Jiang Mo had just finished her video call and replied, "I chatted with Brother Liu for a bit. He asked me to look after Grandfather Liu."
She handed the phone back to Liu Guochuan, who was in the middle of a debate with Pan Weidong about the type of greenery planted by the steps.
Seeing the phone being returned, Liu Guochuan remarked, "You two finished talking so quickly? Why not chat a little longer?"
Jiang Mo could easily guess his intentions—she hadn’t expected him to still be scheming like this.
She decided to be straightforward. "Brother Liu has work to do, and I didn’t want to disturb him. Besides, we’re only suited to be friends. I appreciate your kindness, though."
Liu Guochuan chuckled. "Well, I tried to create an opportunity, but you saw right through it. Ah, I suppose you two just aren’t fated to be. This old man won’t meddle anymore."
Nearby, Gu Ye watched the exchange before sidling up to Gu Baotian. "Grandpa, seeing this situation, don’t you have anything to say?"
"Say what?" Gu Baotian looked puzzled.
"Grandpa, you’re falling behind. Look at Grandpa Liu—see how he creates chances for his grandson? You promised to back me up, but I haven’t seen much of that."
"You little rascal, trying to pressure me now? I won’t fall for it," Gu Baotian retorted, plopping his hat onto his head. "You’re the one chasing a girlfriend, not me. Figure it out yourself."
"Still, if I hadn’t suggested this vacation and brought her along, would you have had all these days to spend with her?"
Despite his words, Gu Baotian was clearly concerned. "Wait, you’ve even been flaunting your physique, and there’s still no progress?"
"Grandpa, could you phrase that more elegantly?" Gu Ye frowned. "What do you mean ‘flaunting my physique’? That makes me sound indecent."
"Don’t act like I don’t know. You’ve been showing off your muscles in front of Jiang Mo," Gu Baotian said with a knowing look.
Gu Ye’s ears burned, though his expression remained calm. "Wasn’t that your advice? That when chasing a girl, you have to use every trick in the book."
Gu Baotian gave him a sidelong glance. "Well, at least you recognize your strengths. A little charm never hurts."
"Tonight, I’ll give you another push."
After finishing her conversation with Liu Guochuan, Jiang Mo turned and noticed Gu Baotian.
Gu Baotian happened to glance her way and waved her over. "Jiang Mo, how’s the hike treating you? Not too tired, I hope? Easier than climbing Mount Tai with me last time, right?"
"Not tired at all. It’s been quite relaxing," Jiang Mo replied, hopping over a couple of rocks to join him.
"Good to hear," Gu Baotian said with a smile. "Alright, we’ve rested enough. Let’s keep going."
The mountain wasn’t particularly high, and with breaks along the way, they reached the summit in just over two hours.
The group ate at the mountaintop restaurant, took group photos, and then descended by cable car.
In the afternoon, they visited a minority village, strolling and exploring.
By evening, Gu Ye finally understood what Gu Baotian had meant by "another push."
The old man had taken everyone else out for a night excursion, leaving only him and Jiang Mo behind at the hotel.
"I’ve arranged for room service. You two enjoy your candlelit dinner."
So when the pair returned from running an errand and opened their hotel room door, they were met with a path of rose petals and a red carpet stretching from the entrance.
Jiang Mo froze in the doorway, hesitating before taking a step back. The room number was correct. "What’s the hotel doing? Did they make a mistake? Should we ask?"
Gu Ye, who knew exactly what was going on, scratched his head. "Maybe it’s some kind of hotel event. Don’t worry, let’s just go in."
Jiang Mo eyed the setup warily, sensing that something was about to happen.
Once seated at the dining table, she asked nervously, "This wasn’t prepared by the hotel, was it? Did you arrange this?"
"Not me," Gu Ye admitted. "It was probably Grandpa’s doing. You know how he is—always full of surprises."
Hearing it was Gu Baotian’s handiwork, Jiang Mo relaxed slightly.
A server rang the doorbell and brought in their meal.
Course after course was served, and the two began enjoying the food.
The atmosphere was pleasant, and just as Gu Ye was about to say something, the doorbell rang again.
