"Mr. Xie, what's wrong?" Jiang Li was now completely certain—Xie Huaichu was afraid of dogs.
This instantly piqued her interest, and a mischievous gleam flickered in her eyes. "Not feeling well? Why is your face so pale?"
"Mango, why don't you go check on Mr. Xie? He doesn't have a fever, does he?"
"Woof..." Mango let out a low growl and eagerly approached Xie Huaichu.
"Jiang Li, don't let it come over here."
Xie Huaichu panicked, hurriedly trying to escape to the side.
He grabbed the bamboo pole propped against the wall, his eyes tightly shut in anxiety, his breath growing quicker and more erratic.
Xie Zhenguo watched from the side, trying hard not to laugh.
It was clear—his eldest grandson and this little girl definitely had something going on.
His dream of holding a little grandchild was finally within reach.
"Ah, Mr. Xie is afraid of dogs?" Jiang Li suppressed her laughter, pulling Mango back.
After ensuring that Mango wouldn't reach Xie Huaichu and wasn't a threat to his safety, she tied the leash to a metal rod.
Then, she stealthily moved forward, not forgetting to continue teasing him.
"But dogs are so cute, how could you be afraid of it?"
"It's so well-behaved and understanding. Are you sure you don't want to pet it?"
"Jiang Li." Xie Huaichu, too afraid to open his eyes, called her name through clenched teeth.
He didn't realize that she was deliberately teasing him, murmuring her name as his body tightened, his grip on the bamboo pole becoming firmer.
The veins on the back of his hand stood out, and it looked undeniably... sensual.
Jiang Li found this quite amusing, unable to resist gently touching his hand.
"Ah!" Xie Huaichu startled, feeling something climb up his hand.
He let out a startled cry, struggling to suppress his voice, though the fear in his tone was unmistakable.
"Woof..." At that very moment, Mango let out another low growl.
It made Xie Huaichu's entire body break out in a cold sweat, his hair standing on end.
"Jiang Li." He barely managed to call out her name again, his voice shaking, and his tongue slightly tied.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Li stood beside him, leisurely admiring his "manga hands."
"Get that dog away from me."
Xie Huaichu's tone softened slightly, but it was still laced with coldness.
"But Mango really likes you."
Seeing his flustered reaction, Jiang Li's mood lifted, and she continued to tease him.
However, the next moment...
Perhaps she was being too gleeful about his discomfort, and even the heavens couldn't stand it.
Her foot accidentally stepped on a bamboo pole, and she immediately stumbled forward.
Xie Huaichu, completely unprepared, was knocked to the ground by her.
Jiang Li's lips landed squarely on his Adam's apple.
The sensation was electrifying, like a strand of hair grazing the skin—exquisitely sensitive and impossible to ignore.
Xie Huaichu's eyes flew open the instant Jiang Li collided with him.
At first, he thought it was Mango, and he was about to push the dog away forcefully. But then he realized it was Jiang Li.
Instinctively, he softened his push and wrapped his arms around her slender waist as they both fell.
The moment Jiang Li's lips touched his Adam's apple, Xie Huaichu's heartbeat quickened.
His ears burned with a deep flush.
Jiang Li, regaining her composure, hurriedly scrambled off of Xie Huaichu.
Her heart raced wildly, her expression tense, and her eyes avoided looking at him.
She had only wanted to play a little prank on him, but she hadn't expected to get caught up in it herself.
"Jiang Li, did you hurt yourself when you fell?"
Xie Zhenguo, happily putting away his phone, quickly walked over.
He had witnessed the entire scene and even recorded the beautiful moment on his phone.
Jiang Li shook her head. "Grandpa Xie, it's getting late."
"I should head home now. Please take care of yourself."
As she spoke, she quickly untied Mango's leash and hurriedly left the scene.
Watching the little girl's retreating figure, Xie Huaichu unconsciously reached up to touch his Adam's apple.
The image of her falling into his arms kept replaying in his mind.
Her body was so soft, and she carried a faint scent of sandalwood that was comforting to inhale.
What was worse, though, was that her lips—her lips were even softer.
Later, at Bishi Huai Book Studio:
When Jiang Li returned to Bishi Huai Book Studio, Lin Guifang had just entered the door.
"My little A Li, where have you been?"
Seeing the large bags in Jiang Li's hands, Lin Guifang came over to help.
"Let me carry one of these," she said, reaching for one of the smaller bags.
"I went to the supermarket because the fridge was empty. I got some ingredients and also bought some food for Mango," Jiang Li explained.
Lin Guifang, moving quickly, responded, "Your grandma's fine, don't worry about me."
As she made her way into the kitchen, she put the bags in the fridge.
"Your grandma's health is strong, don't worry."
"What would you like for dinner tonight? I'll cook for you," Lin Guifang said, smiling as she tied on an apron.
"No, Grandma, don't bother. I'll make dinner tonight."
Jiang Li took the apron from her and gently guided her to the living room.
"Please relax here, I'll be quick."
Seeing this, Lin Guifang didn't insist further.
She looked at Jiang Li in the kitchen, her heart full of affection and pride.
Soon, Jiang Li had prepared the dinner.
A simple meal with one dish of meat, one vegetable, and a pot of millet porridge. She even made some pancakes.
The two sat down at the table and enjoyed the meal together.
After dinner, Jiang Li cleaned up the dishes and tidied up the kitchen.
She then sat with Lin Guifang in the small pavilion in the backyard, gazing at the moon.
Tonight was the fifteenth day of the month, and the moon was especially full and bright.
Jiang Li draped a jacket over Lin Guifang and handed her a cup of flower tea.
"Grandma, wasn't your tour supposed to last a week? How come you're back so soon?"
Jiang Li sat down on another rocking chair beside her, holding a cup of flower tea in her hand as she asked.
Lin Guifang took a couple of sips from her flower tea and looked at Jiang Li with growing tenderness.
"Our little A Li is all alone at home, and Grandma couldn't rest easy, so I came back early."
Though she said this, in truth, Lin Guifang's heart ached for Jiang Li.
The tour group had been arranged by Jiang Li herself.
It was meant to give her a chance to go out and relax, to adjust her mood.
Not long ago, those ungrateful people had come and made her so upset.
Jiang Li, afraid that she would get hurt, insisted on sending her off to unwind.
This child had always been so thoughtful. Many times, she was so mature for her age it made people's hearts ache.
Though Lin Guifang had raised her from childhood, this child had been so capable.
She managed everything in the house with such order and discipline.
Her academic performance had always been excellent, and she earned a scholarship every year.
Her personality was originally playful and cute.
If not for that incident, she should have had an innocent and carefree childhood like any other normal girl.
Although her life was now prosperous, and her career was flourishing, Lin Guifang knew very well that there was a burden Jiang Li couldn't let go of in her heart.
"Grandma, I'm not a three-year-old. I can take care of myself," Jiang Li smiled, gently resting her head on Lin Guifang's shoulder.
"You child." Lin Guifang raised her hand to gently stroke Jiang Li's long hair, her eyes full of affection.
"You're only twenty-three, yet you're so mature, like a grown-up."
Jiang Li straightened up and seriously responded, "Grandma, that's not quite how you should put it."
"Look at women in ancient times—they were married and had children in their teens."
"At my age, I'm practically considered a late bloomer, not a child."
"By that logic, our little A Li must have someone she likes?" Lin Guifang said with a mischievous smile, looking at her.
Jiang Li snuggled back against her shoulder, affectionately rubbing her arm.
"That's not true. I'm going to stay by your side for the rest of my life."
"You little one..." Lin Guifang chuckled, shaking her head.
Yushui Bay.