"Ding-dong."
The phone resting on the stone table suddenly chimed, its crisp sound breaking the garden's tranquility.
Zheng Qiuyi set down her teacup, picked up her phone, and unlocked the screen. It was a message from her daughter.
"Mom, I've gotten off the plane. I'm on my way home now."
After reading her daughter's message, a smile appeared on her face. Her fingers quickly tapped across the screen as she replied.
"Are you hungry? Should I have Auntie prepare something for you to eat?"
Just seconds after the message was sent, Su Yue replied.
"No, I don't have much of an appetite right now. I don't want to eat anything."
Zheng Qiuyi thought for a moment, then sent another message, her tone gently coaxing.
"Grandpa Zhang next door just brought over some freshly wrapped little wontons. They're so fresh, they look delicious. I'll have Auntie cook you a small bowl. Just have a few bites, all right?"
Su Yue hesitated for a moment before replying, "All right, but just a small bowl. Don't cook me a huge full bowl—I really can't eat that much."
Zheng Qiuyi smiled and replied with a "Okay." Then she rose to her feet and called into the villa, "Auntie Wang, when Xiao Yue gets home, please cook her a small bowl of wontons."
Auntie Wang, the housekeeper, answered from inside the villa, "Got it."
Half an hour later, a luxury sedan slowly drove into the villa complex, making its way along the stone-paved path by the lake.
It passed through a dense patch of greenery before coming to a steady stop in front of the villa by the artificial lake.
Chen He quickly got out of the car, walked around to the other side, and opened the door for Su Yue. "Miss, we're here."
Su