The apple of someone’s eye?

Could he be talking about Ye Jiuliang?

Grandfather Su’s slender eyes narrowed, a sharp gleam flitting across them, "President Feng, your statement seems too obviously tailored to absolve Ye Jiuliang of responsibility. Everything that happened tonight was witnessed by everyone, even Ye Xin and the others saw it. Isn’t that proof enough?"

The others nodded in agreement, even the Ye Family’s own members testified that Ye Jiuliang had injured someone with her own hands—the evidence was laid out before their eyes, leaving little room for rebuttal.

"Mr. Feng, I know you’re close with Lord Li, but you can’t defend Ye Jiuliang at every turn. Our Yishan is the real victim here," Grandfather Su said indignantly.

"We only have this one granddaughter in the Su Family. If something happens to her, what are we supposed to do?"

"Ayi," Elder Feng reached out to stop Feng Yi, but was immediately cut off by him.

"Grandfather, Ye Jiuliang is not that kind of person. She’s brave and responsible, not like the rumors say. Even if you don’t trust me, you should trust Mohan’s judgment. How could anyone he likes be anything but admirable?" His voice, firm yet measured, was heard by everyone as he held onto Elder Feng’s hand.

"Mr. Feng, we all saw with our own eyes that it was Ye Jiuliang who pushed Yishan into the lake, and now Ye Jiuliang has vanished, clearly running away out of fear of being blamed," Li Jingxuan prattled on.

Feng Yi turned his face, his phoenix eyes shooting a cold glance at her, "Miss Li, you better watch what you say. If your Fifth Uncle hears you, you will definitely be the next one to end up in the lake."

Remembering the chilling gaze of Li Mochan, a shiver crawled up Li Jingxuan’s spine and she took a sharp breath.

"Ye Family Head, perhaps we should find Jiuliang first," Feng Yi suggested with a faint smile.

Feng Yi’s words offered the Ye Family a reprieve, and naturally, the Ye Family Head, following his cue, turned to Ye Lei and the others, "What are you standing around for? Go find her already."

"Yes." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Reluctant as they were, Ye Lei and his group had no choice but to go search for Ye Jiuliang.

"Grandfather," a feeble voice rang out, and everyone looked in its direction.

Su Yishan leaned on the door frame, her foot injured. She moved over with difficulty, her face wan and haggard, which only made her look all the more pitiable and in need of sympathy.

"Yishan, be careful," Wang Lian hurried out after her, draping a coat over Su Yishan.

"Mom, I’m okay," Su Yishan said, tugging at her lips with a pale smile.

"Yishan, why didn’t you rest inside when you just woke up?" Grandfather Su came over, asking with concern.

"Grandfather, I’m not seriously hurt. Let’s not dwell on tonight’s matter. Miss Ye is young; perhaps she acted impulsively due to youthful exuberance. Let’s just let it go," Su Yishan said gently, taking hold of Grandfather Su’s arm.

Grandfather Su’s face darkened, "How can we let it go? Look at the state you’re in; we can’t just drop this matter."

Wang Lian came up in time, supporting Su Yishan, "Yishan, you should go back to your room to rest. Leave the matter to your grandfather to handle."

"Mom," Su Yishan showed a troubled face and raised her eyes to Elder Li, "Elder Li, let’s not mention what happened between Mohan and me in the future to avoid misunderstandings. After all, Jiuliang really likes Mohan, and I don’t want to come between them."

Toward the end, she lowered her head, her voice going slightly hoarse.

Feng Yi narrowed his eyes slightly, a trace of scorn flitting through their depths.

Jiuliang really likes Mohan?

She sure is scheming. Why not say that Mohan likes Jiuliang? To an outsider, her words could be misconstrued, suggesting it’s Jiuliang who’s unrequited in love, as if Jiuliang was trying to steal Mohan away from her.

Indeed, every phrase she spoke was a needle hidden in silk, claiming not to care on the surface, yet everywhere suggesting that it was Ye Jiuliang who harbored a one-sided crush, akin to snatching Mohan right from her hands.

"Yishan, focus on your recovery. Rest assured, your marriage to Mohan is set in stone; Uncle Li is not one to go back on his word," Elder Li said.

Su Yishan bit her lip, "But Mohan, he..."

"Don’t worry about Mohan; I will talk to him," Elder Su interjected.

"Yishan, the adults have decided. You don’t need to worry; the doctor said you need to rest," Wang Lian said.

Su Yishan glanced at her grandfather, then at Old Master Li, and gave a slight nod of her head.

...

"Bang bang——"

Fireworks soared into the sky, bursting forth magnificently, scattering a cascade of colors.

On the serene rooftop, the sound of faint footsteps was instantly swallowed up by the cold wind.

Ye Jiuliang toyed with a lighter, her clear eyes reflecting the fireworks blooming in the night sky.

Suddenly, a pair of iron arms wrapped around her from behind, the man’s husky voice slightly breathless, "You little devil, why are you sitting in such a high place?"

"Do you know it’s very dangerous, huh?"

Sitting on the railing of the rooftop, what if you got hurt?

Ye Jiuliang glanced down at the large hand clasped around her waist, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips.

"Would you like to set off fireworks together?"

Li Mohan’s gaze deepened, his iron arms lifting slightly, easily removing her from the railing.

"Why didn’t you answer the phone, huh?"

Allowing him to hold her hand in the warmth of his palm, Ye Jiuliang looked up at him, her clear eyes shimmering with brilliance, "Didn’t you find me?"

A hint of helplessness flickered in Li Mohan’s eyes as he reached out to ruffle her hair, his cold voice tinged with tenderness, "Did they bully you together, huh?"

Ye Jiuliang curved her lips into a smile, countering with a question, "What did they tell you?"

"What they say doesn’t matter to me; it’s not okay for them to bully my little devil," Li Mohan rubbed her hand, "Why is it so cold, aren’t you cold?"

Ye Jiuliang laughed softly, "Hey, I pushed Su Yishan into the lake, aren’t you going to care about the bride that your Old Master has chosen for you, huh?"

"Are you asking for a spanking, huh?" Li Mohan narrowed his eyes, leaning in closer.

Foreheads touching, the cool fragrance wrapped in the cold wind filled his nostrils, "Are you willing to push Gramps onto others, not jealous?"

Ye Jiuliang pursed her lips and laughed, lifting her hand to pinch his jaw, "Tell me, for attracting so many rotten peaches to Gramps, how should I punish you?"

"Punish me... with a kiss."

With that, he bent his head and lightly pecked the corner of her lips.

Ye Jiuliang couldn’t hold back a laugh, punching his solid chest with a fist, "Rogue."

"Where did all these fireworks come from?" Li Mohan held her close, glancing at the fireworks piled on the ground, his eyebrows slightly raised.

She said, "Bought them."

Li Mohan, "Do you want to set off more?"

Ye Jiuliang shook her head, her eyes brimming with a sly smile, "I’ll take you to see something nice."

She took his hand and pulled him down from the rooftop.

Ten minutes later.

Li Mohan looked at the items laid out not far away, his thin lips pressed into a firm arc.

This...

Was this the "something nice" she was talking about?