She talked the talk and then she walked the walk, leaving Xiao Mengxue frozen in her tracks.

Was this show of indifference born of concern or of spite?

"I’ve long heard that Ye Jiuliang is very arrogant and today, seeing it with my own eyes, she truly is proud. With so many of us here, she just walked away without as much as a glance."

"Ye Xin, is Ye Jiuliang always like this at the Ye Family?"

Suddenly asked, Ye Xin curved her lips, her voice tinged with helplessness, "Jiuliang has lived abroad for many years, and since she was young, even without her parents to discipline her, sometimes she doesn’t even listen to grandpa, we can’t do anything about it."

Upon hearing this, everyone was astonished.

She doesn’t even listen to the old Mr. Ye’s words, Ye Jiuliang must have a lot of nerve.

**

Outside on the balcony, brilliant sunlight poured onto the lounge chair.

Ye Jiuliang lay there with her hands crossed behind her head, the breeze blowing, feeling somewhat sleepy.

"Dong dong dong—"

All of a sudden, there was a knock on the door.

Ye Jiuliang woke up with a start and slowly got up.

The door opened, and Li Mochan saw the sleepy-eyed girl before him. His lips curled slightly, "How come you’re back in your own room?"

Ye Jiuliang yawned with her hand over her mouth, her eyes shimmering with moist sparkles, "No room card." She couldn’t very well climb through his window in broad daylight.

Hearing this, Li Mochan suddenly remembered he had forgotten to give her the room card just now.

Ye Jiuliang turned and entered the room, Li Mochan closed the door behind him, and with a stretch of his strong arm, he encircled her from behind.

"Do you like this?"

His voice, rich with magnetism, rose by her ear. Ye Jiuliang lifted her eyelids, and when she saw what he was holding, a bright light flashed in her eyes.

It was a candied hawthorn stick.

"Where did you get this from?" Ye Jiuliang could hardly wait to reach out and grab it, but Li Mochan deliberately held it high, teasing her with his height advantage.

"Do you want it?"

Ye Jiuliang looked up at the sugar-coated candied hawthorn stick, her mouth watering. She licked the corner of her lips, "Give it to me."

As she tugged on his arm, Li Mochan purposefully kept her waiting, his voice tinged with jealous playfulness, "You little wolf cub, I’ve noticed you’re always happier to see food than me."

This guy was definitely doing it on purpose.

Ye Jiuliang stood on her tiptoes, her legs growing sore.

As she gazed at the bright red candied hawthorn stick, a sly glimmer of mischief streaked across her eyes.

"Mohan," she deliberately softened her tone, a sweet, glutinous sound that electrified his heart when it reached his ears, sending a tingling sensation through him.

Li Mochan’s eyes softened, the color of his gaze darkening.

The little rascal was teasing him again.

Seizing the moment he let down his guard, Ye Jiuliang leaped up and easily snatched the candied hawthorn stick from his hand.

"Lalala..."

Spinning out of his embrace, Ye Jiuliang made a face at him.

Think you can outplay her? Hmph.

Li Mochan couldn’t help but laugh, reaching out to grab her.

"Hey, Li Mochan, who let you tease me all the time, ’A gentleman should use his words, not his hands,’" said Ye Jiuliang, nibbling on the candied hawthorn stick, her words slightly muffled.

They circled the table, one chasing, the other running.

Li Mochan’s lips pressed together slightly as he reached out and pulled, dragging the cumbersome coffee table a good distance away.

Ye Jiuliang knew it was bad, she turned and ran towards the balcony.

"You little wolf cub, after provoking me, where do you think you are running to, hm?"

An assertive strength wrapped around her waist, and Ye Jiuliang fell back against the man’s sturdy chest, almost flinging the candied hawthorn stick from her hand.

"That was close." She looked down at the undamaged candied hawthorn stick, her lips curving in pleasure.

Li Mochan leaned slightly forward, his crimson lips nearing her ear, the warm breath grazing her neck, "Is it good?"

"Uh..."

The "danger" hadn’t been eliminated yet.

Ye Jiuliang put on a flattering smile and took the initiative to hand the candied hawthorn to his lips, "Taste it; it’s pretty good. You want to try?"

After speaking, she added, "Just one piece, okay? Don’t eat too much."

There were only five pieces in total, and she felt pained to give him even one.

Li Mochan glanced at the four remaining pieces of candied hawthorn and raised a playful smile, "Really? You’re offering me one? That’s quite generous."

Ye Jiuliang pretended to withdraw it, "If you don’t want it, forget it."

"Who said I don’t want it?"

Before his words finished, the man with distinctly jointed hands pressed down on her head, and his crimson thin lips pressed down onto hers.

The cool and secluded fragrance lingered at the tip of her nose, and Ye Jiuliang narrowed her eyes, fighting back without showing weakness.

"Who does it like you?"

Defeated once again, Ye Jiuliang leaned against him, her eyes tinted with redness.

"Wasn’t it you who asked me to try?" Li Mochan raised his hand and tousled her hair, his lips curving into a lovely arc.

Ye Jiuliang looked up at him and glared, "Don’t deliberately misinterpret my words."

She clearly asked him to taste the candied hawthorn.

Li Mochan raised an eyebrow and smiled, "If I ate your candied hawthorn, wouldn’t you feel heartache?"

With her food-guarding little act, if he really ate one piece, the little ingrate would probably fret about it who knows how much.

"..."

She had never seen anyone more brazen and assertive in making excuses than him.

It was a waste for him not to become a lawyer with that eloquence.

She bit fiercely into the candied hawthorn. Li Mochan watched, feeling that she was treating the candied hawthorn as if it were him she was gnawing.

He pinched her cheek, "What do you want to do later?"

"What’s there to do around here?" She gnawed on the candied hawthorn, her exquisite little face puffing up adorably as she ate.

She lived in Y country for most of the year and hadn’t been to many places in China.

"There will be lots of activities at the resort this afternoon, consider it a warm-up for tomorrow’s boat party," Li Mochan said.

"Like what?" She immediately became curious.

Li Mochan said, "Feng Yi mentioned that there was horse racing last year. I didn’t go, so I’m not too sure about the details."

Ye Jiuliang finished the last candied hawthorn, "It does sound interesting."

"Want to go?"

She looked at him with a smile, "It’s boring just staying here anyway."

Li Mochan chuckled softly.

...

In the banquet hall, the tables were neatly arranged.

Guests who came for the boat party gradually took their seats, and waiters circulated with drinks in every corner of the hall.

At the prime first table, in addition to Old Mr. Cui, the three bigwigs of the capital were all gathered, including Mingchong, highlighting his significant status.

"Old Li, why don’t we see your Mohan?" Old Mr. Cui saw the empty seat next to Old Mr. Li and asked with a hearty laugh.

Old Mr. Li said, "Children grow up and become hard to manage. Who knows where he’s run off to this time."

"I remember Mohan is twenty-six this year. Do you, Old Li, have a satisfactory candidate for a daughter-in-law?" Old Mr. Cui teased, "Don’t forget to invite me to have a drink at the wedding."

Old Mr. Li laughed heartily, "You’ll definitely have a part in it. I’ll personally send you an invitation."

"Sounds like there is good news on the horizon?" Old Mr. Cui inquired further.

Before Old Mr. Li could speak, Old Mr. Xiao joined in their conversation, "Old Li has always been fond of the Su Family’s girl. Is there any progress on that matter?"

As he spoke, several surrounding tables pricked up their ears, eager to hear some insider information.

After all, Li Mochan’s marital affairs were the focus of thousands.