C3 I See My Old Friend Again

Dressed in a fresh outfit, her hair neatly styled, and a touch of makeup applied, Lan Qingjia slowly smiled at the girl in the mirror. She wasn't particularly beautiful at the moment, as her body was still too thin and undeveloped. However, Baixiang thought her young mistress's smile was as radiant as a pearl, truly captivating.

At that moment, Baixiang felt that her mistress's demeanor had changed significantly. She seemed brighter and more confident than before. Baixiang emerged from the inner room holding a rolled-up item. "Miss, shall we head out?"

Lan Qingjia glanced at the item in her arms, her eyes pausing momentarily. It was the birthday gift she had prepared—a longevity tapestry she had been embroidering for over half a year. Months ago, Lan Qingwan had visited and seen this tapestry. If nothing unexpected happened, the tapestry would have been ruined by now, splattered with black ink.

In her past life, this very gift had ruined the Old Matriarch's mood, leading to public criticism. Her father had scolded her for lacking filial piety, and she was subsequently grounded. Lan Qingjia took the item from Baixiang's arms and returned to the inner room under Baixiang's puzzled gaze.

"Give me a moment."

After a short while, Lan Qingjia emerged, still holding a rolled-up item, and placed it back into Baixiang's arms. "Let's go."

Baixiang didn't quite understand what was happening, but she didn't think much of it. She just happily followed along with the bundle in her arms.

The Old Matriarch preferred peace and quiet, so she lived in the most serene part of the house, a place called Jixi Residence. Although it was secluded, it was far from neglected. Everything here was simple yet of the highest quality, a stark contrast to the humble surroundings of Lan Qingjia's place.

Mummy Faang, who was always by the Old Matriarch's side, stood at the entrance of the second courtyard, waiting to greet the young men and women coming to offer birthday wishes and gifts.

From a distance, she spotted Lan Qingjia approaching gracefully. For a moment, Mummy Faang almost didn't recognize her. It was clearly the same person, yet there was something different about her. The calm and composed demeanor Lan Qingjia exuded was both surprising and unfamiliar to Mummy Faang.

As Lan Qingjia came closer, she greeted Mummy Faang with a respectful bow. "Mummy Faang," she said warmly.

Though Mummy Faang was a servant, she was highly respected, having once been a nursemaid to Lan Qingjia's father. Even he treated her with great respect. Despite her esteemed position, Mummy Faang never acted above her station, always maintaining the humility of a servant. This was another reason why Lan Qingjia held her in such high regard.

Mummy Faang quickly stepped aside, accepting only half of Lan Qingjia's bow, her surprise growing. In the past, this young lady had always been polite but somewhat reserved and awkward in her presence. Now, she seemed like a completely different person.

Mummy Faang was surprised but kept a warm smile. "Miss, it's still early. The Old Matriarch hasn't arrived yet. Please wait in the hall for a moment."

Lan Qingjia nodded with a smile and walked gracefully inside. In the hall, her Uncle Lan Zhenhua's family was already there. The second family had three sons and a daughter, all born to Mrs. Zhou. Besides being quite talkative, Mrs. Zhou was known for having many children.

Lan Qingjia wasn't very familiar with her three cousins, only exchanging nods at most. However, she did have some interaction with her cousin Lan Qinghe, as they attended school together. Still, she didn't particularly like her, as Lan Qinghe had inherited Mrs. Zhou's talkative nature. Lan Qingjia had often overheard her gossiping with the maids, never saying anything nice. Naturally, Lan Qingjia preferred to keep her distance from such people.

With a calm demeanor, Lan Qingjia greeted her elders and sat down, taking a sip of tea. Lan Qinghe was taken aback, feeling even more strongly than Mummy Faang that Lan Qingjia seemed completely different overnight.

Before Lan Qinghe could say anything, there was a commotion outside. Hearing it, Lan Qingjia paused slightly, her eyes narrowing sharply.

The family walked in, chatting and laughing, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere. Her father, Mr. Zhenkun Lan, was just over forty, in the prime of his life. He was dressed impeccably, exuding charm, and his broad smile added an air of sophistication. Beside him was his graceful wife, Mrs. Lau, her gentle demeanor and subtle smile embodying an allure that was undeniably captivating.

Accompanying them were their two children: the eldest grandson, Huaifeng Lan, and her dear sister, Qingwan Lan. Seeing Qingwan's elegant silhouette and flawless face sent a chill through Qingjia Lan's heart. In her past life, it was this very sister who had been her downfall.

Qingjia Lan let out a cold laugh internally, but quickly masked her emotions, adopting her usual expression, her eyes downcast and demeanor rigid like a statue. "Father, Mother," she greeted.

Qingjia's voice disrupted the family's peaceful mood. The smile vanished from Zhenkun Lan's face, replaced by a look of displeasure. Qingwan glanced at Qingjia, noticing her attire, and paused for a moment.

The flowers on the dress were so lifelike, they were like the perfect finishing touch, instantly transforming the plain garment into something eye-catching. Lan Qingjia herself seemed to be adorned with a special radiance, possessing a unique beauty.