A pond full of blooming flowers, an ultimate addiction.

They returned in early summer, and now it's the height of summer. Jiang Yi's foot injury has completely healed, and she no longer needs a wheelchair. Chi Ruiche took her to the hospital for a series of checkups before he was relieved.

As the wedding approached, Jiang Yang became busy and couldn't visit her often. Jiang Yi also got used to staying home alone during the day and waiting for Chi Ruiche at night. She seemed to rely on him more, holding her as she fell asleep and giving her the strongest hug during nightmares.

"I'm going home tonight to surprise Grandpa." Jiang Yi asked Aunt Wang to pack her things; Jiang Yang would pick her up later.

“I’ll be with you.” Chi Ruiche was used to looking for her as soon as he got home. The warm yellow light, the three meals a day, and someone waiting for him—only then did home truly become a reality.

"Brother will come to pick me up." Jiang Yi leaned against his chest, embracing him tightly, feeling each other's warmth.

Chi Ruiche pulled her close around the waist, his hand on her waist firm. After a long while, his deep voice rang out: "I can't bear to part even though we haven't separated yet." He cherished the time he had with her and even longed for more.

Jiang Yi felt his warm hand stroking her back, but couldn't see his expression. "I have an interview tomorrow afternoon, do you have time?"

"I'll pick you up."

Jiang Yang picked up Jiang Yi and returned to the old house. Grandpa Jiang was still wondering why no one was answering the video call: "Youjun, there's something wrong with my phone. I can't make the video call."

Youjun took the phone, examined it carefully, and found that the signal was full and the camera was clear. He respectfully handed it back to Old Jiang, saying, "The signal might be bad in New Zealand."

"Mr. Jiang, is dinner ready?" Aunt Meng stood in the dining room setting out the bowls and chopsticks.

"Grandpa," Jiang Yangping said, his mood improving as he entered the living room, "were you waiting for me?"

"Why did you come back alone? Didn't Ruozhi come with you?"

"She ate with her mother." Jiang Yang washed her hands and went to the dining room with her grandfather.

"Let's eat." Grandpa Jiang didn't think there was anything wrong with it.

Jiang Yi peeked out from the corner, and Youjun noticed her alertly. Jiang Yi made a shushing gesture, "Grandpa, do you have any dishes I like to eat?"

Grandpa Jiang paused, his hand holding the food stopped, and the wrinkles on his brow seemed to relax. He smiled broadly as Jiang Yi ran over and hugged him affectionately: "You little devil, come and eat."

Aunt Meng took a new set of bowls and chopsticks. She couldn't hide her joy at seeing Grandpa Jiang's happy expression. Her eyes narrowed into slits like crescent moons as she smiled.

"Aunt Meng, I want to eat ham and cantaloupe." Jiang Yiqian tasted a piece of braised pork and then started ordering.

"I'll do it now." Aunt Meng hurriedly ran to the kitchen, and Grandpa Jiang's voice came out as well.

"Tell them to cut up the fruit platter too." Grandpa Jiang looked at Jiang Yi eating with affection, and before he knew it, he had eaten quite a bit more himself.

"Grandpa, are you satisfied with this surprise?" Jiang Yang asked, eager for praise and reward.

Grandpa Jiang's constant laughter swept away the gloom of the past few days, and the warm atmosphere among the three of them even infected the servants in the house.

"Dad." Jiang Guoqing rushed in anxiously, breaking the joy. He frowned, his face showing anger.

Grandpa Jiang wiped his mouth, his smile fading, and asked unhappily, "What is it?"

Jiang Guoqing glared at Jiang Yi and clenched his fist: "Dad, why can't I arrange for Xiaoxue to join the Jiang family? Can't I even make the most basic personnel appointments now?"

"Do you think I don't know what you're thinking? If you're here to eat, sit down. If you have nothing else to do, you can leave." Grandpa Jiang glanced at Jiang Guoqing out of the corner of his eye.

"Dad, you're getting old. By your standards, the Jiang family will eventually end up like the Guo family," Jiang Guoqing said angrily, pointing at his grandfather.

"You don't need to worry about it. Starting tomorrow, you'll receive your share of the profits. The Jiang family doesn't need you anymore." Grandpa Jiang's eyes showed disappointment in Jiang Guoqing, and his dim, cloudy eyes were exceptionally cold.

