An Yangning stood up straight, her small frame rigid like a student called upon by a teacher in class.
A few beads of sweat dotted her forehead, sparkling brightly in the light, accentuating a somewhat pitiful and endearing charm.
Her makeup-free face was stunningly beautiful.
Even Wang Yin, who had seen her fair share of beauties, couldn't help but marvel.
In all her forty-some years of life, she had never seen such a pretty young girl.
No wonder the girl had her son so bewitched that he had resorted to hiding a mistress in a golden house.
"Don't be afraid, Ningning. Since you're An'an's mother and An'an calls me grandma, you should call me Mom. From now on, I'll be your mother," Wang Yin said gently.
Knowing how much suffering An Yangning had endured in that household, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the girl.
Jiang Han couldn't help but chime in, "What kind of mom? You haven't even paid the bride-price adaptation fee yet."
"And what about the betrothal gifts, the three golds, and all that? You're trying to get a daughter-in-law for nothing without giving a single thing."
Wang Yin glared at Jiang Han.
"You brat, I'd love to give, but have the two of you even reached the legal age?"
An Yangning quickly waved her hands, looking somewhat flustered as she said, "I don't need any things, Auntie. Don't listen to Jiang Han's nonsense."
Wang Yin instantly switched to an affectionate expression.
"How can that do? It's fine, Auntie will arrange it all."
Jiang Han was surprised by the speed of his mother's sudden shift in expression, while also secretly feeling a wave of anticipation.
Judging by his old lady's attitude, she was probably about to unleash a torrent of cash.
"Mom, An Yangning works at the café in our neighborhood. How can the dignified President Wang's daughter-in-law go around serving coffee to other people?" Jiang Han said with a cheeky smile.
An Yangning shook her head hastily.
"It's fine, it's fine. I think working at the café is great."
Perhaps all parents in the world love students with good grades, so Wang Yin took An Yangning's hand.
"Jiang Han is right. Ningning, since you're such a good student, Mom will cover your living expenses from now on—consider it Mom sponsoring the future top scorer of the college entrance examination."
"But..." An Yangning really couldn't accept someone else's kindness so easily.
Clearly, she hadn't done anything at all.
It just felt a bit like getting something for nothing.
Jiang Han was thrilled that his mother was bleeding her wallet dry for his wife.
To put it simply, everything belonging to his wife belonged to him anyway.
He urged from the side, "Money is just a minor detail, hurry up and call her Mom."
"Mom..."
A sense of stinging sorrow welled up in An Yangning's eyes. She hadn't experienced maternal love in all these years.
The word "Mom" felt both familiar and strange.
The girl's soft and sweet voice made Wang Yin's heart blossom with joy.
"Call me that again let me hear it."
Shyly, An Yangning called out once more.
"Mom～"
"Good, good... What a good daughter-in-law." Looking radiant with happiness, Wang Yin completely forgot the shock she had felt upon first seeing An Yangning.
Right now, she couldn't wait to make Jiang Han and An Yangning go register their marriage immediately.
Afterwards, Wang Yin asked An Yangning some questions about her daily life.
At first, An Yangning answered hesitantly and with stammering words.
After chatting for a few minutes, she gradually relaxed.
Slowly treating Wang Yin like an elder in her own family, she began to talk about everyday trivial matters.
Jiang Han was very satisfied with the way his wife and his mother were getting along.
At least for now, there were no signs of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law troubles.
"Mom stewed some marinated duck parts for you two, hurry up and open them to try." Wang Yin placed those large packages of food onto the coffee table.
Jiang Han said in pleasant surprise, "What kind of duck is this that even required our President Wang to cook it herself?"
An Yangning followed along with a quiet, gentle smile.
At that moment, Jiang Nian'an suddenly clutched her tummy and said, "Mommy, take me to the restroom. I need to make a stinky."
"Okay." An Yangning picked up An'an.
Her slender figure carried a half-grown child, radiating a mother's tenderness.
With a complex look in her eyes, Wang Yin stared at their retreating backs, then turned to ask her son.
