Feng Yi nudged Li Mochan with his elbow and whispered, "Haven’t you noticed that Mingchong is a bit special towards Jiuliang?"

It seemed he was even somewhat indulgent.

Li Mochan said nothing and followed in the direction of Ye Jiuliang.

Ignored, Feng Yi pursed his lips, really putting love before friendship.

The goldfish scooping stall was deserted.

In the makeshift pool, colorful little goldfish happily swam about.

After paying, Ye Jiuliang took the paper net and a small bowl handed over by the stall owner.

The paper net was fragile, breaking easily with just a bit of force, and the goldfish that was almost within reach instantly got away.

Ye Jiuliang was incredulous and tried several more times, but the result was the same.

The small bowl was as empty as ever, without even a shadow of a goldfish.

"..." 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

The corners of Ye Jiuliang’s mouth twitched slightly.

So uncooperative, huh?

"Pfft."

Laughter erupted from the side.

Ye Jiuliang lifted her eyes to glance over, seeing Feng Yi shaking with mirth.

Her gaze shifted to the side, catching the man’s deep black eyes, which upon closer inspection, clearly carried a hint of amusement.

Her face darkened, "Is it that funny?"

Let them try if they’re so capable.

Li Mochan’s long legs stepped forward and stopped behind her.

He crouched down, peering at the small goldfish in the pool from behind her.

"Is it fun?"

Ye Jiuliang huffed, remembering how he had laughed at her with Feng Yi just now, and suddenly didn’t want to pay him any attention.

"Hiss–"

To onlookers, he almost encircled her from behind, holding her close, a gesture so intimate that it immediately drew a wave of gasps.

Among them, more were filled with jealousy, envy, and resentment.

Not far away, Su Yishan also saw this scene, her face turning pale instantly, the delicate makeup nearly failing to conceal her embarrassment.

"Yishan, what’s wrong?" Li Jingxuan turned to see Su Yishan’s absent-minded state, worried she felt unwell, and asked with concern.

Su Yishan said nothing, the tide of hatred in her chest almost drowning her sanity.

Noticing her abnormality, Li Jingxuan followed her gaze and finally understood why everyone around had such unusual expressions.

This...

Damn it, how come Ye Jiuliang is again with her Uncle Five?

"Yishan, let’s also go see if there’s something fun," she said, her eyes flickering as she pulled Su Yishan towards the goldfish stall.

"Eh, Jingxuan..." Su Yishan called out tentatively.

"Is this really okay?"

Without stopping, Li Jingxuan muttered, "What’s not okay? You are the daughter-in-law grandfather has his eye on; what is Ye Jiuliang but nothing."

Su Yishan watched Li Jingxuan’s retreating back, a scornful smile crossing her eyes.

"Feng Yi, won’t you give it a try?" Ye Jiuliang looked up at Feng Yi, who was reveling in her misfortune, her red lips curving slightly.

If she was going to make a fool of herself, they should all be in it together.

Looking at the paper net she offered, Feng Yi lifted his lips in a smile and accepted it fearlessly.

"I’ll give it a try. It’s just scooping a goldfish."

Having trapped one, Ye Jiuliang turned to look at the person behind her, "Won’t you give it a try?"

"Want to see me make a fool of myself?" Li Mochan saw through her little ploy and a gentle smile spread across his cold eyes.

Ye Jiuliang’s lips curved, her tone full of provocation, "Don’t dare?"

Li Mochan laughed softly and took the paper net from her hand, "Which one do you want?"

Such arrogance in her voice, Ye Jiuliang pointed at random, "That silver one."

Li Mochan glanced at the paper net in his hand and leaned forward with his tall frame.

He suddenly moved closer, and Ye Jiuliang instinctively shrank into his embrace, leaving no space between them.

Their movements were as smooth as drifting clouds and flowing water, stunning the onlookers.

"..."

The originally quiet stall continued to attract an audience, and the crowd watched the two clinging together, holding their breath.

Another huge confirmation!

"Damn, this paper net is so weak," Feng Yi said, with the muscles at the corner of his eye twitching uncontrollably as he looked at the net with holes in it.

"How is it even possible to catch goldfish with this."

Before he could finish speaking, he was proven wrong.

Across from him, Li Mochan casually took the small bowl, tilted the paper net, and the silver goldfish slid into the bowl.

He then handed the small bowl to Ye Jiuliang.

"Here."

Ye Jiuliang blinked, looking at the little goldfish in the bowl, somewhat unable to react.

Not until that man’s low voice sounded in her ear, "Wolf cub, how about it, did you find out that Master is too excellent, hmm?"

"Narcissistic," Ye Jiuliang chuckled with a smile, reaching out to take the bowl and teasing the little goldfish inside with her finger.

In her opinion, it must have been a flashy fish, which was why it ended up in Li Mochan’s net.

"Cough——"

Feng Yi coughed, drawing the sidelong glances of the two.

He made faces at them as if to remind them of something.

Ye Jiuliang frowned and looked up, only then noticing a large crowd had gathered beside them at some point, and these people were staring at her and Li Mochan.

Uh oh...

It seemed that something significant had been exposed.

She poured the little goldfish in the bowl back into the pond and put down the bowl. Just as she was about to stand up, the hand around her waist suddenly tightened.

"Wolf cub, do you really have the heart to let others covet me?" A low, tipsy voice rose in her ear, the slight uptick at the end laced with a trace of grievance.

"Do you, hmm?"

Ye Jiuliang’s gaze flickered, and she suddenly remembered what Xiao Mengxue had said back at the Hundred Flowers Garden; the corners of her lips slowly curved up in an amusing smile.

Good things are coming?

Heh.

Ye Jiuliang’s eyes grew determined, as if affirming something.

Turning to meet the man’s deep, dark eyes, her lips quirked with a defiant and unrestrained expression, "Indeed, I can’t bear it."

If keeping a low profile isn’t an option, then might as well go high-profile.

Li Mochan chuckled softly; this was the mischievous brat he was familiar with.

"If you don’t get up now, my foot is starting to numb," Ye Jiuliang said, her fingertips moving lightly, scratching the palm of his hand.

Li Mochan’s cold brows lifted, and he stood up, holding her hand.

Under the sunlight, their intertwined fingers struck the eyes of the onlookers hard.

Pushing through the crowd, Su Yishan caught this scene, her already pale complexion turning uglier, feeling as if the blood in her body had frozen.

He and Ye Jiuliang were truly...

Not wanting to be on display like a monkey, Ye Jiuliang pulled Li Mochan away.

"Hey, you two wait for me," Feng Yi glanced at the disheartened Su Yishan and quickly followed them.

Sometimes overestimating oneself leads to misfortune.

Ye Jiuliang couldn’t be bothered with the murmuring crowd behind her, pulling Li Mochan through the various stalls.

"Mohan, does this look good?" Ye Jiuliang picked up a handcrafted mask, toyed with it, and then placed it on her face.

Li Mochan turned back to look; as the sun set, the girl’s waterfall-like hair was tucked under the hat brim, and her delicate face was concealed by a black bat mask, revealing only her lustrous black eyes.

An oddly familiar feeling swept over him again, and Li Mochan’s eyebrows slightly knitted together.

A black hat, a black mask...

It was "him".

A flash of brightness crossed his chilly eyes, and his crimson lips suddenly pursed together.