Chapter 361

One hundred and sixty-ninth page – Lubifang’s Victory

“What’s wrong? Does Little Sakura dislike me?”

“No, it’s not like that… I understand!”

Everyone in the living room was waiting for my reaction. Xiao Qianxia, who was nestled in her mother’s arms, also grabbed Youzi and stared at me. Under pressure, I still leaned on my aunt’s shoulder. As I leaned in, I could feel the cold from outside through the smooth surface of the down jacket.

Sniff, this perfume smells pretty good.

“What are you thinking about, girl?”

My aunt patted the back of my head and asked, “Actually, you haven’t accepted me as family yet, have you?”

“Suddenly asking me to see you as an aunt, I can’t just change my mindset… So, you and Qianxia came over early just to get to know us better?”

“It was mentioned on the phone, right? Coming early was mainly to clean up the house. Lingqing has already hired professional cleaners, and they will be here soon.”

So, she hired someone from a cleaning company. I actually thought she would clean the house herself. It’s true that I underestimated the lifestyle of rich people.

Miss Lingqing looked at her phone.

“The cleaning staff are already on their way, but they’re coming from the west side of the city, so it might take another half hour or so.”

“Not in a hurry, it’s only nine o’clock, let them take their time.”

After hearing Miss Lingqing’s report, Auntie held my hand.

“Little Sakura, regarding what you said about getting to know each other, there’s someone who wants to hear your answer more than I do.”

“Who is it? Are you talking about Grandfather?”

Auntie shook her head and asked, “Do you want to return to the Huangfu family?”

From her words, I knew who she was referring to.

I sat up straight, leaning against the sofa, and asked in return, “Is it because Grandma wants me to come back, so you’re doing this to persuade me?”

“This isn’t just formal talk. I truly consider you as a niece. Yuehua needs you, and she needs a breakthrough for her apology to Xiaokai and Ningying.”

“Am I a substitute for Mother and Xiaokai?”

“No, you are the remaining hope. If you were gone, things would definitely get worse… You are everyone’s hope.”

Hope.

Could someone with only half a year left to live deserve such beautiful words?

“Grandma wants me to live with the Huangfu main family?”

Auntie shook her head and replied, “Whether or not you live in the main family isn’t important. She just wants you to make an appearance at certain family events under the name of granddaughter.”

“Certain events?”

Xiao Qianxia turned around, still sitting on her mother’s lap, but her head leaned towards Auntie. Finally, she tilted her head back and laughed at me.

Lifting her daughter’s bangs, Lubifang continued, “Until now, only Zhen’er and her children know about Yuehua’s rejuvenation. To prevent others from discovering the secret, we need to fake a death, but since Yuehua is a public figure, her death must be handled with utmost dignity… Cang’er will prepare a dummy figure, and I hope you can appear alongside Yuehua at the funeral.”

Funeral.

Not only Auntie and Professor Shi, but even Grandma will attend my own funeral. Although it’s not appropriate for someone like me, it’s truly surreal.

I asked, “Then what identity will I use for the funeral?”

“Of course, granddaughter. Your mother Ningying will replace Zhen’er as Yuehua’s real eldest daughter, while you and Xiaokai will be her twin children, the eldest brother and sister of this generation.”

Am I the eldest sister?

Lin Hua, Xiao Jing, and Qianxia are all my younger sisters.

Even Xiaokai and Mother are included in the Huangfu family lineage… Wait a moment.

I asked, “According to tradition, the women of the Huangfu family inherit the surname Huangfu, right? Lin Hua changed her surname at that time.”

“If Ningying is willing, Yuehua hopes she will change her name to Huang Ying. As for you, Little Sakura… you’ve inherited your mother’s name, so you should continue with your father’s surname.”

When mentioning ‘father,’ Auntie glanced at Mom, who could only laugh bitterly.

Given her usual weak character, if I were to change my surname to ‘Huangfu,’ she wouldn’t be able to object.

I continued, “Yes, this arrangement fits the facts. What about Grandma herself? Is she going to appear as your granddaughter, or completely abandon her past like you did?”

