Chapter 354: Ke Zhongyu, you're really exaggerating

Ke Zhongyu and Jiang Lai brought Ping'an home; Mo Yi had not only finished dinner, but had also packed their luggage almost completely, the suitcases were spread out, just to see what else Jiang Lai needed to add.

Jiang Lai glanced and said: "Nothing."

Mo Yi: "Miss Jiang, why don't you check again?"

Jiang Lai: "Mo Yi, what you packed will only be more than I planned to bring; you always think this isn't enough and that isn't enough—I bet you stuffed in a bunch of hand cream and shampoo."

Mo Yi blinked, then indeed, she chuckled: "Eat, eat, or the dishes will get cold."

After the four had finished dinner, Mo Yi also began her vacation, though she would come over every two or three days to clean a bit and take care of the household plants.

Among the household plants, Jiang Lai treasured that pot of cold orchid most, and she gave Mo Yi a couple of extra reminders.

Mo Yi smiled and said: "Let the Young Master come and look after it himself."

Ke Zhongyu nodded: "Hmm."

Jiang Lai didn't even have room to rebut.

The next day they had to get up early at dawn, so Jiang Lai and Ping'an needed to sleep earlier, and Mo Yi and Ke Zhongyu didn't stay long.

At 3:30 a. m., Jiang Lai was brushing her teeth in the bathroom; the electric toothbrush buzzed, and after brushing she scooped a handful of cold water to wash her face, finally waking up fully.

After washing up and going out, the phone on the bedside table chimed; Ke Zhongyu sent a message: "【All right?】"

Jiang Lai also looked at the car she had hailed on her phone, let out a soft sigh, cancelled the order, and still had to pay a few dollars.

"【Almost done.】"

Just as she sent the reply, the doorbell rang.

Jiang Lai walked over in slippers and pajamas to open the door; the person at the door was indeed Ke Zhongyu, holding a steaming breakfast.

Ke Zhongyu wasn't just delivering breakfast; he was also here to pick up the luggage.

The two 26-inch suitcases were stuffed bulging, heavy, but still within the weight limit for first-class checked baggage.

I'll change clothes.

Has Ping'an woken up?

Will you go call him?

Hmm." Ke Zhongyu raised his hand to knock on Ping'an's door; Ping'an was already dressed and ready, wearing his black backpack, bowed politely, "Good morning, brother-in-law."

Ke Zhongyu: "Good morning."

Both room doors were open; Jiang Lai clearly heard that "good morning, brother-in-law," and inexplicably felt reassured.

After changing, she went out with a large-capacity tote bag, from which hung a small dog plush, the one Ke Zhongying gave her.

Ke Zhongyu glanced and said: "Really not bringing it, bring the fake one."

Jiang Lai followed his gaze, looked down at the dog plush, then looked up and said: "Great Virtue Little Shepherd wouldn't do well on a plane, would it?"

Ke Zhongyu didn't speak further.

Only after an hour, when they arrived at the airport and were about to check in, did Jiang Lai finally realize.

What Ke Zhongyu said earlier was about himself.

At that moment Jiang Lai finally felt a hint of longing from the parting; she gazed into Ke Zhongyu's eyes and said: "We're leaving; see you after the New Year."

Ke Zhongyu bent over to hug her, restraining the urge to kiss, and only said: "Come back soon."

Jiang Lai nodded against his chest: "Ke Zhongyu, next time I'll bring you back."

Ke Zhongyu's lips twitched upward: "What you said."

Jiang Lai nodded: "Mm, I said that."

Ke Zhongyu released her, smoothed her hair, and said: "Your phone isn't just for show—you can send photos, send videos, make voice calls, make video calls."

Jiang Lai held back a light laugh: "Got it."

Ke Zhongyu glanced at her: "Best be."

Men always put on a fierce, untrusting front, but really they lack confidence inside.

Jiang Lai: "I promise."

Only then did Ke Zhongyu feel satisfied and let her go through security.

