Back at the villa, Qin Tianyi asked Susu to rest in the bedroom while he went to his study to search online for ways to minimize nausea and maximize nutrition for pregnant women.
Susu spent her days eating and sleeping, but she couldn't sleep in her room during the day.
She wanted to give Tianyi a surprise for the New Year. While Tianyi wasn't by her side, she decided to continue preparing this surprise for him.
On New Year's Eve, as Susu and Tianyi stayed up to celebrate, she casually suggested that on the first day of the New Year, she'd like to take Xiao Xingxing to a scenic spot for a few days, away from the big city, to be close to nature.
Qin Tianyi didn't object, but he couldn't decide where to go.
Susu opened her social media, found some scenic photos posted by Ya Nan, and said, "Let's go here. Ya Nan just went and said the scenery is beautiful, and there are hot springs too."
"Can you soak in hot springs while you're pregnant?" Qin Tianyi already knew a lot about what pregnant women needed to be careful about. "And driving too far might be too much for you."
"It's okay. You and Xiao Xingxing can enjoy the hot springs, and I'll be happy just watching you play," Susu said, looking eager. "Besides, we just had a check-up, and the doctor said both me and the babies are doing fine. Let's go out for a bit."
Hearing her say this, Qin Tianyi's heart softened. "Alright, alright. Where is this place? Send me the location."
As Susu sent the location, she said, "Ya Nan told me this place is called Xianhu Town, and it's not too far from Lancheng."
Qin Tianyi entered the location into his phone's navigation and, putting his arm around her, said, "Then let's not stay up any longer. Let's get some rest so we have enough energy to leave tomorrow."
"Ok!"
The next morning, Qin Tianyi, Susu, and Xiao Xingxing set off for Xianhu Town.
Upon arriving in Xianhu Town, Susu led Tianyi to the vacation villa they had booked online.
They arrived in front of an old house. As Susu was about to push open the first wooden fence, Qin Tianyi asked curiously, "Are you sure this is the vacation villa Ya Nan booked for us? It doesn't look like it."
Susu checked the location on her phone again and said, "Yes, it's here. It looks a bit old from the outside, but the vacation villas here are said to be converted from old houses. We'll know once we go inside; it must be nice inside."
"Daddy, look at all the flowers in the yard," Xiao Xingxing was already eager to play in the yard.
Qin Tianyi said, "It's the middle of winter, and there are still so many flowers blooming here. It's quite strange."
"It's because there are hot springs underground here. Even though the weather is cold, the soil on the ground is still warm," Susu explained.
Qin Tianyi said with a bit of surprise, "You've done your homework on Xianhu Town. You like it so much, we can buy a house here and come whenever we want."
"Mr. Qin, that's not necessary," Susu said, pushing open the wooden fence and letting Xiao Xingxing run in first.
Qin Tianyi followed Xiao Xingxing, with Susu walking behind, wondering if the person who was supposed to bring Tianyi a surprise would show up.
But Susu had already made arrangements by phone and truly hoped that person had let go of their resentment towards Tianyi.
Qin Tianyi stood in the yard in front of the house and noticed that the flowers and weeds grew together, not as vibrant as the flowers in the Qin family's grand house's flower room.
He suddenly realized that the flowers planted in this yard were almost identical to those in the Qin family's grand house.
He couldn't help but squat down, intending to pull out the weeds next to the flowers, when a voice came from inside the house, "Second Young Master, please don't touch the flowers in the yard."
Hearing this voice, Qin Tianyi froze.
Susu looked happily towards the house, "Mom Rong, you're here."
The door of the house was pushed open from the inside, and Mom Rong, with white hair and a hunched back, walked out leaning on a cane. She looked at Susu and said, "Second Young Madam, welcome to you and Second Young Master."
Xiao Xingxing ran up to Mom Rong and politely said, "Hello, Grandma."
Seeing Xiao Xingxing, Mom Rong's face broke into a happy smile. "Is this your child, Young Master?"
Susu nodded and turned to pull Qin Tianyi.
Qin Tianyi slowly straightened up, looking at Mom Rong, still unable to believe he was seeing her again. He didn't know what to say.
"Please come in. Rooms have been prepared for you, and food too. It's quite a long way, you must be tired?" Mom Rong took Xiao Xingxing's hand and turned to go inside.
Susu tugged at the still stunned Qin Tianyi and said, "Let's go, Mom Rong is calling us inside."
Qin Tianyi, however, held her back, preventing her from moving, and asked, "How did you find Mom Rong? Why would she agree to see me?"
"I told her everything I know, and she should understand now. The Old Madam's death back then wasn't your fault; it was the scheme of Jin Meiyao and her son," Susu said, patting his hand to calm his nerves. "It wasn't your fault. You didn't truly destroy the Qin Group. Mom Rong doesn't blame you, and the Old Madam in heaven won't blame you either."
Qin Tianyi was deeply touched and walked into the house hand in hand with her.
The furnishings inside were also very old, all items with a history.
Mom Rong invited them to sit, and Susu helped her bring out some steaming hot dishes.
When Qin Tianyi saw that they were all his favorite dishes, his eyes couldn't help but well up.
"Mom Rong, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were living here alone. Please come back with us this time..."
"I like living here. Staying here feels like I'm back in my youth with the Old Madam," Mom Rong said, putting down her cane and shaking her head. "The big city isn't as good as this place. I won't go back with you."
As she spoke, she kept looking at Xiao Xingxing, constantly adding delicious dishes to his bowl, and sighed, "The Old Madam would have been so happy to know she has a great-grandson."
Susu couldn't help but lower her head and wipe away tears. "It's all my fault. I failed the Old Madam's trust back then and shouldn't have run away from the Qin family... Otherwise, perhaps Jin Meiyao wouldn't have had the chance to sow discord between Tianyi and the Old Madam..."
"Alas, it's all fate," Mom Rong patted Susu's leg and said, "I've come to terms with it now. Jin Meiyao always wanted to monopolize the Qin family's wealth, and the Old Madam was very wary of her, but she couldn't guard against her no matter how hard she tried. If the Second Young Master hadn't pretended to be foolish and deceived everyone, they would have squandered everything sooner or later, and the Old Madam would have been angered to death by them! The Second Young Master's only mistake was not keeping it from the Old Madam. If the Old Madam had known earlier, she would have helped you..."
"I'm sorry. I just wanted Grandma to have a peaceful old age and not worry about these things anymore. I thought it wouldn't be too late to tell you after dealing with Jin Meiyao and her son, but I never expected... I never expected they would be so insane as to use Grandma to strike at me," Qin Tianyi said with great remorse.