Chapter 597: 597. Thinking that their Asheng is so easy to bully (second update)

To avoid the old lady Jiang’s prompt for marriage later on, Jiang Yisheng stood up while nibbling on a biscuit, "Mom, I’m going out to eat tonight, no need to prepare my portion."

Veya asked, "Do you have plans with friends?"

Jiang Yisheng replied perfunctorily with a hum and quickly returned upstairs.

**

The night grew cooler, and a bright moon climbed up the trees, casting a gentle, clear glow.

In the spacious living room, only Ye Jiuliang was present, surrounded by a pile of newly bought Lego bricks on the carpet.

Enticing aromas wafted from the kitchen, causing her stomach to rumble with hunger.

Ye Jiuliang decisively abandoned the bricks in her hand and got up to seek out the kitchen.

Bright lights spilled into every corner of the kitchen, where two tall figures were methodically preparing dinner.

Upon hearing footsteps, Li Mochan put down his knife and turned his head to the door, unexpectedly locking eyes with the woman who had just arrived.

His icy gaze softened instantly, and he asked, "What brings you here?"

"I’m hungry," Ye Jiuliang replied as she approached him, her cool eyes rolling around, trying to find something to eat.

Li Mochan chuckled softly, took a bowl, lifted the lid of the pot, and served her a bowl of soup.

The rich aroma found its way to her nose, tantalizing Ye Jiuliang immensely.

"Have some soup first," Li Mochan said, placing a spoon in the bowl. "It’s smoky here; eat in the dining room."

Ye Jiuliang uttered an obedient response and followed him, her gaze fixated on the soup in his hand all the while.

Suddenly, Chu Chen was the only one left in the kitchen.

Listening to the laughter of Li Mochan and Ye Jiuliang in the dining room, he couldn’t help but feel sour.

When would his wife return?

He, too, wanted his wife to cling to him, instead of being left alone again.

To make the act appear more convincing, Gu Xinuo had even gone to the bar to stage a drama of getting drunk, conveniently leaving Ji Mingqian to play the role of persuading her to drink and to take her home afterwards.

Naturally, this left only the trio of Li Mochan back at the house.

Watching the couple’s display of affection compared to his solitude, how could he not feel sour?

"Eat slowly; be careful not to burn yourself," Li Mochan advised the person wolfing down the ribs, a charming smile on his lips.

Ye Jiuliang, preoccupied with gnawing at the ribs, nodded distractedly.

Just then, Ji Mingqian’s voice came from outside.

"Where has everyone gone? Why is there no one around?"

Gu Xinuo walked in wearing slippers. "Just came in and smelled something delicious. Looks like we’re in for a good meal tonight."

"Achen is in the kitchen," Ye Jiuliang said, sipping her soup and making faces at her.

Gu Xinuo’s ears flushed slightly; she glanced at her and unconsciously stepped toward the kitchen.

Ji Mingqian followed her in, pulling out a chair to sit opposite Ye Jiuliang.

He took out a photo from his pocket and casually tossed it on the table, "Got the photo. It’s here."

Ye Jiuliang picked up the photo and examined it back and forth. The person in the photo was shown in profile and was quite clear—it was Ji Mingqian and Gu Xinuo’s likenesses.

The backdrop looked like it was taken in the lobby of a hotel.

"Just to make us fall for their fabricated lies, they’ve really put in a lot of effort," Ji Mingqian scoffed. The photo wasn’t doctored—it must have been taken by someone posing as them. Anyone unaware could easily be deceived.

Ye Jiuliang set down the photo and continued with her soup, "Now that we’ve got the photo, let’s visit Mo Lingling tomorrow. It’s been a while since we’ve seen her, and we should bring her a gift."

She wasn’t going to take any action against her at the moment, but that didn’t mean she would let Mo Lingling live comfortably.

Her master’s grave had been desecrated; what right did she have to live comfortably? The price Mo Lingling needed to pay, she ought to start paying with some interest.

The chilling tone bristled with hostility, making Ji Mingqian shudder. It looked like Mo Lingling was in for a rough day tomorrow.

"Should I ask Achen to go tomorrow, or Qin Yi?"

After finishing a bowl of soup, Ye Jiuliang was still in high spirits, "It’s better if Achen goes."

Suddenly, an exclamation came from the kitchen, "What the—how come there are mice in the house?"

Mice?

Oh no, could it be...

Ji Mingqian’s expression turned weird as he got up and rushed in.

"What’s the situation?" Ye Jiuliang was utterly confused.

In the kitchen, Chu Chen moved the fridge aside, and Gu Xinuo grabbed the mouse by its tail, lifting it to take a look, and couldn’t help being speechless.

A toy mouse?

Who the hell would buy such a thing to bring home?

Ji Mingqian entered the kitchen, saw the toy mouse Gu Xinuo was holding, and naturally reached out to take it, "No wonder I haven’t been able to find it, it ended up here."

"Ji Mingqian, is this your doing?" Gu Xinuo’s lips twitched slightly.

Ji Mingqian nodded, admitting it, "I bought it a couple of days ago to test its effect. I didn’t expect one to suddenly go missing."

"..."

So he actually bought more than one?

"How many did you buy?"

"Just about a dozen or so," Ji Mingqian couldn’t quite remember clearly.

Gu Xinuo said, "Ji Mingqian, how old are you this year to be buying so many toy mice, aren’t you being a bit childish?"

Ji Mingqian swung the mouse by its tail back and forth, and pouted his lips, "It’s not like I bought them for you, what are you nagging about?"

"Aqian, don’t tell me you bought these toy mice as birthday presents for Asheng?" Ye Jiuliang’s voice rose from behind.

Ji Mingqian’s eyes flickered uncertainly; damn Ajiu, always so perceptive.

He turned around, feigning calm, "Who said that? I saw someone playing with this toy mouse while filming on set last time. I joined in on a bulk purchase."

Ye Jiuliang gave him a sideways glance; she wasn’t buying his story.

If she remembered correctly, Asheng was terrified of mice, so he clearly had some mischievous plan buying these toy mice.

"Starving to death, let’s eat, let’s eat." Ji Mingqian said, carrying the mouse away to change the topic.

Not watching where he was going, he almost bumped into Li Mochan. Ji Mingqian stopped in his tracks, and the toy mouse fell to the ground.

Li Mochan looked down at the toy mouse, his dark eyes narrowing slightly.

Looking into his profound eyes, Ji Mingqian felt inexplicably guilty; he quickly picked up the toy mouse and hid it behind his back, "What’s there to look at, never seen a mouse before?"

With that, he hurried out of the dining hall.

Li Mochan turned his head to look at him, the hasty retreat in his figure spoke volumes.

Did he think his Asheng was that easy to bully?

His gaze shifted, and the smile on his lips became more intriguing.

During dinner, there was naturally wine.

Seeing them drink, Ye Jiuliang watched with longing, but with a baby in her belly, she could only watch.

Ji Mingqian looked at Ye Jiuliang’s appetite, which had grown larger than before, a teasing smile on his lips.

"Ajiu, if you continue to eat like this, you might soon put on as much weight as another you," he joked.

Ye Jiuliang gave him a withering look and turned to the person next to her, complaining openly, "He said I’m fat."

Li Mochan put down his chopsticks, his gaze shifting towards Ji Mingqian, a flicker of threatening aura in his depths.

"I was just joking, can you not look at me like that?" Ji Mingqian waved his hands, chuckling nervously.