Li Zheng didn’t dare to keep joking around.
Jiang Mo also kept quiet, though she thought to herself, Even if you dared to stay overnight, we wouldn’t dare to let you.
Gu Ye, munching on watermelon, glanced at Li Zheng. "Do you play video games?"
"Of course, I play tons of them. How about you?" Li Zheng asked.
After some discussion, Gu Ye discovered they had a few games in common. "Hit me up on your phone next time, and we can play together."
Li Zheng nodded. "No problem, as long as you don’t mind my terrible skills."
Jiang Mo watched them chat about games and checked the time. "It’s getting late, Gu Ye. You should head home so your mom doesn’t worry."
At least today, Gu Ye had finally figured out where Jiang Mo lived—and even made it inside.
After washing his hands at the sink, Gu Ye cheerfully said, "Alright, I’ll head back. I’m pretty tired from today anyway. You two get some rest."
Once he left, Li Zheng hesitated before confessing, "Hey sis, I accepted a few red packets from Gu Ye today. That’s okay, right?"
Jiang Mo checked the amounts. "Yeah, you can keep them."
Li Zheng grinned, thrilled that his savings had grown. "I thought he’d be some snobby rich kid, but he’s actually pretty cool—no arrogance, really easygoing. Rare find."
Jiang Mo gave a noncommittal hum. "Mm. I’m going to shower. Clean up your watermelon mess later."
Meanwhile, Gu Ye hummed a tune all the way home, in such high spirits that he drove back to the villa in just ten minutes.
Since he hadn’t moved out yet, Su Yunjin still kept a close eye on him.
Gu Ye bounded up the stairs, only to freeze mid-step when he spotted a figure in the shadows. "Mom, what are you doing standing there in the middle of the night like a ghost?"
"You’re one to talk, coming home this late after gallivanting around," Su Yunjin scolded, eyeing her son. "You seem awfully happy. Go wash up and sleep. I’m heading to bed too."
Gu Ye finished his nighttime routine quickly but didn’t fall asleep right away.
Instead, he scrolled through his phone, flipping through the photos they’d taken together.
He considered posting a group photo on his social media but decided against it, opting for a few other shots instead.
After admiring his selection, he uploaded a nine-grid photo dump.
The next day, Jiang Mo rode her electric scooter to work at the Gu residence and headed to the kitchen for staff meals.
Wang Xia served her a bowl of noodles. "You went rafting with Gu Ye yesterday?"
"Mom, how’d you know?" Jiang Mo drizzled sauce over her noodles. "Li Zheng went too."
"How else? Saw it on Gu Ye’s social media," Wang Xia said. "Even though it was just a back-view photo, I’d recognize you anywhere."
Jiang Mo froze, immediately pulling out her phone to check. Thank goodness it was just a back shot—no group photos. If people got the wrong idea, that’d be trouble.
When Jiang Mo returned, Su Yunjin barely made it through breakfast before pulling her aside. "Tell me everything about what’s going on with Little Xun."
Jiang Mo recounted everything she knew.
"Madam, that’s pretty much the whole situation."
Su Yunjin rested her chin on her hand, savoring the gossip about her eldest son. "So, my son got dumped and now wants her back?"
"But the girl doesn’t seem interested in reconciling?"
Jiang Mo smiled awkwardly, not sure how to respond—but yeah, that seemed about right.
"Does this mean he’s going to pull some grand romantic gesture to win her back?" Su Yunjin slapped her thigh in relief. "At least his preferences are normal."
"Madam, you actually worried about that?" Jiang Mo muttered.
"Well, he never dated girls when he was younger—always hanging out with his college buddy, who also didn’t have a girlfriend. What else was I supposed to think?" Su Yunjin admitted. She’d had her suspicions but never asked outright.
After all, she knew families with similar situations.
Meanwhile, at the Gu Corporation headquarters, Zhuge Shen sneezed. Why do I feel like I just got thrown under the bus?
Jiang Mo finished her report. "So, Madam, you don’t have to worry about Little Xun anymore."
Su Yunjin nodded. "The girl sounds smart, but I wonder about her family background."
After finishing her chores, Jiang Mo dropped by Liu Guochuan’s place.
The old man huffed when he saw her. "Look who finally decided to show up. Been too busy for me lately?"
"I’ve had a lot going on, but I didn’t forget your request," Jiang Mo grinned. "I’ve polished your memoir. Take a look."
Liu Guochuan had been working tirelessly—or as he put it, "forgetting to eat and sleep"—to finish writing his autobiography.
And Jiang Mo, true to their agreement, had edited and refined it.
"Don’t worry, I trust your work. I’ll read it tonight," Liu Guochuan said, leading her to the tool shed. "Check out the renovations."
Jiang Mo hadn’t visited in a while, and the shed was almost unrecognizable.
"This looks amazing! More space, better tools—are you planning to go all out, Grandpa Liu?"
Liu Guochuan clasped his hands behind his back. "Just keeping myself busy. But filming and editing videos are such a hassle."
"If you’re serious about it, you could just hire someone to handle the filming and editing," Jiang Mo suggested.
"You know more young people than I do. Any recommendations?"
Jiang Mo thought for a moment. "Actually, yeah. I might know someone."
And just like that, the task landed in her lap.
As they strolled through the backyard, Liu Guochuan handed her an iced drink and ice cream, helping himself to some as well. Then he started gossiping about Gu Baotian and Zhong Xiaoqin.
"Those two are always together now, pretending they’re just walking the dogs. As if we can’t tell."
"But that old Gu sure knows how to spend—heard he gave Zhong a solid gold bracelet."
Jiang Mo winced. Definitely not my place to comment.
She chuckled awkwardly. "Wow, Grandpa Gu’s got style."
"That old man was probably a playboy in his youth, and now he’s a playboy in his golden years," Liu Guochuan went on. "Flowers, gifts, fancy outings—he’s relentless."
Jiang Mo had been away for a while and didn’t know the details. "Has Grandma Zhong said yes?"
Liu Guochuan took a bite of his ice cream and shook his head. "Doesn’t look like it. She’s still the picture of elegance—not an easy catch. Right now, they’re probably still in that flirty, chasing phase."
Jiang Mo blinked. Who knew elderly romance could be more intense than the young folks’?
