Chapter 279, Borrow Asheng for a few days (first update)

"Stop squatting here; I’m going to check on Achen. He’s still running a high fever, and this isn’t something to be taken lightly." Ji Mingqian reached out to pull her up and then turned and walked out.

Gu Xinuo stood there in a daze, listening to Ji Mingqian’s voice outside in the corridor.

"Chu Chen, open the door. Just open the door for me; I need to get my clothes."

"Hey, don’t make me suffer because you two are in a huff, come on, open the door for me."

After a night of frustration, Ji Mingqian was defeated by the pair of them. With the room occupied, he had no choice but to go down to the living room.

After some thought, he decided to phone Ye Jiuliang.

But no one answered on the other end of the line.

Ji Mingqian frowned and, not to be discouraged, dialed again, wondering what the heck was going on that even phone calls weren’t being answered.

This time, someone finally picked up.

"Ajiu, where the hell have you been? Why aren’t you answering your phone?" Ji Mingqian bombarded without waiting for the person on the other end to speak.

There was silence for a moment on the other end, followed by a man’s gentle and polished voice, "I’m Jiang Yisheng."

Ji Mingqian paused and quickly glanced at the cellphone number; it was definitely Ye Jiuliang’s.

Before he could say a word, the person on the other end continued, "Jiuliang is back; wait a moment."

The next second, Ye Jiuliang’s voice reached his ear, "Aqian, why are you calling so late?" It must be two in the morning over there in Country Y.

Ji Mingqian snapped back to reality, "Where have you been? I’m about to be driven insane by Achen and his antics."

"What’s going on?" Ye Jiuliang furrowed his brow, set down his glass, and started walking toward the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Ji Mingqian explained the situation briefly and to the point, "That’s the situation; what do you think we should do?"

Ye Jiuliang couldn’t help but laugh, "It seems I have to thank that Eric."

"Stop finding joy in my misery and quickly think of a solution," Ji Mingqian said, hearing her laughter and rolling his eyes in resignation.

Ye Jiuliang rubbed his chin, his narrow eyes gleaming.

"Just keep an eye on them for now; I will return today."

"You have a plan?" Ji Mingqian glanced upstairs and asked in a lowered voice.

"Dear little Qian, wait and welcome my grand arrival," Ye Jiuliang said with a slight smile on his lips.

After hanging up the phone, Ye Jiuliang tapped her brow and fell into thought.

Finding someone who could deceive Anuo was not going to be an easy task; who should she ask for help?

She and Aqian, Anuo knew too well; you could see right through them. She needed someone else’s help.

Ye Jiuliang turned around, and her gaze inadvertently swept over the figure on the sofa, the light flickering.

Jiang Yisheng, who was reading, suddenly felt a chill on his back.

It was icy cold.

"Asheng."

A soft, warm voice sounded behind him. Jiang Yisheng closed his book, looked up, and saw Ye Jiuliang sitting down on the sofa opposite him.

"Asheng, would you be interested in going to Country Y for a few days?"

Jiang Yisheng was momentarily dumbfounded, then realizing what she meant, he asked with a smile at the corner of his mouth, "Jiuliang, do you need a favor from me?"

"Cough, it’s just a tiny favor," Ye Jiuliang nodded.

Jiang Yisheng asked, "Do we leave today?"

Ye Jiuliang hummed in affirmation, "You go back to your room and pack a few clothes. I’ll speak with Mohan, and then we can set off."

"So soon?" Jiang Yisheng was surprised but then, thinking of something, revealed a sly smile, "Just the two of us going, would my cousin agree?"

Given his cousin’s possessiveness, would he try to kill him?

"I’ll go and talk to him now," Ye Jiuliang said, standing up and darting upstairs.

Jiang Yisheng watched her disappear into the staircase, a flicker of intrigue crossing his eyes.

Is he in Country Y too?

**

The light rain gradually ceased and the skies cleared.

The vast bookroom was silent, only occasionally disturbed by the rustling of flipping pages.

Suddenly, a small head peeked in from the doorway.

Bathed in the bright light streaming through the window, the woman’s delicate face glowed, her voice soft and sticky, "Mister Li, can I charm you for a bit?"

Li Mochan set aside his documents and pen, glancing toward the door with a resigned but doting smile.

"Come here."

Ye Jiuliang’s eyes curved in amusement as she pushed the door open and swaggered in.

She glanced at the pile of documents on the desk and her eyes flickered with disdain.

How she hated dealing with documents.

Li Mochan took her hand and pulled her into his embrace.

"How do you plan to charm me, hmm?"

Ye Jiuliang plopped down onto his lap, snuggled into a comfortable position, and began to fiddle with the buttons on his collar.

"I need to go back to Country Y for a couple of days," she said bluntly.

Before she could finish, the hand around her waist tightened abruptly.

Li Mochan’s lips pressed into a thin line, his dark eyes intently gazing at her, the trace of humor in their depths vanishing completely.

"Don’t give me that face, I’m not going to stay away forever," Ye Jiuliang said, holding his face gently and explaining softly, "I promise I’ll be back quickly."

"What are you doing in Country Y?" Li Mochan asked, his voice hoarse.

"Helping someone court their wife," Ye Jiuliang responded with a mysterious smile.

Li Mochan frowned. While she was out helping someone court a wife, his own wife was leaving.

Ye Jiuliang continued, "Oh, and I’ll need to borrow Asheng for a few days."

Confusion flickered in Li Mochan’s eyes, "Borrow Asheng?"

Ye Jiuliang nodded with a cheerful curvature of her brow and didn’t bother to elaborate further.

"You little ingrate, you really think it’s okay to leave me here by myself?" he complained, his forehead against hers, his voice sultry yet tinged with dissatisfaction.

Unable to suppress her chuckles, Ye Jiuliang pressed her lips to his thin ones.

Her muffled voice filtered through, "I promise I’ll take you with me next time."

Li Mochan’s gaze deepened, he lifted his hand to cradle her head, and the faint fragrance that lingered on her lingered at his nose.

...

That night, a chilly breeze blew and the mist dispersed gradually.

Stepping out of the airport, Jiang Yisheng followed closely behind Ye Jiuliang, carrying a suitcase.

Outside the airport, traffic was still bustling.

Ye Jiuliang’s gaze swept the surrounding area, coming to rest on the blue sports car across the street.

"Asheng, let’s go."

Jiang Yisheng hummed in acknowledgment and kept pace with her.

In the car, Ji Mingqian was nearly asleep when someone suddenly knocked on the window.

He turned his head and, through the glass, promptly stubbed out his cigarette upon seeing the figure outside.

Then, he rolled down all the car windows.

As soon as the window opened, Ye Jiuliang immediately smelled the sharp scent of smoke. She reached into the car, caught hold of Ji Mingqian and gave him a knock on the head, "Ji Mingqian, don’t you ever learn? I told you not to smoke in the car. Are you asking to be hit?"

"I’m wrong, I’m wrong, please be gentle," Ji Mingqian said, holding his head and hurriedly scrambling out of the car.

"Heh heh."

A smothered laugh, resonant like jade, came from nearby.

Ji Mingqian followed the sound and looked over. The man stood under a street lamp, enveloped by the dim glow. His face was fresh like peach blossoms, his light green, glassy eyes warm, and his lips, as clear as watercolor, curved into an appealing arch.

"What are you doing here?" Ji Mingqian asked, his gaze filled with surprise.

"Jiuliang asked me to come and lend a hand," Jiang Yisheng said, stifling his laughter and speaking warmly.