Jiang Guoqing's eyes widened, his pupils filled with shock. Like a river frozen by a sudden cold wave, he stood there woodenly, a sense of powerlessness washing over him. "Dad, I'm your son."

"Is this what a son should be doing these days? Selling your shares, fanning the flames and causing Jiang's shares to suddenly plummet to their daily limit. Is this what you've done? How can you achieve anything if your heart is not upright?" Grandpa Jiang sighed deeply.

“Which person who achieves great things doesn’t have methods? Dad, I don’t have time to attend Jiang Yang’s wedding or Jiang Yi’s homecoming banquet. It would be the Jiang family who would lose face then.” Jiang Guoqing no longer pretended, and a sinister smile appeared on his face, revealing his calculation.

Grandpa Jiang felt a pang of sadness. This hopeless son, the child he had raised with such care, had one day threatened him, saying, "Haven't the Jiang family lost enough face? If you don't show up, I'll pretend you're not my son. Will your little bit of savings be enough for your extravagant spending then?"

"You'd even abandon your son for Jiang Yi. If I'd known this would happen, I should have left her in the snow that day instead of letting her go because of a moment of weakness." Jiang Guoqing roared, his fists clenched, his gaze seemingly capable of killing, his handsome face contorted in anger.

Jiang Yi lowered his head and remained silent, refusing to look at the anger and disdain in his father's eyes. He mechanically chewed the delicious ham, but the sweet honeydew melon was mixed with a hint of bitterness.

"Grandpa, I've already promised my brother I'd be his bridesmaid. Everyone will see me then, so there's no need for a homecoming banquet." Jiang Yi raised her face and smiled, the corners of her mouth concealing the pain in her heart. She shouldn't have expected this ridiculous fatherly love.

“Xiao Yi, you don’t need to wrong yourself. My granddaughter, Jiang Guzhi’s granddaughter, is a daughter of a distinguished family.” Grandpa Jiang shook his head, indicating that she didn’t need to speak.

Jiang Yi smiled nonchalantly: "Dad, in that case, will you have time to attend my brother's wedding?"

"Hmph, how could I not go to my son's wedding?" Jiang Guoqing took the opportunity Jiang Yi offered him and said ungratefully, "Xiao Yang, how can your wedding only have one bridesmaid? That's too stingy."

"Ruozhi has already invited her friends." Jiang Yang pretended not to understand.

Jiang Guoqing wanted to take this opportunity to let Jiang Xue also get some attention, saying, "Your little sister Xue heard that her older brother is getting married and also wants to be a bridesmaid, so let's add one more person to your group."

“The arrangement of the number of people is meaningful, not to mention her status?” Jiang Yang’s lips curled into a mocking smile.

"Xiaoxue is also your sister. How can you, as her older brother, speak like that?" Jiang Guoqing and Jiang Yang have always had a good relationship, and Jiang Guoqing is very satisfied with his son. However, because of Jiang Xue and Jiang Yi, there are too many rifts between them.

"Dad, I don't want to see Jiang Xue at my wedding." Jiang Yang's attitude was indifferent.

"As for Jiang Xue's job..." Jiang Guoqing would stop at nothing to achieve his goals, so how could he be easily manipulated by them?

"What bargaining chips do you think you have left? I don't mind letting Jiang Xue disappear for a while." Jiang Yang was not afraid of any threats; he would keep the Jiang family firmly in his grasp.

Jiang Guoqing was incredulous. Today, his father and son had repeatedly pressured him. He had underestimated Jiang Yang. "He really is my good son." Jiang Guoqing gritted his teeth, his eyes flashing with uncontrollable anger, yet he had no choice but to accept it and left the old house in dissatisfaction.

"Aunt Meng, is the fruit cut?" Jiang Yi hid her emotions and greeted them. She was smiling, but the smile was heartbreaking.

The old house became lively again. Jiang Yi ate fruit and chattered on about what she had done alone in New Zealand, how many happy things happened every day. Grandpa Jiang played along, smiling generously, as if nothing had just happened. The European-style clock chimed, and the three of them went back to their rooms to rest.