The Zhou family villa was magnificent, bathed in brilliant lights.
Inside Tong Yao's room, numerous maids surrounded her, meticulously presenting gowns. "Miss, how about this one?"
Tong Yao shook her head. "No, no, this dress is too old-fashioned. It will make me look much older!"
One maid held up a striking red gown. "Miss, what about this one? The style is youthful and it accentuates your figure. Today is the eldest young master's birthday, and this color is also celebratory."
Tong Yao immediately waved her hand. "No, no. Xi'er loves bright red, and only she can truly carry off a red gown. If I wear red and stand next to her, I'll feel like a mere attendant."
Another maid offered, "Then what about this pink one?"
Tong Yao gave them a look of exasperation. "I'm not a child anymore, do I want to wear a princess dress? People will think I'm childish."
Just then, a dignified and elegant middle-aged woman entered. "Yao'er, today is your brother's birthday, and you're being exceptionally attentive. It seems you're being more meticulous than when you celebrated your own birthday."
Tong Yao turned towards the voice and replied with a hint of a pout, "Mom! Yes, yes, I just don't want to embarrass my brother."
Madam Tong smiled faintly. "A woman adorns herself for the one who pleases her, and a man exhausts himself for the one who pleases him. This seems to be a natural law. Your mother was young once, how could she not understand your feelings? You rejected the talented young men your father introduced, managing to scare them off. Afterward, you refused all the sons of your father's friends. It seems you already have someone in your heart."
Tong Yao's face flushed slightly, but she still tried to argue. "What do you mean I wanted to scare him? He was just too timid, and he's even allergic to alcohol. What kind of people was Dad introducing?"
Madam Tong smiled, walked over, and gently stroked her daughter's long hair. "Yao'er is growing up and has her own ideas. However, Mom hopes you understand that you are the eldest daughter of the Tong family. Whoever stands by your side in the future must be a match for the Tong family."
At these words, Tong Yao immediately became displeased. "Mom, why are you so materialistic!"
Madam Tong sighed softly. "It's not that Mom is materialistic; Mom is just worried you'll be deceived. Identity and status might seem vulgar to you young people, but to Mom, only when there is equal footing can there be balance. Otherwise, even if he cherishes and spoils you now, what the future holds is something your father and I cannot oversee forever."
Tong Yao understood her mother's meaning. She buried her head against her mother's neck and murmured, "Mom, don't you trust my judgment?"
Madam Tong smiled helplessly. "Your judgment is naturally good, but unfortunately... it only applies to faces."
As a mother, she understood her daughter very well.
Tong Yao playfully retorted, "Mom... even if that's true, it's because you inherited it! You fell for Dad because he's handsome."
Madam Tong smiled in amusement, her smile filled with indulgence and tenderness. "That's different. Your father is not only handsome, but he also has excellent character!"
Tong Yao scoffed. "Hmph... love is blind. You just enjoy yourself."
At that moment, a maid entered and paused slightly upon seeing Madam Tong. "Madam."
Tong Yao immediately asked, "Has Xi'er arrived?"
The maid nodded. "Yes... Miss Bai has arrived, along with her elder brother and her escort."
Upon hearing this, a hint of panic flickered across Tong Yao's face. "Come, come, help me change. I... I want the crescent white one!"
The maids hurried to fetch the dress.
Madam Tong frowned slightly.
Bai Xi, this friend of Tong Yao's, she knew her. A child who had also suffered hardship, but she had been missing for many years before returning.
And the crystal shoes on her feet, she found the heels too high and too pointed. Apart from looking good, they served no practical purpose and were kept in the cabinet as decorations.
Today, she wore them all. Could it be because today was his birthday party? Wearing the clothes and shoes he gifted her specially? As a brother, he was deeply moved.