Mo Jingshen’s gaze cut past her face like the wind as he indifferently declared, “Vegetables.”

“Oh.”

Ji Nuan was slightly embarrassed as she scribbled next to the vegetable platter option. From what he said, she understood that Mo Jingshen preferred vegetarian food, so she picked several more items that were lighter.

After that, she handed the menu to him. “Take a look to see if there’s anything you want to add? I didn’t order too much.”

Mo Jingshen took it but did not look at it, directly handing it over to the server by the table.

“What would the two of you like to drink?”

“Do you have warm water? Normal drinking water will do as well,” Ji Nuan asked.

“We do, I’ll send it over for you immediately. What about you, sir?”

“The same.”

Ji Nuan immediately raised her head to survey Mo Jingshen, silently remembering. She knew quite well that Mo Jingshen did not like milk. He also did not have much love for tea or coffee. Just like her, he was faithful to plain water. His choices in food were healthy, so she somewhat began to understand his taste.

The server held the menu and left. Not too long later, the clear soup broth Ji Nuan had ordered was sent over.

Less than a minute later, the steam began rising between the two of them.

“Earlier on, I was worried you would be unused to such an environment.” Ji Nuan took the glass pot sent over by the server. It contained warm water with lemon slices.

Mo Jingshen’s charming brows moved slightly. “What do you mean?”

“For people like you who normally spend more time at social events and frequent official places, you most likely won’t have that much preference for hot pot.”

“It’s true that I don’t prefer it, but it doesn’t mean that I won’t eat it.” Mo Jingshen only smiled and did not tease her on her choice of topic that was on the verge of deviating from the norm.

“Then, do you enjoy sweets?” Ji Nuan suddenly held her face with one hand, staring at the man’s handsome face through the white steam.

He regarded her. “Do you plan on starting to understand my tastes?”

Ji Nuan calmly smiled. “I don’t have any choice. I suddenly experienced a strong wave of danger today. If I don’t take some initiative, what if my husband gets snatched away by someone else!”

Mo Jingshen lowly chuckled.

“I guess you definitely don’t like sweets,” Ji Nuan muttered to herself.

This was because the last time he bought her rice ball soup, there was a lot left, but he did not take even a single bite. That taste was too sweet, and he most likely did not enjoy it.

He raised his brows, and she took it to mean that she was right.

This hot pot meal fed them well. Ji Nuan kept asking questions the whole time, while Mo Jingshen occasionally answered and occasionally ignored her.

In the end, Ji Nuan even asked what color he liked before he finally could not tolerate it and brought this little woman, who had suddenly become a good student, out of Hotpot City.

——

Ji Nuan stayed at home for two days to look through the acquired company’s documents and reports. She did not leave the house.

In this period, Ji Mengran called twice. She did not even answer once, pretending to be dead and ignorant.

The night before the weekend of Elder Mo’s birthday celebration, Ji Mengran called again.

Ji Nuan had just walked out of the study. She glanced at the number and picked up the phone expressionlessly.

“Big Sister, these few days did you and Brother Jing Shen not return to the Yu Garden?” Ji Mengran carefully asked.

Ji Nuan’s tone was unhurried. “No, why? You went to the Yu Garden to look for us?”

“I… In the afternoon, I had a reunion with my classmates and passed by the Yu Garden. I wanted to go in to look for you, but Auntie Chen said you and Brother Jing Shen have not been returning to stay in the Yu Garden recently.”

Passed by the Yu Garden?

The Yu Garden leaned against the south side of Hai Cheng’s city area. It was also positioned in a quiet neighborhood. Regardless of where Ji Mengran went, there was no way she would pass by the Yu Garden on the way back.

“It’s true that we haven’t returned there. Your brother-in-law and I have been enjoying our small little world. We most likely won’t return to the Yu Garden for a few more days.” Ji Nuan smiled coolly.

Ji Mengran appeared to be stunned by her reply. She was quiet for a moment before diligently asking, “Then where have you and Brother Jing Shen been staying recently? I’ll go find you!”

“Won’t we get to meet tomorrow at the Mo family home? Why are you in such a rush to find me today?” Ji Nuan was too lazy to act excited, rejecting coldly. “If there’s anything else, let’s talk tomorrow. I’m busy.”

“I brought a good thing for you, Big Sister. If it’s convenient, let me go look for you.” Ji Mengran was very determined.

Ji Nuan was quiet for a moment. She did want to see what exactly she was trying to sell here. Tomorrow was Grandfather Mo’s birthday celebration. In the past two days, Ji Mengran has been earnestly trying to contact her, which suggested there was definitely something planned.

—-

She met Ji Mengran at a dessert shop. Ji Nuan did not reveal where she was staying.

After arriving at the dessert shop, Ji Mengran saw that Ji Nuan was sitting by the window and walked in. She was scanning through her phone while sipping a cup of milk tea.

Ji Nuan pretended not to see her, keeping her eyes fixed on the news she was scrolling through on her phone. She appeared to be defenseless. Only when Ji Mengran approached the table, she coolly spoke. “Sit down. What exactly do you want to talk about?”

She was lazy to give Ji Mengran much face, nor did she feel the need to pretend that their sister relationship was strong.

Ji Mengran pushed a delicate box toward her. “Previously, didn’t you mention that you wanted to gift a chess board to Elder Mo? I begged Dad for a really long time, and he finally agreed to give this to me. Big Sister, why don’t you gift this to Grandfather Mo tomorrow.”

The last time, Ji Mengran was unaware of the fact that they had successfully obtained the chess book.

Ji Nuan did not even raise her head; her eyes fixed on the phone. Her voice was cold, causing others to feel like there was a distance of a thousand miles between them. “Grandfather Mo’s birthday, you sure are concerned about it.”

Ji Mengran naturally had to put on an expression of being concerned for her sister. “After all, you are my sister and Brother Jing Shen treats me well. I have to do something for both of you.”

“Is that so?” Ji Nuan placed the phone down, indifferently glancing at Ji Mengran.

At the moment their eyes met, Ji Mengran felt some fear in her heart because of her cold and indifferent gaze. “Big Sister, recently we’ve become much more distant. You won’t let me go to the Yu Garden, and now you won’t even tell me where you are staying. What exactly are you wary of?”

Ji Nuan glanced at the box, reaching out to open it. She saw that it was indeed the jade chessboard from the early Tang period that her father had kept for many years.

That it was real, was indeed very strange…

Ji Nuan closed the box, raising her thin fingers and unhurriedly tapping it against the glass table. “Why have you been so suspicious recently? Could it be that you’ve really done something wrong against me?”

Ji Mengran’s natural expression almost froze. “How could I have done anything against you. You are my sister. My blood-related sister!”

Ji Nuan’s gaze returned to her phone. Her voice was as light as the wind. “Isn’t that it? If you haven’t done anything wrong, why are you always worried?”

“I-I’m just… just asking… I’m worried that we’ve become too distant. Since I’m just overthinking, then I won’t ask more.”

Ji Nuan was indifferent and did not answer further.

Around ten minutes later, Ji Mengran found an excuse to leave.

Ji Nuan did not even take another peek at the chessboard. Her eyes remaining fixed on her phone screen. She casually searched up the information related to this jade chessboard and afterward, her lips curved up in an ambiguous smile. Her eyes were clear and bright, revealing none of her thoughts.