Chapter 275, The Clumsy Gene (Part 1)

"I got it, I picked the oranges." She gripped the oranges tightly, her face breaking out into an excited smile.

Ye Jiuliang was peeling an orange, the corners of his lips curling up into a teasing smile.

"Look down."

Overcome with excitement, Karina instinctively looked down and her breath hitched sharply.

Her face paled again, her legs going a bit weak, "I, I’m scared, I want to get down."

"What’s there to be afraid of, you haven’t fallen yet, have you?" Ye Jiuliang broke off a segment of the orange and offered it to her, "Want some?"

Swallowing hard, Karina’s fingertips trembling, she accepted the orange.

One arm was being tugged by her, and with a shake, Ye Jiuliang was wobbled so much he felt dizzy, "If you keep shaking like this, you’ll really fall down."

At his words, Karina took a deep breath and managed to steady her mind.

She mustered the courage to look around, seeing a lush and verdant scene, indeed a different kind of charm.

Her stiff smile gradually softened, she looked sideways at the person next to her and awkwardly said, "Ye Jiuliang, you really are a piece of work."

Ye Jiuliang leaned against the branch, his eyes and brows showing a lazy charm, "Climbing a tree makes me a piece of work?"

"Not exactly." Karina said, "I have never seen anyone like you in all my life."

Free-spirited and unrestrained as if nothing could bind her.

After hesitating for a long while, she asked, "Hey, Ye Jiuliang, how long have you known Li Mochan?"

Ye Jiuliang said, "A few months."

In just a few months, she had gotten Li Mochan to like her; surprise and disappointment flitted across Karina’s eyes.

"There’s something I can’t rest easy without asking, how exactly did you pursue him?"

Ye Jiuliang gave her a sidelong glance, the ends of his eyes lifted, carrying a touch of coquettishness.

"Why does it have to be me pursuing him?"

Karina scoffed, "As if he would be the one to pursue you?"

Ye Jiuliang casually nodded.

"For real, he pursued you?" Karina was half-believing, she really couldn’t believe that someone as cold and proud as Li Mochan would take the initiative to pursue someone.

The likelihood was like a red rain falling from the sky.

Ye Jiuliang carelessly threw away the orange peel, her questioning tone making him laugh in annoyance, "What’s with that expression? Do I not look like someone who would be pursued?"

Karina snorted, "Narcissist."

His deep, dark eyes swept over the forest, a sharp glint passing through the depths, "Fancy some roasted chicken?"

"Where would we get roasted chicken in this godforsaken place?" Karina rolled her eyes at him.

Ye Jiuliang grabbed onto a branch and agilely landed on the ground.

In an instant, only Karina was left up in the tree.

Frightened out of her wits, her voice broke, "Ye Jiuliang, what are you doing? I’m still up in the tree."

Trying not to laugh, Ye Jiuliang said, "How did you get up there just now? Just come down the same way."

"I can’t," Karina’s eyes reddened, too scared to even look down.

Ye Jiuliang, at a loss, tugged at a vine, "Come down holding this, I’ll be watching from below, don’t worry, you won’t fall."

"I won’t, I’m scared, Ye Jiuliang, you big bully, you’re the one who got me up here, you have to figure out how to get me down." Karina cried out, tears streaming down her face.

"I’m still young, I don’t want to die, I haven’t even had a boyfriend yet..."

Ye Jiuliang could only shake his head in disbelief; was climbing a tree really worth all this fuss?

It was as if she was making her last will and testament.

"Are you coming down or not? If not, I’m leaving."

No sooner had he spoken than Karina’s tears suddenly stopped.

She cried out urgently, "You, you’re not allowed to leave."

Ye Jiuliang looked up at her; Karina grabbed the vine, moving at a snail’s pace to come down.

Accidentally, she almost missed a step.

She screamed over and over, uncontrollably bursting into tears.

"Ye Jiuliang, hurry up and rescue me..."

Ye Jiuliang couldn’t bear to watch, he grabbed the vine and climbed up in a few swift movements, holding her with one hand and sliding down the vine with the other.

Finally back on solid ground, Karina was relieved yet shaken, and she collapsed to the ground, her legs going weak.

"Can you still walk?" Ye Jiuliang squatted down to look at her, saw that her soul hadn’t yet returned, and smiled helplessly.

Karina shook her head blankly, Ye Jiuliang raised an eyebrow and snapped her fingers, "Fine, you wait here for me; I’ll go catch a chicken and come back."

"Don’t go, I’m afraid to be here alone." Karina clung to her trouser leg, pleading pitifully.

Ye Jiuliang looked down at her, noticing the torn hem of her skirt and a hint of helplessness flashed through her eyes.

"Get up, I’ll take you back."

Karina looked up, her slender and jade-like hand reached out towards her.

Her eyes flickered slightly as she reached out to take her hand.

Ye Jiuliang exerted a little strength in her wrist and pulled her up.

The two returned to the courtyard; the party was almost over.

When they saw Karina’s disheveled appearance, the Jiang family matriarch and the others were all stunned.

"Karina, what happened to you?"

Karina laughed sheepishly, "I went to pick oranges on the back hill."

Upon hearing this, Veya was surprised and turned to look at Ye Jiuliang, revealing a knowing smile.

...

The night was cool, the courtyard strewn with fallen leaves.

After dinner, the old lady and Veya were chatting in the room.

Suddenly, Li Mochan came over carrying a bag of stuff.

"Ahan, what’s up?" The Jiang family matriarch looked at her grandson entering, with a touch of surprise on her face.

It was rare for him to seek her out voluntarily.

"This." Li Mochan handed the bag over, a fleeting discomfort in his deep eyes.

The old lady and Veya looked at the bag he handed over, clueless.

Finally, it was Veya who reached out and opened the bag with curiosity.

The old lady also craned her neck and peeked inside to see what was in the bag.

At that glance, both mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were dumbfounded.

Yarn balls?

Wooden knitting needles?

"Ahan, did you buy these?" Veya looked up at him, her gaze filled with disbelief.

Li Mochan’s lips were tight, he hummed an affirmation softly.

"Ahan, what did you buy these for? Do you want grandma to knit you one?" the old lady asked.

In past years, she knitted scarves for him and Asheng; hadn’t these two rascals told her not to bother?

What’s gotten into him today?

Li Mochan clenched his fist to his lips and coughed lightly, showing rare embarrassment.

Veya stared at him for a while, her mind quickly putting the pieces together.

"Ahan, are you asking us to teach you how to knit a scarf?" She had the look of someone who had figured out the truth.

Li Mochan nodded, his face unchanging, as if to admit it.

The old lady’s face was full of smiles, "For Xiaojiu?"

He hummed an agreement, still sparing with words.

"Not bad, Ahan, that’s very considerate," Veya said with a laugh.

"Okay, grandma will teach you, come here and sit."

The old lady took the bag, pouring everything on the table.

Li Mochan took a seat opposite her, picking out a red ball of yarn.

The warm yellow light spread out, softening the sternness in the man’s brows.

His clear and handsome hands held the wooden knitting needles, adjusting many times, not even sure how to hold them properly.

After correcting him countless times, the old lady was on the verge of breaking down internally.

This clumsy gene had been inherited all the same.

"Ahan, should grandma knit one for you instead?" she asked tentatively.

Li Mochan shook his head, his voice low, "I’d rather do it myself."