The tea was scalding hot, and the fabric of her clothes pressed against her skin, causing a stinging pain on her arm. Jiang Nuan could endure it, not even frowning.
The servant was flustered, looking at Jiang Nuan and quickly apologizing, "I'm so sorry, Miss. It was my carelessness!"
Jiang Nuan looked at her and gently shook her head, saying, "It's not your fault. I'm sorry, I bumped into you."
The servant breathed a sigh of relief, fearing Jiang Nuan would be angry. The salary at the Lu family was high, and everyone there, except for the eldest daughter, was very friendly.
Jin Yan saw this and also walked over. Looking at Jiang Nuan, she smiled and said, "Miss Jiang, please follow me. Let's get your clothes changed first."
Jiang Nuan glanced at Rong Yin. Her luggage was in Rong Yin's car.
"Madam, please wait a moment. I'll go get my clothes."
Upon hearing this, Jin Yan smiled and said, "Miss Jiang, if you don't mind, I can give you a qipao. You'll look very beautiful in it."
"Come with me quickly." Even though it was their first meeting, she felt a sense of kinship with this girl and wanted to be closer to her.
"Madam, how can I possibly accept?" Jiang Nuan could feel her warm kindness.
"Why not? I should thank you for healing my mother-in-law. Come on, you have such a great figure, you'll look stunning in a qipao." She smiled at Jiang Nuan. Born into a scholarly family, she had grown up with her mother, who was a virtuous and cultured woman and also loved qipaos. Influenced by her, Jin Yan also enjoyed wearing them.
Jiang Nuan smiled back happily, her heart feeling warm, and followed her to the dressing room.
Jin Yan's dressing room was enormous. Jiang Nuan had heard about it; Chairman Lu doted on his wife, dedicating a hundred square meters on the second floor solely to Jin Yan's dressing room. Upon entering, Jiang Nuan finally experienced what it felt like to be truly wealthy.
Looking at the dazzling array of qipaos and limited edition dresses, she felt envious of the wealthy for a minute, a moment of wistful yearning.
Jin Yan took a light blue qipao from the wardrobe for new clothes. White plum blossoms were embroidered on the front, giving it a fresh and elegant look.
She took a careful look and then at Jiang Nuan, who was taking off her clothes. She smiled with delight, thinking how beautiful this child would look in it.
She walked over with the dress. Jiang Nuan had just taken her clothes off. Jin Yan walked up behind her, and just as she was about to reach Jiang Nuan, she saw a plum blossom-shaped mark on Jiang Nuan's shoulder. It was barely noticeable unless one looked closely.
Jin Yan froze, and a familiar memory flooded her mind.
"Madam Lu, congratulations on finally giving birth to a precious daughter. The baby has a plum blossom-like birthmark on her shoulder. It won't affect anything and might even fade as she grows older. It's quite rare to have such a mark, especially on the shoulder, but it won't cause any significant issues."
Jin Yan stared intently at the faint plum blossom on Jiang Nuan's back. Why did she have such a memory, and why did it feel as if it had happened only yesterday?
Her mind buzzed. She had been very weak when she gave birth to her daughter, in a state of semi-consciousness. The nurse had cleaned the baby and brought her to her. In her dazed state, she had glanced at the baby and indeed saw a plum blossom mark. However, she had fallen asleep again before even getting a proper look at her daughter.
She woke up on the third night. That memory seemed to have been forgotten. When her daughter was brought to her, she saw her but hadn't recalled this incident at all.
It was strange, she thought. She had given birth to four children. After delivering her three sons, she was energetic. Only after giving birth to her daughter did she sleep for three days.
Jiang Nuan looked at Madam Lu standing motionlessly behind her, so she turned around and asked softly, "Madam, are you alright?"
Jin Yan snapped back to attention and smiled, "It's nothing. It's just that your figure is so good, I was mesmerized."
"Let me help you put on the dress."
Jin Yan unfastened the pearl buttons of the qipao. She was filled with confusion. She hadn't thought about the plum blossom on her child's back for so many years, so why was it suddenly coming to mind today?
She used to bathe Yiyi herself, and Yiyi had no birthmarks.
Therefore, she couldn't possibly be mistaken. Just now, that scene from years ago had vividly reappeared in her mind.
And Jiang Nuan before her looked so much like her.
Jin Yan's heart clenched tightly, causing her great distress.
As she helped Jiang Nuan into the qipao, she picked up a comb and gathered Jiang Nuan's long hair. Seeing the strands of hair left on the comb, her gaze flickered. She put the comb away before saying, "Nuannuan, you have a plum blossom mark on your back. Is it a birthmark or an injury?" she asked with feigned curiosity.
Jiang Nuan smiled, "It's a birthmark. I've had it since I was little. My grandmother used to joke when she bathed me, saying I was blooming."
"Oh! Then what do your parents do...?" Jin Yan trailed off, hesitant.
Jiang Nuan lowered her head to look at the qipao, not noticing Jin Yan's expression.
She replied ordinarily, "Madam, I don't have parents." The Jiang Shuo couple didn't deserve such a title.
Jin Yan's heart leaped, and a sharp pain pierced it.
Even her hands felt a slight tremor.
She didn't have parents!
This further solidified her previous thought.
After changing, the two went upstairs. Lu Chengsi and the others were still in the room. They saw that the old madam had woken up.
Lu Chengsi looked at Jiang Nuan, his gaze momentarily stunned. After changing into the qipao, this girl was as beautiful as Yan Yan was in her youth.
Rong Yin's peach blossom eyes flickered with a hint of amazement.
Lu Chengsi was immensely grateful. "Miss Jiang, thank you. My mother has woken up."
Jiang Nuan nodded slightly. She saw the old madam lying in bed, her lifeless appearance evoking pity.
Lu Chengsi also noticed that his mother had no will to live. The moment she woke up, his mother had faintly said, "Wouldn't it have been better to let me go? Why bother forcing me to wake up."
He had been so angry he cried at the time. Why did his mother not want to live in this world?
Jiang Nuan walked over and took the old madam's hand. Her hand was very cold, with little fat due to old age, and the bones were prominent and gaunt.
The old madam slowly looked at Jiang Nuan, her gaze pausing slightly.
Jiang Nuan saw the surprise in her eyes, but it quickly subsided.
Jiang Nuan smiled, "Old Madam, your body is actually fine. If you maintain a cheerful disposition, you can live a long and healthy life."
"A long and healthy life?" The old madam looked at her quietly and asked, "Then tell me, why do good people not live long?"
Jiang Nuan was momentarily taken aback by her question, then smiled and said, "Yes, I don't understand why good people don't live long either. My grandmother has been gone for almost seven years, but I know she didn't want to leave me. It was just that she fell ill and had to leave."
The old madam's expression shifted, and her fists slowly clenched.
She was Jiang Nuan.
She was Wen Jun's only granddaughter.
Time passed so quickly. It had been almost seven years since Wen Jun passed away.
"I also think so. How could she bear to leave her granddaughter?" the old madam murmured, causing a hint of confusion to flicker in Jiang Nuan's eyes.