Chapter 114

Bai Yun had already turned her head, unable to resist asking curiously, "Xiao Yu, is Eloxiu·Weivika your brother?"

Translation: "Bai Yun ahead had already turned her head, unable to resist asking curiously, 'Xiao Yu, is Ai Luoxiu·Peiweika your brother?'"

We need to keep punctuation? We'll output as a single line.

Mu Youyu nodded, her tone a little proud: "Yes, he's my fraternal twin brother!"

Translation: "Mu Youyu nodded, her tone a little proud: 'Yes, he is my fraternal twin brother!'"

My goodness!

My goodness!

Bai Yun gasped, obviously having heard the legendary tale of Eloxiu·Weivika: "Even if I were as smart as possible at fifteen, I could at most self-study half of the senior year curriculum, but he went straight into consecutive master's and doctoral studies!"

Translation: "Bai Yun sucked in a breath of cold air, evidently having heard the 'myth' about Ai Luoxiu·Peiweika: 'Even if I were as smart as possible at fifteen, I could at most self-study half of senior year; he directly went on to consecutive master's and doctoral studies?'"

We need to keep quotes? We'll keep as is.

He's six, otherwise how could he be called a prodigy?

Six years, otherwise how could he be called a prodigy?

I checked Princess Yan's Weibo; she said Eloxiu is the young master of the ducal manor? Then Xiao Yu would be the miss of the ducal manor? How did the Song family get involved with the ducal manor?

Translation: "I saw Princess Yan's Weibo; she said Ai Luoxiu is the young master of the Duke's Mansion? Then Xiao Yu would be the miss of the Duke's Mansion? How did the Song Family get involved with the Duke's Mansion?"

I don't know either; it seems no one in the circle has mentioned it.

Translation: "I don't know either? It seems no one in the circle has brought it up."

As a figure from the wealthy Xicheng clan, Xia Chao-yi had still heard a bit of the inside story; hearing this, he explained: "They keep a low profile, their weddings are held in Y Country, so people there know more about it."

Translation: "Xia Chao-yi, as a figure of the prominent West City clan, had also heard a bit of the inside story; upon hearing this, he spoke up to explain: 'They keep a low profile, their weddings are all held in Y Guo, so people there know more about it.'"

The former head of the Song family (Mu Youyu's maternal grandmother) and the Duke of the Weivika ducal manor in Y Country (her maternal grandfather) are from the same family.

Translation: "The former head of the Song Family (Mu Youyu's maternal grandmother) and the Duke of the Peiweika family in Y Guo (her maternal grandfather) are one family."

They also gave birth to Mu Youyu's mother, namely the Song family's eldest daughter who married into the Mu family head.

Translation: "They also gave birth to Mu Youyu's mother, namely the eldest daughter of the Song Family who married into the Mu Family's head!"

And Mu Youyu's four uncles.

Translation: "And Mu Youyu's four uncles."

However, how many children this generation has internally is hardly known to outsiders.

Translation: "However, how many children this generation has produced internally is hardly known to outsiders."

Because these two families have always kept a low profile.

Translation: "Because these two families have always kept a low profile."

No wonder! I was saying how the Mu and Song families are all as handsome as stars, and Xiao Yu is as beautiful as a little fairy—turns out it's the mixed-blood genetic heritage from Y Country!

Translation: "No wonder I said the Mu and Song families are all as handsome as stars, and Xiao Yu is as beautiful as a little fairy—turns out it's the genetic inheritance from mixed Y Guo blood!"

Mu Youyu chuckled, replying to Xia Chao-yi: "My grandparents really are low-key domestically."

Translation: "Mu Youyu chuckled, replying to Xia Chao-yi: 'My maternal grandparents really keep a low profile domestically.'"

Her maternal grandmother surnamed Song spends most of her time living in City C.

Translation: "Her maternal grandmother surnamed Song spends most of her time living in C Shi."

However, when she was in her third year of junior high, her grandmother said that because she had always been the Song family heir and never really had fun, she started traveling all over the country, sometimes going to visit her grandfather.

