"Who are you? No way would the old man invite some shameless woman to his birthday party."
Fu Zhiyé frowned.
"Grandpa Rivers, it’s me, Vivian Belle. I only heard from A'ye that it was your birthday, so I wanted to bring you a gift. I’m sorry if I’ve upset you," she said, putting on a pitiful look and clinging delicately behind Fu Zhiyé.
"Hmph, don’t call me Grandpa Rivers—you’re not worthy! Security, security! Get this woman out of here."
The old man thundered with anger; he didn’t even need to look to know his granddaughter-in-law had been wronged.
Grandma Rivers walked over, glaring at both Vivian Belle and Fu Zhiyé before gently pulling Cecilia Ye behind her.
Fu Zhiyé’s brow furrowed even tighter. "Grandpa Rivers, let’s not do this."
"Heh, Fu Zhiyé, aren’t you something? Who are you telling to apologize? Do you actually want Grandpa Rivers to have a terrible birthday today?"
His words stung. The old man slammed his cane on the ground with a loud thud. "What did I say back then? I said you were not to see that woman again! Are my words just empty air to you?"
Cecilia Ye feared the old man would get too worked up and hurried forward to take his hand. "Grandpa Rivers, don’t be upset. It’s your birthday—you should be happy."
Looking at Cecilia Ye’s face, the old man understood: she’d clearly crossed paths with Vivian Belle before. Who knows how much his granddaughter-in-law had silently endured?
He patted Cecilia Ye’s hand. "Don’t worry. As long as Grandpa Rivers’s here, that woman won’t be able to bully you."
Grandma Rivers pulled Cecilia Ye back and said softly, "Cecilia, it’s alright. Let Grandpa Rivers teach this ungrateful girl a lesson."
Fu Zhiyé shielded Vivian Belle, his voice cold. "Grandpa Rivers, she just wanted to bring you a gift—there’s no need to be so harsh with her."
Hearing this, Vivian Belle offered a small box forward. "Grandpa Rivers, this is a jade scepter I picked out for you. I hope you’ll like it."
Her voice was weak and gentle—anyone would see her as pitiful.
With a flick of the old man’s hand, the box spun across the floor and landed with a clatter. "Get out! If you don’t, I’ll call security."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Seeing how the old man treated Vivian Belle, it was clear now—so she was the infamous mistress.
Even someone as thick-skinned as Vivian Belle couldn’t stay. She looked up at Fu Zhiyé, voice choked with tears. "A'ye, I just wanted to show Grandpa Rivers my goodwill. I’m sorry."
She turned and ran out of the hotel. Fu Zhiyé hesitated a moment, then hurried after her.
"Fu Zhiyé, if you walk out that door after her, don’t bother coming back to the Fu family!"
That tall figure paused in the doorway. He seemed to glance back at Cecilia Ye, but then left the hotel without looking back.
Cecilia Ye’s heart twisted in pain. She staggered back a step before Grandma Rivers caught her. "Cecilia, it’s alright, it’s alright. Don’t be sad. When Fu Zhiyé comes home, Grandma Rivers will give him a good talking-to, alright?"
Bathed in gentle comfort, Cecilia Ye shook her head and whispered, "Grandma Rivers, I’m fine, really."
And so the birthday party ended in farce. Cecilia Ye went back to the old house with the two elders.
By the time Fu Zhiyé caught up, Vivian Belle was crying at the doorway. He frowned and approached.
"I told you not to come today," Fu Zhiyé said coldly, standing beneath a streetlamp, his face stony.
Vivian Belle shivered involuntarily, her voice full of grievance. "A'ye, you’re blaming me too? I just… I just wanted to win over your grandparents, to make them like me, even a little."
She wept sorrowfully, took two steps forward, and threw herself at Fu Zhiyé’s chest.
Fu Zhiyé stiffened, pulling her away. "I’ll take you home. Don’t get involved in things that aren’t your place from now on."
Vivian Belle froze. They hadn’t met for several years—he really wasn’t the same as before. He used to be much softer, much more sympathetic.
Bitter resentment flashed in her heart, though her face still wore a pitiful, fragile expression. She went obediently to the car.
On the drive back, thoughts of Cecilia Ye’s wounded expression when he left made Fu Zhiyé grow restless.
Back at the old house, the old man was still sulking on the sofa, stone-faced and silent. Grandma Rivers tried to coax him, but he just sat there stiff with anger.
Cecilia Ye shot Grandma Rivers a look, then crouched in front of the old man and spoke softly, "Grandpa Rivers, don’t you want to see the gift I got for you?"
Finally, a flicker of interest crossed his face. Obviously, he wanted to know, but he acted like a stubborn child still angry at her.
Cecilia Ye deliberately sighed. "Ah, Grandpa Rivers must not like my present. I’ll just help Grandma Rivers open hers instead."
She moved to Grandma Rivers’s side and unwrapped the package. Inside was a pale lavender scarf.
Grandma Rivers beamed with genuine delight, and the old man craned his neck to peek over, a jealous look on his face.
"Grandma Rivers, let me put it on for you!" Cecilia Ye wrapped the scarf gently around Grandma Rivers’s neck—soft and warm.
"I love it, I really do! Cecilia always chooses the best gifts," Grandma Rivers praised.
Then Cecilia turned to catch the old man stretching his neck to watch. "Come on, Grandpa Rivers—it’s your turn to unwrap your gift!"
Grandpa Rivers’s scarf was a deep purple, perfectly complementing Grandma Rivers’s. He couldn’t wait to put it on, making Cecilia Ye giggle at his eagerness.
"Alright, alright, take it off now—it’s not winter yet. You can wear it when the weather turns cold," she laughed.
Reluctantly, the old man removed the scarf but held onto Cecilia Ye’s hand, sighing.
"Cecilia, has Fu Zhiyé been mistreating you? With that Vivian Belle—Grandpa Rivers would never let her set foot in the Fu house!"
"No, Grandpa Rivers, since I came to the Fu family, you and Grandma Rivers have treated me so well, and Zhiyé… he takes good care of me, too. I already feel very lucky."
The bright smile on her delicate face only made the two elders feel more heartache.
"Sigh, Zhiyé’s always been good at everything—but he’s never learned how to love someone. Still, Cecilia, give him more time. Grandpa Rivers believes he’ll learn how to love you, even if he doesn’t realize it himself yet."
There was a glimmer of tears in the old man’s eyes, making Cecilia Ye’s nose sting with emotion.
"Grandpa Rivers, it’s not that I won’t give Zhiyé more time—not that he doesn’t know how to love. It’s just… I’m not enough for him. He just doesn’t love me…"
Not having the heart to disappoint the elders, Cecilia Ye still nodded quietly.
Only after both elders had gone to sleep did Cecilia Ye return to her room.
The bedroom was pitch dark. She curled up on the sofa, hugging her knees, and replayed that moment at the party when Fu Zhiyé left her behind. She felt like a fool.
Fu Zhiyé, do you really care about her that much? For her, you left me behind as everyone’s laughingstock.
If I hadn’t fallen for you… if I could’ve walked away more decisively, would it still hurt like this?
But what can I do? I’ve loved you for so many years.