"Madam Ye." Jin Yan's brows furrowed slightly. Madam Ye rarely made appearances.
It was rumored she was in poor health, confined to her home for recuperation.
Jiang Nuan also looked at the newcomer. The lady was dressed in a noble black gown, her hair elegantly swept up. She was thin, with a sickly complexion, yet she remained graceful and dignified.
Madam Ye looked at her daughter beside her and introduced her with an elegant smile, "Mrs. Lu, do you remember what I told you? My youngest daughter went abroad to study and returned last weekend."
"This is my youngest daughter, Ye Anran."
"Anran, quickly greet Auntie Lu."
"Hello, Auntie Lu!" Ye Anran's voice was gentle.
Jin Yan smiled and said, "So it's Miss Anran, hello!"
Ye Anran's smile was calm, but a strange glint flashed in her eyes.
Jin Yan pulled Jiang Nuan over to introduce her, smiling, "Madam Ye, Miss Ye, this is my daughter, Lu Sinuann."
This was the name on the Lu family's household registration for Jiang Nuan.
Jiang Nuan: "..." She didn't know about this name?
Madam Ye looked at Jiang Nuan, whose features were strikingly similar to Jin Yan's, blessed with natural beauty that could topple nations. Her aura was cool and detached. She nodded slightly, "Hello, Miss Lu!"
Jiang Nuan greeted her unhurriedly, "Hello, Madam Ye!" Her tone was indifferent, her gaze cool.
Madam Ye glanced at Jiang Nuan deeply. Still maintaining her elegant posture, she turned to Jin Yan beside her. "Mrs. Lu, I heard some whispers some time ago that your daughter was switched at birth. It turns out this is true. Your daughter grew up in a small town, yet she still possesses the demeanor of a lady from a prominent family."
Jin Yan heard the subtle jab in her words, implying her daughter grew up in a small place.
This Madam Ye had shown her inexplicable hostility the last time they met.
She looked at her daughter with concern, her heart aching. "Yes, thankfully I've found my daughter. And although my daughter grew up in Jinshi, she knows ten languages, is at the pinnacle of the medical field, a master chef in the culinary world, and the wife of the wealthiest man. Someone from a small town is no less than the women of Modu."
Jin Yan tightly grasped her daughter's hand. This woman dared to humiliate her daughter? Dream on!
Madam Ye's expression turned unnatural.
The wealthiest man was Mu Jiuchen.
Jiang Nuan looked at her mother, her eyes twitching slightly. Her mother knew her quite well.
When these ladies had nothing else to do, their children became their subjects of comparison.
However, she had shed many tears over this matter, and now that their family was reunited, she was very happy.
The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward.
Ye Anran pursed her lips slightly, extending her hand, a charming smile slowly blooming, "Hello, Miss Lu!"
As she spoke, she broke the strange tension.
Jiang Nuan extended her hand and shook hers, "Hello, Miss Ye!"
After a brief handshake, Jiang Nuan withdrew her hand.
Madam Ye looked at Jin Yan and pointed to a nearby gown. "Mrs. Lu..."
"Give it to Miss Ye. I'll take my daughter to find K later. Her designs are also very beautiful," Jin Yan said intentionally.
K's designs were far more elegant than this shop's, and the prices were two to three times higher.
Madam Ye's smile was faint. She had originally intended to say that her daughter didn't want the gown.
But Jin Yan had preempted her, making her daughter seem inferior.
Modu, the Lu family, the Rong family, and the Ye family were all esteemed families.
However, the Ye family had always been discreet in their dealings. Due to her health, Madam Ye rarely socialized and disliked the various power struggles among these ladies.
It was only after her youngest daughter returned that she considered taking her daughter out more, allowing these wealthy socialites to recognize her.
Young people needed connections and friends. Her youngest daughter would be attending various banquets.
Moreover, of her two daughters, the youngest was the most intelligent, having developed her career abroad over the years.
However, Jin Yan was as formidable as ever.
"Mrs. Lu, I was going to say, my daughter won't compete with Miss Lu for this..."
"Oh, Madam Ye, how is this competing? Didn't my daughter already give it to your daughter? My daughter doesn't like to be competitive. This dress is for your daughter. Your daughter just returned from abroad, so she needs more clothes, and it's still the late spring chill, quite cold.
Nuannuan has already bought a lot at this store today. I plan to take my daughter upstairs to look around. Today is a reunion day, so we won't chat much longer. We'll talk again another time."
Jin Yan's smile was perfectly measured, her tone unhurried, yet Jiang Nuan felt her mother's protection and love.
Madam Ye suppressed her anger. She cast a cool glance at Jiang Nuan. Jiang Nuan stood beside Jin Yan, unpretentious. The mother and daughter exuded a cool aura.
"Then thank you, Mrs. Lu. My daughter's welcome banquet is tomorrow evening. The invitation has already been sent to the Lu residence. Bring Miss Lu to play."
Madam Ye looked at Jiang Nuan. "Miss Lu, I hope you will definitely come."
Jiang Nuan wanted to refuse, as she had plans with Rong Yin for tomorrow evening.
Ye Anran also looked at Jiang Nuan and said, "Miss Lu, please do me the honor. I'll be waiting for you!"
Jiang Nuan pursed her lips and smiled. Just as she was about to refuse, she heard her mother speak.
"Alright! Nuannuan will definitely come tomorrow." Jin Yan, forgetting that Jiang Nuan had plans to dine with Rong Yin, readily agreed.
Jiang Nuan: "..." She stood silently to the side, experiencing for the first time that the struggles between these ladies were indeed more exciting than any battlefield.
It was either showcasing daughters or sons, and whoever won was the king.
"Nuannuan, let's go." Jin Yan gave the store clerks their address, asking them to deliver the items directly.
Luxury stores nowadays had very sincere service. A gown would be delivered to its recipient's home as quickly as possible.
Business was tough these days, with great competition. Buyers could receive their desired goods while sitting at home.
And the store she had chosen was always trustworthy.
Jin Yan led Jiang Nuan away.
Ye Anran watched the backs of the mother and daughter, her gaze peculiar, her smile profound.
Seeing the clerks begin to pack the clothes, she walked over and looked at a white gown.
She said to the clerk, "Let me see this style. If I like it, you can get me another one."
The clerk looked at the elegant Ye Anran, thinking how different young ladies from wealthy families were, her aura so refined. She happily said, "Miss Ye, please look around. It's not a limited edition, and it can be sourced anywhere in Modu."
Ye Anran smiled faintly, picked it up, glanced at it, and then slowly placed a small item she was holding into the seam of the side pocket. The design was clever. It was white and magnetic. With a press on both sides, it became a beautiful decorative piece.
Ye Anran said to the clerk, "Please get me an S size."
She slowly put the dress back.
"Of course, Miss Ye." The clerk happily took her contact information.
Ye Anran ultimately did not take the gown and pulled her mother to another store to look at clothes.
Meanwhile, Jin Yan, pulling Jiang Nuan upstairs, was in a slightly bad mood.
Jiang Nuan looked at her mother and asked, "Mom, did you have a falling out with Madam Ye?"