Fell in Love with the Crazy Young Lady - Chapter 31

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Did Yang Zhao like her?

 

 

Perhaps she did, otherwise she wouldn’t have kissed her. Without some level of affection, such intimate actions wouldn’t be possible, right?

 

 

“You absolutely mustn’t take advantage of her favor,” Yu Shan felt she needed to warn Hua Man in advance. “Otherwise, even if the young mistress likes you, I won’t let you off.”

 

 

“Mm,” Hua Man nodded.

 

 

She wasn’t foolish enough to think that Yang Zhao’s slight affection gave her free rein. This kind of liking was superficial—Yang Zhao could like her today and someone else tomorrow. It meant nothing.

 

 

“Good, you know your place.” Seeing Hua Man comply, Yu Shan relaxed and added, “The young mistress is going to visit an elder. You’ll accompany her. Protect her well and don’t upset her.”

 

 

“You’re not coming?” Hua Man was surprised.

 

 

“Me?” Yu Shan shrugged. “I’m the young mistress’s strongest support. Of course, I’ll stay here.”

 

 

Hearing this, Hua Man breathed a sigh of relief.

 

 

Being overly intimate with Yang Zhao in front of Yu Shan would have felt awkward and stifling.

 

 

“What are you two whispering about?”

 

 

Yang Zhao emerged from her room.

 

 

“Oh my! Young Mistress, you look absolutely stunning!”

 

 

The moment Yu Shan saw Yang Zhao, her expression instantly lit up with delight. She rushed over, adjusting Yang Zhao’s clothes while showering her with endless praise—each compliment more effusive than the last.

 

 

Hua Man watched in awe.

 

 

There was no denying that Yu Shan provided ample emotional validation. Flattery might be transparent, but who didn’t enjoy hearing sweet words?

 

 

At the very least, Yang Zhao clearly loved it. Her face visibly brightened with smiles, and she was still beaming when they left.

 

 

Perhaps Hua Man should learn from Yu Shan.

 

 

But what if Yang Zhao ended up liking her even more?

 

 

Hua Man rubbed her temples.

 

 

She needed to find a balance—where Yang Zhao neither liked her too much nor disliked her.

 

 

“Why aren’t you asking where we’re going?”

 

 

In the car, Yang Zhao suddenly spoke up.

 

 

Hua Man obliged, “Where are we going?”

 

 

But the moment Hua Man asked, Yang Zhao frowned. “How boring.”

 

 

She wanted Hua Man to ask proactively, not like a puppet that only moved when she pulled the strings.

 

 

So dull.

 

 

Still, for the sake of that face, Yang Zhao decided to forgive her for now and continued, “We’re visiting my grandmother.”

 

 

After a pause, she added, “Not Zhao Ming’s mother. She’s my mother’s mother. He was the one who married into the family.”

 

 

“Your grandmother lives here?”

 

 

This genuinely surprised Hua Man.

 

 

“Yes,” Yang Zhao nodded. “My mother died in City A. Grandma didn’t want to stay in a place filled with grief, so she retired here.”

 

 

Hua Man didn’t want to delve too deeply into this topic—it was a wealthy family’s secret, and as an outsider, she shouldn’t know too much, especially since the main figure had already passed away.

 

 

But Yang Zhao suddenly became talkative. “My grandmother never approved of my mother and Zhao Ming being together. That social climber had some real skills, though. Don’t judge him by his potbelly now—back in his youth, he was quite impressive. He became the general manager of Yang Corporation at a young age.”

 

 

 

“He looks decent enough, but my mom was just too naive and pampered. She went to the company once and caught Zhao Ming’s eye. They knew each other for less than a month before she got pregnant with me.”

 

 

With her arrival, marriage became a natural next step.

 

 

“Was it a whirlwind marriage between him and your mom?” Hua Man asked, surprised.

 

 

“Yes.”

 

 

At this point, Yang Zhao suddenly realized something—the women in her family all seemed prone to love at first sight.

 

 

Unfortunately, her mother’s taste was terrible. The object of her instant affection turned out to be scum.

 

 

The car smoothly pulled into a villa.

