As soon as the grounding was over, early in the morning, Ye Jiuliang slung her bag over her shoulder and slipped away.

When the servant went to call her down for breakfast, her figure was already missing from the room.

Instead of going back to Jinxiu Linting, she took her bag to the VI Club.

Upon pushing the door open and entering, she saw a person sprawled on the couch, asleep. The man’s long legs stretched awkwardly, half-dangling onto the ground.

Closing the door behind her, she tossed her backpack carelessly and walked over to gently kick his leg with her foot.

"Wake up, stop sleeping."

The man frowned slightly, squinting at the person disturbing his peaceful sleep.

"Ye Jiuliang, can’t you be a bit nicer? I only got here at three in the morning, and I haven’t rested these past few days. You woke me up just when I was getting some sleep," the man said, his deep voice a bit hoarse from just waking up.

"Don’t you have to return to the set?" Ye Jiuliang sat down opposite him, "Hurry up, I bought breakfast, are you eating or not?"

Ji Mingqian slowly sat up, his head feeling somewhat groggy.

"I’ll go back later, the plane’s at 9:30"

"When do you wrap up shooting?" Ye Jiuliang, having a rare moment of conscience, poured a cup of warm water and handed it to him.

"Next month, I guess." He took the cup, paused, and then spoke.

"No clues about those men in black have been found yet; you need to be more careful. Those guys must have quite the background, they’re well hidden. Even the K organization and Dark Hall combined couldn’t catch a trace of them."

Ye Jiuliang hummed in acknowledgment, "Has Achen gone back to headquarters?"

"He took a midnight flight back last night, to coax someone. I guess it won’t be easy this time," Ji Mingqian said with a gloating smile.

Ye Jiuliang shot him a glance, "I really should capture that expression of yours and show it to Achen, let him haul you back to headquarters."

"It takes one to know one," Ji Mingqian snorted.

"Why didn’t you go find your Li Mochan? What are you doing here?"

Ye Jiuliang rolled her eyes, "Eat your breakfast, it’s almost nine."

**

Disguised, Ji Mingqian arrived at the airport by himself.

The crowd surged around him as he found a corner to sit and browse his phone.

Suddenly, a pair of white casual shoes came into his view.

He looked up, a flicker of surprise crossing the depths of his eyes.

The person before him was dressed in plain casual wear, a face so ordinary that it would drown in a crowd, but those glassy, green eyes were bewitchingly clear, unforgettable at a glance.

"Jiang Yisheng?" he asked in a low voice, testing the waters.

Was that a human skin mask he was wearing?

As he finished speaking, the person across from him cracked a smile.

"It’s rare that you recognize me," the familiar, gentle voice responded.

"Why are you here?" Ji Mingqian put away his phone and asked casually.

"I just got off the plane; work in S city is finished. Are you heading back to the crew?" Jiang Yisheng replied.

Ji Mingqian nodded, glancing at his wristwatch. It was about time to board the plane.

He rose to his feet, "Time’s up, I have to go."

Jiang Yisheng waved him off, "See you later."

...

Mo Garden

"I don’t want to play anymore, I always lose," Ye Jiuliang complained as she threw down the game controller and flopped onto the carpet, wearing a sulky face.

It was maddening; she was actually a King player pretending to be Bronze, it was totally unfair.

Li Mochan let out a hoarse chuckle, reached out to pull the person beside him into his embrace, and poked her rosy cheeks.

"Trying to act sore because you lost?"

"Who’s acting sore? This game isn’t fun at all. I’d rather play Fight the Landlord," Ye Jiuliang leaned against him, playing with his collar.

The neat shirt, under her torment, started to crease.

"How about you accompany me for a motorcycle ride?"

"Planning on getting grounded by the Ye family, hm?" Li Mochan looked down, his fingertips lightly pinching her chin, "Want to see a surprise?"

"What is it?" her curiosity piqued, she asked.

"It’s upstairs, let’s go." Li Mochan scooped her up around the waist, and Ye Jiuliang leaned comfortably against him, swinging her bare feet in the air.

Upon reaching the first room after turning the corner on the second floor, Ye Jiuliang was stunned as soon as he entered.

The spacious room was well-lit, with rows of glass cabinets neatly arranged, displaying various limited edition motorcycle models.

With just one glance, Ye Jiuliang was captivated.

"Like it?" A deep, mellow voice, accompanied by a lazy tone, sounded in his ears, pulling back Ye Jiuliang’s thoughts.

She looked up at him, her lips blossoming into a bright smile.

"When did you prepare all of these?"

"I bought them in A City, do you like them?"

"Li Mochan, why are you so nice." Ye Jiuliang wrapped her arms around his neck, shaking him, her smile as beautiful as flowers, mesmerizing his eyes.

"Why do I feel that you’re happier to see motorcycles than when you see me?" Li Mochan curved his lips, teasingly asked.

"That’s definitely an illusion." When Master Jiu got sweet-talking, he was definitely sweeter than honey by quite a bit.

"I’m happiest to see you, don’t you feel that, hm?"

Li Mochan arched an eyebrow, "Really?"

Ye Jiuliang chuckled softly, leaning up to kiss his crimson lips.

Not just once, but several times in a row.

"Now can you believe what I’m saying is true?"

The sternness in his eyes was soaked with mirth, and he returned her kiss in kind, "Barely passable."

Downstairs, Jiang Yisheng looked at the snacks on the table and the paused game on the TV screen, was momentarily stunned, then revealed a thoughtful smile.

It seemed his timing in coming back was quite perfect.

Not in a hurry to go upstairs, he settled himself on the sofa and began nibbling on some snacks.

Time quietly slipped by, and suddenly there was a commotion coming from upstairs.

"Li Mochan, that’s not fair, I won’t."

"How about I let you win once in the game later?"

"No, stop trying to trick me."

Jiang Yisheng turned his head towards the noise as he saw the two of them running down the stairs, one after the other.

His lips twitched slightly, since when had his cousin become so childish?

Ye Jiuliang noticed someone in the living room and immediately stopped.

"Jiuliang," Jiang Yisheng said with a gentle smile.

He was very calm about Ye Jiuliang’s presence in Mo Garden, because the appearance of snacks and game discs could only be attributed to one exception: Ye Jiuliang.

"Call her sister-in-law." Li Mochan took Ye Jiuliang’s hand, his dark eyes sweeping towards Jiang Yisheng, the smile on his face completely vanishing.

Jiang Yisheng, "..."

In front of him, was such double-standard really okay?

"Don’t listen to him, he’s still half asleep." Ye Jiuliang glanced sideways at Li Mochan, then turned to Jiang Yisheng, offering a faint smile.

"No schedules lately?" Li Mochan, pulling Ye Jiuliang to sit down, inquired.

Jiang Yisheng peculiarly sensed that he was being urged to leave.

Was it his imagination?

"No, I’m resting recently."

"Is there something uncomfortable with your body?"

At that, Jiang Yisheng was slightly touched.

It seemed his cousin still had some human warmth.

"No."

Li Mochan pursed his lips, "Then why suddenly take a rest?"

I...

Jiang Yisheng’s tears almost burst inside.

Wasn’t it just because he was afraid of being a third wheel?

Life was too hard for him.

Grandma, my cousin is too bullying.