Ran Xueyi had to blink her eyes quite a few times before she could understand what he had just said. It's not because she couldn't understand the language he was speaking at the moment, it was the fact that Song Yu Han used the word 'lover' to his grandfather. This word could have a few meanings, but in the end, the people who will hear it will guess that Song Yu Han was thinking of her as the person he loves.
Even if Ran Xueyi knew that they were already married, others didn't know this. Thus, hearing this word coming from his mouth, people would be quite shocked and confused.
This was true since tonight was 'supposedly' to be the first time they ever formally met each other. And to other people, they were basically strangers who had just met.
Despite being overwhelmed by how things had ended and by what he had just told her, Ran Xueyi wasn't angry or annoyed that he said it.
On the contrary, Ran Xueyi felt warmth all over her heart and soul when she thought of him calling her the person he loves in front of others.
Song Yu Han waited for her to completely take in the information in her mind. To pacify her, in case she was angry because of this, he grabbed the small food tongs on the side and grabbed a few pieces of food he brought to their table before putting them gently on her plate.
After a while of silence, Ran Xueyi pulled up the corners of her lips and said, "This isn't enough to bribe me."
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtSong Yu Han: "This isn't a bribe. This is me feeding my dear wife."
He took a pause.
Then, he stared at her.
Song Yu Han added, "I'll bribe you in another way."
Ran Xueyi was slightly distracted by his words. Somehow, the way he put it, was kind of suggestive, and it made her think of something very indecent.
She was flustered at how her thoughts became extraordinarily risque only because of his words.
Tossing aside the improper scenes that played inside her head, Ran Xueyi moved her gaze and silently looked around her. There was really no one else who tried to glance their way, and it seemed as if they were treating them (rx and syh) like a backdrop. She was relieved at their effort to ignore them, although there were still a few people who couldn't help themselves and gave them a few sneak peeks.
...
An hour later.
The party was already at its climax and more and more people had come forward to greet Old Master Song. Some of them carried a few boxes that a baggage boy had kept for them from the entrance while some held small gift wrapped items in their hands.
It was time to give the gift to the Old Master Song.
Ran Xueyi lowered her gaze and looked at her empty hands. Due to her hastiness after getting the invitation card and notice from her grandfather at the very last minute, she forgot to ask her grandfather about the gift they were going to give to the Old Master Song.
"What are you thinking about?" Song Yu Han leaned a bit closer to her after seeing her thinking so deeply in her seat.
Ran Xueyi shook her head before replying softly, "I forgot to bring your grandfather's gift. I probably have to go out and call grandfather and ask him about it."
As she said this, she already reached for her purse to grab her phone to call her grandfather when she felt his hand on top of her own, stopping her from taking out the phone inside the purse.
She glanced at him in a questioning manner and heard him say, "There's no need to call Grandfather. You can use the gift we bought from the shopping mall earlier."
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmRan Xueyi immediately refused him: "No, I can't do that. What would your grandfather say if he asks you about your gift? There's really no need to give up what we bought earlier for me. I can just tell grandfather to ship his gift to your grandfather or give it to him the next time they meet."
She really didn't think that it was right for her to take the ring they bought earlier from the shopping mall. She refused Song Yu Han again, but the latter was even more adamant than she was and even tried to maneuver his way in this situation.
Song Yu Han argued, "The next time our grandfathers meet, that will be the time to talk about the betrothal gift and engagement party. Maybe they will even talk about our wedding at that time."
Ran Xueyi: "..."
When she thought about it, because of Song Yu Han dropping the word 'lover' to Old Master Song, the probability that this would happen was very high.
Old Master Ran and Old Master Song were both traditional people, who believed that it was better to strike the iron while it was hot. And considering her grandfather's thoughts, he would surely agree if the Song family came forward to ask for her hand for marriage after what happened to her previous engagement with Yang Baihua.
Of course, he would ask her for her opinion about this, but Ran Xueyi had one problem. She also couldn't find it in herself to refuse the Song family or Song Yu Han if they came to ask for her hand in marriage.
"Just take it. Don't worry about me," said Song Yu Han while squeezing her hand, "Anyway, I think my grandfather wouldn't even notice it if I didn't bring a gift for him."
He didn't lie to her.
From the beginning to the end of the line of people who were giving their gifts to Old Master Song, the old man had his lips pulled up into a bright and jovial smile, tarnishing the strict and professor-like image that everyone had thought of him to be all these years.
Right now, Old Master Song was all over his head, the only thing missing was a rocket behind his back, and he would be flying through the universe because of his joy.
He didn't even glance at the gifts he received, much less remember that Song Yu Han still hasn't given him anything.