Chapter 198: Chapter 198: Those Memories, So Embarrassing to Look Back On! 2
Her son had told her on the phone that Bai Jiusi was an imposter and that the girl before her was his true daughter-in-law.
Ajiu had been raised under Ye Xinguang’s watchful eye; in Ye Xinguang’s heart, Ajiu was as dear to her as her own daughter. When Ajiu disappeared for five years, Ye Xinguang felt as if she had lost a daughter. Those years had been hard not only for her son but for her as well. And now...
"It’s good that you’re back. It’s good that you’re back."
Mo Yinhe stood nearby and introduced, "This is my mother."
Si Mingjing was surprised, not expecting the other woman to be so young. She politely greeted her, "Auntie, hello."
Ye Xinguang wiped the corners of her eyes. Ajiu used to pounce into my arms and affectionately call me ’Mommy,’ just like Si Yuan does. But now, she calls me ’Auntie.’ It feels so distant.
Her son had been right; Ajiu had indeed lost her memory.
Mo Yinhe, standing to the side, asked, "Mom, where’s Xiaobai?"
Ye Xinguang replied, "He’s upstairs."
Mo Yinhe patted Si Mingjing’s shoulder twice and said, "I’ll go call Xiaobai down. He can assemble the puzzle for you."
Si Mingjing nodded.
Mo Yinhe went upstairs and quickly brought Xiaobai down.
"Jingjing, Jingjing!"
Ye Nianbai was dressed in a white sweater and overalls. He sported a new hairstyle, his fluffy hair resembling a little lion’s mane, making him look utterly adorable. Upon seeing Si Mingjing, he dashed down the stairs.
Ye Xinguang and Old Madam Ye, who was sitting in the living room, watched with their hearts in their throats, repeatedly exclaiming, "Slow down, slow down!"
Si Mingjing was startled as well.
She steadily caught Ye Nianbai as he reached the foot of the stairs and scolded him softly, "Why were you running so fast? Be careful not to fall. If you do, I won’t be the one to patch you up."
"You’re lecturing this young master!"
Ye Nianbai immediately felt wronged.
"This young master was only doing this so you could hold me sooner! Dad was right; women are all heartless!"
Ye Nianbai pouted, looked at Si Mingjing, and huffed, "Only a kiss can coax me back into a good mood."
"No kisses. And from now on, you must walk down the stairs step by step, understand?"
Si Mingjing felt a wave of fear in retrospect. What if he had fallen?
Ye Nianbai instantly felt like erupting in anger!
His wife wasn’t giving him, the young master, any face at all!
He tilted his exquisitely delicate face, putting on a cocky expression. Today, this young master must regain his dignity, especially with so many people in the living room! How else could he assert his authority as the man of the house?
Si Mingjing’s brows furrowed slightly. Instead of appeasing him, she rebuked, "What kind of man sulks at a woman?"
"This young master isn’t a man; this young master is a boy!"
Ye Nianbai hadn’t managed to salvage his pride or his dignity and didn’t want to bother with Si Mingjing anymore. But then he remembered, this is my woman! His grandparents were meeting his wife for the first time. The status his wife would have in the family in the future all depended on his attitude! Even if he, the young master, was furious, he had to show a loving attitude towards his wife in front of his grandparents. He, the young master, must cherish his woman so that Jingjing would have proper standing in this family!
Therefore, Ye Nianbai suppressed his little tantrum, cupped Si Mingjing’s face, and planted a big kiss on her forehead.
"Alright, I get it! Women are so troublesome. Now, let this young master down."
Si Mingjing put him down.
Ye Nianbai immediately took Si Mingjing’s hand and began to show her off, parading her around as if on a promenade. He wanted his grandparents to know that Jingjing was under his protection and that everyone should dote on her for his sake!
"Grandma, this is this young master’s wife! This young master really, really likes her, you know!"
"Grandpa, this is this young master’s wife! She’s this young master’s most treasured darling, you know!"
Ye Xinguang laughed and said, "Yes, yes, we know. Your dad doesn’t even have a wife yet, but you do! Look how proud that makes you."
"Of course! When it comes to finding a wife, this young master is truly capable."
Ye Nianbai was incredibly smug.