Translation: "However, when she was in her third year of junior high, her grandmother said that because she had been the Song Family heir and never really had fun, she started traveling all over the country, sometimes going to find her maternal grandfather."

Nowadays they hardly see each other.

Translation: "Now they hardly see each other."

And her maternal grandfather, namely the Duke of Weivika in Y Country...

Translation: "And her maternal grandfather, namely the Duke of the Peiweika family in Y Guo..."

How did the two of them meet?

Translation: "How did the two meet?"

Speaking of which, it's also somewhat unexpected; Mu Youyu heard this from her grandmother.

Translation: "Speaking of which, it's also unexpected; Mu Youyu still heard it from her grandmother."

When Mu Youyu was still in elementary school, she could stay at her grandmother's house every Friday.

Translation: "When Mu Youyu was still in elementary school, she could stay at her grandmother's house every Friday."

What she looked forward to most was rushing into her grandmother's courtyard after school to drink a bowl of sweet red date porridge.

Translation: "What she looked forward to most was rushing into her grandmother's courtyard after school to drink a bowl of sweet red date porridge."

In her grandmother's household, aside from her, there is only an old steward, with no extra staff.

Translation: "In her grandmother's household, aside from her, there was only an old butler, with no extra staff."

Mu Youyu had just come home from school, hopping and jumping into her grandmother's arms.

Translation: "Mu Youyu had just returned from school, hopping and jumping into her grandmother's arms."

The grandmother smiled and caught her, saying, "Dear, why did you get out of school so early?"

The grandmother smiled and caught her, saying, "Dear, why did you get out of school so early?"

"Yes, yes!" Mu Youyu eagerly shoved a packet of chestnuts into her grandmother's hand, saying, "This is what Ah Jin gave me!"

Translation: "'Yes, yes!' Mu Youyu, like presenting a treasure, stuffed a packet of chestnuts into her grandmother's hand: 'This is what A Jin gave me!'"

Without waiting for her grandmother's reply, she continued: "Grandma, grandma, why does our family have a jujube tree? Not apple, pear, or chestnut trees… Is it because you already knew I love jujubes? Though other trees could be planted, I still like eating chestnuts…"

Translation: "She didn't wait for her grandmother's reply, continuing: 'Grandma, grandma, why does our family have a jujube tree? Not apple, pear, or chestnut trees... Is it because you already knew I love jujubes! But other trees can be planted too; I also like eating chestnuts...'"

"This jujube tree is older than you, dear; how could you have known back then that this little glutton likes to eat jujubes?"

Translation: "'This jujube tree is older than you, dear; how could you have known back then that this little glutton likes to eat jujubes?'"

Mu Youyu's eyes became even more lively, lighting up all at once: "Could Grandma have superpowers?"

Translation: "Mu Youyu's eyes became even more lively, flashing bright all at once: 'Could Grandma have superpowers?'"

Upon hearing this, the grandmother laughed, took the chestnuts, gently pinched them with her fingertips, and her gaze drifted toward the jujube tree outside the courtyard: "Grandma certainly doesn't have superpowers… Back then, this tree was planted by your great-grandfather himself, hoping I could taste a sweet jujube before I got married; unexpectedly, it later became a longing shared between me and your grandfather."

Translation: "Upon hearing this, the grandmother laughed, took the chestnuts, pinched them lightly with her fingertips, and her gaze drifted to the jujube tree outside the courtyard: 'Grandma certainly has no superpowers... Back then, this tree was planted by your great-grandfather himself, hoping I could eat a sweet jujube before I got married; unexpectedly, it later became a longing shared between me and your maternal grandfather.'"

Mu Youyu lifted her little face, blinking her big eyes: "Grandma, grandma! How did you and Grandpa meet? My classmates said their grandparents met through arranged dating; did you two also meet that way?"

Translation: "Mu Youyu lifted her little face, blinking her big eyes: 'Grandma, grandma! How did you and Grandpa meet? Classmates say their maternal grandparents met through arranged introductions; did you two also meet that way?'"

Upon hearing this, the grandmother's smiling eyes gradually softened: "Of course not, dear—why are you suddenly curious?"