"She doesn't go home to live—aren't her parents worried?"
Jiang Han shook his head and sighed.
"Mom, you have no idea how eccentric her family members are. It's a long story, but anyway, I'm never letting her go back to live there."
"My own wife, I'll cherish her myself."
Wang Yin glanced at him.
"You brat, you're not that old, but you sure know how to blow your own horn."
Jiang Han chuckled and showed her last month's café revenue.
"I can totally support the two of them right now, but Mom, if you want to stuff some money into our hands, I certainly won't mind."
Wang Yin replied, "Fine, I'll transfer a hundred thousand to you so you can buy them some nice things."
She thought for a moment, then pulled out a card instead.
"Forget it, I'll give you this card. My daughter-in-law and granddaughter deserve to be spoiled with luxury, so take them out to buy some nice things."
Jiang Han accepted the card happily.
"Mom is so generous."
Wang Yin let out a soft huff, stood up to survey the apartment, and her brow gradually furrowed.
"This place is far too shabby. It treats our family's An'an much too poorly."
With that, she dialed her assistant.
"Xiao Lin, tomorrow go buy some toys, children's clothes for a little girl, as well as pretty dresses and jewelry, and have them delivered to Longjiang Residential Area."
"Buy them for all four seasons—yes, fill up the walk-in closet first."
"Remember to buy designer brand names, not those cheap things."
Listening to his mother go on a shopping spree over the phone, Jiang Han felt that his own perspective had been too small.
What true financial power looked like.
The hundred thousand he had earned was only enough to buy two of his mom's outfits.
"Mom, you're being way too biased. How come you never bought me a couple of designer clothes to wear when I was little?" Jiang Han protested.
Wang Yin retorted briskly, "When I took you shopping for clothes when you were little, you tore a jacket that cost over ten thousand to pieces the very next day. Why on earth would your old lady buy you anything?"
Jiang Han shrank his neck back.
In his memory, that actually seemed to have happened.
Putting away her phone, Wang Yin said with heartache, "Ningning has had such a bitter life. I hope she likes my arrangements."
Jiang Han quietly interrupted her.
"Mom, don't say those things in front of An Yangning. It makes her uncomfortable to hear them."
Wang Yin paused for a moment, then agreed with her son.
"Alright, it was just Mom being a chatterbox."
As soon as the two finished talking, An Yangning walked out holding Jiang Nian'an.
The moment Jiang Nian'an left her mother's arms, she scrambled right into Grandma's embrace.
"Grandma, take An'an to your house. An'an likes going to Grandma's house."
The granddaughter's spoiled tone nearly melted Wang Yin's heart.
"Oh, Grandma's little darling, Grandma will take you back tonight."
Jiang Han intervened, "You are not allowed to go. You still have to go to kindergarten tomorrow."
Unfazed, Wang Yin said, "Just ask for leave for An'an. Besides, I'm planning to go traveling with a few of my old girlfriends anyway, so I'll take her out to see the world."
Jiang Han was rendered completely speechless.
Imperial Mother, you never sang such tunes to coax me when I was a kid!
He remembered getting beaten until he wailed when he skipped kindergarten as a child.
How did all the rules change when it came to the granddaughter?
With her characteristically brisk and decisive manner, Wang Yin immediately instructed An Yangning, "Ningning, go pack a few outfits for An'an. I'll take her back so your father can see her."
Dazed, An Yangning nodded foolishly and went to the bedroom to pack.
Once she came out with the clothes, Wang Yin took them and prepared to leave with Jiang Nian'an.
"Jiang Han, you guys come pick her up after a while. I'm going to hire a few private tutors to start her lessons first. It's Mom's first time being a grandma, so let Mom have her fun."
With that, she took Jiang Nian'an by the hand and left without looking back.
Moving with lightning speed.
By the time the two of them recovered their wits, the apartment was already empty.
Jiang Han fixed his gaze on An Yangning.
"Babe, are you ready for our world of just the two of us?"