187 The Two Madams (2/2)
”Uncle, please!” Huang Yuyan's face was all red.
Li Zhiruo sighed but her sharp eyes were dancing in amusement. ”Stop teasing Yuyan, Brother.”
”Ahahaha! I was complimenting her!”
Iris was amused that the three older people were acting like children teasing each other. Then Grandpa Lu pulled her closer and continued the introductions.
”And this is my new student who I already consider as my granddaughter, Long Xiulan. Beautiful, isn't she?”
”Indeed, what a beautiful child,” Li Zhiruo said. ”Come closer, Xiulan my dear. Let me see your face.”
Iris obeyed. ”Hello, Madam Li. It's a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for having me in your beautiful home.”
Li Zhiruo nodded after she studied Iris' face, looking pleased at what she was seeing. ”You're very welcome. I'm glad to meet you today. Since Brother Jianhong already considers you as his grandchild, please call me Grandma as well.”
Iris hesitated.
”My girl, what are you waiting for? Just call her Grandma already!”
Iris blinked. It seemed that these two were really the dearest of friends. When they met her for the first time, they already wanted her to call them Grandpa and Grandma. Was this the norm for them?
”Grandma Li,” she finally said.
”En.” Grandma Li nodded, pleased.
”Ahaha! Good!”
Then Iris turned to the other lady and greeted her. ”Hello, Madam Huang. It's a pleasure to meet you.”
”Hello, my dear. Please call me Auntie Yuyan. But only if you're comfortable, of course. If not, it's completely fine. You don't need to force yourself.”
”Auntie Yuyan,” Iris said.
Then Huang Yuyan suddenly grabbed Iris' hands. ”Oh, you're so beautiful! I wish I have a daughter like you. I only have two sons. I love them very much but they don't spend much time with me anymore. They're too busy with their own careers. Daughters spend more time with their mothers. Too bad that I don't have any.”
Iris just smiled politely, not knowing how to respond. She couldn't relate. She never had a close relationship to either of her mothers both in her previous and present lives.
After the pleasantries, the man who welcomed them at the helipad took their coats. Then they all headed to the living area where a large stone fireplace was currently burning. It was enclosed by glass. The heat felt heavenly especially in this chilly mountain weather.
”Hai! Why do you insist on staying here in the mountains? I want to know!” Grandpa Lu complained as he occupied an armchair. ”Nobody is around and it's so hard to get here. If I don't have a helicopter, do you expect me to climb all the way here with my old frail legs?!”
Grandma Li scoffed elegantly. She occupied the other armchair opposite him. ”You? Frail? You can be described in many different ways but frail is not one of them.”
Iris and Huang Yuyan sat together on the sofa. They watched the two elders bantering with each other. A maid appeared to serve them hot Pu'erh tea with dried osmanthus flowers.
Grandma Li ignored Grandpa Lu. She turned to Iris and suddenly asked, ”Xiulan my dear, tell Grandma, are you single?”