His facial expression began to twitch, as Grandpa Li found it hard to believe, he confirmed again, "Say that one more time?"

"You’re going to be a grandfather." Ye Jiuliang’s lips suppressed a restrained smile as he patiently repeated it.

Grandpa Li immediately froze on the spot, unable to speak for a long while.

He was going to be a grandfather?

It wasn’t that he had never been a grandfather before, but because it was Li Mochan’s child, he was so overjoyed.

His eyes slightly watery, yet his lips unconsciously broke into a smile, his face creased into a bundle.

Unable to wait for the old man outside, Tie Shan came in to check on the situation.

Just as he entered the living room, he saw Grandpa Li holding the phone, his eyes slightly red, foolishly smiling, exuding an inexplicable silliness.

Tie Shan was stunned. What was going on?

He quickly walked over, "Old Master, are you alright?"

Grandpa Li looked at him with a vacant gaze, then suddenly snapped back to reality, remembering he hadn’t hung up the phone, he hurriedly said, "Xiaojiu, when are you coming back?"

"It should still be a while." Sensing the urgency in the old man’s voice, Ye Jiuliang lifted the corner of his lips, "Dad, it’s best if you keep this to yourself for now, don’t tell others yet."

Grandpa Li was slightly startled, a hint of shadow passing through his eyes, his tone gentle as he said, "I understand. You take good care of yourself, let that stinky boy Li Mochan do anything that comes up, you just focus on nurturing the baby."

Typical of forgetting the son in favor of the grandchild.

Ye Jiuliang laughed, "I got it, you go ahead with your business."

After hanging up the phone, Grandpa Li was still immersed in the surprise of becoming a grandfather, holding the phone and not letting go.

Seeing him smiling stupidly without speaking, Tie Shan became nervous, "Old Master, is something wrong with the young madam? Why do you look like that?"

Grandpa Li turned to him, his hoarse voice tinged with excitement, "Tie Shan, I’m going to be a grandfather."

Hadn’t he already been a grandfather?

Tie Shan was slow to grasp the significance of his words.

Putting down the phone, Grandpa Li suddenly jumped up on the spot, "I’m going to be a grandfather."

"Hahaha."

The hearty laughter echoed in the living room, an unrestrainable joy.

Seeing the old man behave so unlike himself for the first time, Tie Shan was taken aback, "Old Master, be careful, you might fall."

Had the old master gone mad?

The kind with intermittent spasms?

Exceptionally excited, Grandpa Li paid no heed to his advice.

After hopping once, and feeling it wasn’t enough, he hopped again.

Little did he think that at his age, his body wouldn’t allow such vigorous movements.

An unguarded moment, and he sprained his back.

"Hiss—"

He supported himself on the sofa, his complexion turning pale with a rush.

Oh, his old back.

Seeing something amiss, Tie Shan quickly stepped forward to support him, "Old Master, are you alright?"

"Take me to the hospital, I’ve sprained my back." Grandpa Li inhaled sharply, his words tinged with pain.

Tie Shan let out an "Ah," his expression turning strange.

"Don’t ’ah,’ just help me out quickly." In severe pain, Grandpa Li urged.

Oh, his old back.

Coming to his senses, Tie Shan carefully helped him out of the door.

See, see? He had warned him not to hop about, but he wouldn’t listen.

...

After hanging up, Ye Jiuliang tilted her head towards the person beside her, mimicking Grandpa Li’s tone, speaking in a pinched voice.

"Did you hear that? The old master said, let that stinky boy Li Mochan do the work."

Having said that, she burst out laughing first.

"Hahaha."

Li Mochan cleared away the leftovers, then freed a hand to pinch her face.

"Picking a fight with me because you’ve got a kid on your side, huh?"

"Li Mochan is such a person, how could I ever dare to bully you?" She was very happy with her little act.

Li Mochan let out a raspy laugh, his clear voice tinged with gentleness, "I see you’ve not refrained from bullying me on a regular basis."

"You’re slandering me again." Ye Jiuliang pushed his hand away, her pale cheeks showing faint finger marks.

"Be careful or I’ll complain to our kid and make him less affectionate towards you."

Li Mochan couldn’t help but suppress a chuckle, his eyebrows lifting lightly, "My child, you think it’s possible for him to not be close to me?"

"Well, that remains to be seen." Ye Jiuliang pulled a smile.

"Want to make a bet?"

He picked up the conversation, "Bet on what?"

"If the kid is closer to you than... then..." Ye Jiuliang paused, unable to think of anything at the moment.

Li Mochan’s eyes darkened slightly, his voice low and magnetic, "Then from now on in the bedroom, you’ll listen to me."

"Diddy diddy diddy" the train ran overhead.

Ye Jiuliang couldn’t smile anymore, her usually thick-skinned face turning a light shade of crimson.

Had she misunderstood the meaning of his words?

"Cough cough." She coughed lightly twice, masking her embarrassment.

"Why the silence?" Li Mochan looked at her with a mock smile, intent on teasing her.

Ye Jiuliang tried to change the subject with a light tone, "What do you mean ’listen to you’ in the bedroom? What are you talking about, all messy like that? Mind the prenatal education, alright?"

"Our little wolf cub is so clever, do you really think he won’t understand my words?" Li Mochan wasn’t about to let her off the hook with the topic so easily.

Ye Jiuliang played dumb, "Just don’t understand."

As she finished speaking, the man’s exquisitely handsome face loomed closer.

Ye Jiuliang held her breath involuntarily, "What are you doing so close to me? Sit properly."

"So are we betting or not?" he persisted.

Ye Jiuliang choked, "..."

She had the feeling it was another trap.

"Not daring anymore?" Seeing her hesitation, Li Mochan goaded further.

"Afraid our kid will be closer to me than you?"

"Nonsense." Ye Jiuliang glared at him, "I’ve been carrying him so laboriously, how dare he not be close to me?"

For the sake of their child, she now abstained from alcohol and could only watch as motorcycles passed by; her sacrifices were significant.

Knowing full well it was a provocation, Ye Jiuliang still agreed without hesitation, "Bet, then. I’m not afraid of you."

Li Mochan smiled contentedly and leaned down to lightly peck her lips, "What else do you want to eat?"

"..."

He smiled so slyly.

**

The living room was bright, the rich aroma of coffee continuously escaping from the kitchen.

Ji Mingqian carried a cup of coffee, slowly walking out from the kitchen.

"Is Ajiu still asleep?" Gu Xinuo yawned as she came downstairs.

"The two of them left early in the morning." Ji Mingqian sipped his coffee, his eyes narrowing in satisfaction.

Gu Xinuo glanced at the cup in his hand and casually asked, "Did you grind the coffee yourself?"

"Where would I get that kind of skill? It was Achen who ground the coffee." Ji Mingqian admitted plainly.

After all, when it came to anything kitchen-related, he was clueless, and there was no shame in admitting it.

Gu Xinuo rolled her eyes at him and headed for the kitchen.

"You’re awake?"

Chu Chen put down his plate, his dark eyes shining with a gentle smile, "What would you like to eat?"

Gu Xinuo snuggled up to his side and grabbed a slice of toasted bread, "Anything’s fine, I’ll eat whatever you make."

Hearing this, Chu Chen chuckled lightly, "Is it that easy to please you?"