The atmosphere at the dinner table was extremely polarized.
Mo Su and Xiao Mengxue were engaged in a warm conversation, while Xiao Lingchen sat quietly to the side, as if he had shut out the two of them from his world.
From his angle, he could simply look up to see the silhouettes of the pair by the window.
He had been busy recently and only returned to the capital last night. What he hadnāt expected was that the first news he heard upon arriving home was their wedding announcement.
He didnāt even have the chance to compete fairly and had already lost.
Although Mo Su appeared to be chatting with Xiao Mengxue, her attention was actually focused on Xiao Lingchen.
She was well aware that to win over the Xiao Family, Xiao Lingchen was a key factor.
"It seems weāve been so engrossed in our conversation that weāve neglected the young Master Xiao," Mo Su said with a pursed smile.
"Shall we order first? We can talk while we eat."
Xiao Lingchen, with a cold expression, finally spoke, "Thereās no need, regarding the cooperation..."
"Lingchen," Xiao Mengxue interrupted, worried he would make a unilateral decision, "letās do as Miss Mo suggests, and talk while we eat."
Xiao Lingchen fell silent again, his gaze drifting indistinctly towards Ye Jiuliangās direction.
"Iām so full," Ye Jiuliang put down her napkin, very satisfied with the meal that evening.
After paying the bill, Li Mochan stuffed his card back into his wallet and reached out to her, "Can you walk?"
"I think so." Ye Jiuliang smiled lightly and took his offered hand.
Li Mochan, with their coats over one arm, tightened his hold on her hand.
Xiao Lingchen watched the two leave, his hand in his pocket clenching tighter, struggling against the urge to follow them.
After a moment of hesitation, Xiao Lingchen, no longer interested in staying, stood up to leave, "Enjoy your meal, Iāll be going now."
"Lingchen," Xiao Mengxue sounded quite helpless as she watched him leave without turning back.
Chasing out of the restaurant, Xiao Lingchen only managed to catch a glimpse of a carās silhouette.
He hung his head low, the typically high-spirited man now wearing a rare look of dejection on his face.
Suddenly, a womanās voice arose from behind him, "It seems the rumors arenāt without basis; the rumor that the young Master Xiao has feelings for Miss Ye appears to be somewhat credible."
Xiao Lingchen turned around to meet the womanās smiling brown eyes.
Mo Su took steps forward and stopped in front of Xiao Lingchen.
"Young Master Xiao, sometimes love must be fought for, even if it means being ruthless. But as long as the desired result is achieved, itās not necessarily a bad thing," she said.
Xiao Lingchen frowned, a sneer playing on his lips, "It seems Miss Mo often resorts to unscrupulous methods for things she wants?"
"That depends on how much I like that thing," Mo Su said with a quiet smile, speaking unhurriedly.
"After all, if you donāt fight for some things, youāll never know who they will end up with. What do you think, young Master Mo?"
Xiao Lingchen scoffed mockingly and, without another word, turned and walked away.
Mo Su was ruthless in her ambition; dealing with her meant needing to guard against a stab in the back.
Unperturbed by his cold dismissal, Mo Su raised her hand to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
Xiao Lingchen, very soon, I will make you turn back and beg me.
We shall see.
...
When he returned to Mo Garden, the house was eerily quiet, with everyone having retired to their rooms to rest.
After her bath, as Ye Jiuliang curled up on the soft couch, she suddenly remembered the medicine she had prepared for Jiang Yisheng that she had yet to deliver. She grabbed a coat to throw on and took several packets of medicine and went out.
"Knock knockā"
After knocking twice, someone came to open the door shortly.
"Jiuliang, whatās the matter? Itās so late," Jiang Yisheng was slightly surprised to see her.
Ye Jiuliang handed over the packets of medicine, "Here, take these, and use them just like before."