Translated by newbienoona

Edited by anks

T/N : Cooking raw rice – (idiom) do something so it can’t be changed .

When An Chuxia doesn’t answer, he looks at her at the next traffic light . She turns to him and asks, “Are you asking why I broke up with you or… how did we break up?”

It is evident that Han Qilu still hasn’t figured things out .

An Chuxia clears her throat before looking at Qilu . “I’m sorry, I don’t know how to respond since we never broke up . ”

Her response shocks Qilu . The traffic light has since turned green, and the car behind them honks impatiently . Han Qilu suddenly accelerates and the scenery around them suddenly becomes a blur .

She says they didn’t break up . That means he asked Mankuai to marry him without breaking things off with Chuxia . No wonder she was sad and crying when they first met!

But what can he do? Xiang Mankuai is his first love, and the one in his memory . He can’t abandon Mankuai because he had a small affair with Chuxia .

Moments pa.s.s before Han Qilu responds softly, “Sorry . ”

She doesn’t know if sorry is equal to let’s break up . Sorry, she’s not accepting his apology . Her stoic face doesn’t respond to his sorry .

They don’t speak until they reach the Han’s front door . An Chuxia gets out of the car and turns to look at Qilu, who’s following her . “I won’t give up on you, even if you don’t think anything of me . ”

She doesn’t wait for his response before turning back around and leaving him behind .

Han Qilu is rooted to the spot . Behind him is the person who maintains the cars during the week . He smiles and walks up to Qilu before throwing his arm around the young master . “Rumor has it you forgot xiaonainai . Don’t tell me you really did?”

He doesn’t respond to the man, but he looks at the direction Chuxia disappeared . “How much did I liker her? Did you know I liked Mankuai?”

“I just maintain the cars . I’ve not been a part of the Han group for long so I don’t know about your relations.h.i.+p with that star but I know about you and xiaonainai . You couldn’t wait to tell the world about her . You’d made sure no one could bully her but you . ” Han Qilu stares at the man before leaving the garage .

In all honesty, he’s been thinking about his relations.h.i.+p with An Chuxia .  If he gains his memory back, would he really leave Mankuai?

But right now, he can’t do it . He loves Mankuai . An Chuxia is nothing but a stranger to him!

He tries telling himself this [lie] . He never thought he’d have to convince himself about who he loves .

In an old part of the house, an old lady bows her head in front of the photos of her ancestors . Mankuai follows right behind her but she doesn’t follow the women’s ritual . After living in the United States for so long, she has long forgotten the Chinese tradition .

The old house is located in the center of City B . The old mansion has kept the cla.s.sic courtyard building, but the house has been refurbished many times, keeping the outside appearance traditional but the interior up to date with electrical appliances .

One would only have to look at the wall to see how talented this household has been . This is the home of musicians . They’re descendants from the northern Qi Dynasty, where Emperor Gao Lai appreciated families with musical talent while he was in office .

For hundreds of thousands of years, wives and children were kept at home to learn music and sustain deeper knowledge and training in the music field . But as social processes accelerated traditional music started declining, and [musical] homeschooling gradually disappeared .

With Mankuai being the sole family heir, it is her responsibility to revitalize their musical lineage . At that time, the Han family wasn’t as prosperous . Therefore, Mankuai was forced to go overseas to study and leave Han Qilu behind .

But now, the Han Group is a force to reckon with since it has built strong industrial chains . The old lady who once overlooked Qilu is now formulating a plan to make her granddaughter the wife of the future Han heir . Only then will everything be justified . The old lady’s anxiety over this matter makes her lose sleep . It is urgent this matter gets addressed; revitalizing the family can be addressed later, when time is not of the essence .

The old lady stands in the ancestral hall with Mankuai . The servants are all solemn as incense is lit . The faint scent of roses disappears as the smoke rises .

Mankuai doesn’t like going to the old house . To her, the atmosphere is quite suffocating .

The old lady bows her head numerous times . Then, she stands up with the aid of a beautifully carved cane . The old lady wants to call this place hers, and no one dares to violate her wishes .

But this place is not that old…

“All of you, leave . ” The servants look up at the old lady before scurrying away . Once they’re gone, the old lady looks at Mankuai . “Do you know why I brought you here?”

Outside of the regular cleaning, the ancestral hall is usually secured it hasn’t been an ancestral home for a long time .

“Are you going to scold me for returning to him?” Mankuai answers carefully, fearing she’d answer incorrectly and upset her grandmother .

The grandmother shakes her head and smiles . “I’m not upset . On the contrary, I think you did a great job! End your business in the US and return to China as soon as possible . ”

Mankuai is elated upon hearing her statement, but she dare not show it . She reels in her emotions in respect to her elder . “What do you mean, grandmother? I don’t understand . ”

“I swear your brain is as slow as your mother’s!” the old lady says . “Didn’t you hear the news that someone wants to buy our old home?”

The news didn’t reach her .

The house has huge courtyard, one that covers a large area, and is strategically located in the south of the city center . It would take a lot of money to acquire such a piece of land .

Who would want to make such a move?

The first people to come to her mind is the Han Group . The business, after all, can survive even if it closed several of its industries . It wouldn’t be difficult for them to buy this old house; at the very least, make an offer .

She didnt want to admit that she’s ignorant about the news . “Does the Han Group want to buy the house?”

“Yes, they want to use the land to build one of the largest playgrounds in City B . ” The old lady’s hand trembles as she tightens her grip on the cane . “If you want to be part of this legacy, you need to care about who moves to our old house!”

“But as long as we don’t agree, shouldn’t it be okay? Have they made demands?” Mankuai has little say about the house, but she knows the house has been pa.s.sed down through generations . She has stake in the matter, too .

The old lady snorts and says coldly, “They’ve started making demands! They want to monopolize our weaving business, too . We can barely sustain our technology . I fear that when we lose, we would lose more than a house if we sign the contract . ”

Han Qilu’s handsome face flashes in her head before she looks at the old lady . “So you want me to return to China so I can be with Han Qilu?”

“That’s not enough . I want you to ensure you’re the future Mrs . Han . This is the only way you can preserve [what’s yours] and carry on . ” The old lady looks at Mankuai . “Do you think you can handle this?”

Her success in staying with Han Qilu completely relies on his amnesia . Once his memories return, she can’t predict what could happen .

Avoiding the old lady’s eyes, Mankuai says with no conviction, “I’ll try my best . ”

“I don’t want your word . ” The old lady flashes dissatisfaction .

“Rest a.s.sured, grandma, I’ll certainly keep the home and pa.s.s it on . ” Mankuai pretends to have thought things through, but she doesn’t want the old lady to see the flash of panic in her eyes .

Fortunately, the old lady doesn’t look her way . “Return to A City today . If there’s one thing grandma can teach you today is that the quickest way to get a man is to cook raw rice . ”

Mankuai wants to vent but she can’t yell . She feels the method is vulgar, but it’s justifiable .

“Granddaughter . ” The old lady walks toward her, her back, hunched . The old lady is shorter than Mankuai . Her eyes are now teary as she stretches a wrinkled hand to stroke Mankuai’s cheek . “This isn’t just for a home, but you’re our only hope… Don’t hate grandma . There is no other choice . ”

“I know, grandma . ” Mankuai smiles . “I don’t feel wronged . After all, he has always been in my heart . ”