A warm, aged voice echoed through the banquet hall. "Lu Zhe, Lila…"
The crowd parted, revealing Lu Zhe's grandmother—slightly stooped but radiant with energy—smiling as she approached.
"Grandma!" Lila and Lu Zhe called in unison, rushing to her side.
Her gaze softened on Lila, lingering as if glimpsing a familiar shadow. "Lila, is Lu Zhe treating you right? If he's mean, tell me—I'll whip him into shape!" Her wrinkled hand clasped Lila's, warm and unwavering.
Lila's heart melted, wrapped in a rare familial glow. She glanced at Lu Zhe, his face calm but eyes dodging—guilty, caught. Yeah, he's been a jerk for no reason.
Not wanting to burden Grandma, Lila shook her head. "No way, we're too happy for that."
Grandma's smile warmed, comforting. "If only my lost daughter could see you two… she'd be so proud." A tear traced her cheek.
Lila, prepared, pulled a tissue, gently wiping it away and patting her back. "No tears on your birthday, Grandma! They'll scare the blessings off!"
Grandma chuckled, tears slowing. "Birthdays don't matter much. I just want to see you kids more…"
"We'll stay with you for a few days soon," Lu Zhe said, guiding her to a seat.
Guests presented gifts, Grandma's face glowing with joy. Lu Zhe offered a tin of tea. "Grandma, my homegrown wellness blend—freshly picked."
She took it, eyes crinkling. "My sweet boy, always caring for my health. Perfect." Her eyes misted, and Lu Zhe handed her a tissue.
As gifts continued, Lila eyed Vanessa, ready for her move. Vanessa, ever the opportunist, stepped up first, presenting a sleek box. "Grandma, a small gift—nothing fancy, just for fun."
The box opened, revealing a luminous night pearl. Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"Not fancy?" someone whispered. "That's worth a fortune!"
Vanessa's smug grin screamed show-off. A night pearl? Hard to get and crazy expensive, and she calls it 'cheap'? She's pulling out all the stops for Grandma.
Grandma, vaguely familiar with her, accepted it. "You're Lila's sister, right? Both such good girls."
Vanessa beamed. "I also composed a piano piece for you." She glided to the grand piano, announcing, "To your endless blessings and long life."
Her fingers danced, the melody polished but overly ornate, a tad showy. Lila clocked it—a rehashed classic, not original. The crowd clapped, praising her "talent" and "grace."
Vanessa shot Lila a gloating smirk. "Lila, you didn't forget Grandma's gift, did you? She adores you—you wouldn't let her down, right?"
Lila feigned dismay, thinking, Showtime. "Oh no, my gift's… kinda last-minute."
Snickers spread, but Lu Zhe's eyes glinted with curiosity. She's got a plan.
Vanessa, overconfident, sneered. "What, playing piano after me? You'll look like a clown chasing my spotlight."
Grandma and Lu Zhe frowned, annoyed.
Lila's smile turned razor-sharp. "Piano? Nah. My gift's special—and I need a partner. Stop hiding, come out!"
A teen with teal-black hair in a crisp black suit stepped into the hall. "Grandma, happy birthday," Lu Yun said, shy but sincere.
The room erupted in shock.
"Him? Here?" "That thug's crashing the party?" "Kick him out!"
Lu Yun's reputation was grim—the Lus had an unspoken rule barring him from events, branding him a troublemaker. His face fell, hurt flickering. Even Lu Zhe looked stunned.
"You're not welcome," Lu Zhe's mother snapped coldly.
Lu Yun lowered his head, ready to bolt, thinking, Told you, Lila. They don't want me. Thanks for trying, but I'm a joke here.
"Cloud?" Grandma's voice quavered, eyes brimming. "You haven't come to my birthday in years. Stay—have dinner with me."
She glared at Lu Zhe's mother, fierce. "This boy's back, and I'm overjoyed. Why chase him off? Cloud's my grandson too!"
The room fell silent.
Grandma always saw Cloud as a good kid, misunderstood, scarred by a harsh life—shunned for his illegitimacy, neglected by his father, motherless. His defiance stemmed from a lack of love, yet he'd survived. She pitied him.
Lu Yun's eyes reddened. "Happy birthday, Grandma. I'll stay."
He strode forward, enveloping her in a tight hug. "You've grown, Cloud," she said, stroking his hair. "Live with me. No one'll dare hurt you."
Lu Zhe blinked, floored. When did Lu Yun get so… tame? He's always at war with everyone.
Lila smiled. "He's my partner—and Grandma's second gift."
Lu Yun grabbed his electric guitar; Lila lifted her yun flute. The crowd scoffed—a guitar and flute? Low-class.
Lila met their sneers calmly. "Maybe not as 'refined' as Vanessa's piano, but it's from the heart."
They bowed, and the music began. The yun's ethereal notes wove with the guitar's vibrant rhythm, blending seamlessly. Past and present, memory and emotion, danced in the melody.
Grandma's tears fell, swept back to her youth, joy and nostalgia flooding her. Lu Zhe closed his eyes, his tension melting, lost in the sound.
The song ended, silence gripping the hall.
Grandma clapped first, eyes sparkling. "Beautiful! So heartfelt!"
Applause followed, reluctant but undeniable—the raw emotion trumped any "elegant" performance. The duo didn't erase their stigma, but they proved they weren't the failures the Lus assumed. Lu Yun wasn't just a delinquent; Lila wasn't just an orphan. They belonged.
Lu Yun stepped up, pulling out a small box. "One more gift, Grandma."
She opened it, gasping. "This… it's your grandfather's ring?"
"Not the real one," Lu Yun said, sheepish. "I crafted it from memory. You used to stare at it, missing Grandpa. When it was lost, you were heartbroken… I wanted to make it right."
Grandma's tears spilled, voice choked. She clutched his hand, speechless.
Lila's gaze softened. This is what I wanted for her.
Now, her turn. "Grandma, my gift," she said, presenting an elegant box.
Vanessa sneered. "As Lu Zhe's fiancée, your gift better be epic, or you'll humiliate him. Right, Lu Zhe, darling?"
Lu Zhe's eyes darkened, his trust in his old friend eroding. When did she get so… fake?
Lila's smile was serene. "Sis, slow down. Let Grandma see it before you judge, yeah?"
The box opened, releasing a delicate sandalwood scent. Inside, a carved Guanyin held a peach and a jade bottle, adorned with vibrant Ji Zi Lan blooms.
"Sandalwood…" "Exquisite craftsmanship…" "Ji Zi Lan?!"
Grandma gasped. "Ji Zi Lan… I saw it bloom once as a girl. To see it again today…" She gripped Lila's hand, eyes shining with awe.
"I was lucky to find it," Lila said softly. "The carving's my design—may you live long and strong."
Lu Zhe's mother scoffed. "Some cheap woodcarving—who knows where she got it."
But the room knew: value wasn't in cost, but in heart.