Chapter 228: 228, he has it too, it’s just that outsiders never knew (Second update)

"Mingchong?"

Li Mochan heard her murmur and followed her gaze, at the entrance of Jiangyue Restaurant, Mingchong was talking to a woman.

And he seemed somewhat helpless.

When they saw Mingchong, Mingchong also noticed them, the helplessness in his eyes replaced by surprise.

After speaking a few words to the person by his side, Mingchong walked towards them.

"Mr. Li," he greeted Li Mochan, then turned his eyes to Ye Jiuliang, "Jiuliang, are you also here to dine at Jiangyue Restaurant?"

Ye Jiuliang smiled lightly, "Just strolling around."

"Mingchong, who are these two..." The woman who had been standing with Mingchong walked over and asked gently.

The woman’s gaze occasionally fell on Ye Jiuliang, with a trace of astonishment flashing deep in her eyes.

Being a woman herself, she couldn’t help but admire how excessively delicate the young lady was.

"Mr. Li’s girlfriend, Ye Jiuliang," Mingchong gave a brief introduction, "He Qing, I have another appointment with Mr. Li and the others, you should head back first."

Bitterness surged in He Qing’s heart, and she managed a slight smile, "Okay, then we’ll make plans some other time."

Ye Jiuliang watched He Qing’s retreating figure, her lips pursed slightly.

"Since we’ve met by chance, why not join us for a meal?" Mingchong suggested, his eyes hopeful as he looked at Ye Jiuliang.

"Thank you for the offer, Director Ming, but we’ve already eaten," Ye Jiuliang said with a smile, teasingly, "The lady just now seemed quite down, maybe Director Ming should go comfort her?"

Director Ming froze, confronted with the girl’s clear eyes; he chuckled softly.

In front of the two of them, Mingchong pulled out the necklace he was wearing around his neck, a silver chain with a pair of rings threaded on it, "It’s not only you two who have someone you like."

He had someone too, only that it was unknown to others.

His delicate brows and eyes conveyed a fleeting sense of loneliness and anguish, which, even though brief, was still caught by Ye Jiuliang.

"I’m sorry," she said.

Mingchong tucked the necklace back inside his shirt, shook his head and smiled, "It’s okay."

He looked up at Li Mochan, "If Mr. Li has time, why not come over to my place with Jiuliang and try my cooking?"

Li Mochan nodded slightly, "Certainly."

"Then I won’t keep you from your shopping, I’ll take my leave first."

After bidding farewell, Mingchong headed to his car.

Ye Jiuliang watched his somewhat desolate back, a peculiar feeling welling up inside her.

For some reason, she felt Mingchong was rather pitiable.

"What are you thinking about?" Li Mochan took her nearly melted ice cream away, tossed it into a trash can, and wiped her hands with a napkin.

Ye Jiuliang shook her head, "Nothing much."

Li Mochan, "Where do you want to go next?"

"I’ll take you to a place, but first we need to buy some things," Ye Jiuliang took his hand, her smile gradually fading from her lips.

**

Graveyard

The atmosphere, solemn and heavy.

In front of a gravestone, two figures stood side by side.

Ye Jiuliang looked at the photo on the gravestone, the woman in the black and white background exuding a tender smile.

In her memory, such a smile was rare, the only two times were when her father came home.

Ye Jiuliang stepped forward, placing the bunch of bellflowers she was holding onto the grave.

She crouched down, lifted her hand to touch the photo, and the corners of her lips curved into a faint smile.

"Mom, I’m here again, and this time I’ve brought someone very special," she said.

"His name is Li Mochan, and although he can be a bit of a jerk sometimes, I still really like him. He swapped a teddy bear for your daughter, tell me, isn’t that childish?"

She muttered to herself in fits and starts, casually saying whatever came to mind.

"I’ve looked through the things in that wooden box, and I’ve never really blamed you, sincerely."

Li Mochan looked down at the person squatting in front of him, quietly keeping her company.

After a while, Ye Jiuliang stood up and bowed deeply, "I’m leaving now, I’ll come to see you again next time."

Beside her, Li Mochan bent his straight back, bowing deeply as well.

Looking up, his gaze fixed steadily on the photo atop the tombstone.

I’ll take good care of her, including the part you missed out on.

"Let’s go," Ye Jiuliang took his hand.

"Wait, I want to say a word to my mother-in-law," Li Mochan held onto her, his voice low.

Ye Jiuliang was taken aback and couldn’t help but laugh.

"Who is your mother-in-law?"

Li Mochan looped an arm around her, gaze fixed on the photo on the tombstone, "Mother-in-law, the little wolf always bullies me. If you happen to visit her in her dreams, could you please talk to her, tell her to stop making me sleep in the study all the time."

Ye Jiuliang was both amused and touched, the sadness in her heart scattered by his words.

"Li Mochan, where’s your face?" She slapped his arm lightly, laughing, "Besides, how have I ever bullied you? Don’t spout nonsense to my mom."

Seeing her laugh, Li Mochan’s lips curled up slightly, bringing up last night with a hint of a grudge in his tone, "You were so heartless to make me sleep in the study last night."

Ye Jiuliang was both exasperated and amused—was he so aggrieved that he had been dwelling on it all day?

She reached up to wrap her arms around his neck, pushed up on her toes, and clung to his back, "Hurry up, let’s go, before you lose all your dignity in front of your mother-in-law."

Li Mochan lifted his hands to support her legs, to keep her from falling off.

In the slanting sunlight, their shadows stretched longer and longer.

After leaving the cemetery, the couple made a trip to the supermarket on their way home.

"I want to eat ribs, and let’s have fried chicken legs first." Ye Jiuliang pointed at the chicken legs in the freezer, her eyes curving into a smile as she looked back at the man pushing the shopping cart behind her.

"Mohan, do you know how to make fried chicken legs?"

Li Mochan raised an eyebrow and proved his point with action.

He reached out for a box of chicken legs and casually tossed it into the shopping cart.

"One box only has two, Yisheng wants one, Aqian wants one too." Ye Jiuliang stretched out her hand to grab another box.

The next second, the freezer door was closed, and the person beside her spoke calmly, "The two of them are recovering from injuries, it’s not good for them to eat greasy food."

He pampers only his wife, as for the others, ha, they get nothing.

Ye Jiuliang, catching on to his little ploy, smiled with pursed lips, "Okay, then let’s pick some vegetables for them."

"Fry some bitter melon." Li Mochan made a small suggestion.

Ye Jiuliang placed a few tomatoes into the shopping cart, and upon hearing his suggestion, the smile at the corner of her lips deepened.

"Sure."

When the two returned to Mo Garden, it had already turned dark.

The living room was brightly lit.

"Yo, where did those flashy roses come from?" Ji Mingqian saw the roses in Ye Jiuliang’s hands and smirked teasingly.

Ye Jiuliang glanced at him sideways, "I bought them, any problem with that?"

Ji Mingqian’s expression exaggerated as if he had heard something astonishing, "No way, Ye Jiuliang, you bought flowers for Li Mochan?"

"Are you that surprised I’d give flowers?" Ye Jiuliang swept him a disdainful look, "Haven’t you ever seen a woman give roses before?"

Such melodrama, utterly embarrassing.

"I truly haven’t," Ji Mingqian snorted lightly, "Just you two oddballs."