Chapter 450: A Shabby Gift

Translator: End less Fantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Rong Qi looked at Rong Feiyu with a wry smile, her eyes twinkling mischievously. “Y’all ain’t exactly making the Rong family look bad now, are ya? Seems like Grandma put on quite the show at the hospital, didn’t she?”

Rong Qi’s words burned, making all three women flush with shame and embarrassment.

Mrs. Hong, standing behind them, furrowed her brows in thought. ‘Had they already met at the hospital?’

Mrs. Rong Sr.’s eyes flitted with irritation but, recalling the reason for her visit, she swallowed her pride. Putting on a forced smile, she turned to Rong Qi and said, “Little Qi, we just met for the first time today. We hardly know each other, so misunderstandings are bound to happen. I’m just here to get to know you, nothing more.”

Before Mrs. Rong Sr. could finish, Wang Qing jumped in, “And didn’t you also bring a little something for our Rong Qi? Why don’t you show her?”

“Ah, yes, yes. My memory’s not what it used to be,” Mrs. Rong Sr. fumbled around in her clothes and pulled out a small box, placing it on the coffee table. “Consider this a welcome gift, or an apology, if you will.”

Wang Qing picked up where Mrs. Rong Sr. left off, “Exactly, family shouldn’t be bickering. Your Grandma genuinely wants to mend fences with you.”

Their words flowed like a rehearsed comedy duo. To someone in the know, it was family talk. To anyone else, it might have sounded like they were putting on a vaudeville act.

Mrs. Hong, listening to that, felt a little relieved. When the trio first arrived, they acted so gauche, touching everything as if they’d never seen nice things before. Now, if they were willing to make amends, Mrs. Hong could let go of her reservations.

Rong Feiyu’s eyes darted around before she suggested, “Sister, Grandma brought you a gift. Don’t you think you should reciprocate? Giving her something in return would definitely help mend the rift, don’t you agree?”

‘Ah, so that’s their game,’ thought Rong Qi, the smile curling at the corner of her mouth growing wider. Picking up the box from the table, she twisted it around her hands before popping it open. Inside was an unremarkable, unimpressive pearl.

Mrs. Hong’s face instantly soured. “You think our Madam would need something as worthless as this?”

Rong Qi held the pearl up to her eyes, squinting as she examined it. “Is this something Grandma got lucky with at a seafood restaurant?”

The pearl was not only cheap but downright ugly. It lacked luster, barely better than a glass bead.

Mrs. Hong’s face turned cold, and she sneered, “A gift should at least be heartfelt. But this? This is clearly an insult.”

To everyone’s surprise, Rong Qi had opened the gift in plain view. It was a breach of etiquette to Wang Qing and the others.

Mrs. Rong Sr.’s face turned a shade of livid green, clearly unamused. “If you don’t intend to reciprocate, just say so. If you don’t like the gift, give it back.”

The pearl had cost Mrs. Rong Sr. a whole 50 yuan at the mall, after all.

Without a word, Rong Qi placed the pearl back in its box and handed it over. “Here, you can have it back.”

The room fell silent.

Wang Qing clenched her teeth, regretting the advice she’d given Mrs. Rong Sr.. She’d warned her that Rong Qi was no ordinary woman, and that trying to provoke her wouldn’t work. Look where it had got them now.

Rong Feiyu tried to salvage the situation, pushing the box back toward her sister. “Rong Qi, Grandma means well. It’s the thought that counts, right? Now it’s your turn to give Grandma something in return.”

“Yes, it’s a tradition to exchange gifts when meeting for the first time. It helps build rapport,” Wang Qing chimed in, clearly expecting a valuable gift in return.

Mrs. Rong Sr. looked eager, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. ‘Given Rong Qi’s affluent lifestyle, anything she gave should be quite valuable, right? Considering our ‘close’ family ties, she was obliged to be generous. I could already picture the trove of valuable items I might receive..’

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