Translation: "Upon hearing this, the grandmother's originally smiling eyes gradually softened: 'Of course not, dear; why are you suddenly curious?'"

The steward nearby brought the red date porridge; Mu Youyu took it, took a sip, then pouted: "I'm just curious!"

Translation: "The butler beside them brought the red date porridge; Mu Youyu took it, took a sip, then pouted: 'I'm just curious!'"

The grandmother patted her head, beaming with affection: "All right, all right, all right! It's rare for you to want to hear a story; I'll tell you now."

Translation: "The grandmother stroked her head, looking indulgent: 'All right, all right, all right! Dear, it's rare for you to want to hear a story; I'll tell you now.'"

The grandmother slowly began: "Back then I was just over eighteen; your great-grandfather wasn't at ease with the family business, so he deliberately had me join a trade caravan to Y Country—to scout the market and learn some overseas business practices… Who would have thought that as soon as I arrived in Y Country, I'd run into a joke."

Translation: "The grandmother slowly began: 'Back then I was just over eighteen, your great-grandfather wasn't at ease with the family business, so he deliberately had me accompany a merchant caravan to Y Guo—to scout the market there and learn some overseas trade... Who would have thought that as soon as I arrived in Y Guo, I'd become a laughingstock.'"

The Song family is a century-old mercantile conglomerate, consistently ranking among the top four in strength, capability, and wealth within Z Country.

Translation: "The Song Family is a century-old merchant conglomerate, its strength, ability, and wealth consistently ranking among the top four in Z Guo."

However, Y Country's market is different—there are many rules, and the channels are complex—so your great-grandfather just wanted her to go and learn…

Translation: "But Y Guo's market is different, with many rules and complex channels, so your great-grandfather just wanted her to go and learn..."

The grandmother's voice was gentle: "Your great-grandfather also had me look for local distributors to cooperate with; on my very first day in Y Country, I was busy meeting with a pre-arranged chamber of commerce—only to encounter a heavy rainstorm halfway there."

Translation: "The grandmother's voice gentle: 'Your great-grandfather had me additionally seek out local distributors to cooperate; on my first day arriving in Y Guo, I was busy meeting with the pre-arranged chamber of commerce, but unexpectedly I ran into a heavy rainstorm halfway.'"

She was wearing a black cheongsam, stepping in embroidered shoes while looking for her pre-booked hotel; the heel sank into a crack in the stone pavement and broke, leaving her floundering and almost falling into the mud.

Translation: "She wore a black cheongsam, stepped in embroidered shoes while looking for the booked hotel; the heel sank into a crack in the stone pavement and broke, leaving her in a sorry state, almost falling into the mud."

Mu Youyu let out a "yah" here, instinctively grabbing her grandmother's hand: "Did Grandma fall?"

Translation: "Mu Youyu gasped upon hearing this, instinctively grabbing her grandmother's hand: 'Did Grandma fall?'"

"No! Just a close call!" the grandmother laughed, shaking her head.

Translation: "'No! Just a close call!' the grandmother laughed, shaking her head."

At that time she was still the Song family's only child, the most cherished eldest daughter, never having suffered even the slightest grievance growing up—yet on a foreign street, faced with her broken embroidered shoe, she was at a loss.

Translation: "At that time she was still the Song Family's only child, the most pampered eldest daughter, having never suffered the slightest grievance from childhood onward, yet on a foreign street, faced with the broken heel of her embroidered shoes, she was at a loss."

Rain soaked the hem of her cheongsam, the earrings at her temples swaying wildly; as she crouched by the roadside, eyes red with anger, cursing Y Country's awful weather, a white umbrella steadily opened above her head.

Translation: "Rain soaked the hem of her cheongsam, the earrings at her temples swaying wildly; just as she squatted by the roadside, eyes red with anger, cursing Y Guo's terrible weather, a white umbrella steadily opened above her head."

"Look up and you'll see your grandfather standing in the rain, wearing a black suit, the family crest pinned to his chest, with a few attendants behind him… Back then your grandfather was actually a year younger than me; despite being the heir of the ducal manor, he had no airs at all."

