With just one glance and solely based on appearance, Ye Jiuliang had roughly guessed the identity of the unfamiliar woman standing beside Mo Su.

Mo Su’s mother, Mo Yu.

Throwing a casual glance at Mo Yu, Ye Jiuliang shifted her gaze away, her cool voice carrying a touch of nonchalance, "What a coincidence, Miss Mo."

She paused, her eyes lightly focusing on Mo Yu, feigning confusion as she asked, "May I know who this is?"

"I am Mo Yuan’s wife." Mo Yu stood erect, her tone exuding an air of arrogance.

From the moment she entered, Mo Yu’s eyes had been purposefully sizing up Ye Jiuliang. After all these years, this stinky girl, Ye Jiuliang, was still as annoying as ever.

Detecting a hint of boasting in her words, Ye Jiuliang’s narrow cool eyes slightly squinted, and the mischievous smile at her lips grew more intriguing.

Being Mo Yuan’s wife makes one so imperious?

What is there to show off about?

So, Mo Su’s self-impressed attitude is inherited from her, huh.

"So you are Mrs. Mo." She pretended to have an epiphany, "No wonder, Miss Mo, you’re the spitting image of her, not much resemblance to Mr. Mo, though."

Upon hearing this, Mo Yu’s face changed color, a trace of irritation flashing deep in her eyes. Just as she was about to speak, Mo Su beat her to it.

"Miss Ye, you really do jest. Some children resemble their mothers, and some look like their fathers. I just happen to resemble my mother more; it’s quite normal."

Mo Su defused the topic with ease.

Sensing Mo Yu’s hostility towards her, Ye Jiuliang smiled carelessly, "Normal indeed, it was just an offhand remark. Mrs. Mo surely isn’t taking it seriously, right?"

Grinding her teeth, Mo Yu forced a smile, "Of course not."

If only I had gotten rid of this stinking girl back then, it wouldn’t be so hard to deal with her now.

"Mr. Li, I heard from my father that this car accident involved our car hitting yours, and we’re really sorry about it. Therefore, we’d like to invite you and Miss Ye out for a meal, hoping you could honor us with your presence," Mo Su turned to Li Mochan, her tone sincere.

Li Mochan remained silent, glancing at the person beside him with a profound gaze, "Shall we go?"

Ye Jiuliang smiled, lifting the corners of her lips, "It’s rare for Mr. Mo to extend an invitation, naturally, we should accept."

That Mo Yu seems like she’s hiding many secrets; dining with her should be very "interesting."

Mo Su’s lips curled up slightly, her smile not reaching her eyes, "Then that’s settled. I’ll send the address to Miss Ye tomorrow at noon."

Ye Jiuliang hummed noncommittally, neither warm nor cold, as a way of agreement.

"Well then, we won’t impose any longer, we’ll take our leave now." Mo Su nodded lightly at Li Mochan, receiving only the sight of his handsome profile in response.

However, she wasn’t annoyed and left arm in arm with Mo Yu.

"Interesting." Ye Jiuliang tilted her head, a mischievous smirk playing on her lush lips, "Mohan, what do you think of that Mo Yu?"

Li Mochan voiced out quietly, "Ill-intentioned."

Claiming to apologize, but from the moment she entered, she kept her eyes fixed on our little wolf cub, with that inexplicably strange hatred barely concealed.

Ye Jiuliang chuckled.

A pretty accurate summary.

...

After the meeting concluded, Qin Yi was left alone.

He sat with his hands on his knees, gaze unwavering, maintaining a decorously upright posture that exuded more than a hint of comicality.

Suddenly, the person opposite put down the documents and looked over at him.

"Qin Yi." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"Boss, just say what you want to say," he urged, wishing the other would stop smiling at him; it made him nervous.

Chu Chen cleared his throat, "Qin Yi, last time you posed as me, you did well, so..."

Before he could finish, Qin Yi sprang up from his seat. "Boss, I just remembered I have some unfinished business to take care of, I’ll go handle it now."

Seeing through his intentions, Chu Chen commanded, "Sit down."

Qin Yi’s spine stiffened, and he slowly sank back into his chair.

With a pained expression, he spoke, "Boss, I think these things should be shared fairly. I think Qin Er would be perfect for it."

That woman Mo Lingling was too disgusting; he couldn’t stand it.

"Qin Er is no match for you," Chu Chen said with a slight upturn of his lips, his appreciative gaze fixed on him, "Take another trip to handle Mo Lingling."

With those words, Qin Yi slumped his shoulders and his forehead thudded against the table.

"Boss, can you please let me off the hook?"

He was still young and didn’t want to be completely traumatized by women in the future.

Chu Chen cracked a smile, pulled open a drawer to take out a car key, and dangled the bait, "If you make this one trip, this sports car is yours."

Qin Yi raised his head, looked at the car key being offered, and shook his head without hesitation.

"What about an extra two days of holiday?" Chu Chen upped the ante enticingly.

A look of hesitation crossed Qin Yi’s face.

Chu Chen, "Three days."

"Deal," Qin Yi gritted his teeth and agreed.

Chu Chen’s brows arched, and a satisfied smile curled at the corners of his mouth.

He could finally go see his wife.

**

The luxurious suite was bright with light.

The sound of running water in the bathroom abruptly stopped.

A moment later, the bathroom door opened, and the steam rushed out eagerly to escape.

Hearing the noise, Ye Jiuliang glanced sidelong.

The man wore a simple casual outfit, sleeves rolled up halfway, a few faint red scratches on his arm adding a touch of defiant unruliness.

Despite being accustomed to watching him all the time, Ye Jiuliang couldn’t help but feel dazzled anew.

It was no wonder so many women in the capital yearned for him; this mere appearance was enough to attract admirers like bees to honey.

Lost in her thoughts, Li Mochan approached her, and she didn’t snap out of it until he was right before her.

Li Mochan chuckled throatily, his fingertip lightly flicking her forehead, his clear and cool voice tinged with teasing, "Haven’t had your fill yet?"

"Li Mochan, if I tell others I’ve never lusted after you, would they believe me?" Ye Jiuliang rested her chin on her hand, her tone half amused, half serious.

Li Mochan sat next to her, his voice rising playfully at the end, "Do you believe it yourself?"

"I..." Ye Jiuliang gave a sheepish laugh, "Alright, I don’t quite believe it either."

Li Mochan laughed with a shake of his head, "Didn’t find Ji Mingqian?"

"He checked out this morning." Ye Jiuliang pursed her lips, helplessly saying, "I don’t know where that guy’s run off to. I texted him, he said he just got off the plane, and then radio silence."

"Where did he go?"

Ye Jiuliang tried to recall, "Seems like he went to S State."

S State?

Li Mochan’s gaze darkened, a fleeting gleam flaring up.

If he remembered correctly, Feng Yi and Asheng were in S State.

Had Ji Mingqian joined the commotion?

"Pup," he murmured.

"Hm?"

"Did Ji Mingqian ever have a girlfriend before?"

"Pfft."

Maybe his question was too abrupt, but Ye Jiuliang sprayed out her drink, setting down the cup and coughing until her face turned red.

"Cough, cough, cough."

Li Mochan handed her a tissue to wipe away the splash, his gaze puzzled as he looked at her, "Is my question that strange?"

"Why would you suddenly ask that?" Having stopped her coughing, Ye Jiuliang was completely bemused, wondering how they’d gotten onto the topic of Aqian and such matters.

"Just casually asking," he said.