303: He wouldn't be trying to make the fake play real!

Just like the mahjong from earlier, this jar of dried tangerine peel was clearly exactly what Li Shanhai wanted.

"Is this for me?"

"Yes. I figured that bringing Auntie a set of mahjong without bringing anything for you wouldn't be quite right. I happened to have one jar of dried tangerine peel left, so I brought it along. I hope you don't mind, Uncle."

Ye Su didn't believe that after putting it this way, Li Shanhai would have the nerve not to offer something in return.

He wondered what kind of return gift he would receive.

Would it be blue and white porcelain, antique calligraphy and paintings, or perhaps another watch?

"Haha, such high-quality dried tangerine peel, how could I possibly mind?"

Unlike Wang Lijuan, Li Shanhai didn't bother with polite formalities. He happily picked up the glass jar and closely examined the dried tangerine peel inside.

Being in his fifties and a native of Guangdong Province, Li Shanhai inevitably possessed the gene for loving dried tangerine peel.

Looking at the exceptionally high-quality aged tangerine peel in the glass jar, and then at Ye Su.

At this moment, just like Wang Lijuan, the more Li Shanhai looked at this future son-in-law, the more pleasing he found him.

From the initial jewelry design blueprints to the later meteorite, and now the mahjong and dried tangerine peel.

Judging solely by price, the things Ye Su gifted them indeed weren't excessively expensive.

Given Li Mengyao's background, it wasn't surprising for a boyfriend she dated to present gifts of this caliber.

But the difference was that, besides their monetary value, the gifts Ye Su presented were always perfectly suited to the recipient.

This made it very hard for Li Shanhai not to love the things Ye Su gifted.

And when Wang Lijuan heard Ye Su say that it was because of her that he gifted Li Shanhai a jar of aged tangerine peel, she immediately bragged to Li Shanhai:

"Did you hear that? You only got a gift because you basked in my reflected glory."

In a great mood, Li Shanhai also nodded in agreement.

"Yes, yes, yes, you have the most face, alright?"

With that, Li Shanhai unscrewed the lid and took a sniff of the refreshing aroma of dried tangerine peel wafting from the jar.

The things sent by a future son-in-law truly smelled wonderful!

Wang Lijuan also joyfully took out the mahjong tiles and ivory counting chips, turning them over and over to admire them while constantly praising:

"Things used in the imperial palace are indeed different from ours. Look at the coloration on these tiles; even after one or two hundred years, it's still preserved so vividly. It's much classier than the custom handmade mahjong I ordered.

Next time I invite them over for a game, playing with this mahjong set will definitely make them green with envy!"

Li Shanhai also took out a piece of crisp and dry aged tangerine peel, holding it close to his nose and taking a deep sniff:

"Look at the oil glands and oils on this, and this aged fragrance. No need to brew it in water; just a sniff feels like it's nourishing the lungs."

And so, the couple sat on opposite ends of the sofa, continuously admiring the gifts Ye Su had given them.

Out of the family of three, only Li Mengyao was left sitting to the side empty-handed, staring longingly at the dried tangerine peel and mahjong in her parents' hands, then looking down at her own empty hands, her eyes filled with resentment.

Sure enough, human joys and sorrows are not shared; I only find them noisy!

Damn Ye Su, stinky Ye Su!

He only brought things for the two of them, without even thinking of preparing a gift for me!

Yesterday, when she heard Ye Su say he wanted to bring some gifts for her parents, Li Mengyao hadn't paid much attention, thinking they would just be ordinary things.

Who would have thought that as soon as this guy made a move, it would be ivory-carved mahjong from the Qing Dynasty imperial palace, and over twenty-year-old aged tangerine peel!

Had she known it would be these things, she should have demanded a gift from him over the phone yesterday!

Li Mengyao was now filled with regret—utter regret.

"I must store such high-quality aged tangerine peel properly. I can't let it get moldy due to improper preservation later."

After screwing the lid back on, Li Shanhai stood up with the glass jar. "Have a seat first, I'll go store the dried tangerine peel and be right back."

"Oh, right, the bird's nest soup in the kitchen should be about done stewing." Wang Lijuan also put the mahjong back into the wooden box and stood up with it.

"I'll go put the mahjong away as well, and have the kitchen bring out the bird's nest soup while I'm at it. You and Li Mengyao sit for a bit."

"Alright, Uncle, Auntie," Ye Su nodded obediently.

Just as Li Shanhai and his wife left the living room, the resentful Li Mengyao finally couldn't hold back anymore. She stretched out her right hand toward Ye Su, her meaning completely self-evident.

Ye Su, of course, understood what she meant.

However, Ye Su's talent for teasing and infuriating people was in a league of its own within Li Mengyao's social circle.

Seeing Li Mengyao confidently stretch out her hand despite having no real reason to, Ye Su pretended to look completely bewildered, as if he didn't understand her meaning.

Then, just like the short videos online, he rested his chin on Li Mengyao's palm:

"Like this?"

"Get lost!"

How could Li Mengyao have expected Ye Su to pull a stunt like this? She quickly withdrew her right hand, slapped it against his forehead, and shoved him away:

"The gift! Where is my gift?!"

"Oh, you mean that." Ye Su pretended to suddenly realize, and then began rummaging through his pockets.

Seeing this, Li Mengyao thought Ye Su had actually prepared something for her, and her face instantly lit up with anticipation.

Under Li Mengyao's expectant gaze, Ye Su rummaged around for a bit before finally pulling his right hand out of his pants pocket.

"Here—"

Naturally, there was nothing in Ye Su's hand, only a little finger heart formed by his thumb and index finger.

This cheesy gesture caused the highly expectant Li Mengyao to freeze for a moment, before she finally reacted:

"Ah!!"

Having been fooled twice in a row by Ye Su, Li Mengyao let out an angry roar and reached out with both hands, wanting to strangle him to death.

Fortunately, Ye Su was quick-witted and agile, grabbing Li Mengyao's hands in advance to avoid falling victim to her clutches.

With Ye Su's current physical fitness, once grabbed by him, Li Mengyao naturally couldn't budge at all.

"Stop! Stop!" Ye Su didn't dare to use real force, so he could only whisper to Li Mengyao:

"Hey, we're still at your house. Don't let your parents come out and see something they shouldn't."

Huff, puff—

Reminded by Ye Su, Li Mengyao finally snapped out of her fury, staring huffily at the man who was so close to her.

Only then did Li Mengyao realize that their current posture seemed a bit too intimate.

After the scuffle just now, not only was her top disheveled, but they were almost pressed flat against each other.

This scene made the now-sober Li Mengyao's face burn with heat:

"Let go of me already!"

"Oh—"

Ye Su tactfully let go of his grip, while remaining on guard in case Li Mengyao launched another sudden sneak attack.

Fortunately, Li Mengyao didn't press the issue further. She just looked at Ye Su suspiciously:

"Hey, spit it out. What are your intentions, suddenly sucking up to my parents like this?"

She was no fool, and she still remembered that Ye Su was originally just an actor she had hired.

It was just that as they spent more time together, their relationship had gradually grown closer, making her occasionally forget about this.

Occasionally, she would confidently demand things from Ye Su like she did just now, just as if she were asking a real boyfriend for a gift.

Since she still remembered they weren't a real couple, Li Mengyao naturally realized something.

Ye Su coming over with two such valuable gifts defied common sense.

He wouldn't be trying to turn this fake act into reality and actually have feelings for me, would he?

At this thought, Li Mengyao felt a sudden, inexplicable flutter of panic in her heart.