On a Stormy Night, the Campus Belle Knocked on My Door Seeking Shelter
Chapter 32: Real Granddaughter-in-law, God-Grandson

Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Real Granddaughter-in-law, God-Grandson

Seeing his grandma trembling with excitement, Chen Mo worried she might get worked up and make herself sick. He quickly explained, "I was just kidding. She’s a good friend of mine, Su Yuqing. We came to the old park to fly kites today since the weather is so nice."

But the old woman only heard what she wanted to hear, automatically tuning out Chen Mo’s explanation.

"Yes, yes, yes. The young lady is so beautiful. Right, what was her name again?" Grandma beamed at Su Yuqing.

"Su Yuqing," Chen Mo repeated from the side.

His grandma promptly shoved him behind her. "I wasn’t asking you."

"Hello, Grandma. You can just call me Yuqing." Su Yuqing smiled gently at her, poised and graceful.

"Yuqing, what a lovely name. You’re as pretty as your name is pleasant. Wonderful!" Grandma chuckled, taking Su Yuqing’s hand and patting it gently. "Oh, my. This is all so sudden, Grandma didn’t have time to prepare a first-meeting gift. Your hands are bare! Next time you visit, Grandma will give you a pair of big jade bracelets."

As she spoke, Grandma was already sizing up Su Yuqing’s wrist with her hand.

’Just a moment ago, I was the treasured grandson. The second a potential granddaughter-in-law shows up, I get completely sidelined.’

Chen Mo was speechless. ’How have I never noticed that my grandma has the same eccentric personality as my mom?’

’Can personalities really be passed down telepathically between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law?’

Just then, Grandma seemed to remember something and shouted toward the inner room, "Old man, hurry out here! Momo’s here!"

An old man who still looked full of vigor quickly walked out from the inner room, rolling a pair of walnuts in his hand.

"Momo, it’s been almost half a year since you’ve come to see your grandpa. Your studies must be keeping you busy," Grandpa said with a chuckle upon seeing Chen Mo.

Just then, Grandma pulled him over. "Quick, look who else is here!"

Only then did Grandpa’s gaze fall upon Su Yuqing at the side. "Oh my, what a pretty young lady! This wouldn’t be Momo’s girlfriend, would it?"

"We’re just good friends," Chen Mo explained once more.

"So it really is his girlfriend! Oh, for goodness’ sake, Momo, why didn’t you give us a heads-up? Now your grandma and I are meeting her all of a sudden without even a gift to give." Grandpa shot Chen Mo a glare.

Chen Mo was utterly speechless. ’Are you two hard of hearing or not? You only seem to hear what you want to hear, don’t you?’

But despite his internal complaints, seeing his grandparents again stirred a great deal of emotion in Chen Mo’s heart.

’After all, within a decade, Grandma had been the first to go. Grandpa, consumed by depression and longing, had fallen gravely ill and eventually followed her.’

Seeing them suddenly reappear in his life, so full of vitality, Chen Mo had to fight back the overwhelming urge to cry.

All of a sudden, Grandpa seemed to remember something and rushed back into the inner room.

A moment later, he returned, carrying two small pouches.

"Your grandma made these pouches a few days ago. Inside are some talismans for health and safety that we had blessed. We were originally planning to mail them to Momo’s parents overseas.

"But since you two are here, you can have them first. We’ll just let those two wait a little longer." Grandpa smiled as he placed the knitted yarn pouches into Chen Mo’s and Su Yuqing’s hands.

"A simple life is the truest one, and good health is the greatest blessing. I hope you two little ones can always be healthy and safe," Grandpa said with a warm smile.

"Thank you, Grandpa. Thank you, Grandma." Su Yuqing’s face lit up with a smile as she respectfully accepted the pouch with both hands.

"We’re all family, no need for thank yous. That’s too formal, you know. Come, come, hurry inside and have a seat." Grandma pulled Su Yuqing toward the house.

"I told you, we’re just good friends," Chen Mo explained again, worried Su Yuqing would feel awkward.

But neither of his grandparents paid him any mind. They just took their "designated" granddaughter-in-law and headed inside on their own.

This left the "doted-on" treasured grandson, whom no one seemed to care about anymore, all by himself.

Chen Mo shook his head with a wry smile and followed them inside.

Chen Mo knew his grandparents were just teasing him.

But the care and sense of belonging they showed Su Yuqing sent a tremor through her heart.

Feeling how tightly Grandma’s rough hand held hers, a sign of how much she was valued, Su Yuqing suddenly felt an inexplicable urge to cry.

’In the past, I was always unwelcome, always a burden.’

’But now, someone was treating me like a precious treasure, holding my hand so tightly they didn’t want to let go.’

She hadn’t felt this kind of warmth and affection from grandparents since her own had passed away.

Looking at Chen Mo’s grandparents reminded her of her own. Before she knew it, two streams of tears were already rolling down her cheeks.

’Why am I crying? I didn’t mean to. I’m so happy.’

She had wanted to show them a happy smile, but instead, they saw her tear-streaked face.

"Oh, dear, Yuqing, what’s wrong? Did Grandma squeeze your hand too hard?"

Startled, Grandma quickly let go of her hand and looked at Su Yuqing with a guilty expression. "I’m so sorry, dear. Grandma does a lot of hard labor, so I sometimes don’t know my own strength."

"No, it’s not that." Seeing the old woman’s anxious, self-reproachful expression, Su Yuqing rushed into her arms. "I just... suddenly started thinking about my own grandparents."

Feeling the girl trembling in her arms, Grandma finally understood. She held Su Yuqing close, gently stroking her back to comfort her.

Grandma keenly sensed the girl’s sensitivity and vulnerability.

Faced with Su Yuqing’s emotional outburst, none of the three said a word. They just waited quietly, offering silent comfort as she composed herself.

After a little while, Su Yuqing’s emotions finally settled. She sat up and was about to rub her eyes when a soft handkerchief was gently pressed against them. A gentle voice spoke at her side. "Your hands are dirty. Don’t rub your eyes."

Chen Mo had always maintained the habit his mother had instilled in him: to always carry a clean handkerchief.

He still hadn’t gotten back the one he’d given to Lin Yu’an; this was a different one.

After taking Chen Mo’s handkerchief and wiping her tears, Su Yuqing looked at Grandma apologetically. "I’m sorry, Grandma," she said in a soft voice. "I didn’t mean to cry..."

"Silly child, what’s there to be sorry for? The fact that you see your own grandparents in us just means you feel close to us. Grandma couldn’t be happier! I imagine your grandparents must have been very good to you," Grandma said, smiling.

"Mm-hmm." Su Yuqing nodded.

"No more tears, all right? From now on, your grandpa and I will dote on you, too. We’ll be just as good to you as your own grandparents were. If this little brat Momo dares to bully you, you come running to Grandma. We’ll see if I don’t give him a good spanking."

Grandma’s cheerful, comforting words were a great solace to a girl like Su Yuqing, who had grown up starved for familial affection. In that instant, moved beyond words, she couldn’t stop the tears from flowing once more.

"Well, now I see. If you really get a granddaughter-in-law, I, your precious grandson, will officially become the one you picked up off the street. There’s no justice!" Chen Mo couldn’t help but protest when he saw his grandma throwing him under the bus to comfort a girl.

His comment immediately made Su Yuqing laugh through her tears. His grandparents laughed and chided him, "Don’t we dote on you enough already? Spoil you a little less for one day and you’re already full of complaints."