Li Mochan raised his eyebrows, his lips curving into a defiant arc.

Bringing the glass to his lips, Ji Mingqian tilted his head back and finished the remaining red wine in one go, the glass was empty in an instant, "When are you two going back?"

Ye Jiuliang said, "Tomorrow morning."

"Back to where?"

Upon hearing this, she shot him a look of exasperation and said, "Obviously, back to Country Y."

Mo Lingling’s situation hadn’t been resolved yet, where else could she go? Only he would ask such a foolish question.

Ji Mingqian put down his wine glass, "Alright, then. I’ll go back with you guys tomorrow."

Without waiting for the wedding banquet to end, Li Mochan and Ye Jiuliang left their seats early. Ji Mingqian was held up by Lin Yan and the others, naturally, he didn’t leave so soon.

**

The misty drizzle was fine and dense.

Listening to the rain outside the window, Mo Chen’s gaze was fixed blankly on the ceiling, his thoughts drifting off to who knows where.

The wound on his back had been treated with medicine, and the piercing, acidic pain had gradually eased a bit.

Just then, the door to the room was pushed open from the outside.

As footsteps approached, Mo Chen’s eyes shifted and, seeing the newcomer, a look of surprise appeared on his face.

After a brief moment of astonishment, he came to his senses and struggled to sit up.

His cracked lips parted, and his voice rasped, "Dad."

The soft light from above sliced down, swirling around the man, yet it could not melt the piercing chill radiating from him.

Mo Yuan nodded slightly, his eyes lightly scanning him, "Is your injury feeling any better?"

His sudden concern took Mo Chen by surprise.

He was stunned for quite a while before he recovered from the shock, "It’s much better now."

Mo Yuan said indifferently, "Alei is on his way back."

Upon hearing this, Mo Chen was ecstatic, "Really?"

"Mhm."

"Dad, thank you," Mo Chen said excitedly.

He knew that no one but his father could make his grandfather change his mind. Now that his grandfather was willing to let Alei off the hook, it must have been because his father spoke on his behalf.

In the face of his gratitude, Mo Yuan remained expressionless, neither happy nor angry, "I heard you’re attending Beisen Academy in the capital?"

Mo Chen nodded, the surprise in his heart growing. His father had never taken the initiative to inquire about his life.

A flicker of conflict passed through his eyes, and after much hesitation, he still couldn’t help but ask, "Dad, could I borrow your phone?"

His faltering words were filled with cautiousness.

Mo Yuan furrowed his brows, seemingly puzzled.

"My cell phone and tablet were confiscated by Mom," Mo Chen explained dejectedly.

Upon hearing this, the frown between Mo Yuan’s brows deepened.

After a moment, he took out his phone and handed it to him.

Mo Chen’s eyes lit up with joy, and he reached out to take it quickly, moving so abruptly that he tugged at the wound on his back.

Hiss.

He gritted his teeth in pain but, disregarding it, he dialed a series of numbers and made the call.

Soon, someone answered on the other end of the line. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Who is this?"

The cold voice entered his ears, sounding all too familiar to Mo Chen, and he felt an inexplicable sting in his nose, "Sister, it’s me."

"Mo Chen?" On the other end of the call, Ye Jiuliang had just gotten off the plane and noticed something was off with Mo Chen’s hoarse voice.

"Why is your voice so hoarse, has someone been bullying you?"

Were you beaten by Mo Su again?

Noticing the concern in her words, Mo Chen felt warmth in his chest, and his eyes reddened, "Nobody is bullying me, I just missed you."

Across from him, Mo Yuan watched Mo Chen with a strange look in his eyes, and some confusion.

Sister?

Could it be the Sister Ajiu that Mo Chen mentioned before?

Ye Jiuliang wouldn’t pry if Mo Chen didn’t want to talk. He teased, "Wow, getting all sentimental after just a few days apart, huh? Keep those sweet lines for yourself. Next time I introduce you to a young lady, save them for wooing her."

Mo Chen couldn’t help but laugh, the sorrow in his expression lightened.

He missed not just her, but also Grandma Jiang, Aunt Weiya, Uncle Jiang, Brother Yisheng...

He missed everyone from Mo Garden, regretting his return already.

"Sister, when are you coming back?"

Ye Jiuliang smiled, playfully asking, "What, are you treating me to a meal?"

"Yeah, I’m inviting you out to eat." As he enjoyed chatting with Ye Jiuliang, Mo Chen momentarily forgot that Mo Yuan was still there and even forgot that he had borrowed the phone from Mo Yuan.

Walking on the verdant grass, with the cool breeze blowing comfortably, Ye Jiuliang couldn’t help but slow his pace, "Does your brother-in-law get a share too?"

"Yes," Mo Chen replied with a bright smile, "I’m treating, but is it okay if my brother-in-law pays the bill?"

Ye Jiuliang glanced sideways toward the person beside him, the corners of his lips tipping slightly, "Your brother-in-law said to pay back the rent first."

Mo Chen’s expression stiffened as he pleaded with a laugh, "No, no, just kidding, how could I let my brother-in-law pay when I’m treating for dinner?"

Raising his head, his eyes inadvertently flicked across the person opposite him, and he grew nervous, "Sister, I’ve got something to do, so I’ll hang up now. We’ll chat another day."

After ending the call, he handed the phone back to Mo Yuan, presenting it with both hands.

Mo Yuan took back his phone, looking at him with a detached gaze, "Stay here and recover properly these next few days. Don’t make a fuss. You know what your grandfather’s temper is like."

Mo Chen nodded obediently.

As Mo Yuan turned to leave, Mo Chen’s voice followed him.

"Dad, do you know Sister Ajiu?"

At those words, Mo Yuan paused in his step and looked back at him, his voice steady, "Who is she?"

After thinking for a moment, Mo Chen shook his head and said with a forced smile, "Never mind, you probably don’t know her."

Mo Yuan gave him a deep look before walking away.

Not long after he left, Mo Yu entered the room.

Seeing her son’s pale face, Mo Yu couldn’t help but feel heartache.

In a gentle voice, she asked, "Mo Chen, are you feeling any better? Do you still feel unwell anywhere?"

"No." Mo Chen lowered his eyelids, replying indifferently.

Sitting down on the bedside, Mo Yu tentatively asked, "Mo Chen, did your father just come in to see you?"

Mo Chen hummed a response.

"What did you two talk about?" Mo Yu’s gaze locked onto him, with a hint of tension in her depths.

"We didn’t talk about much."

Looking at his expressionless face, Mo Yu placed her hand on his, speaking earnestly, "Mo Chen, I wasn’t purposely refusing to help you. You know your grandfather’s temperament. If I had spoken for you, he would have only punished you more severely. I’ve said it many times before, don’t antagonize your grandfather. It never ends well for you when you anger him, but you never listen."

Mo Chen turned to face her, his scornful laughter cold, "I am a human, not a puppet. I don’t want to become like Mo Su—cold-blooded and heartless, with eyes and heart only for profit."

"You..." Mo Yu’s face darkened, her raised hand hanging in the air, unable to drop.

Mo Chen glanced at her raised palm and laughed nonchalantly, "Go ahead and hit me if you want." After all, she was the one who gave birth to him; he was only returning his life to her.

Mo Yu’s face showed resentment as she slowly lowered her hand.

Her voice was cold as she said, "Mo Chen, is that what you want to know? Why I hate Ye Jiuliang so much?"

Mo Chen remained unmoved, but curiosity quietly stirred within him.