Li Zhuiyuan truly hadn’t expected the first thing the woman would ask after just waking up from her near-death experience.

The young man exited the room. Granny Yao was waiting at the end of the hallway, and Li Zhuiyuan walked over to her.

“Young Master, please.”

Granny Yao gestured towards her side.

Li Zhuiyuan entered. There was a single table inside, set with two cold dishes, three hot dishes, and a winter melon soup, accompanied by a set of chopsticks and a bowl.

Given the rushed circumstances, it was impossible to prepare a formal banquet. These were simple home-cooked dishes, very clean and intentionally plated.

Granny Yao did not come in; she left immediately.

This indicated that she intended for the young man to eat alone.

Li Zhuiyuan had previously said he would be uncomfortable if they were too formal. However, Granny Yao simply couldn’t imagine herself and her entire family dining with the young master. Unable to comply with his request to be less distant, she resorted to this unconventional approach.

Granny Yao’s family ate in another room. Li Zhuiyuan could hear her two grandsons asking why they had to eat in a different place today. Granny Yao ignored them, simply reiterating what the two grandsons needed to pay attention to later.

Yao Nianen just focused on eating his rice.

His wife couldn’t help but ask if the young man was from a prominent background.

Yao Nianen reached out to nudge his wife.

His wife then asked him why he nudged her.

Granny Yao said, “Since you married into this family, although I haven’t let you live a life of great wealth and luxury, I also haven’t made you toil, nor have I ever let you struggle with money.”

She stopped mid-sentence; there was no need to say the rest. His wife respectfully lowered her head and continued eating.

The money for her brother’s schooling, the gifts for securing his job through connections, and even her parents’ medical expenses—all had been voluntarily covered by her mother-in-law. In this household, whenever her mother-in-law put on a stern face, she truly lacked the courage to meet her gaze.

But Granny Yao knew that her past life had been supported by Miss Liu, and her son’s health and ability to have two grandsons were also thanks to Miss Liu.

While Li Zhuiyuan was still eating, Granny Yao and her two grandsons were already waiting in the hallway outside.

The two grandsons were taken from the table by their grandmother before they had even finished eating. However, their parents were always obedient in front of Granny Yao, so the boys didn’t dare to grumble in protest.

Li Zhuiyuan disliked such formality, but the elderly woman had received favor from Liu Yumei and wished to express her gratitude this way, as well as to relish the memory. If he did not cooperate, it would only leave her feeling deeply regretful.

When the young man finished eating, he gently set down his chopsticks. Granny Yao heard the sound and slowly walked to the doorway.

“Young Master, I’ve brought my two little ones to pay their respects by bowing to you.”

“Let’s formally meet them, then.”

The two grandsons were beckoned inside.

Granny Yao’s hands rested on the back of her two grandsons’ necks, signaling them to kneel and pay their respects. Before they could even lower themselves, Li Zhuiyuan voluntarily left his seat, walked over to them, and asked what grade they were in and how their final exam results were.

This, in turn, made it impossible for Granny Yao to make the children kneel.

The two children were unafraid of strangers, primarily because Li Zhuiyuan was not much older than them, and they both answered with smiles.

Li Zhuiyuan: “You must study hard.”

Granny Yao: “These two boys are quite mischievous, but when it comes to their studies, their parents genuinely don’t have to worry.”

Speaking of this, Granny Yao couldn’t help but smile.

The family lived a harmonious life, and the younger generation’s schooling was successful. The two children, two years apart in age and one grade apart in school, were both class monitors in their respective classes.

After formally meeting, a gift was expected.

But Li Zhuiyuan’s awkwardness stemmed from this: he wasn’t like Liu Yumei, who could effortlessly remove a jade thumb ring and give it away.

He had quite a few trinkets on him, but they were mostly malevolent artifacts that he had to keep under control, making them unsuitable as gifts. That was why he had intentionally set the stage earlier.

Li Zhuiyuan: “How about this: from now on, I’ll have someone send a set of study guides every quarter. I compiled them myself, and they’re called ‘Zhuiyuan’s Secret Volumes’.”

The two grandsons: “…”

Granny Yao: “What are you waiting for? Thank the Young Master quickly!”

The two grandsons felt a strong sense of discomfort. Their smiles vanished, and they muttered to themselves:

“Where on earth is this person from, giving out test papers as gifts?”

“Thank you, Young Master.”

“Thank you, Young Master.”

Granny Yao: “You may both go back now.”

Hearing this, the two grandsons immediately turned and left the room, afraid that if they stayed any longer, more gifts would be added.

Li Zhuiyuan sat down at the table and motioned for Granny Yao to sit as well. Granny Yao acknowledged him and sat stiffly on the edge of a chair opposite him.

“Thank you so much, Young Master.”

“Please apologize to the children for me; I wasn’t properly prepared.”

“No, Miss Liu told me that you, Young Master, are a reincarnation of Wenchang Star, a top scholar. What you bestowed is an aura of scholarship; it’s the two children who lack understanding.”

Granny Liu, she really tells you everything.

Li Zhuiyuan: “These days, the martial arts world in Luoyang has been restless. You and your family should avoid going out for the time being.”

Granny Yao: “Yes, I will instruct them.”

By tradition, after lighting the lamp and traversing the river, one is no longer permitted to receive family protection or support; otherwise, there will be a backlash.

Therefore, families with established heritage would sever all financial ties, much like a family division, before their descendants lit the lamp. This sometimes even involved expelling them from the household, family registry, or sect.

That was precisely how the Zhao family arranged things before Zhao Yi lit his lamp.

The reason Li Zhuiyuan dared to bring Chen Xiyuan here for treatment was also because Granny Yao had long since ceased to be a member of the Liu family.

She had her contract voided and was expelled from the Liu family.

Even now, if she helps Liu Yume