Regardless of which path she chooses, Grandma won’t be that omnipotent living city god anymore. Huangfu Yuehua becomes history with one funeral. As for what she will become in the future, no one knows.

At least, the elderly Grandma won’t become a beautiful idol.

Auntie shook her head and replied, “Neither. Because Zhen’er isn’t enough to carry on her wealth, she needs to find a reasonable identity to re-enter the core of the Huangfu family. Being a granddaughter lacks influence, so… she plans to set herself up as the youngest daughter.”

Being her own daughter isn’t much better than being a granddaughter.

Grandma’s current body age is seventeen, young enough to be out of water. There’s no such thing as a youngest daughter the same age as a granddaughter. Moreover, a ‘Huang Ying’ has already appeared, and adding another youngest daughter makes no sense, “… So, the father in this setting is still Grandfather?”

“Haha, of course not. Cang’er has been missing for so many years, how could there be such a young daughter?”

At this point, Auntie rarely narrowed her eyes in a smile.

“Yuehua is a public figure, fabricating a false person would be easily exposed. This matter is best done with someone already deceased…”

She glanced at Xiao Qianxia, smiling without speaking, not continuing further.

Although she only hinted at it, both Mom and I knew who she was referring to. Even though Ju Zi didn’t understand, she wouldn’t ask.

However, there was someone present who didn’t care about the occasion, or perhaps didn’t want to. Wu Qinglan pointed at Auntie and said, “Aren’t you going to get yourself involved?”

“Mm, what are you talking about?”

Wu Qinglan’s finger was caught by Auntie, then bent in the opposite direction, causing her to twist and plead for mercy in the gap between the sofa and coffee table.

“It hurts! It’s going to break!”

Xiao Qianxia tilted her head, puzzled.

“What is Mom talking about? Who is Little Grandma’s new dad?”

Auntie didn’t want her past known by her daughter. She patted Xiao Qianxia’s head and kissed her cheek.

“Qianxia, go with Sister Lingqing to the dining room for now.”

Miss Lingqing picked up Xiao Qianxia from her mother.

This ten-year-old girl is quite heavy; Miss Lingqing almost stumbled onto Mom.

Qianxia hugged Miss Lingqing’s neck and turned back to ask, “Is this something I shouldn’t know?”

“Yes, Mom has a secret, and it’s not time for you to know yet.”

“If Qianxia knows, then Qianxia won’t listen!”

Obedient Qianxia took Youzi and followed Miss Lingqing out of the living room.

Though they’re in the same area, Auntie didn’t want Qianxia to overhear, so she had to speak softly.

“Right, Yuehua’s final identity is her and my illegitimate daughter.”

Lying on the floor, Wu Qinglan ignorantly complained, “That’s funny, I’ve never heard of a woman having an illegitimate child…”

Auntie held the hairpin in her hand, its tip almost touching Wu Qinglan’s big eye.

“I understand! I won’t say anything, okay?”

I whispered, “Does Grandpa know about your plan?”

“Of course, we discussed it together.”

“Hmm, doesn’t he think he’s growing grass on his head?”

Auntie poked my forehead.

“You’re not serious either, but what loss is there for her? In the previous life, I couldn’t get Yuehua, and after ‘death,’ I became a father instead. For that me, wasn’t this something to be happy about?”

Becoming a father, especially posthumously, doesn’t seem like something to be happy about.

“But Auntie, you still love Grandma, right? Since she’s no longer Huangfu Yuehua, her marriage with Grandpa is null and void. In other words, you have a chance to compete with Grandpa again!”

Grandpa still can’t leave the temple, which is a natural advantage for Auntie.

If she’s willing to spend time taking Grandma out and letting her experience being a young girl again, rediscovering the heart of youth, everything is possible. Besides, Grandma has long harbored resentment towards Grandpa.

“No, I have a husband and a daughter now. Even if Yuehua returns, I shouldn’t have any thoughts.”

Though I found this suggestion reasonable, Auntie rejected it and poked my forehead again.

“Moreover, why are you always thinking about breaking up Yuehua and Cang’er? Can’t they repair their relationship?”