Chapter 132: She

The next day, the heavens were kind, with crisp autumn air.

The Guoying Hotel's largest banquet hall had already been decorated festively and bustlingly.

Bright red double‑happiness characters and auspicious melon‑fruit paper‑cuttings were pasted on the bright glass windows, and directly ahead hung a banner that Jiang Jianguo had specially commissioned—

"Enthusiastically celebrating the one‑month‑old joy of little Jiang Huaijin and Nian An."

The Jiang Family arrived at the hotel early to greet.

Jiang Jianguo and Li Huijuan, dressed in brand‑new clothes, wore unmistakable smiles as they stood at the entrance welcoming a stream of guests.

Grandma Jiang sat beside the main table, accompanied by Jiang Jiaojiao, cheerfully receiving congratulations from old sisters and neighbors, while her gaze periodically drifted affectionately toward the lounge behind—where her great‑grandson and great‑granddaughter were.

Inside the lounge, Su Ruan was already dressed neatly.

She wore a lotus‑colored Modified Cheongsam that Jiang Ran had specially tailored for her—proper yet loose and comfortable, accentuating her post‑partum restored figure, making her appear even more gentle and charming, with a rosy complexion and eyes radiating the soft glow of a new mother.

At this moment, she and Jiang Ran were dressing Jinjin and An'an in the Dragon‑Phoenix Full Moon Outfit.

When the two little darlings, clad in bright red silk, embroidered with golden dragons and colorful phoenixes, and edged with snow‑white rabbit fur, were placed side by side on chairs padded with cushions, the entire lounge seemed to brighten.

"My heavens, this is just too handsome!" Aunt Wang, a person from Quanfú who had been specially invited to help, stared with eyes wide open, repeatedly praising, "I've been shaving full‑moon hair for so many years, and I've never seen such perfectly proportioned, luxuriously dressed babies! And both of them! Factory Director Jiang's family is truly blessed!"

Jiang Ran delicately tapped the tiny golden dragon horn on his son's hat with his finger, then gently brushed the soft pink pom‑pom atop his daughter's hat, so proud his tail seemed about to lift to the heavens, yet he pretended modesty with his words.

"Aunt Wang, you're flattering me; it's mainly because the mother's design looks good, and my grandma and mother are skillful with their handcraft."

Su Ruan looked at the pair of children, her heart softening like melting honey.

She bent down and placed a gentle kiss on each of Jinjin's and An'an's foreheads.

The auspicious moment had arrived; the full‑moon banquet officially began.

When Jiang Ran and Su Ruan each held a child and appeared at the banquet hall entrance, the previously noisy hall fell silent for a heartbeat, then erupted into even louder chatter and exclamations.

"Look! It's out! It's out!"

"Oh! These are the Dragon‑Phoenix twins? They're really beautiful!"

"Look at those clothes! My god, the embroidery, the fabric—exquisite! It must have been designed by Su Ruan herself, right?"

"Dragon‑like pattern, phoenix‑like bearing, such a good omen! The Jiang Family is really making a splash this time!"

"Look at Jiang Ran, that kid, grinning so wide his teeth are showing; I've never seen him so silly before!"

The ensuing proceedings went smoothly and warmly.

During the hair‑cutting ceremony, Jinjin merely hummed twice, while An'an was obedient the whole time. Aunt Wang kept uttering auspicious words, wrapped the shaved newborn hair in red paper, and handed it to Li Huijuan for safe keeping.

The Zhuazhou segment further drove the atmosphere to a climax. The two little ones were placed on a long table covered with red cloth, surrounded by an array of items symbolizing a bright future.

The adults held their breath, watching intently.

Jinjin's grape‑black eyes scanned around, and his small hand, without hesitation, reached for the tiny jade seal stamp, seized it, and clutched it tightly to his chest.

"Oh! Got the seal! In the future he'll become a high official, wielding authority!"

On the other side, Nian An extended her pinky fingertip, first touching the colorful Children's Book, then turning to the delicate Wolf Hair Fine Calligraphy Brush.

Finally, the two tiny hands together pulled both the brush and the book to themselves.

"Great, great, great! Got the book and the ink—he's aiming for both literary and martial excellence, talent beyond peers!" Another round of cheers erupted.

Jiang Ran, watching the scene, his face flushed with excitement, leaned toward Su Ruan's ear, lowered his voice and said, "Wife, look! Our son and daughter, so promising!"

Su Ruan pressed her lips into a light smile, her heart also full of pride.

She knew it was merely for good luck, but seeing the children healthy and lively was the greatest satisfaction.

After the children finished their grabs, the feast officially began.

Su Yanhua hid behind the heavy velvet curtain, maliciously watching Su Ruan's family.

Her gaze slowly shifted away from Su Ruan and Jiang Ran.

Finally, it settled on the two swaddles that Li Huijuan and Grandma Jiang were cradling carefully.

These two little brats, their arrival, completely cemented Su Ruan's unshakable position in the Jiang Family!

It is because of them that Su Ruan possesses a completeness that Su Yanhua can never attain!

If they weren't here… if these two little things met with any mishap…

A frantic, vicious thought instantly tangled her entire mind!

Yes, if these two children were gone, could Su Ruan still laugh like this now?

Would the Jiang Family still be this harmonious?

Would Jiang Ran still dote on her that way?

Destroy it all! Just destroy these two little things!

A sickly excitement mixed with extreme fear made Su Yanhua's body tremble slightly.

She stared fixedly at the two children.

Opportunity… she needs an opportunity…

With the hall crowded and eyes everywhere, she couldn't rush straight over.

She must wait, must find a moment when everyone is lax.

The banquet continued, the wine poured three rounds, and the atmosphere grew ever more convivial.

The men gathered to drink and chat, while the women circled the two children, cooing in amazement and teasing the little ones.

Su Ruan was pulled into conversation by a few familiar female friends; Jiang Ran, though he stayed near her and the children most of the time, occasionally had to entertain brothers and elders who came to toast.

Li Huijuan and Grandma Jiang, being elderly, found it somewhat tiring to hold the children for so long.

Jiang Jiaojiao, seeing this, took brother Jinjin from Li Huijuan's hands, cradling him carefully, while Yan Shen guarded nearby.

"Mom, Grandma, please sit down and rest, have something to eat; Yan Shen and I will watch the children," Jiang Jiaojiao said.

Li Huijuan indeed felt her arms sore, so she and Grandma Jiang returned to the main table, temporarily placing sister Nian An on a nearby chair padded with thick soft cushions, with Jiang Jianguo, who was seated on the outer side, watching over her.

Now!

Su Yanhua's heart raced wildly.

Younger sister Nian An was placed alone on a chair a short distance from the main table; although Jiang Jianguo was right beside her, he was turning his head to talk with another factory leader, and his gaze briefly left the child.

Jiang Jiaojiao, cradling her brother Jinjin, and Gu Yanshen were surrounded by a few youngsters, who were admiring the child's exquisite clothing.

The entrance to the corridor leading to the back lounge and kitchen was not far from the chair where Nian An sat.

She stepped closer, one foot after another.

Ten steps, nine steps, eight steps…

She could even see the cute sight of Nian An's little mouth slightly pouted.

At that moment, Jiang Jianguo, who had been turning his head to speak with someone else, seemed to sense something—perhaps driven by a father's and grandfather's instinct—and instinctively turned his head back, his eyes sweeping toward his granddaughter's direction.

His gaze met Su Yanhua, who was lowering her head, eyes fierce and fixed, walking straight toward Nian An, dead on target!