Suddenly, an image of a delicate and adorable little glutinous rice ball popped into her mind.
A miniaturized Li Mochan, sucking on a lollipop, waddled toward her like a little penguin, demanding to be hugged in his childlike voice.
Tsk, it seemed quite delightful.
The manâs deep and magnetic voice rang in her ear again, "Wolf pup, how about raising a baby?"
Ye Jiuliang turned around, hooked her hand around his neck, and with her slender eyes shimmering, she teased, "Daylight seduction and evil deeds arenât very decent, are they?"
Hearing "seduction and evil deeds," Li Mochan could not help but chuckle, and a radiant smile spread across his lips.
"Is it not?"
Ye Jiuliang nodded her head, struggling to hold back laughter.
"But if we donât do that, when will we be able to raise a baby, hmm?" Li Mochan leaned in close, his chin resting on her shoulder.
His tone suddenly grew plaintive, "Wolf pup, I am a normal man."
To have such tenderness in his arms every day yet, damned if every time a certain little devil teased him and then ran away, leaving him to suffer alone.
Ye Jiuliangâs eyes twinkled mischievously, "Li Mochan, do you know how to knit a scarf?"
Li Mochan raised an eyebrow, "Do I look like someone who would knit scarves?"
Ye Jiuliang pursed her lips, smiled, and leaned close to his ear, her voice light with laughter, "When you knit a scarf for me, Iâll agree to join your âseduction and evil deedsâ."
Upon hearing this, Li Mochanâs gaze suddenly deepened and the arm around her tightened slightly.
"You said it."
It looks like I need to learn how to knit scarves quickly.
Ye Jiuliang hummed a note, lifted his chin, and kissed the corner of his lips, "I said it."
Li Mochanâs eyes softened with a light laugh, and he playfully grazed her nose, "Iâll bake you a goose tomorrow."
At that, Ye Jiuliangâs eyes crinkled with mirth, "And roast goose eggs as well."
"Alright, all for you," he said indulgently.
...
In the living room, the faint clink of porcelain cups and the pervasive fragrance of tea filled the air.
"Xiaojiu is really a good child, this is the first time Iâve seen Ahan be so gentle and considerate," Veya said, accepting a cup of tea from her husband, her face brimming with satisfaction.
Jiang Hai smiled and said, "Mom, looks like our family will be celebrating a happy occasion very soon."
Madam Jiang nodded with a smile, then turned to Jiang Yisheng who sat silently beside her, "After Ahan gets married, Asheng will have to hurry up and find a wife, too."
"Grandma, Iâm still young, thereâs no rush," Jiang Yisheng replied helplessly.
Madam Jiang teased, "Xiaojiu is two years younger than you and sheâs about to get married, what âyoungâ are you talking about?"
Jiang Yisheng chose to remain silent.
He could never win against them in this argument; if he continued, who knows, they might just arrange a matchmaking session for him tomorrow.
"Madam, Miss Karina is here to visit," a servant announced.
Madam Jiang was momentarily stunned, but before she could respond, brisk footsteps approached from outside the door.
Jiang Yishengâs eyebrows quirked up slightlyânow there would be some entertainment.
The footsteps grew more distinct.
The visitor was in a duck egg blue dress with her golden, wavy hair casually draped over her shoulders, her lovely face lightly made-up. She smiled slightly, revealing shallow dimples at the corners of her mouth.
Upon seeing Madam Jiang on the sofa, she quickened her pace and walked over, her brown eyes sparkling with a brilliant smile, "Grandma Jiang."
"Karina, did you come by yourself?" Madam Jiang came back to her senses and offered a gentle smile.
"Whereâs your grandma?"
"We just came back from a trip yesterday, and Grandma caught a slight cold these past few days, so she didnât come with me. She said sheâll come over another day to have tea with you," Karina said with a smile, her dimples just starting to show.
While speaking, she turned to greet Jiang Hai and his wife, "Uncle Jiang, Auntie Jiang, hello."
Veya smiled politely yet awkwardly, thinking to herself, âGreat, she could have come at any other time, but had to choose the day Xiaojiu was visiting.â
"Yisheng, itâs been a long time. Your last concert was wonderful, my friends and I went to see it," Karina chimed in.
Jiang Yisheng smiled faintly, "Thank you for the bouquet."
Karina grinned, affectionately holding onto Old Madam Jiangâs hand, "Grandma Jiang, I brought some small gifts for you, I hope youâll like them."
You shouldâve just come, thereâs no need for gifts. Why stand on such ceremony?" Old Madam Jiang patted her hand and said with a warm smile.
Karina laughed, her gaze subtly scanning the surroundings as if looking for something.
She asked seemingly casually, "Grandma Jiang, I heard Brother Mohan came back when I entered earlier, but I donât see him around?"
After beating around the bush, she still brought up Ahan. A trace of helplessness flickered through Veyaâs eyes.
She could only pray that Ahan and Xiaojiu were still out walking and would come back later.
Old Madam Jiang and the others showed troubled expressions, hesitating to speak.
In the end, it was Jiang Yisheng who broke the silence, his voice indifferent, "Cousin took his fiancee out for a walk after dinner."
"Fiancee?" Karina looked at him blankly, mulling over the word.
Jiang Yisheng kindly explained, "It means Cousinâs future wife."
Time seemed to stand still, and the atmosphere grew awkwardly quiet.
Old Madam Jiang looked toward Karina, who was aghast. She wanted to comfort her but didnât know how to begin.
After all, she was the granddaughter of her dear friend and someone she had watched grow up; she didnât want to hurt her feelings.
"Um, Karina, you see what Grandma Jiang is saying..."
Before she could finish, the person beside her stood up abruptly.
With glistening tears rolling in her eyes, Karina looked up with a wronged expression, "Grandma Jiang, this isnât true, is it?"
How could it be that as soon as she came back from her trip, Brother Mohan has a fiancee? She refused to accept it.
Old Madam Jiang felt a bit of a headache coming on, "Karina, calm down a bit, will you?"
Karina looked at Jiang Hai and the others, saw their silence, and ran out.
"Yisheng, hurry out and have a look, donât let anything messy happen," Old Madam Jiang urged.
Jiang Yisheng slowly put down his book and got up to follow.
"Ahai, letâs go have a look, too," Veya said as she pulled Jiang Hai along, unable to resist her curiosity.
In the afternoon, warm sunlight like fine jade showered across the courtyard grass.
Under the shade of a tree, Ye Jiuliang snuggled in Li Mochanâs embrace, teasing the second treasure with a foxtail grass.
"Second treasure, come here, bite Li Mochan, just a nibble, and youâll get steak tonight."
Second treasure bared its teeth, and its big, shiny black eyes met Li Mochanâs gaze and instantly backed down, paws shuffling backwards.
Watching Second treasure roll away, Ye Jiuliang smiled wryly, "Second treasure, you little coward."
Dropping the foxtail grass, she looked up at the man behind her, "Look at you, with your stern face, even Second treasure dislikes you."
Li Mochan chuckled lowly, teasing her, "Itâs a coward. Do you want to try biting instead?"
"Li Mochan, what are you implying? Comparing your grandpa to Second treasure?" Ye Jiuliang lunged at him fiercely, her tone pretentiously tough yet cute.
"Asking for a beating, arenât you?"