Chapter 99 Hibiscus Pin
Inside the car
Yan Nian answered whatever Song Zhiyin asked.
The old lady didn't ask any questions, instead, she just talked about work and some trivial matters in life.
Yan Nian had always been close to her grandmother, so naturally she felt Song Zhiyin was kind, but she was never talkative, so she was inevitably a little reserved when meeting her parents for the first time.
Arriving at the restaurant, the waiter led them into a private room.
Zhou Ran pulled out a chair for Song Zhiyin. Song Zhiyin took Yan Nian's hand and placed her next to Zhou Ran: "Come, sit down."
Yan Nian had no choice but to sit down obediently.
Zhou Ran and Song Zhiyin sat on both sides.
Song Zhiyin handed her the menu: "See what you like to eat."
The menu was handed over, and Yan Nian was too embarrassed to refuse, so he took it and said, "Okay."
It was quite difficult. She had a problem with making choices, so she read through the menu quickly.
Zhou Ran noticed her predicament and moved closer to ask, "How about this shrimp?"
Yan Nian nodded: "Okay."
She said yes to everything Zhou Ran asked.
Song Zhiyin saw it and smiled.
All the dishes are served and we start eating.
Song Zhiyin kept picking up food for her and instructed, "Xiaoran, pick up some food for Yan Nian."
Yan Nian looked into the bowl and saw that the food was almost popping out. She looked at Zhou Ran for help.
Zhou Ran understood instantly and said with a smile: "If you pick up more food, change the bowl. Don't worry about it, just let her eat it herself."
"That won't work. Last time I saw her, she still had some flesh on her face. Look at her now, she's so skinny," Song Zhiyin asked, "Does your company work overtime every day?"
This could all be blamed on him. Sure enough, he and Zhao Ning were mother and daughter. Zhou Ran was depressed, but said in a good temper, "I haven't been working overtime recently."
Song Zhiyin asked the person next to him: "Did he lie?"
Yan Nian quickly put down his chopsticks and answered politely, "He didn't lie. He hasn't been working overtime recently."
Being caught between two sides of this topic, Yan Nian added, "Maybe it's the clothes that make me look thinner."
Zhou Ran laughed beside him.
Yan Nian didn't know what to think of this answer. When she heard Zhou Ran laugh, she wondered if it was a bad answer.
Song Zhiyin smiled and said, "I believe you."
Yan Nian: “…”
Zhou Ran joked, "Alright, you scared me while eating. If you run away later, where will I find you?"
Yan Nian: “…”
"That's right," Song Zhiyin didn't say anything about the complaints she had been making over the years. She smiled and said to Yan Nian, "If he bullies you in the future, just tell me."
Yan Nian smiled and said, "Okay."
Song Zhiyin: "Let's eat, the food will get cold soon."
"Yeah." Yan Nian picked up the chopsticks again and breathed a sigh of relief.
I didn't have much of an appetite in the evening, so the meal ended quickly.
After Zhou Ran put down his chopsticks, Yan Nian took out the prepared gift from her bag and gave it to Song Zhiyin: "Grandma, this is for you."
Song Zhiyin looked at the red sandalwood box with its original wood grain in surprise and took it. "You brought me a gift, thank you!"
Zhou Ran sat closer and put his arm around Yan Nian's shoulders: "Open it and take a look."
Song Zhiyin looked at Yan Nian, then at the box in her hand: "Okay."
When the box was opened, inside was a hibiscus flower cheongsam pin with a niche design.
The flowers are delicate and the green leaves have a matte texture, adding a touch of retro, chic and elegant, which is very suitable for Song Zhiyin.
The moment Song Zhiyin saw the pin, she was like a child who had received a special gift. Her fingertips trembled slightly as she pointed at the pin in the box and looked at the two of them. Her eyes were full of tiny stars, and the corners of her mouth were filled with unconcealable joy. "This is, this is hibiscus."
Yan Nian nodded.
Zhou Ran asked, "Your future granddaughter-in-law specially asked someone to make this for her. Do you like it?"
Song Zhiyin nodded: "I like it, I like it very much."
Before meeting Song Zhiyin, Yan Nian didn't know what to buy and asked Zhou Ran for advice.
Zhou Ran told her that her grandmother liked to collect brooches, as well as stories about her grandmother and grandfather.
Zhou Ran said that when his grandparents were young, the country was in a state of disrepair and living conditions were very difficult. His grandfather was an administrative clerk. He followed his leader to the north right after marrying his grandmother and did not return for three years. They kept in touch through letters. His grandfather was reluctant to spend money on food and clothing, and he saved money for a long time to buy his grandmother an expensive brooch, which he mailed back with the letter, with a northern hibiscus flower inside.
There were only two lines written on the letter: If love between two people is long-lasting, why should they be together day and night?
My grandmother still treasures the letters, but the northern hibiscus is long gone.
Before my grandfather passed away, my grandmother asked him for hibiscus flowers, but unfortunately my grandfather passed away just after winter and didn't live to see the flowers bloom.
This is the regret in my grandmother's heart.
(Note: The Mao Shi annotated that "Shun" refers to the hibiscus, also known as the morning glory and evening fading flower.)
Yan Nian is quite good at choosing brooches, as her grandmother was a jewelry designer.
She had connections to find a craftsman who could make this kind of brooch.
Perhaps it was fate that the master craftsman that Yan Nian’s grandmother knew was still there.
Although she had only met Song Zhiyin twice, once at the company and once at Wang Hongyu's wedding, when the master made this brooch, she felt that it was particularly suitable for Song Zhiyin.
Song Zhiyin's eyes were filled with light: "It's really beautiful, morning and evening."
Yan Nian's lips curled slightly: "And life continues."
Song Zhiyin raised her head, her eyes glittering with light, "Yes, it's eternal."
Yan Nian and Zhou Ran looked at each other.
May romance grow stronger and longer, just like the love between my grandparents.
Song Zhiyin carefully put away the precious gift: "By the way, I have something for you too."
Song Zhiyin took out an exquisite rectangular box from the cloth bag: "This, Old Zhao and I prepared together, please accept it."
Yan Nian glanced at Zhou Ran from the side.
Zhou Ran: "Take it!"
Yan Nian accepted the gift box: "Thank you, grandma."
After exchanging gifts and chatting, the meal ended.
After leaving the restaurant, Zhou Ran sent Yan Nian home first.
Song Zhiyin said reluctantly, "Come and keep me company when you have time, okay?"
Yan Nian pushed open the car door: "Okay! Goodbye, grandma."
Looking towards the driver's seat, Zhou Ran waved his phone at her and said, "Go to bed early."
“…”
What does this mean? Shake your phone and then tell you to go to bed early?
Zhou Ran smiled, released the brake, and drove into the night.
Yan Nian walked back until the car was out of sight.
When I got off the elevator, I saw a familiar figure standing at the door.
Yan Nian walked over: "Dad."
Yan Qilin turned around, looking troubled: "Nian Nian is back."
It had been a while since we last met, and there was a sense of strangeness between us. He seemed to have been standing there for a long time, so Yan Nian asked, "Aren't you going in?"
Yan Qilin: "Your mother changed the password. She's not back yet. I came to get a document."
"Oh!" Xu Yiqing had indeed changed the password several days ago. Yan Nian had forgotten it, so he went over to enter the password to open the door and let Yan Qilin go in first.
Surprisingly, Xu Yiqing was at home, watching TV with his legs folded on the sofa and covered with a small blanket.
Hearing the noise, he just asked, "You're back."
"Yeah." Yan Nian said, "Dad is here."
Xu Yiqing was not surprised. He stared at the TV, probably because he knew Yan Qilin had been waiting outside for a long time.
Yan Qilin went into the study, took out the documents, and said to the two of them, "Then I'll be leaving first."
Yan Nian nodded: "Okay, drive safely."
Yan Qilin: "Hey."
Hearing the door outside close, Yan Nian also said, "Go to bed early."
Xu Yiqing picked up the remote control next to him and turned off the TV. He said, "It's still early. Come and sit down. I want to talk to you."
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