After the True Heiress Travels Back
Chapter 219: A Friendship That Can’t Match in Power Won’t Last

Chapter 219: Chapter 219: A Friendship That Can’t Match in Power Won’t Last

Shi Yaoguang explained to Cheng Lingdang, "I came to the Xiao Family to draw pictures for Elder Xiao."

This year, Xiao Cenyang turned fifty-five, and Madame Xiao was one year older than him.

Though there was only a year’s difference in age between them, their birthdays fell on the same day.

Therefore, the Xiao Family’s birthday banquet was not only for Xiao Cenyang but was also held in honor of Madame Xiao.

Xiao Cenyang looked at Cheng Lingdang, his voice filled with earnestness, as he said to her, "As your grandfather has gotten older, it hasn’t been easy raising you all these years. It’s time for you to repay us."

"Repay?" Cheng Lingdang revealed a hint of confusion.

Was it what she was thinking?

As Cheng Lingdang wrestled with uncertainty, Xiao Cenyang opened his mouth to say, "We could let it slide in past years, but this year the gifts you give to your grandmother and me cannot be shabby."

Cheng Lingdang’s mouth twitched, "Since when does an elder proactively ask for gifts?"

Xiao Cenyang hummed, "What about it, is that a problem?"

"No, no, no problem." Cheng Lingdang dared not refuse and immediately agreed.

Xiao Cenyang was very pleased and immediately said, "Seeing how filial you are, I won’t make things difficult for you. Just offer yourself to your grandmother this year."

"What... what do you mean?" Cheng Lingdang looked utterly dumbfounded.

Xiao Cenyang said, "Every time we wanted to teach you something in the past, you were unwilling to learn, and it saddened your grandmother deeply. It also made me unhappy."

"Let me interrupt," Cheng Lingdang made a pause gesture, "There’s no need for sugarcoating, just speak plainly."

"Then I’ll be frank," Xiao Cenyang said with a serious face, "I want you to become her apprentice."

Cheng Lingdang wore a stunned expression.

Xiao Cenyang asked, "Is that not acceptable?"

"Didn’t you all give up? Why are you bringing this up again?"

"Your grandmother has never given up," Xiao Cenyang said meaningfully, giving her a long look, "Would she have eased up if she wasn’t worried about putting too much pressure on you in front of you?"

Cheng Lingdang wanted to say more, but Xiao Cenyang didn’t give her the chance to refuse.

"Today I’ll make it clear: You can agree if you will, but even if you won’t, you still have to agree!"

After speaking, he glanced at Shi Yaoguang as a reminder, "Right now, you are not alone; you need to think carefully."

"How am I not alone?" Cheng Lingdang grumbled dissatisfied.

Xiao Cenyang pointed at Shi Yaoguang and said, "I consider Yaoguang a confidant. Tell me, could anyone who can become my confidant be an ordinary person?"

"Of course not!" Cheng Lingdang replied without hesitation.

"Since you also acknowledge that Yaoguang is extraordinary, tell me, what qualifications does someone like you, who can only boast academic grades and nothing else, have to be her companion?"

Cheng Lingdang weakly protested, "Even if there is a problem, isn’t it a bit harsh to put it like that?"

"This is harsh?"

Xiao Cenyang looked at her as if she were too naive, "For people to develop a lasting relationship, there has to be an equal match."

"Think about it. With such a gap between you and Yaoguang, can your friendship last?"

Cheng Lingdang’s face turned alternately pale and flushed as she withstood this soul-searching question.

Xiao Cenyang added fuel to the fire, "Your grandmother is eager to pass down the craft she knows. It was initially intended to be taught to you, but if you truly do not wish to learn, then I will pick someone from the younger generation attending the birthday feast to be her exclusive disciple."

Upon hearing this, Shi Yaoguang suddenly understood something.

In the plot, Shi Yiqing attended the birthday banquet.

And played a piano piece on site to celebrate the elderly’s birthday, after which she was accepted as a disciple.

All of this was not a spur of the moment but rather something prepared in advance.

That day, even if it hadn’t been Shi Yiqing, it would have been someone else.

The best way to eliminate this possibility was...

To let Cheng Lingdang fill the gap in advance.

Shi Yaoguang thought to himself and immediately looked at Cheng Lingdang with expectant eyes.

Cheng Lingdang instinctively felt a chill down her spine.

"Shi Ge, why...why are you looking at me like that?"

Shi Yaoguang gave her a shallow smile, "Lingdang, I think Senior Xiao was right."

"What, what?"

"A friendship that isn’t on equal terms can’t last long."

Cheng Lingdang’s pupils dilated, showing an incredulous expression, "What do you mean by that?"

"Is Shi Ge looking down on me?"

She fiddled with her fingers in a pitiful manner, almost on the verge of crying.

Shi Yaoguang looked at her and said helplessly, "I’m not looking down on you.

"Then...what do you mean?"

Shi Yaoguang glanced at Xiao Cenyang and spoke unhurriedly, "My opinion is the same as Senior Xiao’s, and I hope you can learn something from Senior Xiao and Mrs. Xiao."

Cheng Lingdang showed a miserable face, "Shi Ge, you don’t know how strict my grandfather is. If I don’t do well, he will definitely look down on me."

"Think about it in reverse. If you do well, won’t he praise you?"

"Well..." Cheng Lingdang thought about it, then shook her head confidently, "No."

"Hmm?"

"If I don’t do well, my grandfather will certainly criticize me. If I do well, he might not praise me because...I’ve been around him for so long, and I’ve never seen him genuinely praise anyone."

Xiao Cenyang’s eyes widened, his face showing an utterly aggrieved expression, "So in your eyes, I’m just a nasty old man who only knows how to scold people, huh?"

Cheng Lingdang weakly hid behind Shi Yaoguang, letting out a huff, "I never thought that, you said it yourself, you can’t blame me."

"You—"

Xiao Cenyang bent his finger, ready to flick her on the forehead, "Say that again!"

"I’ll say it, who’s afraid!"

She mustered up her courage, and just as she was about to speak, she heard a surprised voice from behind.

"Is that Lingdang who’s come?"

Accompanied by the voice, a dignified lady dressed in a silk cheongsam approached.

"Lingdang, you finally came to see your grandmother, do you know how much I’ve missed you~"

Mrs. Xiao said as she walked over and hugged Cheng Lingdang.

Her gaze inadvertently landed on the Immortal Peach Picture on the table, and her eyes went wide.

"This...what is this?"

While puzzled, she turned to Shi Yaoguang, "Young lady, did you paint this?"

Shi Yaoguang nodded softly, "I painted it, Mrs. Xiao, hello, it’s nice to meet you, I’m Shi Yaoguang."

Mrs. Xiao looked at her with pleased surprise, "I know you! Yujiao has mentioned you to me."

"I didn’t know you were coming today, I didn’t prepare any gifts." As she spoke, she slid a green jade bracelet off her wrist and put it on Shi Yaoguang’s hand.

"This is a bracelet I’m very fond of; it’s not too expensive, consider it a belated gift for our first meeting."

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