Shen Xitong was in a good mood today, thinking of going upstairs to see Chu Yunrong when she ran into Sister-in-law Song. Sister-in-law Song's expression was cold and, while respectful, it lacked the heartfelt affection shown towards Shen Qinglan.
Shen Xitong curled her lip—it was just a servant, after all.
She went upstairs, and Chu Yunrong's room door was tightly closed. Shen Xitong knocked but received no response; she called out again, "Mom, are you there?"
Chu Yunrong was drinking porridge, which despite its sweetness, tasted unbearably bitter in her mouth. She hadn't expected that Shen Qinglan would know she liked lotus seed porridge and had asked Sister-in-law Song to prepare it for her.
Chu Yunrong had heard the knock at the door and knew from the sound that it was Shen Xitong. In the past, she would have gotten up to open the door immediately, but today, for the first time, she pretended not to hear.