The phone buzzed and vibrated, and Li Mochan took it outâit was a call from home.
Ye Jiuliang leaned in close as Li Mochan hit the speakerphone button to answer.
"Ahan," the strong voice of Mrs. Jiang echoed from the phone.
Ye Jiuliangâs lips curled into a smile as she leaned in Li Mochanâs embrace and shouted towards the phone, "Grandma."
Hearing her voice, Mrs. Jiang immediately laughed out loud, "Xiaojiu, when are you coming back?"
"In another couple of days," Ye Jiuliang said. "Is Asheng at home?"
"Heâs gone out. Said a few friends invited him out to eat and incidentally celebrate his birthday," reported Mrs. Jiang.
Ye Jiuliang chuckled, "Mohan and I have sent Asheng a birthday present. Tell him to remember to sign for it."
Mrs. Jiang agreed, "Okay. Xiaojiu, whenever you want, just let me know and Iâll have Aju prepare something delicious for you two."
Ye Jiuliang was both amused and touched, "Okay."
Before they could talk much further, it seemed someone had arrived at Mrs. Jiangâs place, and she hung up the phone.
"Is Yishengâs birthday today?" Gu Xinuo asked Ye Jiuliang with curiosity.
Ye Jiuliang replied, "Yeah, today."
Gu Xinuo inquired, "What does Yisheng like? Iâll get him a gift."
"You could send him a red envelope. Asheng says heâs broke," Ye Jiuliang joked.
At that, Gu Xinuo couldnât help but laugh, "Alright, Iâll send him a red envelope."
Saying so, she took out her phone, searched for Jiang Yishengâs WeChat, and really started to prepare to send him a red envelope.
"Who are you sending a red envelope to?" Ji Mingqian came out of the kitchen and happened to overhear Gu Xinuoâs last words, asking casually.
"Is there any for those who hear about it?"
Gu Xinuo complained, "Dream on. Wait for your own birthday."
"Whose birthday is it?" he asked.
Ye Jiuliang said coolly, "Ashengâs."
Ji Mingqian looked astonished as he exclaimed, "Jiang Yishengâs birthday?"
"No way, Aqian, you hang out with Yisheng so often, and you donât know his birthday?" Gu Xinuo curled her lip and mercilessly teased, "Donât tell me youâre trying to save money by not getting him a birthday gift?"
Ji Mingqian glanced at her sidelong and said somberly, "As expected, you are influenced by the company you keepâyouâre just as annoying as Achen."
Ye Jiuliang burst out laughing, while Li Mochan reached out to protect her, preventing her from bumping into anything.
"Now that you know, you better hurry up and pick out a birthday gift for him." After sending the red envelope, Gu Xinuo put down her phone.
Ji Mingqian said nonchalantly, "At his age, what does he need birthday gifts for? Childish."
Upon hearing this, Li Mochan glanced in his direction with a significant look.
His thin lips parted slightly, "I will make sure to pass that message on."
Ji Mingqianâs eyes widened, "Li Mochan, must you be so underhanded?"
Intentionally stirring up trouble?
Li Mochan asked calmly, "Wasnât that what you just said?"
Ji Mingqian was left speechless, "I... "
Shit.
So everyone was ganging up on himâwas there no justice left?
Watching Ji Mingqianâs constipated expression, Ye Jiuliang smiled mischievously, "Iâm going to call Asheng right now."
She took Li Mochanâs phone, pretending to call Jiang Yisheng.
"Ye Jiuliang, donât stir up trouble for me," Ji Mingqian reached out to snatch away the phone, but he was stopped in his tracks by a cold glare from Li Mochan.
In the meantime, the call had already gone through.
It only rang twice before a warm voice came through the phone.
"Cousin?"
"Asheng, itâs me." Ye Jiuliang glanced at Ji Mingqian and a naughty smile played on her lips, "Happy birthday, ha."
On the other end of the line, Jiang Yisheng was bemused, but couldnât help chuckling, "Are you coming back to have birthday cake?"
"I would love to, but I wonât be able to have any today."
Ignoring Ji Mingqianâs waving hands, Ye Jiuliang started stirring things up, "Asheng, Aqian said youâre too old for birthday gifts and called you childish."
Ji Mingqian grabbed a throw pillow and covered his face with it. It was over.
There was silence on the other end of the phone for a while before Jiang Yisheng spoke in a lukewarm tone, "If he gives one, Iâm not necessarily keen on accepting. Doesnât he have any sense to realize whoâs the childish one?"
Ji Mingqian could hear the loudspeaker very clearly.
His handsome face suddenly darkened as he threw away the throw pillow with a hint of venting.
He was being dismissive now, as if he didnât even want to give him a gift. How delusional.
Ye Jiuliang held back a laugh, "Alright, Iâll pass the message on for you."
The phone had just hung up when Gu Xinuo couldnât hold back her laughter anymore.
"Aqian, Yisheng called you childish, did you catch that? Look at your reputation, what a fail."
Ji Mingqian glared at her, "You wouldnât be considered a mute even if you kept quiet."
He stood up, "Mahjong, are you coming or not?"
Ye Jiuliang was fired up, "Iâm in. Get your wallet ready for me."
Ji Mingqian, "Dream on."
Meanwhile.
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Yisheng suddenly lost his appetite.
That damned Ji Mingqian, who wants his gifts anyway, and he dares to call him childish!
He really didnât know who it was that would take to Weibo to rant at the drop of a hatâaccusing him of being childish when he himself lacked maturity.
...
It was late at night, and Mo Yuan got home almost at eleven oâclock.
He habitually headed to the study, only to find the study door locked.
He tugged at the doorknob, frowning deeply.
What happened? Who locked the study room door?
At that moment, Aqiao came upstairs and said respectfully, "Master, thereâs a water leak in the studyâs restroom, and it hasnât been cleaned up yet. Please go rest in your room for now."
"A leak?" Mo Yuan frowned.
Aqiao nodded.
Mo Yuan reached out, "Give me the keys."
Expecting his suspicion, Aqiao took out the keys from her pocket and handed them to him.
Mo Yuan took the keys, unlocked the door, and reached for the switch on the wall.
As the room lit up, he headed straight for the restroom.
Pushing open the door, the floor was wet, and water had spilled out to the doorway; it was indeed leaking as Aqiao had said.
After closing the door, Mo Yuan walked back out.
The bedroom next door had its door wide open, and he walked straight in.
Inside, Mo Yu had already washed up, her elegant figure outlined by a purple nightgown.
Seeing him come in, a tender smile appeared on her face, "Mo Yuan, have you had dinner? Do you want me to ask the kitchen to make something for you?"
"No need, Iâve already eaten outside," Mo Yuan said while walking toward the wardrobe.
"Do you want to take a bath? Shall I run the bathwater for you?" Mo Yu walked up behind him, asking thoughtfully.
Mo Yuan took out a set of clothes and casually closed the wardrobe door, "No need, Iâll just shower in the guest room."
Upon hearing this, Mo Yuâs smile couldnât hold up.
She struggled to stretch her lips, forcing a smile and asked, "Will you be staying in the guest room tonight?"
The study was unavailable, so he was going to stay in the guest roomâwhere did that leave her?
Mo Yuan hummed an acknowledgment, "You should rest early too."
With that, he walked towards the door with his clothes in hand.
"Mo Yuan, you stop right there," Mo Yu shouted through gritted teeth.
By the door, hearing the commotion inside, Aqiao tactfully closed the door to avoid drawing the attention of others and becoming a spectacle.