are pastries from a very famous hotel in L City. Xiao Huai went to the hotel early this morning to wait for them and brought them back."
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