Sure enough, when she woke up the next morning, Fu Zhiyan was nowhere to be seen.

After washing up, Cecilia Ye went downstairs.

She immediately spotted her grandmother, who had dressed up meticulously in a form-fitting cheongsam. Elegant and graceful, she looked every bit the lady.

"Good morning, Grandma Rivers. You look so beautiful today," Cecilia said sweetly. The old lady broke into a wide, delighted smile.

"Come on, eat your breakfast. Aunt Whitney has made your favorite little pork buns," Grandma Rivers called out.

Aunt Whitney was a housekeeper at the Fu family’s old villa, but she'd practically grown up with them. The Yun family had always managed the house’s daily affairs and were trusted by both Grandpa Rivers and Grandma Rivers.

Aunt Whitney came out carrying warm soymilk for Cecilia Ye. "Cecilia, drink it while it's hot—I've added red beans and dates, it smells wonderful."

Cecilia Ye took the cup, took a sip, and said, "It really is delicious, thank you Aunt Whitney."

She sat down obediently to eat. After ten years in the Fu family, Cecilia Ye had always been gentle and considerate, no wonder the elder Mr. and Mrs. Fu accepted her as family and doted on her.

"Cecilia, after you finish eating, come with Grandma Rivers for a stroll, will you? Winter’s almost here—let’s get fashionable and buy some new coats."

Of course, it wasn’t that Grandma Rivers wanted to shop for herself; she just didn’t want Cecilia Ye to feel lonely at home.

"Okay, Grandma Rivers, I’d love to."

Once breakfast was done, Cecilia Ye changed clothes: a soft, cream-colored fuzzy sweater and a brown short skirt, with tall boots hugging her slender calves. She looked gentle and sophisticated.

Her dark hair was draped softly over her shoulders, topped with a short fuzzy beret to match her outfit. Even with barely any makeup, her beauty was radiant and captivating.

"Cecilia, come here! You really are Grandma Rivers’s little princess—so pretty."

Cecilia Ye felt a little shy and took Grandma Rivers’s arm. "Grandma Rivers, are you my biggest fan? You always like to praise me."

"Haha, yes, yes—I’m your number one fan," Grandma Rivers chuckled.

They got into the car laughing together, and the driver took them to the largest shopping mall nearby.

The pair, one elegant and stately, the other soft and radiant, immediately caught the eye of many passersby. It was clear at a glance they must belong to some well-to-do family—how enviable.

The mall’s clothing section spanned the third and fourth floors.

Usually, Grandma Rivers's outfits were always custom-designed at home, and she rarely went shopping in person.

Shopping with Cecilia Ye put her in a very good mood; she flitted from rack to rack, eager to try everything on.

Cecilia Ye patiently kept her company. By the time they finished the third floor, her hands were full of shopping bags and she had to call the driver to come and collect them.

They waited on a bench in the third floor lounge, which happened to be right beside a bubble tea shop. A chubby panda mascot stood at the entrance, attracting a stream of giggling young girls.

Grandma Rivers couldn’t take her eyes off the girls buying milk tea inside.

Cecilia Ye stifled a laugh. "Grandma Rivers, do you want some milk tea, too?"

Grandma Rivers shook her head, but her gaze stayed fixed. "Well, is it really that good? So many girls seem to love it."

"Wait here, Grandma Rivers. I’ll buy you a cup—but only if you agree to go easy on the sugar!" Cecilia put on a pretend stern face, worried that Grandma Rivers shouldn’t have anything too sweet.

Grandma Rivers gave a wide grin, "Alright, alright, I promise I’ll just have a taste."

Cecilia Ye carefully checked the shop's menu and ingredients, then ordered: two oolong milk teas, less sugar and no add-ins for Grandma Rivers, and for herself, one with pearls. Both warm.

She brought the milk teas out just as the driver arrived to collect their bags.

Cecilia Ye handed Grandma Rivers her cup, who’d been waiting impatiently. "Drink slowly, Grandma Rivers—it’s hot."

