Yao Ran looked around again until she spotted a familiar minivan a few feet away.

If she wasn’t mistaken, the car should belong to Old Madam Yao. The old lady usually took used it whenever she was traveling aroundCity A.

Since the vehicle was here, then Old Madam Yaomust be here as well.

Before Yao Rancould make sense of it, however, the door of the minivan opened, and a woman in her late thirties came out.

Yao Ran recognized the woman to be herOld Madam Yao’s faithful servant, the one who never let her side. This confirmed her grandmother was indeed here.

“Aunt Wang!” Yao Rancalled out.

The woman turned in their direction, though her eyes immediately went to Yang Nianstanding behind the girl. “Young Master Yang,” she greeted with a smile. “Old Madam is waiting for you in the car. Please go over and join her.”

After saying that, Aunt Wang turned away without even glancing at Yao Ran.

The girl naturally took offense to it, and her lips curled downward in bitterness.

Aunt Wang caught Yao Ran’s expression. She didn’t need to be a genius to be able to see through the girl’s thoughts.

As someone who had been in the Yao familyfor more than a decade, she didn’t want the Old Madam’s relationship with MasterYao Yuanto sour, much less to fall apart. Despite this, even Aunt Wang disapproved ofYao Ran’s behavior and general attitude.

She never understood why Master Yao Yuanwould favor this spoiled brat over MissYao Tang, who was their biological child in the first place.

Aunt Wang had been asking the same question over and over inside her head ever since she had seen Miss Yao Tangat the airport.

With a small sigh, Aunt Wang finally addressed Yao Ran. “MissYao Ran, you should go in the car as well. The Old Madam is waiting.”

Yao Ran’s face lit up. So her grandmother had personally come to pick her up from school!

The grievance in her heart eased up a little.

The old lady had never liked her much, and things only turned for the worse since Yao Tanghad shown up.

Now, thanks to Yang Nian, her grandmother had no choice but to acknowledge her once and for all. It was a rare opportunity, andYao Ranintended to take advantage of it.

She had made the right decision, inviting Yang Nianover.

When she had proposed the idea to her mother last night, Qin Manwas hesitant.Yao Ranknew that her mother was still fixated on Young MasterCheng Zhou.

Qin Man had grand plans for her daughter, after all, which mainly revolved aroundYao Ranmarrying into theCheng family. In her eyes, the Yang family was nothing more than chump change compared to the treasure trove that is theCheng family.

Yao Tang didn’t share this sentiment, and she made sure to tell her mother about it. “Mom, have you forgotten how much the Old Madam cares for the Yang family? Our two clans had been close for several generations. Even if it wasn’t Yang Nian who had come to City A, the Old Madam would still insist on treating anyone from the Yang family as an important guest.

“Besides, now that I’m assigned to the school office, I don’t have many chances to run into Young Master Cheng Zhouanymore. He seems busy with his work, too. It won’t look good if I keep pestering him over the phone or in person.

“Don’t think too much, Mom. We need to give the Cheng familysome space so as not to appear too pushy. This dinner withYang Nianwould just be for old times’ sake.”Yao Ranhad paused then, then shotQin Mana meaningful look. “But if past conversations would be brought up during the meal… Well, who knows what might happen in the future?”

Qin Man’s eyes widened at this.

She vaguely recalled that once, when Yao Ranwas much younger, she had fearlessly told the madam of the Yang family that she would marryYang Nianin the future.

Even so, Qin Manknew that she shouldn’t pin all her hopes on that childish declaration.

Yet at the same time, she couldn’t entirely discard this option until it was proven to be futile.

If Young Master Cheng Zhouended up taking a liking toRanran, then all would be well and good.

But as a precaution, they might as well have RanranandYang Nianspend some time together to deepen their relationship.

It wouldn’t make much of a difference regardless of who Ranranmarried in the end. Either way, theYao familywould gain a considerable advantage.

And so, Qin Manhad finally agreed to haveYang Nianover for a little celebration.

As for Yao Yuan, he and his mother already had a solid bond with the Yang family, so he had no reason to refuse the idea.

He also hoped to use this time to speak with her mother and mend their relationship, if only a little.

Yao Ran was proud of herself for how well her plans were going. Who else would have come up with a scheme that enabled them to kill so many birds all at once?

“Please, Young MasterYangNian, MissYao Ran.”

Aunt Wang opened the door of the minivan and gestured for the teenagers to board the vehicle.

Yang Nian went in first, withYao Ranfollowing closely.

Sure enough, Old Madam Yaowas sitting inside, and she cheerfully chatted withYang Nian.