 

 

“We’re here.” Yang Zhao curved her lips. “My grandmother can be quite stern—don’t let her intimidate you.”

 

 

“My nerves aren’t that fragile.”

 

 

She didn’t understand why Yang Zhao kept getting this mistaken impression that she was easily frightened.

 

 

“It’s my nerves that are fragile.” Yang Zhao’s eyes crinkled. “I’m afraid you’ll get scared off.”

 

 

Hua Man didn’t respond. After all, they weren’t some couple meeting parents—she felt no pressure and certainly no fear.

 

 

Compared to the Yang family estate, this villa was much smaller with noticeably fewer staff. They barely saw anyone along the way.

 

 

In the garden, a silver-haired woman of striking grace and dignity was watering flowers with a sprinkling can.

 

 

This must be Madam Yang.

 

 

Yang Zhao called out from a distance, “Grandmother, I’ve come to see you.”

 

 

Hearing the voice, the old lady turned. Hua Man could distinctly feel the woman’s gaze lingering on her.

 

 

“You’ve brought someone.” The matriarch withdrew her gaze, handing the watering can to a maid. “Deliberately?”

 

 

Yang Zhao nodded. “Deliberately.”

 

 

The old lady’s eyes returned to Hua Man.

 

 

The exchange between grandmother and granddaughter felt like some coded message. Just as Hua Man pressed her lips together to speak, the matriarch waved a hand. “Show her around.”

 

 

With that, she took back the watering can and resumed meticulously tending each potted plant.

 

 

Hua Man was taken aback.

 

 

This woman was nothing like she’d imagined—or rather, the dynamic between her and Yang Zhao wasn’t like any ordinary grandparent-grandchild relationship.

 

 

But Yang Zhao seemed accustomed to it, pulling her toward another area without hesitation.

 

 

“Not much worth seeing here anyway.” Yang Zhao’s tone was casual. “We’ll just have a meal and leave.”

 

 

She appeared to share no particular closeness with this grandmother.

 

 

Even during the meal that followed, no meaningful conversation passed between them. Only the clinking of tableware broke the silence.

 

 

The oppressive atmosphere made casual dining impossible.

 

 

Hua Man ate little.

 

 

Yang Zhao also ate less than usual. Hua Man noticed with some surprise that few of the dishes served were to Yang Zhao’s taste.

 

 

After sharing so many meals together, she’d become familiar with Yang Zhao’s preferences. Yet here, those preferences seemed completely disregarded—or perhaps simply unknown.

 

 

The complexities of wealthy families truly knew no bounds.

 

 

Hua Man sighed inwardly.

 

 

They departed the villa shortly after eating. No words of farewell came from the old woman, nor did Yang Zhao offer the customary empty promise to visit again.

 

 

Yet before they left, the matriarch presented Yang Zhao with several flowers.

 

 

Gorgeous ranunculus blooms.

 

 

Hua Man didn’t understand their significance, but Yang Zhao carried them carefully the entire way back. Even at the hotel, she personally arranged them in a vase.

 

 

Clearly, these flowers meant something extraordinary.

 

 

 

At the hotel, Yu Shan had prepared a rather simple and elegant vase early on, which didn’t seem like Yang Zhao’s style at all—too plain, too refined, completely unlike the bold and colorful young mistress.

 

 

“Is this flower really that important?”

 

 

Taking advantage of Yang Zhao’s nap time, Hua Man asked Yu Shan.

 

 

“Normally, I wouldn’t answer such questions,” Yu Shan’s tone shifted, “but since the young mistress said you’re her shield and even took you to the old lady’s house, I suppose it’s fine to tell you.”

 

 

“This isn’t just any flower,” Yu Shan’s voice softened. “This is the Madam.”

 

 

The answer stunned Hua Man.

 

 

This is the Madam.

 

 

These flowers actually represented Yang Zhao’s mother.

 

 

But what Yu Shan said next shocked Hua Man even more:

 

 

“Today is the Madam’s death anniversary. Every year at this time, the young mistress visits the old lady’s house and brings flowers back.”

 

 

Hua Man: “Death anniversary… Doesn’t the young mistress visit the grave?”

