As soon as Hu Yuelin got home, she found her mom in the living room, elegantly sipping wine and flipping through a magazine. Even in middle age, she radiated beauty and grace.
"Mom!" Hu Yuelin rushed to sit beside her.
"Oh, thank God. Now, let's get you dressed up, to look very beautiful" Mrs Hu dropped the glass of wine on the table next to her.
"Mom, are you sure I should go to this dinner? You know how Mo Yichen is."
"Why else do you think you were asked to come? It means he's okay with the engagement now. Make sure you sweet-talk Grandma Mo as you always do, she'll make sure Mo Yichen agrees. You know how she adores you and he does whatever she asks."
"Then why hasn't he accepted yet?"
"Oh, he will. I trust that old woman and her little dirty tricks," Madam Hu said, smirking dangerously.
******
When Hu Yuelin arrived at the Mo residence, Butler Lu told her that Mo Yichen wasn't there yet. Her heart skipped a beat; she feared he might bail, as he had before whenever he was informed she'd be around their family house. Later, she was reassured that Mo Yichen didn't yet know she was there.
Inside, Old Madam Mo's eyes lit up at the sight of Hu Yuelin. She was about to stand, but Hu Yuelin rushed over and sat beside her, hugging her tightly.
"Grandma, I've really missed you."
"You too. You look even prettier, and you've gained weight that's perfect and healthy to get pregnant and give me great -grandchildren" Grandma Mo teased.
Hu Yuelin blushed at the thought of having children with Mo Yichen.
"Oh, Grandma, stop it! Stop teasing me," she said playfully.
"What, you don't want to give me great-grandchildren?" Grandma Mo asked, grinning.
"No, not that, it's just Mo Yichen," Hu Yuelin said, pretending to be sad.
Grandma Mo already understood.
"That's not a problem. Mo Yichen will come around soon and realize you're the perfect wife for him. You've always been the only daughter-in-law I wanted, ever since the day you were born."
From the day Hu Yuelin was born, she was engaged to the two-year-old Mo Yichen for the sake of family business. She grew up with the expectation of being his wife, trained in all the girly etiquette because of him. Along the way, she had fallen deeply in love with him, but Mo Yichen never returned her feelings. In fact, he even told Grandma Mo to call off the engagement, saying he would never marry her. But the old lady refused, which was partly why Mo Yichen avoided coming home.
Despite this, the elite society knew she was his fiancée, and the title had given her countless advantages. Imagine if she were now his wife… oh, the possibilities.
"Young master is around!" a maid suddenly announced, rushing inside.
Hu Yuelin's heart skipped another beat, fear gripping her. She stood immediately, straightening her hair and adjusting herself, bracing for the moment she would see him.