Chapter 188: Chapter 188: Gifts

On the third night of Lu Xiao’s stay at the Duke Garieldo Mansion, Cecilia gathered everyone in the family for introductions.

Cecilia had two sons and one daughter. Admiral Clan was the eldest son. His younger brother, Kelin, was a doctor who bore a slight resemblance to the admiral. With his gold-rimmed glasses, he looked quite scholarly.

When Lu Xiao saw Cecilia’s daughter, she found her surprisingly familiar. This was the woman who had accompanied Cecilia to the Duke Green Mansion. ’She’s my aunt,’ Lu Xiao realized.

But before she could speak, Selena smiled and said, “We’ve met before. Xiao Xiao, do you remember me?”

Her smile was genuine, with no hint of affectation.

“Of course. I’m just sorry I wasn’t able to greet you then, Auntie.”

“You didn’t know who I was back then. Besides, your grandmother warned me not to say the wrong thing.” At this, Selena glanced at Cecilia. “Now that you’re finally home, I can talk to you properly.”

“With your tendency to spout nonsense, you’d better not talk to Xiao Xiao too much. Don’t be a bad influence on her,” Cecilia said, giving Selena a chiding look. She clearly knew her daughter’s personality all too well.

The affection between mother and daughter was palpable, and it made the situation finally feel real to Lu Xiao.

’This is what a normal family atmosphere should be like.’ She was finally getting to experience it. Otherwise, she might have started to doubt if any normal families existed in the Empire at all.

“Xiao Xiao, don’t listen to your grandmother. When you have some free time, I’ll take you out to have some fun and relax. You’re too young to be working all the time. You need to play when it’s time to play. So it’s settled. Clear your schedule for the weekend, and I’ll come get you.”

Just like that, Selena had decided on a time. She certainly had a take-charge personality.

“Just don’t take her anywhere disreputable,” Cecilia reminded her, still worried.

“I know, I don’t like those kinds of places either. Don’t you worry, I definitely won’t corrupt your precious granddaughter!” Selena practically puffed out her chest to make her promise. As she finished, something else occurred to her. “Oh, right! Xiao Xiao, I brought a gift for you. I’ve already had it sent to your room, so you’ll see it when you go back later.”

Lu Xiao was surprised that Selena had sent a gift to her room so quietly. “Thank you, Auntie. I didn’t get you anything, and yet you…”

“We’re family, we don’t need to talk about that. Besides, I’m your elder, so it’s only natural. Don’t overthink it. It’s just some little trinkets, nothing valuable. Just enjoy them.”

“That’s right, don’t be so formal with your aunt. She’s loaded!” Cecilia chimed in, as if worried Lu Xiao might refuse.

Lu Xiao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Before she could offer her thanks again, her uncle, who was sitting beside her, spoke up. “I also prepared a gift for you and had it sent to your room. I hope you like it.”

Lu Xiao looked at everyone, deeply moved. She could clearly feel that they were all trying to connect with her and accept her in their own ways.

“Thank you. I’ll toast with tea in place of wine. Thank you, Auntie, Uncle, Grandmother, and Father, for all your love and care. I feel so happy right now.”

“Good, good. As long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters. Let’s eat before everything gets cold.” After speaking, Cecilia used the serving chopsticks to place a pork rib in Lu Xiao’s bowl. “Your aunt’s and uncle’s children are still in school, so it wasn’t convenient for them to come. Otherwise, it would have been even livelier today.”

Speaking of which, something seemed to occur to Selena. “Oh, isn’t Xiao Xiao going to give a speech at the school?”

Lu Xiao was surprised that even Selena had heard about it. “You know about that too, Auntie?”

“My son came home and told me all about it. He’s really looking forward to it!”

Kelin nodded as well. “Mine too. He even asked if I’d met you or spoken with you. Now I can go back and tell him I have.”

Hearing this, Lu Xiao couldn’t help but laugh.

After dinner, she made a point to ask Selena and Kelin for photos of her two cousins, thinking she would go and meet them when she visited the school.

The meal was a very happy one, and it brought them all closer.

Kelin, being a busy doctor, didn’t stay long after dinner and soon headed back.

Selena had wanted to stay for a long chat with Lu Xiao, but Cecilia shooed her home, warning Lu Xiao not to believe a word her fast-talking aunt said.

Despite what Cecilia said, Lu Xiao could still sense that she was very proud of her daughter, Selena.

’In fact,’ Lu Xiao thought, ’among the females of the Empire, Cecilia must be an exceptional mother.’

She had raised all of them—Kelan, Kelin, and her daughter, Selena—very well.

They were nothing like the other males and females of the Empire, with its cowardly men and domineering women.

As she was about to head back to her room to rest, Admiral Clan called her over. Lu Xiao had thought it was something serious, given how mysterious he was being, but then he pulled out a card and offered it to her. “This is some money I’ve saved up over the years. It’s not much, but take it and buy yourself something you like. Consider it a small token from your father.”

Lu Xiao took the card, turning it over in her hands, and smiled. “Is this your secret stash of cash, Father?”

At the mention of a secret stash, a faint blush appeared on Admiral Clan’s face. He nodded. “I suppose it is. Don’t you go thinking it’s not enough, now!”

Seeing Admiral Clan’s awkwardness, Lu Xiao laughed and handed the card back. “In that case, I’m giving this card to you, Father. Consider it a gift from me to you. And don’t *you* go thinking it’s not enough, now!”

Admiral Clan froze for a moment, then realization dawned. “You… honestly. Fine. But if you need anything in the future, just come to me. The military provides my room and board, so I don’t have many expenses.”

Lu Xiao knew that, of course, but it was also true that Admiral Clan hadn’t had an easy life. With that in mind, she said, “Father, if you ever don’t want to go back to the Earl Ge Wei Mansion, and you don’t feel like staying at the military base, you can just come to my home. There will always be a room ready for you there.”

These words moved Admiral Clan deeply.

His daughter was giving him a sense of security in her own way.

“Alright. It’s getting late, you should go get some rest.” Admiral Clan’s eyes began to burn, and he didn’t dare stay any longer. He was afraid that if he said another word, the tears would start to fall.

Lu Xiaoxiao nodded. “Then I’ll go back to my room and open my gifts. I also need to message Ares and tell him I have so many relatives now!”

Watching the brilliant smile light up Lu Xiao’s face, Admiral Clan felt his own spirits lift. “You should tell him. It will put his mind at ease.”

Lu Xiao agreed, said goodnight to Admiral Clan, and went back to her room.

But when she pushed open her bedroom door, she was greeted by the sight of more than a dozen large boxes filling the room.

’This was what her aunt and uncle called “a little something”?’

’Isn’t this a bit much?’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep