Chapter 414 - 413: I’ll Take It All

Huo Yue Lan quickly called over the gardeners responsible for the old mansion’s landscaping and had them start digging holes.

Yun Zijin stood to the side, simply watching as Huo Yue Lan directed the commotion.

Lu Zhengguo and Xu Su Hua had also heard from others about Huo Yue Lan’s strange behavior since she’d returned, so they came over out of curiosity.

When they saw Huo Yue Lan having people dig holes, the elderly couple felt their temples begin to throb.

"Yue Lan, what are you doing?"

’Huo Yue Lan is usually such a sensible person. Why is she suddenly tearing up the family’s lawn?’

Xu Su Hua couldn’t understand it.

"Mom, I got two seeds from Zijin and wanted to try planting them here to see if they’ll grow."

"What kind of seeds are worth tearing up the old mansion’s yard for?"

In Xu Su Hua’s view, every plant and tree in the Lu Family’s Old Mansion had been meticulously planned by a designer. The slightest change would ruin the overall aesthetic.

If two trees were just planted here randomly—not to mention whether they’d even survive—the style of the entire courtyard’s landscape could be destroyed.

"This is it!"

Huo Yue Lan took out her phone and pulled up the photos she had taken of the Fire Tree and Ice Tree at Xingyu Mansion.

Upon seeing the photos of the Fire Tree and Ice Tree, Xu Su Hua’s first thought was, ’Aren’t these fake trees?’

But seeing how adamant Huo Yue Lan was, she grew a little doubtful and turned to look at Yun Zijin.

"Zijin, is what she’s saying true?"

This showed that Xu Su Hua trusted Yun Zijin more than she trusted Huo Yue Lan.

It couldn’t be helped. Huo Yue Lan could be really unreliable at times.

Back then, if Lu Xianzhang and Huo Yue Lan hadn’t fallen for each other, Xu Su Hua actually wouldn’t have been keen on Huo Yue Lan becoming her daughter-in-law.

But what could she do? Her son liked her, and she wasn’t the type of parent to break up a happy couple.

"It’s true. Grandma Xu, if you don’t believe me, you can go to Xingyu Mansion and see for yourself."

"There’s no need. I believe you."

Xu Su Hua trusted Yun Zijin a great deal. Although the girl was still young, she had a very mature personality and wouldn’t lie to an old woman like her about something like this.

Since Yun Zijin had confirmed it, Xu Su Hua began to examine the photos seriously. She had to admit, the two trees were truly beautiful.

Even if they were planted in the courtyard, they wouldn’t ruin the overall aesthetic. In fact, it even made her want to plant a couple in her own yard.

"Zijin, dear, where did you buy these seeds? I’d like to buy a couple to plant in my yard, too."

Everyone wants beautiful things.

"Grandma Xu, one of my elders gave me the seeds. You can’t buy them anywhere."

’The seeds came from the system; you couldn’t find another like them on all of Blue Star. Of course they couldn’t be bought in a store.’

Hearing this, Xu Su Hua sighed in disappointment. She had been hoping to buy some seeds and try planting them herself.

"If you like them, Grandma Xu, I have more. I can bring some for you next time."

Yun Zijin hadn’t taken out the seeds in front of Huo Yue Lan when she arrived, so she couldn’t produce them now.

Hearing that Yun Zijin had more, the old woman’s eyes lit up. "Wonderful! How much are they? I’ll buy them from you!"

Xu Su Hua thought that even if two seeds weren’t worth much, she couldn’t just take them for free and let Yun Zijin be out of pocket.

"Mom, the way you’re talking makes it sound like I’m some kind of freeloader."

Hearing Xu Su Hua offer to buy them, Huo Yue Lan felt her face flush with embarrassment.

’She hadn’t actually paid Yun Zijin for the seeds. It wasn’t on purpose; she’d just been too excited and completely forgot about it!’

"So you didn’t pay, and that’s my fault?"

Xu Su Hua didn’t spare Huo Yue Lan’s feelings and retorted directly.

However, Yun Zijin could tell their bickering was just part of how they interacted; there was no real malice between them.

"It’s fine. They’re just a couple of seeds, nothing valuable. Please, consider them my gift to you all."

Yun Zijin wasn’t about to haggle over the price of a few seeds. Besides, even if they hadn’t asked, she was planning to send some over after Lu Yunque’s auction anyway.

The Lu Family had always been very good to her, and Yun Zijin genuinely considered them her elders.

’She couldn’t possibly let her own elders fight with strangers at an auction over a couple of Ice Trees and Fire Trees.’

Even if they didn’t mind, neither she nor Lu Yunque could do something so "filial."

"Alright! In that case, I’ll be waiting for your seeds, little Zijin!"

Huo Yue Lan shot a glare at the old woman. ’See? In the end, she didn’t pay either, just like me.’

The old woman haughtily turned her face away, ignoring Huo Yue Lan.

’There’s a difference between not paying and the other person insisting they don’t want your money. The principle is completely different.’

Although she knew Yun Zijin wouldn’t mind, Xu Su Hua still showed her the proper respect.

However, Huo Yue Lan wasn’t completely clueless. Now that she thought about it, she realized it had been inappropriate of her not to have mentioned payment earlier.

Even though Yun Zijin had just said it was a gift, she couldn’t just do nothing in return.

"Zijin, I was being thoughtless just now. Don’t you worry, I’ll have that son of mine, Lu Yunque, make it up to you.

The last time I was at Van Cleef & Arpels, I saw a watch that would be perfect for you. I’ll have him buy it for you!"

Having made a mistake herself, Huo Yue Lan immediately started throwing her son under the bus.

Huo Yue Lan was reluctant to dip into her own private savings, but she had no qualms about fleecing her son.

Yun Zijin: ...

’Does your son know you set him up like this?’

"No, really, there’s no need. Even if you insisted, Auntie, I wouldn’t accept it. It’s just two seeds, and it’s not even certain they’ll survive."

’Alright, so Lu Yunque is charging 500,000 a pop for them.’

’But I’m not going to be the one to say it. As long as I keep my mouth shut, no one will ever know,’

Huo Yue Lan didn’t bring it up again, but she had already decided to call Lu Yunque as soon as they finished planting the Ice Tree and Fire Tree.

Yun Zijin was unaware of Huo Yue Lan’s plan and, seeing that she’d dropped the subject, assumed the matter was settled.

With the help of the old mansion’s gardeners, the two seeds were planted without a hitch. Yun Zijin also reminded them to water the spots.

Of course, no one expected the newly planted seeds to sprout on the spot, so everyone soon dispersed.

Yun Zijin had planned to leave after watching them finish, but to her surprise, Huo Yue Lan and Xu Su Hua insisted she stay.

Thinking she didn’t have anything else to do, Yun Zijin agreed.

However, to avoid being kept there too late, Yun Zijin sent a message to Lu Yunque, asking him to keep an eye on the time and come rescue her from the old mansion.

Lu Yunque replied a short while later. Reassured, Yun Zijin settled in to make small talk with Xu Su Hua and Huo Yue Lan.

Lu Zhengguo had initially stayed in the living room with them, but he soon found he couldn’t get a word in edgewise. Feeling bored, he picked up his cane and went out for a stroll with his security aide.

＊

After the auditions concluded, Gao Mi’s production team went into full swing, preparing for the opening ceremony.

However, an auspicious date had to be chosen for the ceremony. After consulting Yun Zijin, Gao Mi finally settled on November 1st.