Jiang Lai brought Ping'an inside, walked a few steps, then looked back—Ke Zhongyu was still standing outside.

Her steps also paused.

She took out her phone, told Ke Zhongyu to go back and get some sleep; he replied with an "hmm," Jiang Lai looked up, and he was still there in the same spot.

Jiang Lai also couldn't understand: she had already been through a marriage, was in her late twenties, and Ke Zhongyu was also in his late twenties—why were they acting like kids right now?

One kept looking back, the other stood in place refusing to leave.

In the end, they still had to go.

Before the plane took off, Jiang Lai sent Ke Zhongyu a message: "【Take good care of my orchid】"

Ke Zhongyu: "【I know】"

Jiang Lai: "【You'd better know】"

Sitting in the car, Ke Zhongyu suddenly smiled—he was holding a grudge.

After the plane took off, Jiang Lai began to catch up on sleep; when the plane landed it was still morning, and when they arrived at Fuli Yuan it was just in time for the morning meal.

Director Tang saw Ping'an again; Ping'an had changed greatly—he now had flesh on his face, his back was straight, wearing a black down jacket and black pants, standing there, the whole person looked clean and fresh.

His eyes had changed too, brighter than before.

As soon as Jiang Lai appeared, the children chattered and ran over, surrounding her in a circle.

Jiang Lai needed to put her luggage away first; just after she finished, she got a courier call saying they had something for her.

She clearly remembered she hadn't sent anything, but when she went to the door she saw the sender was Ke Zhongyu.

A truckload of New Year gifts, each with a tag bearing each person's name—not only Director Tang's, but also the children's.

Jiang Lai felt half-laughing, half-crying; she took out her phone and snapped a photo to send over.

【Ke Zhongyu, you're really exaggerating.】

Ke Zhongyu's phone call came through: "Even when divided among people, each person gets only one share."

Hearing the commotion, Dean Tang came over, bringing people to help move things.

Jiang Lai simply stood to the side to answer the phone: "Did you catch up on sleep?"

Ke Zhongyu: "How could I not catch up on sleep?"

Jiang Lai gave a light laugh: "It's mealtime."

Ke Zhongyu: "We'll eat at the old family home; we'll be there throughout the New Year period."

Jiang Lai: "What about Dade Xiaomu?"

Ke Zhongyu: "Bring it along."

Jiang Lai: "Okay."

The two chatted about this and that for a while, then Jiang Lai noticed Dean Mom looking for her, told Ke Zhongyu, and hung up.

Dean Tang held his own New Year gift and asked: "Did Ke Zong buy this? I saw on your social media last time that you two are together."

Jiang Lai nodded: "Mm."

Dean Tang fell silent for a moment: "It's just a matter of time; as long as you're happy."

Jiang Lai tightened her grip on the phone and said seriously: "I'm really happy."

Being with Ke Zhongyu made her feel not only right, but also happy, and even physically she felt pleasure from his touch.

Dean Tang rarely heard Jiang Lai express that she was happy; he smiled and said: "Being happy is good enough."

Jiang Lai nodded: "Mm, have you bought New Year supplies?"

Dean Tang: "I had planned to buy them this year, but someone already got them; Secretary Qian called a couple days ago and had me sign for a pile of New Year supplies."

Jiang Lai thought of Ke Zhongyu: "He's very thoughtful."

Dean Tang: "It's almost unreal."

Jiang Lai: "Like a scam."

The two exchanged a glance and both laughed.

Jiang Lai added: "If you met Ke Zhongyu's parents, you'd understand why he's like this; the original is correct, the copy will be correct."

Dean Tang asked: "Have you met his parents?"

Jiang Lai: "I met them even before we got together."

Dean Tang asked concernedly: "How does it compare to Shen Xun's parents?"

Jiang Lai: "There's no basis for comparison."

One sentence made Dean Tang realize: "Jiang Lai, from what you're saying, are you aiming for marriage this time?"