Li Jingxuan pursed her lips. She knew the importance of decorum in such an event and didn’t continue with any distasteful remarks.

Before long, a commotion came from the entrance.

Moving against the light, a man’s tall and statuesque figure captured everyone’s attention; his features were chiseled, tinged with frostiness, and every gesture exuded elegance and nobility.

Xiao Lingchen watched as Li Mochan arrived alone, his eyes darkening slightly.

"Mochan, it’s truly rare to have a chance to see you. Please, have a seat," Old Master Cui said with a warm smile.

Li Mochan pulled out a chair and sat down, his demeanor indifferent.

"Lord Li, we were just talking about you and Miss Ye." Across from him, Mingchong started, sizing up Li Mochan with a scrutinizing gaze.

"Miss Ye is both smart and beautiful—you do have good taste. But why hasn’t Miss Ye come with you?"

Mingchong was someone whom Li Mochan had dealt with a few times, and he found him to be a man of decent character.

Li Mochan rarely showed a pleasant face but softened his frosty tone slightly when mentioning Ye Jiuliang, "The little girl has eaten her fill and gone to play."

"..."

This response was more alarming than no response at all, confirming outright that he had been with Ye Jiuliang and that they had eaten together.

The words seemed oddly indulgent. Was it their imagination?

Knowing when to stop, Mingchong glanced at the expressions of the two elders and did not pursue the conversation further.

"Let’s not dawdle, everyone, let’s eat," Old Master Cui said, breaking the slightly awkward atmosphere.

Such an occasion, of course, was never just about having a meal.

After a few bites, guests began to mingle with glasses in hand.

At Old Master Li’s table, there was a continuous flow of people coming to offer toasts.

The meal did not disperse until two o’clock. Since the resort’s activities didn’t start until three, everyone went back to their rooms to rest.

**

In the afternoon of Z city, the weather was not as hot as in the capital, especially since it had been raining the previous two days, bringing a rare coolness to these days. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

The event took place in the square on the east side of the resort; it was vast, and at a glance, it resembled a busy little marketplace, almost like a night market.

When Ye Jiuliang arrived, she couldn’t help but be amazed.

Were these people here to play or to attend a fashion gala?

Looking up, she saw that every woman was dressed in all sorts of new limited edition dresses. They had already changed outfits twice between morning and afternoon.

Those dresses were not suitable for a good time.

Ye Jiuliang instinctively reached up to adjust the brim of her hat, then realized that she had forgotten to bring it after rushing out and joking with Li Mochan.

"Why the rush?" A deep voice came from behind, and as she looked up, a shadow fell overhead.

Ye Jiuliang curved her lips into a smile and adjusted her imaginary hat brim.

"I say, you two might as well make it public," Feng Yi teased as he looked at the couple, who seemed to be flaunting their affection invisibly.

Just look at how many pairs of eyes were staring at them.

Ye Jiuliang gave a wry smile.

"Ye Jiuliang, look at you. Everybody else is wearing flashy dresses, and sometimes I doubt whether you’re really a girl," Feng Yi ribbed her.

In Beisen, she wore the boys’ school uniform, and even at banquets, she dressed in simple casual clothes with a bare face, and fought with fierce bravado. He really couldn’t see any trace of her being a girl.

With his words, a deathly glare shot toward him.

Feng Yi took a step back, conceding that a man with a wife was not to be provoked.

His survival instincts kicked in, and he hastily flattered, "You two are wearing matching outfits. I get it, I get it."

At that, Ye Jiuliang looked down at her attire, a plain black pair of pants and a short-sleeve shirt.

Her gaze shifted to Li Mochan, who wore a black pair of trousers and a shirt.

Both in the same color scheme.

Hearing Feng Yi, she hadn’t even noticed until now.

Suddenly hearing someone hawking food, Ye Jiuliang’s attention was instantly drawn.

She walked briskly towards the nearby stalls, with Li Mochan and Feng Yi following behind her.

"Recently, a lot of people have been saying that the old Li patriarch wants to arrange a marriage between you and Su Yishan. Do you have any plans?" Feng Yi asked.

Li Mochan replied coldly, "What does it have to do with me? If he wants to marry her off, let him marry her off then."

Feng Yi was taken aback, then understanding the implication of his words, couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

"After all, that man is your father. If he heard what you just said, it would probably kill the old gentleman."

To have the old Li patriarch marry Su Yishan, what a thing to say; if the Su Family heard this, there would definitely be a drama to watch.

"With all this talk going around, aren’t you afraid that your lady back home will get jealous?" Feng Yi glanced at Ye Jiuliang, who was not far away, browsing the stalls, and asked in a lowered voice.

Li Mochan hooked his lips into a faint smile, "I actually hope she would get jealous."

Feng Yi, "..."

Oh my god.

Could you be any cheesier?

The goosebumps were practically rising on his skin.

"Why don’t you make it public? This is not like you at all." He had wanted to ask him this for a long time.

Li Mochan looked toward that slender figure, his gaze filled with tenderness, "She likes to play."

And he liked making her happy; nothing was more important than his little wolf cub’s happiness.

Feng Yi shook his head and exclaimed that there’s no saving him.

People in love are terrifying.

"Can’t I pay with a mobile phone?" Ye Jiuliang asked, looking at the green plum fruits the old lady had packed, furrowing her brows lightly.

The stall owner was an elderly woman, quite old and not so adept with high-tech gadgets popular among young people.

"Young lady, I’m sorry, we only take cash."

"I’ll pay for her."

A gentle voice came from the side, as the man handed a red banknote to the old lady.

Ye Jiuliang turned to look; it was Mingchong.

"Sir, here is your change." The old lady handed the change and the packed green plum fruits to him.

Mingchong reached out to take them, then handed the box of green plum fruits to Ye Jiuliang with a smile, "We meet again, little girl, here."

Ye Jiuliang did not reach out to take it and declined in a calm voice, "No need, I can buy it myself."

The little girl’s defenses were too strong, Mingchong felt helpless yet heartache, and chuckled, "Do I really look like a bad person to you?"

Meeting his smiling face, Ye Jiuliang felt an inexplicably familiar sensation.

Realizing this, she knitted her brows.

This was the devil’s doing.

From the corner of her eye, seeing Li Mochan walking over, Mingchong spoke in a hushed laugh, "Little girl, I’m actually quite fond of you and Li Mochan."

Ye Jiuliang’s gaze flickered, eyeing him with suspicion.

"Mr. Li, we meet again, what a coincidence," Mingchong said with a slight smile upon seeing Li Mochan approach.

"And Mr. Feng is here too."

Li Mochan nodded his head and looked down at Ye Jiuliang with a warm voice, "What’s wrong?"

"You need cash here," Ye Jiuliang said helplessly.

"Mr. Li, your little girl is too wary. She refuses to take anything from me; maybe you can clarify for me that I’m not a bad guy," said Mingchong, making fun of himself.

As he spoke, he handed the box of green plum fruits to Li Mochan.

Hearing the words "your little girl," Li Mochan’s lips curved with satisfaction, he took the box without hesitation, and then handed it to Ye Jiuliang, indulgently saying, "If you want it, take it."