 

 

Not only that, Hua Man hadn’t noticed any signs of grief or remembrance from Yang Zhao.

 

 

Today, she was wearing a bright red dress, radiant and bold. Apart from the minor argument in the morning due to Hua Man’s recklessness the previous night, she had seemed completely carefree the rest of the time.

 

 

“The Madam has no grave,” Yu Shan casually dropped another bombshell. “She’s buried beneath the flower bed. The young mistress has already visited her today.”

 

 

Hua Man froze.

 

 

She suddenly remembered the scene when Yang Zhao had taken her around the small villa, stopping finally in front of that flower bed.

 

 

Yang Zhao had been smiling then, bending down to smell the flowers as if she adored them.

 

 

Hua Man had thought Yang Zhao would pick her favorite bloom, but instead, she had simply kissed the flower before leading Hua Man away.

 

 

The reverence in Yang Zhao’s gesture as she kissed the flower had left a deep impression on Hua Man.

 

 

Perhaps all of Yang Zhao’s remembrance for her mother was hidden in that kiss.

 

 

Hua Man had misunderstood Yang Zhao.

 

 

Earlier, when Yang Zhao had brought Chen Yan to City C, Hua Man had confronted her, convinced Yang Zhao was playing games and deliberately toying with her.

 

 

Looking back now, it seemed Hua Man had been the immature one.

 

 

–

 

Yang Zhao’s nap was shorter than usual this time, and she woke up earlier than expected.

 

 

A faint gloom lingered between her brows, her mood clearly not the best.

 

 

Perhaps she had dreamed of her mother, triggering this melancholy.

 

 

A young mistress in such a mood was difficult to handle. When she was upset, her patience vanished instantly, her gaze sharp with irritation, finding fault with even the hotel she had previously approved of.

 

 

Hua Man cautiously stayed in a corner, avoiding the line of fire.

 

 

Yu Shan, clearly experienced, followed Yang Zhao’s every whim, smoothing her ruffled feathers from every angle. Within ten minutes, she had calmed the young mistress considerably.

 

 

Hua Man quietly sighed in relief.

 

 

But her relief came too soon—Yang Zhao soon turned her glare on her: “Hua Man.”

 

 

Hua Man responded immediately: “Yes.”

 

 

“You’re quite good at avoiding trouble,” Yang Zhao said with a thin smile. “Are you the young mistress, or am I? Why are you hiding so far away?”

 

 

It seemed the fire was destined to reach her.

 

 

Hua Man stepped forward, lowering her gaze submissively: “You are the young mistress.”

 

 

Her chin was seized, forcing her to look up. The next moment, Yang Zhao’s face loomed close.

 

 

Hua Man’s pupils contracted, instinctively wanting to pull away. But the memory of Yang Zhao bending to kiss the flower flashed through her mind, and in that brief moment of distraction, Yang Zhao succeeded.

 

 

 

Her lips were caught between his teeth, and in the next instant, a sharp pain bloomed at the corner of her mouth.

 

 

The metallic tang of bl00d spread—Yang Zhao had deliberately bitten her lip until it bled, right in front of Yu Shan.

 

 

He released her quickly, then swiped a thumb across the wounded spot.

 

 

Holding up his bloodstained finger as if in challenge, he said, “Now it’s fair.”

 

 

Yes, it was fair—now both of them had a cut at the corner of their mouths.

 

 

Hua Man glanced subtly at Yu Shan.

 

 

Surprisingly, Yu Shan didn’t show any visible shock. Instead, her expression was eerily calm.

 

 

Like the stillness before a storm.

 

 

This version of Yu Shan was far more unsettling.

 

 

Hua Man had expected Yu Shan to confront her privately, but unfortunately, they never got the chance to be alone.

 

 

Yang Zhao, ever unpredictable, suddenly announced they would hike the nearby mountain at night to see fireflies.

 

 

“Miss, it’s not safe at night,” Yu Shan objected—a rare occurrence.

 

 

“That’s why I’m bringing Hua Man,” Yang Zhao replied carelessly.

 

 

Hua Man’s eyelid twitched violently. There was really no need to place such high expectations on her.