When it was finally time to take the photos, Ji Nuan still wore her faraway singer outfit to match with Mo Jingshen’s. The old, experienced photographer was especially satisfied. He smacked his lips together and praised them incessantly about what a perfect couple they were.

  Wan Zhu smiled brightly from the side. When the photo shoot finally ended, she rushed over to hold Ji Nuan’s arm and asked if she was tired. It was as though she was terrified of making her own daughter-in-law tired.

  Afterward, perhaps because Wan Zhu had been too excited for the past two days and could not stop herself, or perhaps she had received Mo Jingshen’s silent consent, but she informed the matter of their wedding photographs to Elder Mo.

  As a result, Elder Mo’s elation drove him into taking a flight to Los Angeles the very next day.

  According to Elder Mo’s explanation, it had been at least ten years since he last sat in an airplane. It had also been at least seventeen to eighteen years since he last visited America. This time, he had really come to properly retrieve his granddaughter-in-law, and for the sake of doing so, he was even willing to sacrifice his old life. He wanted to come to Los Angeles for a proper reunion. He planned to stay in Los Angeles for a month before returning to Hai City.

  In the Shine Group’s CEO office’s break room, the television in the living room was currently broadcasting today’s news. The host stood behind a video of a crowded space. The west was celebrating Thanksgiving today and the atmosphere was festive. The smiles of the peoples face were a clear indicator of how the atmosphere was gradually spreading across the evening air.

  The gentle clatter of plates bowls being moved could be heard from the kitchen. A fragrant scent filled the room.

  Ji Nuan breathed in.

  En. It was sweet and sour pork today.

  She raised her head to take a peek.

  Warm light was seeping through the gap in between the doors; it penetrated through the dry air and fell into her eyes.

  The tall and broad-shouldered man who had only left the senior management meeting two hours ago was currently holding onto a wok as he carefully plated a dish.

  The warm light from the kitchen ceiling and the fragrance of his food slowly intertwined in her consciousness; they wrapped him up and gently sent him to the deepest depths of her heart.

  The light fragrance of morning dew on him was stained by the scent of the smoke in the kitchen. She stared at the back of his neck; under the warm light, his silhouette was attractive.

  These days, the great Boss Mo, her Chef Mo, always made whatever she liked. As she was recently infatuated with Chinese food again, he began preparing Chinese food for her without any complaints. Although he always said that the oil and smoke from preparing Chinese food always filled the entire house, he would always prepare several dishes she loved for dinner.

  Even today’s sweet and sour pork; it must have been because a few days ago at the Los Angeles’s Mo home, Mrs. Wan Zhu had made a plate. However, on that day, Ji Nuan could not comfortably eat in front of Mo Shaoze. She only had two bites before she focused on eating the dishes closer to her.

  She had been uncomfortable to eat it even though she wanted it; this was something she did not mention, but Mo Jingshen had clearly noticed.

  She was still deeply invested in her thoughts when he stepped out of the kitchen. His appearance as he held the plate was even more attractive than the freshly cooked sweet and sour pork.

  “What are you looking at?” as she stood up to approach, he freed up one hand to pat her head. “Go wash your hands.”


  There was a light fragrance from his hand and it carried a warmth she was familiar with. It was as though, just by being in this company break room that could not be anymore typical, they were able to step away from all of the worries in the world. The festive atmosphere brimming over outside easily melted into a typical and comforting day by his side; it was peaceful and unhurried.

  ——


  After dinner.

  “Come with me to the Mo home later tonight. Our relatives are here,” Mo Jingshen suddenly spoke as Ji Nuan placed the last bite of sweet and sour pork into her mouth.

  Ji Nuan abruptly coughed and almost spat the pork out. She stared at him in astonishment. “Isn’t it just Grandfather Mo? Who else is here?”


  “It’s almost twenty years since grandfather last returned to America. It’s a rare visit for him. His old friends heard the news and naturally came to visit him.” He placed a cup of milk that was at a suitable, warm temperature in front of her and scolded her for being a good-for-nothing with his eyes.

  “Why do we have to be there when they are gathering together?” as Ji Nuan asked, she carefully pushed the warm glass of milk to the side. She wanted to push it further away while he wasn’t paying attention.

  Earlier, she had eaten a lot. Right now, her stomach could not make any space for milk.

  “Who was the one who said she would have two bowls of rice, two bowls of vegetables and two glasses of milk for every meal from now onwards? You’ve only arrived at the halfway mark of your goal and you can’t continue?” He noticed her small movements: “Weren’t you complaining that you’re too thin?”


  “.……”


  Ji Nuan took another glance at the glass of milk she had pushed away.

  Tonight, she had already had one and a half bowl of rice, and a whole plate of sweet and sour pork; Mo Jingshen had barely eaten and saved it all for her. How could she possibly have such a large appetite?

  However, this was still the milk Boss Mo had intentionally warmed up for her. Ji Nuan could only bring it back and pretend she could not see the smile he was suppressing. She drank half a glass of the milk.

  ——


  As expected, the so-called gathering of Elder Mo’s old friends went differently from Ji Nuan’s expectations.

  She had thought it would be similar to what she had seen on television; a group of elderly people who were past the age of seventy standing together to exclaim about the transience of life, or shed tears because they weren’t sure if they would be able to meet again in this life.

  But what actually happened was……

  A group of old men sitting down together to drink tea and chat about life; all of them were smiling brightly. The sight of it made even Ji Nuan feel as if the gentle breeze of spring was passing through.

  However, she really had no interest in sharing a mahjong table with these elderly men.

  In fact, she barely understood the direction of their thoughts.

  It was close to twenty years since they last met, yet their choice of after-meal entertainment was not to reminisce over old times but to play mahjong.

  They were even able to fill up two mahjong tables.

  Right now, one table had Elder Mo and his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Wan Zhu, accompanying two other elderly men to play. On this table, it was Mo Shaoze and Mo Jingshen.

  Ji Nuan watched as Mo Jingshen took off his coat. He was dressed in a well-fitted, delicately made, white wool sweater. The V-neck revealed the collar of his gray dress shirt underneath. He loosened his collar and shifted his gaze onto Ji Nuan, who desperately wished for something interesting to do, and used his eyes to indicate for her to sit next to him.

  There were so many people here; how could she possibly bring herself to sit so close to him. Earlier, this bunch of elderly men had already teased them endlessly about being a young couple.

  In front of Grandfather Mo’s old, close friends, Mo Jingshen was able to maintain a nonchalant, graceful smile. His accepting demeanor made it seem as though he wasn’t being teased at all. It was Ji Nuan, who rarely experienced this sort of event, that kept turning red by his side.