Mrs. Zhan’s heart melted into a puddle. "From now on, you’ll have grandparents to dote on you."

"I’ll dote on her too," Zhan Chi insisted, trying to butt in.

Zhan Yi, though moved, turned back and said impatiently, "You, be quiet."

"..."

"Alright, alright, don’t just cling to the little girl and not let go." Old Master Gu couldn’t watch anymore and pulled Zhan Yi away.

Qian Fu was envious and took a few steps forward as well. "Granddaughter."

Ye Qianning looked up. Setting aside her connection to the Qian family, she genuinely admired Qian Fu. He was intelligent and talented. If he hadn’t become a monk back then, Prime Minister Gao would have had some serious competition.

"Grandfather." An elder stood before her; respect was due.

"Mm, very good. A remarkable child, full of spirit." Though Qian Fu didn’t show it like Old Master Gu and the Zhan family, he was so excited he could have flown.

From now on, he too would have both a grandson and a granddaughter. That was enough for one lifetime.

The indifference in Qian Fanji’s eyes softened.

"Grandpa Zhan, Grandma Zhan, Grandpa Qian, Great-Grandpa." Ye Qianning stood firm, her gaze sweeping over them as she earnestly addressed each one.

"Grandpa’s here."

"Granddaughter."

"Blood ties aside, I’m willing to call you Grandfather and Grandmother. But if you’re asking me to move into your residence, I’m afraid I can’t agree to that." From the moment she had stepped into the Xiang family’s home with Xiang Minghou, Ye Qianning had decided she was one of them.

Even though she had acknowledged her elders, she didn’t want to leave the Xiang family.

She was all her dad had left. If she left, how pitiful would he be all by himself?

Xiang Minghou had been a little nervous. He really couldn’t bear to see the child go to another family. Hearing his daughter’s words, the anxiety in his heart quietly eased.

"This... Pangtuan, you’re not coming home with us?" Mrs. Zhan was stunned.

Ye Qianning shook her head. "I think it’s best to keep things as they are. Besides, the fewer people who know about this right now, the better."

"How can that be? You’re..."

"Grandmother, if you miss me, I’ll visit you at the Zhan family estate often."

Mrs. Zhan was still not resigned to it.

"Are you still angry with that brat Zhan Chi? Grandpa will teach him a lesson for you." Zhan Yi’s heart ached too; he really wanted his granddaughter to come home with them.

"I don’t hold a grudge against any of them. But if you’re asking me to formally acknowledge them, I can’t do it," Ye Qianning said very seriously.

Zhan Chi, Gu Shuo, and Qian Fanji were all taken aback, but they didn’t say anything more.

’They brought this on themselves. They couldn’t blame anyone else. The fact that she could calmly call them Grandfather and Grandmother was already pushing her limits.’

Annoyed, Old Master Gu thumped Gu Shuo again. It had taken three generations to have a girl in the family, and he had gone and messed it all up.

"It’s alright, Granddaughter. As long as you acknowledge us, your grandparents, it doesn’t matter whether you acknowledge that brat or not." Zhan Yi was very open-minded about it. After all, the old couple had already given up hope of their "brat" ever getting married.

Now that they had a granddaughter to hold, they wouldn’t ask for anything more.

"..." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Zhan Chi was already feeling miserable, and upon hearing this, he couldn’t help but roll his eyes.

’I’ll have to atone for the sins I’ve committed myself...’

"I’m content that you’re willing to acknowledge me as your grandfather." Qian Fu was still very happy. "Since you want to live at the General’s Residence, then stay there. But don’t you forget, little one, the Qian Residence is your home too."

"Mm," Ye Qianning nodded.

Qian Fu fingered his Buddha Beads, extremely satisfied.

"Granddaughter, the Zhan family home is your home too. I won’t ask for you to live with us permanently, but you must come home and stay for a while every now and then." Since the child had been so clear, Mrs. Zhan didn’t press the issue.

"Yes, I think Mrs. Zhan is right. You have to come back to the Gu family’s home for a while too," Old Master Gu agreed.

"Old Master Gu, I was talking about Pangtuan coming back to the Zhan family."

"It’s the same thing. They’re all her home. If she goes to the Zhan family, she has to go to the Gu family too."

Mrs. Zhan’s brow furrowed. Old Master Gu really knew how to jump on the bandwagon.