Si Mingjing stopped Ye Nianbai from getting too carried away. She handed the box to him, asking him to assemble the puzzle for her.
"Jingjing, what’s this?"
"Can you assemble it?"
"Nope. Not unless Jingjing gives this young master a kiss."
This cheeky brat!
Sitting nearby, Mo Yinhe felt an itch to smack his son! He really wanted to give him a beating!
But Ye Junqing saw his son’s intention. His eyes narrowed sternly, conveying a clear warning: You dare lay a finger on my grandson, and just you try!
Mo Yinhe still had his own father to answer to, and his father was perfectly capable of disciplining *his* son!
Mo Yinhe quickly dropped the idea of hitting his son.
Si Mingjing kissed Ye Nianbai on the forehead. "Help me complete this, and I’ll give you two more kisses."
"This young master wants three!"
Ye Nianbai hugged the box and sat cross-legged on the carpet with his short legs. For three kisses, this young master must give it his all!
In the living room, the adults were still exchanging pleasantries.
Old Madam Ye said, "Mingjing, you’re like a lucky charm for our Ye Family. Xiaobai is too young, and in our family, only Ye Shen is still unmarried. Mingjing, what do you think of Ye Shen? I say, you should stop looking for marriage prospects elsewhere. Why not marry our Ye Shen?"
"COUGH... COUGH, COUGH..." Mo Yinhe, who was drinking water, nearly choked.
Ye Shen, who was just coming down the stairs, stumbled. Good heavens, his life was in danger! He had already been afraid to come downstairs to face his elder brother after causing trouble. And now, with his grandmother’s words, it was as if she were sending him straight to his doom!
Ye Shen turned tail and fled, dashing back upstairs. He locked his room door tightly, seeking refuge and safety from his elder brother.
Mo Yinhe said, "Grandma, Ye Shen has a girlfriend. Currently, I’m the only ’single dog’ in the family."
Old Madam Ye said, "Of course, I know that. But Tangtang has been trying to break up with Ye Shen recently."
Mo Yinhe said, "They won’t break up. When young people talk about breaking up after a few days of quarreling, it’s usually just a little tiff to keep things interesting."
"Then what’s to be done? Besides you, the ’single dog,’ there are no other ’single dogs’ in our family. I just wish Mingjing could marry into our Ye Family and become our granddaughter-in-law." Old Madam Ye was truly at her wits’ end.
Mo Yinhe: "..."
Ye Siyuan stood nearby, giggling non-stop. Why hadn’t Grandma thought of her brother?
Ye Junqing and Ye Xinguang were both smiling silently, enjoying the unfolding drama, neither of them coming to Mo Yinhe’s aid.
"Old Madam Ye, I actually never intended to look for marriage prospects. Others initiated it on my behalf. This whole affair has been a misunderstanding." Si Mingjing explained that the Su Family’s patriarch wanted her to marry into their family. However, none of his three grandsons liked her, so they deliberately arranged the matchmaking search to rid themselves of the burden she represented.
"Oh, is that how it was? If their family couldn’t see your worth, that’s their misfortune. It just so happens to be a stroke of luck for our Ye Family."
Si Mingjing said, "Old Madam Ye, I have no immediate plans to marry. I’m still young, even younger than Si Yuan."
She was only twenty years old this year! Ye Siyuan is twenty-four this year and isn’t married yet!
Si Mingjing’s words successfully diverted Old Madam Ye’s attention to her own granddaughter.
Knowing that Xiaobai wouldn’t be able to assemble the puzzle anytime soon, Si Mingjing chatted for a little longer before excusing herself and returning to her room.
In her mind, she was still trying to process what Chen Fengdu had told her about the Dragon Nirvana. What exactly did ’Dragon Nirvana’ mean?
「Two hours passed in the blink of an eye.」
Xiaobai was still diligently working on the puzzle.
Mo Yinhe accompanied his son, working on the puzzle together. He was truly curious. What could Mingjing possibly have that would require Chen Fengdu to keep it safe for her?
Thanks to the persistent efforts of the father and son duo, they finally completed the puzzle.
The moment the puzzle was finished, it was as if a mechanism had been triggered—the box sprang open!