The old lady took a sip and her eyes crinkled with happiness. "Mmm, delicious! Shh, Cecilia, let’s not tell Grandpa Rivers about this. Next time, let’s come have more."

Cecilia Ye watched her grandma beam like an excited child. She leaned closer and whispered, "Okay, it’s our little secret!"

Milk teas in hand, they made their way up to the luxurious boutique on the fourth floor. It was a foreign designer brand, filled with elegant, vintage-inspired new releases—perfect for Grandma Rivers.

With winter coming, the store was already stocked with early winter styles. Cecilia Ye picked out several pieces for Grandma Rivers to try and sent her off to the fitting room.

While Grandma Rivers was inside, Cecilia Ye waited on a sofa, sipping milk tea. Her delicate features began to draw subtle, admiring glances from the staff.

At that moment, two people walked in. The woman in front still had gauze wrapped around her wrist—it was unmistakably Vivian Belle, with her mother trailing behind.

"Mom, go ahead and look. This is more your style, and whatever you want, just buy it—A’Ye gave me his card," Vivian Belle said, swinging her hips as she walked in.

Last time, after being bitten by Cecilia Ye’s dog, Fu Zhiyan had promised to make it up to her, so before he left for work this morning, he’d handed her a black card—she could buy whatever she wanted.

Of course, Vivian Belle wanted much more than just money, but she wasn’t about to turn down free luxury for herself and her mother.

Although the the Belle family ran a small company and were reasonably well off, compared to the Fus they didn’t even deserve to be mentioned in the same breath.

Cecilia Ye’s brows knit as she recognized the familiar voice. She turned and saw Vivian Belle walking in.

Vivian Belle also saw Cecilia Ye immediately. Their eyes locked—what rotten luck. Vivian Belle shot her mother a significant look.

Mrs. Bai glanced at Cecilia on the sofa and thought, What a pretty young thing.

"Mom, look who it is! No wonder the store felt odd when I walked in—it’s A’Ye’s ever-present wife!"

Mrs. Bai caught on quickly. So this was the 'little vixen' she’d heard about.

She gave a cold snort. "So you’re the one. Tsk, poor thing—Mr. Fu was at the hospital all night with our Yuzhi yesterday and never left. What’s the use of clinging to a husband whose heart is elsewhere?"

"You might be young, but don’t let it go to your head," Mrs. Bai added with a deliberately theatrical air, grating on the ears.

Cecilia Ye’s hands tightened on her lap. So Fu Zhiyan really had spent the whole night with Vivian Belle yesterday.

She glanced at the bandage on Vivian Belle’s wrist and remembered how anxious Fu Zhiyan had been the day before.

Her eyes narrowed, and she shot back through gritted teeth, "Oh, got hurt? What, did you try to hurt yourself just so Zhiyan would stay with you?"

Vivian Belle flushed, caught off guard. "Hmph! Laugh all you like, Cecilia Ye. But you know deep down how much A’Ye cares for me."

She raised her chin and looked down at Cecilia Ye. "He told me himself—he only stayed at the old villa because he had to, not because he wanted to."

A sharp pang shot through Cecilia Ye’s chest. So that’s how it was—Fu Zhiyan really did tell her everything.

No wonder Vivian Belle was always so smug.

Seeing Cecilia Ye’s expression change, Vivian Belle only grew more brazen. She pulled out a card from her purse.

"Recognize this? It’s A’Ye’s card. He said I can buy whatever I want with it. Oh, but you probably wouldn’t—he’s never given you one, has he?" Vivian Belle sneered.

The store staff had noticed the commotion, but with such obviously wealthy clients, they didn’t dare intervene.

Cecilia Ye’s face flushed angrily, but she was at a loss for words.

Vivian Belle, in high spirits, strutted past and headed for the coats rack.

"Hello, could you get this one, that one, and that one, all in my mother’s size? Let my mom try them all," she instructed the staff briskly.

At that moment, a cold laugh rang out. It was the old lady, elegantly dressed in the outfit Cecilia Ye had just picked out for her, standing outside the fitting room. She’d clearly been listening for quite some time.