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Chapter 93 Wedding Anniversary Banquet Arc (8) : Zhou Ai Versus Liu Jinhai

Jinhai paused and then narrowed his eyes. Nana\'s gaze widened as she gasped. "Jun?"

"En."

Nana jerked her head towards Jinhai in delight. "Jinhai! It\'s Jun\'s gift! I thought he wasn\'t coming tonight…" the light in her expression then dimmed. "That boy. He didn\'t show up for Christmas nor for New Year\'s. Now, he said he was too busy to attend the celebration tonight either. It felt as if he is distancing himself from us…"

Jinhai\'s countenance never changed even once.

Nana brushed her palm along the box and tenderly smiled. "But I see he hasn\'t forgotten us. Though I would have felt happier if he would have been here too. Our family is incomplete without him."

She looked up and smiled at Ai. "Thank you so much dear. He cannot be personally here tonight, so his gift means a lot to us."

Ai carefully studied them. Jinhai\'s reaction was way different and exactly opposite to Nana\'s. It was visible that he didn\'t seem so pleased receiving this gift. She guessed there was something Jinhai knew, but Nana didn\'t.

Jinhai\'s knifecutting question came. "Where did you get Jun\'s gift?" _{reminded Nana too. "Oh yes! Do you know him?"}

Ai stood unperturbed. She had this seen this question coming.

"I found it in the library where he frequently visits. I couldn\'t return it to him as I didn\'t know his home\'s address. So, I thought to bring it here myself on the address written on the note. I read the note and realized it was from your son."

Then she said the next thing, staring at Jinhai. "I thought it was important you get the gift as soon as possible. It would definitely make you happy, right?"

Nana nodded hard. "It does! It is from my son, after all," her gaze softened.

"Jinhai, wait for me! I will quickly open his gift," Nana couldn\'t wait to see what Jun brought for them and hopped back to the room.

Ai and Jinhai stood in silence, which was then cut down by his second question. "How did you get inside?"

She lifted her gaze to see his dark eyes viewing her with suspicion. She felt as if no excuse could pass his keen-edged scrutiny.

"Even if you found the gift, you cannot just simply enter this place bypassing the guards," he pointedly stated. "You are not a guest."

Ai said nothing.

"How do you really know Jun?" He tilted his head.

She met his accusatory gaze, undaunted. "You don\'t seem to be pleased receiving your son\'s gift."

"I am not."

Ai stiffened. She hadn\'t expected such an instantaneous but harsh response from him.

"Why?"

"I don\'t think that\'s any of your concern," his voice lowered immeasurably, building a strange cold pressure in the air.

It was crushing and freezing but, Ai, who only thought about the forced smiled on Jun\'s lips and his beautiful eyes obscured with sorrow and forlornness refused to crumble under his intimidating presence.

"It IS my concern," her voice quietly but sharply countered him. _​

Jinhai narrowed his eyes.

"He is not allowed to come tonight. It was upon your order. Mrs. Liu is unaware of this, right? I can see it from her reaction."

"Are you threatening me?" He raised his brow - danger lurking in that small action.

Expressionless, she replied. "No. The point I want to make is that you have already disallowed him from coming here, which is saddening enough for him. You shouldn\'t hurt more of his feelings by being displeased with his gift too. That would be plain rude even if he cannot see your reaction."

He coldly smiled. "You don\'t even know why I am treating Jun this way. Wouldn\'t that typically mean he did something too atrocious in the past for me to stop acting kindly towards him?"

Ai was unfazed. "He might have made mistakes, but the Jun I know NOW is someone who is kind, warm and caring in his own way. He is a good man. I don\'t want to see him hurt. The past should remain in the past. Isn\'t it why you are so happy with Mrs. Liu until now?"

"Excuse me?"

She blinked once. "You and Jun are very similar. I can see where he got his…villainous side from."

He stared at her.

"So, I guess there must have been some mistakes that you made in your past too."

The temperature took a sudden drop.

"Did I hit a nerve?"

Jinhai didn\'t leave his gaze off her. Her lips weren\'t smiling, but her eyes were.

"But clearly, your wife forgave you for it or the people involved who you hurt once. So, if you can live happily despite the errors you made, then you have no right to isolate Jun like this either."

Anybody else would have collapsed by now, but she stood firm. Her words brought an impasse which Jinhai couldn\'t break apart.

"I am back!" Nana returned, livening up the deadly atmosphere with presence.

"Sorry, it took long, hehe…Jinhai look! Jun gifted us matching set ot earrings and cufflinks!" She brightened. "Let\'s wear this. Remove your cufflinks and put on these ones," she chirped. "I already changed my earrings. It looks pretty, right?"

Jinhai warmly smiled and nodded. The change in his demeanor was so instant that even Ai took a moment to stabilize herself.

Nana grinned. She thanked Ai once again. "Thank you for bringing his gift, dear. I will feel as if Jun is here with us…" she longingly said.

Ai smiled back. "Your welcome. I am glad you loved it. Your son would be really happy."

"Haha, yes. Oh, don\'t leave, okay? Do enjoy the party!"

"N-no. I was just here to hand over the gift-"

Nana sternly shook her head. "Yes means yes. Stay here until the end! You brought my son\'s precious gift to me. Of course, you should be a part of our celebration too. Right, Jinhai?"

She glanced at him expectantly.

No matter what feelings he had inside, his outward countenance was the same.

Smiling and affectionate towards his wife.

"Of course."

"See? Then it\'s decided!" Nana laughed.

"Mom, Dad! It\'s time already! Where are you two?" Nuo called them out.

"Oops," Nana stuck out her tongue. "Let\'s go. We took too much time."