The grandson handed the meat dish to his grandmother, asking, "Do you still have chili powder at home?"
The old lady is too old to eat spicy food. "Is the shop running out of supplies?"
Grandson: "No, no, I didn't bring it. My older brother likes spicy food. When he buys sweets in the morning, he always asks for chili powder and cumin powder."
Mo Yushen: "..."
Xi Jia looked at Mo Yushen, who was also looking at her. He silently looked away.
She ate the dessert in the morning.
The chili powder that Mo Yushen wanted was sprinkled on the snacks from last night.
It was almost dinnertime, and the shop was busy, so the young man didn't linger. "Brother, sister, enjoy your meal, I'm leaving now."
Dinner was plentiful. Mo Yushen ate his roasted lamb chops while glancing at Xi Jia every now and then, and Xi Jia was always looking at him just as he was eating.
The old lady had been busy all afternoon and was tired. After eating, she went to rest early.
Xi Jia and Mo Yushen took a walk back to the hotel.
"Is this the first time you've ever eaten leftovers in your life?" Xi Jia asked.
Mo Yushen: "Hmm."
"How does it taste?"
"good."
Xi Jia held his left hand, brought it to her lips, and kissed his ring. "I heard the ring finger is connected to the heart, can you feel the warmth?"
Mo Yushen didn't answer, but gripped her hand tightly.
It was quiet for a long time.
Mo Yushen looked at both sides of the mountain road and lied, saying, "There are a lot of insects here."
Xi Jia smiled faintly and echoed him, "You heard it too?"
Mo Yushen: "Hmm."
It was quiet all around, except for the sound of the wind blowing and the leaves rustling.
Back at the hotel, Mo Yushen went to the living room to work.
Secretary Ding sent an email reporting that Chairman Mo summoned several directors this afternoon, but the specifics of their discussion are currently unknown.
Also, Mo Lian returned to Beijing from Shanghai this afternoon.
The email attachment contained a detailed breakdown of Mo Lian Company's financial transactions.
Several of these payments were substantial, deposited into an account under the name of a local welfare institution.
Secretary Ding added a special note: "I've checked. Over the years, Mo Lian has regularly donated to welfare homes, and has sponsored quite a few."
Mo Yushen closed the window.
Human nature is so complex.
My phone vibrated. It was a message from Secretary Ding: "Mr. Mo, is it still raining where you are? If it hasn't stopped, I'll reschedule my flight."
Mo Yushen: [It's stopped. It just stopped.]
He put down his phone and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
He used to pride himself on being the most principled person.
Now, lying has become second nature.
In the bedroom, Xi Jia was taking notes. After she finished, she asked a final question: Does Mo Yu love me?
Love. Not love.
She drew a smiley face under the option of love.
When Mo Yushen pushed the door open and came in, he saw her with a smile on her lips.
Hearing the noise, Xi Jia closed her notebook.
"husband."
"Um."
Xi Jia walked over in a few steps, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him on the lips.
At this moment, Mo Yushen felt that lying was no big deal.
Early the next morning.
Mo Yushen was awakened by the sound of the pouring rain.
It really did rain.
There was no sign of it stopping until nine o'clock.
Secretary Ding booked a flight for 3:30 PM, so she had to be at the airport by 10:00 PM at the latest.
With such torrential rain and extremely low visibility, driving on mountain roads is dangerous.
Mo Yushen stood at the window for a long time. The rain was getting heavier and heavier, and there wasn't a single pedestrian on the food street.
He checked the weather forecast; it was going to rain heavily for the next three hours.
Looking out the window again, the sky and earth merged into one, the rain curtain fell to the ground, and a layer of mist rose up.
Mo Yushen had no choice but to send a message to Secretary Ding: "It's raining again today."
Secretary Ding: "..."
He replied to Mo Yushen: "Mr. Mo, I'll change my ticket right away."
Mo Yu was afraid that Secretary Ding wouldn't believe him, so he took a short video of heavy rain and sent it to Secretary Ding.
This proves he wasn't lying.
It really is raining.
The author has something to say: Secretary Ding: This video of yours doesn't prove that you didn't lie yesterday.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The rain didn't stop until noon.
Mo Yushen and Xi Jia spent a wonderful morning in bed. He never imagined that one day he would indulge himself like this.
Over and over again.
In the middle, Mo Yushen went downstairs to the convenience store and bought a box.
If Xi Jia hadn't been taking her medication, he wanted to have a child with her. This thought even surprised him.
Mo Yushen returned to his room.
Xi Jia dozed off for a while, then woke up when she heard the door open.
Outside the window, the sound of rain was not as loud as before.
Xi Jia asked Mo Yushen, "Is the rain about to stop?"
Mo Yushen: "Not yet." He didn't say anything else.
Perhaps because Mo Yushen is about to return to Beijing, and it's uncertain when he'll have time to visit her again, Xi Jia seems to be in good spirits today and doesn't feel tired.
Every time she says that phrase, "It is something profound," her body and soul reach their deepest depths.
Afternoon. The sky cleared up.
Mo Yushen decided to rush back to Beijing, as there were some matters there that could not be delayed.
The car that was there to pick him up arrived at the hotel entrance.
Xi Jia saw him to the car and waved goodbye.
Mo Yushen's hand was already on the doorknob when he turned around.
Xi Jia took a few steps forward and gently hugged him.
Mo Yushen: "If you can't sleep at night because of the noise of insects, call me."
Xi Jia nodded and urged him, "Hurry up and get in the car, it will be dark by the time we get to the airport."
Mo Yushen opened the passenger door this time, and the driver reminded him, "Mr. Mo, please sit in the back seat for safety."
"It's alright." Mo Yushen insisted on sitting in the passenger seat.
The car starts moving.
Mo Yushen adjusted his posture and looked in the rearview mirror. Soon, the figure in the mirror receded into the distance until it was just a small black dot.
Mo Yushen then looked away.
Same road, same scenery.
My feelings were completely different when I arrived and when I left.
We arrived at the airport as darkness fell.
While waiting for his flight, Mo Yushen received a phone call and a message.
The call was from my grandfather, asking me to come back to the old house that evening.
Mo Yushen: "Grandpa, I'm still in the mountains. I won't get back to Beijing until after midnight."
Grandpa insisted, "No matter how late it is, I'll come."
That message came from her mother, Qin Sulan.
The last time I contacted my mother was six months ago. We met two years ago.
Qin Sulan: [I'm in Beijing now. Let's have a meal together when I have time.]
Mo Yushen: [I've been busy lately, no time.]
Qin Sulan: [Then when you have time, Mom will be in Beijing for the next six months, and might not leave again.]