Her eyes reddened as she looked at him, "If anyone is truly unforgivable, it should be Ye Jiuliang. If she had personally gone to get the herbs, they wouldn’t have been stolen en route, and Grandpa wouldn’t have passed away so soon..."

"Shut up." Chu Chen turned around, finally deigning to look at her with a gaze sharp and icy enough to make one tremble.

Ji Mingqian also couldn’t bear to listen anymore, and he crushed the garlic in his hand to bits.

"Mo Lingling, for God’s sake, think before you speak. It’s not your place to criticize Ajiu."

He walked past the stove to stand in front of her, "If it wasn’t for Ajiu pouring over medical books day and night, searching for all kinds of medicines to extend the Master’s life, the Master would have been long gone..."

He paused, a cold light flashing in his eyes, "You’re not even worth a hair on Ajiu’s head. If it wasn’t out of respect for the Master, do you think you’d still be standing here talking to us?"

She never contributed anything herself and now she had the audacity to spout such nonsense. Sometimes he really doubted whether Mo Lingling was actually the Master’s biological granddaughter; she didn’t resemble the Master at all.

Mo Lingling, startled by his sudden outburst, stumbled a few steps backward.

But then she thought of her own grandfather and her confidence surged again.

"Ji Mingqian, it was Grandpa who brought you back with him in the first place. Is this how you repay my grandfather’s kindness in raising you?"

"Mo Lingling, get out." Chu Chen slammed down the spatula and spoke in a cold voice.

Mo Lingling trembled, her eyes brimming with tears as she glanced at Chu Chen, then ran out sobbing.

"It’s just unbelievable." Ji Mingqian frowned, his tone helpless.

**

Pear Blossom Forest

By the stream, Gu Xinuo crouched down washing vegetables, a pair of white shoes beside her.

The crystal-clear stream bubbled along, and Ye Jiuliang rolled up her pant legs, holding a makeshift fish spear in her hand.

With a swift motion, she speared a lively, jumping fish.

"Anuo, we’re having grilled fish today." She lifted the fish spear, its tail flapping noisily.

Gu Xinuo squinted with a smile, "That’s enough, come on up now. One is plenty; let’s not torment the fish here anymore."

Ye Jiuliang emerged from the water slowly, holding the fish spear.

"Did you ask Aqian yesterday?" She sat on a huge boulder, casually wiping her feet with a paper towel, then waited for the sun to dry them.

"I did, but that guy is tight-lipped, said Achen wouldn’t allow him to talk," Gu Xinuo shook her hands and complained, "Those two are just too secretive. Just wait, when I get a boyfriend, I won’t tell them either."

Hearing that, Ye Jiuliang laughed softly, glanced sideways at her, her thoughts turning subtly, "Actually, it’s not hard to find out if you really want to know."

Gu Xinuo’s spirits lifted instantly, "You have a way?"

Ye Jiuliang nodded, "I’ll tell you after we get back."

With her curiosity piqued again, Gu Xinuo sighed, "Why do you all like to be so mysterious?"

Ye Jiuliang propped her chin on one hand, a flicker of unusual light crossing her eyes.

...

Having not returned for a year, the graves on the back hill were overgrown with weeds, keeping the four of them very busy.

After paying respects to Old Master Mo, they descended the hill as evening approached.

After dinner, Ye Jiuliang was nowhere to be seen.

Having finished her bath, Gu Xinuo couldn’t find Ye Jiuliang anywhere.

"Ajiu."

Odd, where had this person gone?

"I’m here."

The cool voice unexpectedly rose, and Gu Xinuo followed it with a resigned, light chuckle.

"What are you doing climbing up on the roof?" This person had always had the habit of climbing rooftops from a young age, and it still hadn’t changed.

Ye Jiuliang said, "Enjoying the scenery."

Soon after, Gu Xinuo climbed up to the rooftop and sat down beside her.

Seeing the wine bottle in her hand, Gu Xinuo teased, "Drinking again? Aren’t you afraid Li Mochan will find out?"

"He’s not here," she replied.

"Look over there." Ye Jiuliang’s cold gaze narrowed as she tugged at her arm.

Gu Xinuo followed her gaze and frowned slightly, "What is Mo Lingling doing sneaking around at Achen’s courtyard entrance?" 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

This woman was up to some mischief again.

"Let’s go and see," said Ye Jiuliang with a tug at the corner of her lips, finishing the last sip of her wine and rising unhurriedly.

"Let’s go."

A breeze blew through, scattering pear blossoms all over the ground.

The courtyard was brightly lit and, sensing someone entering the house, Chu Chen’s gaze sharpened as he grabbed clothes to put on.

Coming out of the bathroom and walking around the screen, Chu Chen saw the person sitting on his bed, and his handsome face darkened instantly.

He said indifferently, "Mo Lingling, who gave you permission to enter my room?"

Under the orange light, Mo Lingling was wearing a white spaghetti-strap nightgown; the silk fabric clung to her body, making her intentions obvious.

"Achen, I..."

"Don’t call me that. We’re not close," Chu Chen interrupted her coldly.

"If Gu Xinuo can call you that, why can’t I?" Mo Lingling said with tears glittering in her eyes.

"I like you so much, why won’t you accept me? Before grandfather passed away, he asked you to take good care of me. Have you done that? Ye Jiuliang and Gu Xinuo have been excluding me since we were kids, and even you and Ji Mingqian always stand on their side. It’s not fair to me."

Chu Chen’s face turned steely, "Get out."

"Achen, we’ve known each other for so many years. We’re meant to be," Mo Lingling stood up and cautiously approached him.

"I don’t ask for anything else, as long as you’re willing to let me stay by your side."

Disgust crept into Chu Chen’s eyes as he turned and walked towards the door.

Having finally gotten the chance, Mo Lingling was not ready to give up; she dashed over quickly, her back against the door.

"Chu Chen, I’m begging you so humbly, what more do you want from me?"

"Move aside."

Chu Chen pulled her away with one hand and pushed the door open with the other.

"Achen, your place seems pretty lively," Ye Jiuliang said with a hook around Gu Xinuo’s shoulder, her eyes teasingly fixed on Chu Chen. "Someone’s throwing themselves at you, the market’s pretty good, huh?"

Chu Chen had no time for her teasing, his gaze flitting nonchalantly towards Gu Xinuo, worried she might misunderstand.

"Achen." Mo Lingling clung to him again, anger flashing in her eyes when she saw Ye Jiuliang and Gu Xinuo.

Why did it always have to be those two ruining her plans?

"Tch, you’re wearing those two pieces of cloth late at night, who exactly are you trying to show?" Ye Jiuliang looked at Mo Lingling and raised an ironic smile at the corners of her lips.

"Really, a dog can’t change its habit of eating shit."

Mo Lingling, flushed with anger, retorted, "What’s it to you?"

In her frustration, she spoke without thinking, "Ye Jiuliang, it’s none of your business here. If you hadn’t been so useless and let the medicinal materials get stolen, grandpa wouldn’t have died so early."

At her words, Gu Xinuo and Chu Chen’s expressions both darkened simultaneously.

"Mo Lingling, think before you speak," Gu Xinuo snapped coldly.

"It seems like you have quite an issue with me, so why don’t we find a place and talk it out properly," Ye Jiuliang said with a crooked lip, reaching out to drag her away.