Reunion with an Old Acquaintance

The days seemed to have settled into calm. Ever since meeting the Old Madam that day, Zhang Chen's family had taken up residence in Litchi Fragrance Garden.

From that day onward, Zhang Chen had never seen the Old Madam again, nor had he caught sight of Shen Zhen, the head of the Shen family.

Inside the small courtyard

The brazier radiated scorching heat, bringing the tea to a boil. Zhang Shi lifted the teapot and filled Zhang Chen's cup across from her, then tentatively asked, seemingly out of nowhere, "Have you noticed?"

"Noticed what?" Zhang Chen shifted his gaze from the tea to Zhang Shi.

"You are the Old Madam's own maternal grandson. Yet after seeing her that day, half a month has now passed, and you have not had another chance to see her even once. The meaning behind this is worth pondering." Afraid that Zhang Chen was young and unfamiliar with the ways of the world, Zhang Shi offered him a reminder.

"You are the Old Madam's blood grandson, and you came from thousands of miles away. Even if she did not summon you daily, she should at least have called for you every few days, should she not? Yet now, not only can you not see the Old Madam, you cannot even see the Shen family lord. Apart from Shen Xu paying an occasional visit, it is as though the entire Shen Residence has forgotten us." Zhang Shi looked at Zhang Chen, her eyes full of gravity. "I understand what you mean. Compared to the Old Madam's own son, I am ultimately an outsider. When my mother was alive, perhaps the Old Madam, even the entire Shen Residence, cherished her dearly. But when a person leaves, the tea goes cold. In the Old Madam's heart, there is