Chapter 1713: A Series of Misunderstandings

She not only praised her, but also gave Su Qiangying a large red envelope.

She said that since it was her first time visiting, this was the custom, and she had to take it.

Su Qiangying accepted it, feeling very touched.

It wasn't that she cared about the red envelope from Moli's biological mother, but rather she cared about the sincere heart and attitude shown toward her.

Shi Yuke treated her with great importance; although she would also ask her about some family matters, her attitude was completely different from Jian Yixin's.

Jian Yixin used a critical gaze and a fault-finding attitude when speaking to her.

But Moli's biological mother treated her with nothing but appreciation and approval.

Without comparison, there is no harm!

With the two compared like this, the difference in quality immediately emerged, and the scale in Su Qiangying's heart tilted severely, leaning toward Shi Yuke.

The two chatted happily, and as Su Qiangying was about to leave, she invited: "Auntie, it's Moli's birthday next week, why don't you come too?"

Shi Yuke blushed, and she whispered: "I'd better not go. For so many years, I have ignored Moli. Now that he is grown, it wouldn't be very good for me to just show up out of the blue, and it wouldn't be fair to his... adoptive mother either!"

The term "adoptive mother" was something Su Qiangying had just mentioned, so she followed suit and used it.

There was another reason she didn't want to go: she couldn't remember which day Moli's birthday was!

Her blushing was due to guilt.

But Su Qiangying misunderstood; she thought Shi Yuke was blushing because she felt pitiful and was afraid to go, which was why she had that expression.

So she further persuaded her: "Moli said he has never spent a birthday with you before, and he wants to spend one with you. Is that okay?"

She lied.

Su Qiangying was afraid her own persuasion wouldn't be enough, so she brought Moli up and borrowed his name.

And Shi Yuke believed it to be true.

"Since that's the case, alright, I will go."

Shi Yuke had originally intended to call her father after agreeing to ask what date Moli's birthday was.

However, Su Qiangying gave the answer: "This Wednesday, at 6 PM in front of the main gate of Jiang University, I'll be waiting for you."

"Alright."

"Then it's a date."

"Mm, it's a date."

Su Qiangying left happily. After returning, she didn't tell Moli about this, intending to give him a surprise, but later it turned out to be a fright rather than a joy.

Wednesday.

In the morning, Su Qiangying said to Moli: "After class this afternoon, at the Peony Hall of Jiangzhou Hotel, I'm celebrating your birthday. You are not allowed to be late."

Moli refused: "There's no need to be so formal. The two of us can just go to Chenxin Snack and have a bowl of noodles."

They had been dating for so long that he knew his girlfriend's style.

His girlfriend would never spend his money unnecessarily; every time Moli spent a little extra, she would immediately pay it back.

Today was his birthday, so today's banquet must be her treat.

Jiangzhou Hotel was very expensive; he knew a thing or two about the consumption level of his own family's hotel, and he didn't want his girlfriend to spend too much.

Su Qiangying understood Moli's thoughtfulness, and she gave him a playful, reproachful glare.

"How interesting. My boyfriend is having a birthday, and I take him to a snack shop to make do? Are you afraid your classmates won't laugh at me?"

"Or do you think I'm poor and you're rich, so you're specifically saving money for me?"

"Oh, I didn't mean that. Look at where your thoughts have wandered!" Moli hurriedly explained.

Su Qiangying feigned anger: "Hmph! I think that's exactly what you meant. Explaining is just covering up, and covering up is the truth, unless you obediently follow me. You listen to how I arrange things, and then I won't be angry. I even prepared a surprise for you today."

"What surprise?"

"I won't tell you. You'll know when the time comes."

"Good A-Ying, I beg you, tell me. Just tell me."

"Hee hee, I won't tell, I just won't tell you..."

The two of them played around for a while.

Even though Su Qiangying wouldn't say, Moli had roughly guessed it.

His mother had called him that morning to wish him a happy birthday and also said she wanted to give him a surprise.

He naturally assumed that the surprise his mother mentioned and the one his girlfriend mentioned were the same thing.

It must be that the two of them had reconciled, and from now on, the family would be harmonious, happy, and complete.

He thought too much; it was a huge misunderstanding, completely wide of the mark.

Moli finished class at 5:30, and just as he finished, he received a call from his mother.

Jian Yixin said: "I've booked a private room at Jiangzhou Hotel..."

Moli answered preemptively: "Peony Hall, right?"

"How did you know?"

She hadn't booked the Peony Hall at all, but since Moli mentioned "Peony Hall" directly, it meant someone else had booked it. Who was it?

She wanted to know.

Moli laughed: "Hahaha, A-Ying already told me, and she said she wanted to give me a surprise. The surprise she wanted to give me is you, right? Inviting you to celebrate my birthday for me—A-Ying is really something. You're so busy with work, why bother you?"

Although he used a tone of reproach, his tone was still very happy.

Jian Yixin wanted to say "No, your girlfriend didn't tell me at all."

But her son was very happy, and she couldn't bear to make things difficult for him on his birthday.

So she vaguely agreed: "Yes, as long as you're happy, hurry up and come."

Jian Yixin hung up the phone, canceled the private room she had booked, went to the Peony Hall, and asked the waiter to place the birthday cake in the very center of the table.

She had the waiter bring a vase, arranged the fresh flowers she had brought in it, and then placed the beautifully wrapped box beside her.

Inside the box was the birthday gift she had carefully prepared for her son, which was the research material Moli needed for his project.

He had searched all over Jiangzhou without finding it, and had mentioned it to his mother inadvertently, so Jian Yixin had remembered it.

She spent two months searching almost the entire world, finally gathered all the materials her son needed yesterday, and bringing them over today was the surprise she had prepared.

Moli and Su Qiangying's teaching buildings were not in the same block.

After class, he originally wanted to go find his girlfriend, but his girlfriend told him to go to the restaurant and wait first, as she still had some things to do and would arrive later.

Moli did not think much of it, so he went over first.

"Happy birthday, son."

Jian Yixin hugged her son and handed the box over: "Take a look at your birthday gift, do you like it?"

"Mom, I'll open it later; I'll wait for A-Ying to come so we can open it together."

Hearing Su Qiangying's name, Jian Yixin felt uncomfortable.

But she did not flare up, and instead took out a gold card and handed it to her son: "Take this card."

Moli did not want it and waved his hand to refuse: "You don't need to give me money anymore; the stipend I get for my current project is enough for my expenses."

Jian Yixin chided him: "Are you silly, child? Mom's money is your money; sooner or later it will all be yours. Just take it since I'm giving it to you. Besides, you have a girlfriend now and your expenses are high; you can't let your girlfriend support you."

She had been furious last time, and had the thought of making her son break up with Su Qiangying.

But later, her best friend and husband both persuaded her, urging her to look for more of her future daughter-in-law's merits and not to be too overbearing.