Young Master Mo, Are You Done Kissing?

After the reunion dinner, Wan Zhu immediately urged Mo Jingshen to bring Ji Nuan back to his room.

Even Ji Nuan could tell that Mo Jingshen’s mother had no intention of sitting any longer with the Su family and was using Ji Nuan’s need for rest as an excuse to urge them away.

After returning to the room, Ji Nuan checked the time. Back at home, it was still afternoon. She sent messages to all of her colleagues in her studio to wish them a happy new year and then dialed Ji Hongwen’s number. She chatted briefly with him and found out that there was still no news from Ji Mengran.

After hanging up, Ji Nuan felt upset that she had been unable to rush home in time to celebrate the New Year’s with Ji Hongwen. Although she did not know how he eventually chose to settle the mess Shen Heru had stirred up, but without a doubt, the Ji home would be rather quiet and cold this year.

She turned and entered the bathroom, soaking in the tub for a long while. Just as she was about to doze off, she suddenly heard the clicking noise of the door being opened. She swerved her head over to see that Mo Jingshen had entered. As she lagged in her response, Mo Jingshen had already reached over to carry her out of the tub.

“You didn’t stay to chat with Dad and Elder Su?” Ji Nuan was dripping wet. She was worried that she would dirty his clothes but seeing how he appeared not to mind at all, she did not refuse his touch. Before they stepped out of the bathroom, she grabbed the towel by the side to cover herself so that she wouldn’t be brought out bare naked.

“It’s getting late. It’s more important to accompany you.” Mo Jingshen brought her to the bedside and bent down to kiss her lips. He followed the water droplets on her collarbone and shoulder before covering them to restrain himself. He then lifted one side of the towel on her to help her dry her dripping hair.

Finally, Ji Nuan sat obediently on the bed and allowed Mo Jingshen to help blow-dry her hair as he pleased. She supported her chin with one hand, looking out of the balcony on the other end of the room. “Mrs. Wan Zhu is truly a good mother-in-law. Back when you were engaged to Su Zhilan, did she treat Miss Su the way she treats me now?”

Mo Jingshen ran his defined fingers through her hair, speaking with a deep and soft voice: “It was at least better than the obviously distant attitude she is displaying right now.”

“Faced with this stark difference in treatment, Miss Su was actually able to persevere and have the reunion dinner with us. How admirable.” Ji Nuan gently tapped her fingers on her face, before raising her brows to continue: “But your mother is indeed a wonderful person. She is definitely a mother-in-law with high emotional intelligence. Before we came here, I never thought that I would have such a mother-in-law. I thought that aside from Elder Mo, all of the Mo family members dislike me.”

Mo Jingshen’s gaze was calm and distant. He touched her dry hair and placed the blow-dryer aside before placing his palms on her shoulder: “It’s because and I’m her blood-related son, and she knows that you are my wife. She is very aware of who she should be biased with.”

Ji Nuan considered Mo Jingshen’s mother’s actions today. She was considerate toward outsiders and extra caring and biased toward her own people. En, she was indeed a self-aware mother-in-law.

—-

It had yet to hit midnight. One of the helpers mentioned that there were all sorts of fruits, candies, and snacks they could have downstairs. Ever since her pregnancy, Ji Nuan had faced all sorts of turmoil. The pregnancy cravings only hit her abruptly today. She took the opportunity while Mo Jingshen was showering to head downstairs and bring some snacks back.

The moment she stepped out, she heard movements from the staircase. She and Mo Jingshen were staying on the third floor. She stepped onto the second floor to see Su Zhilan standing by the staircase. It appeared to be a coincidence, but it clearly was not.

Su Zhilan took a glance at her before lifting her head to look behind Ji Nuan. She saw that Mo Jingshen did not step out with her, and his silhouette was nowhere to be found.

“Miss Ji is actually pregnant. Congratulations, ah.” Su Zhilan leaned against the staircase railing, her gaze fixed on Ji Nuan.

Ji Nuan did not expect that Su Zhilan would mention this. Ji Nuan paused in her footsteps.

She had already heard of Su Zhilan’s manic episodes being brought up several times. Ji Nuan instinctively did not approach to stand on the same level as her.

“It’s already so late. Miss Su isn’t resting yet?”

“I couldn’t sleep.” Su Zhilan saw that Ji Nuan was intentionally keeping her distance from her and shifted her brows imperceptibly. She lifted her feet and headed step by step closer to Ji Nuan.

Ji Nuan watched her approach but felt that she would not dare to take any significant actions right now. Furthermore, manic episodes were always triggered by something. Right now, Su Zhilan appeared far too calm.

However, Ji Nuan still instinctively leaned closer to the other side, pausing against the railing. She placed her hand on the railing and held it with a tight grip in case an ‘accident’ occurred.

“I hope the words my grandfather said today didn’t hurt you.” Su Zhilan approached. “And I ask for Miss Ji to be generous and to not fuss over these small matters. That day, after I left the hospital, I actually did a lot of thinking. Since Jingshen has already chosen you, this marriage is indeed a legal wall that has been built. Besides, you’re pregnant. This is indeed a responsibility that Jingshen will consider. Since this has already happened, there is nothing I can possibly do. Although I find it hard to accept, I can understand…”

Su Zhilan’s tone was natural, and her expression was sincere.

Unfortunately, Ji Nuan had caught all of the sharp edges in her words of retreat.

Su Zhilan was saying that Mo Jingshen was only locked down by the marriage and the responsibility he had to bear, wasn’t she?

“Perhaps it’s because Miss Su grew up in America, but your use of Chinese words is not sufficiently appropriate. The verb ‘understand’ cannot be used that way.” Ji Nuan smiled mildly. “Words don’t have to be repeated so frequently either. I’m sure Miss Su understands well. Is the wall before your eyes truly our marriage? Or is it that you’ve never even once entered the place you wish to be? If so, why is there a need to even mention any wall?”

As Su Zhilan watched her, her gaze gradually turned cold. She slowly regained her arrogance, and the ice in her expression clearly meant that Ji Nuan’s words had been painful to hear.

“Furthermore, Miss Su, since you’ve already made your investigations on me, you should know that Director Mo isn’t especially satisfied with me. But even in such a circumstance, when Elder Su was interrogating us, he chose to keep silent. Very clearly, he isn’t very satisfied with you either. Based on the Mo family alone, you are already the one who has been left outside the door.”

Ji Nuan’s light and cold tone did not intentionally reveal anything. However, it was her factual way of speaking that brought the most pain to a person’s heart.

Su Zhilan did not say more. She abruptly turned and climbed down the stairs.

Ji Nuan watched her back view. When she was finally a distance away, she lifted her hand from the railing. She lowered her head to look at her damp palm, losing her smile.

Perhaps it was because Su Zhilan’s character was truly too difficult to control and fluctuated too much. Ever since Ji Nuan found out that her pregnancy was not stable, she kept worrying that she would slip or fall. Earlier, she kept her defenses up the whole time. In that short few minutes that they were speaking, she had indeed been far too wary.