The Goddess is Sweet and Aloof
Chapter 428 - Chapter 428 Chapter 428_1

Chapter 428: Chapter 428_1 Chapter 428: Chapter 428_1 The more the elderly Mrs. Qiao looked at Qiao Xiaren, the more amiable she seemed to her. Unable to understand why, she sighed quietly and patted the back of Xiaren’s hand.

“You’re unfortunate, child, but no matter how fatherless and motherless, your future is boundless. Don’t call me the old lady, just call me ‘Grandma Qiao’.”

For some reason, thoughts of her own granddaughter suddenly came to mind. Tears began to well up in her eyes.

“Maybe your parents abandoned you due to some unavoidable circumstances; don’t take it too hard. Things will get better eventually.”

“Thank you, Grandma Qiao, I’ve stopped dwelling on the past. This is my life, my path. Why should it be dictated by the past?”

The stoic expression on Qiao Xiaren’s face deepened. The burgeoning strength that radiated from her seemed to cause Mrs. Qiao to burst into exclamatory praise, resulting in an animated atmosphere.

“This child, she’s just like my son when he was young.” Mrs. Qiao continued her line of enquiry, “How old are you this year, dear?”

“18.”

“18? Really?” Mrs. Qiao sighed heavily, “So young! Do you happen to know the exact date of your birthday? To me, you look like you’re not even fully 18 yet!”

Qiao Xiaren was somewhat at a loss for words under Mrs. Qiao’s barrage of questioning; yet, seeing the genuine curiosity and lack of ill-intent, she decided to answer truthfully.

“My birthday is on the 16th of October.”

As Qiao Xiaren finished speaking, Mrs. Qiao’s eyes widened significantly. Stunned, she dropped the bag she was holding onto the floor. As she picked it up and dusted it off, her expression was one of disbelief.

She looked at Xiaren again, somewhat taken aback, “October 16?”

“Yes.”

Seeing Mrs. Qiao’s emotional reaction, Qiao Xiaren was slightly perplexed but still replied truthfully.

Suddenly, she remembered Si Limo’s surprise at her birthday as well.

The four major families had been shaken by a significant event in the Capital on the 16th, a surprisingly coincidental date. It must have stirred up memories for Mrs. Qiao.

“Grandma Qiao, are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” Mrs. Qiao returned to her senses after Qiao Xiaren’s repeated calls, she offered an apologetic smile. “It is such… a coincidence. We have a missing granddaughter who also had the same birthday.”

As it turned out, a significant event did indeed occur on October 16.

Her foolish son could never have imagined that woman would turn against the Qiao Family like that.

“Granddaughter?” Suddenly, Qiao Xiaren felt strange. Was she referring to Qiao Anchu?

But when have their birthdays become the same?

“Yes.” Mrs. Qiao suddenly fell into silence. That event was indeed a great shame for the Qiao Family and the four major families. The more they talked about it, the more it was like rubbing salt into their wound.

Qiao Xiaren certainly didn’t want to dig into other people’s private matters.

“Xiaren, do you live here?” The young master of Qiao, Qiao Yi’an, looked around curiously at the surroundings. “This is a nice location, and the environment is quite elegant.”

“Yes, I just moved in recently.” Qiao Xiaren counter questioned, “What brings Master Qiao around here?”

“My grandma and I happen to be staying at the nearby Biyun Temple and were just about to head home.”

Qiao Yi’an explained briefly. Qiao Xiaren recalled that there was indeed a temple nearby — Biyun Temple, where the renowned Master Hui Yuan presided.