Translation: "'Looking up, I saw your maternal grandfather standing in the rain, wearing a black suit, with the family crest pinned to his chest, followed by several attendants... Back then your maternal grandfather was a year younger than me; although he was the heir to the Duke's Mansion, he had no airs at all.'"

As the grandmother said this, the corners of her mouth curved into a faint smile: "He spoke to me in a somewhat awkward Z language, asking… asking if I needed help; his voice sounded like a cello after rain, he was handsome, especially those ice‑blue eyes—I stared, dumbfounded, and forgot to answer."

Translation: "The grandmother continued, the corners of her mouth curling into a slight arc: 'He spoke to me in somewhat awkward Z Guo language... asking if I needed help, his voice like a cello after the rain, he was also handsome, especially those ice-blue eyes! I was so dazed I forgot to answer.'"

The grandfather squatted down, gently helping the grandmother remove the broken heel, then pulled a clean white handkerchief from his inner suit pocket and handed it to her to wipe the rain from her face.

Translation: "The maternal grandfather squatted down, gently helping her remove the broken heel, then produced a clean white handkerchief from his suit's inner pocket, handing it to her to wipe the rain from her face."

Afterward, they got to know each other a bit.

Translation: "Afterward, the two got to know each other a bit."

Only then did the grandmother learn that her grandfather had just finished a royal meeting that day, had already begun taking charge of part of the ducal manor's enterprises, and happened to be passing by that street.

Translation: "The grandmother then learned that the maternal grandfather had just finished a meeting at the royal court that day, having already begun to take charge of some of the Duke's Mansion's enterprises, and happened to be passing by that street."

Upon learning that the grandmother's destination was not far ahead, the grandfather offered to give her a ride.

Translation: "Upon learning that the grandmother's destination was not far ahead, the maternal grandfather offered to send her there."

"He walked beside me, constantly tilting the umbrella toward me, so his own shoulder got soaked; the attendants didn't know why they didn't step forward." The grandmother's gaze grew distant.

Translation: "'He walked beside me, constantly tilting the umbrella toward me, his own half shoulder soaked by the rain, the attendants not knowing why they didn't step forward.' The grandmother's gaze grew distant."

"I asked him how he could speak Z language; he said he had previously accompanied a mentor on an exchange to Z Country, and that he liked Z Country's food and poetry, especially the verses of Li Yan! Come to think of it, at that time I was obsessed with Li Yan's love poems."

Translation: "'I asked him how he could speak Z Guo language; he said he had previously followed a mentor to Z Guo for exchange, and also liked Z Guo's food and poetry, especially the poems of Li Yan! Come to think of it, back then I was obsessed with Li Yan's love poems.'"

Li Yan was a Romantic poet from ancient times.

Translation: "Li Yan was a Romantic poet of ancient times."

Thus, the two seemed to meet kindred spirits and chatted all the way.

Translation: "Thus, the two seemed to meet kindred spirits, chatting all the way."

Upon reaching the hotel entrance, the grandmother tried to return the umbrella, but he waved it off with a laugh, saying the umbrella could serve as compensation—after all, letting a Song family young lady from Z Country suffer injustice in Y Country.

Translation: "Upon reaching the hotel entrance, the grandmother wanted to return the umbrella, but he waved it off with a smile, saying to consider it compensation—after all, letting the Z Guo Song Family's eldest daughter suffer injustice in Y Guo."

He also took out a business card from his pocket, printed with the name "Le·Kela·Weivika" and the address of the ducal manor, in Y Country script.

Translation: "He also took out a business card from his pocket, printed with the name 'Lekele·Peiweika' and the address of the Duke's Mansion, the script in Y Guo language."

He said not to therefore dislike everything related to Y Country, and that if she ever encountered trouble in Y Country later and still wanted to understand its business practices, she could always find him.

Translation: "He said not to therefore dislike everything related to Y Guo, and that if she later encountered trouble in Y Guo or wanted to understand its business circles, she could always find him."

Grandma said slowly: "At that time I saw and knew he was from the Duke's Mansion; I felt embarrassed to bother him, so I took it as mere polite talk. I never expected that after a month, when I went to Y Guo, I would meet him again."