Jian Shuxing and the others stayed at the old family home until the afternoon before finally heading back to the Jian Residence. As soon as Jian Yunnao got out of the car, he couldn't wait another moment—he had to find Mo Shiyun. He needed answers, and he needed them now. Why had she done such a thing? Why had she deceived him?
On weekends, Mo Shiyun typically stayed in her room studying, never leaving the house. She was determined to get into a good university next year, and with the college entrance exams looming, she had no choice but to work harder than ever.
She was deep in her review session when Jian Yunnao's call came through. The moment she heard him say he wanted to meet and that he had questions for her, a deep sense of foreboding washed over her. Something was wrong—very wrong.
Mo Shiyun's grip on her phone tightened, her fingers turning white. Internally, she gave herself a stern reminder: if this was about the birthday gift for the eldest young master, and if the truth had come out, she had to stick to the story she had prepared. No matter what, she couldn't show weakness. This wasn't just about her—it was about her mother's job. Her mother's livelihood and their future depended on her keeping her cool. She couldn't afford to ruin everything.
With her resolve steeled, Mo Shiyun stepped outside.
She saw Jian Yunnao approaching in a rush, his dark eyes brimming with fury. His whole demeanor screamed that he had discovered something, and it made her nervous. Her palms started to sweat, though she tried her best to maintain her composure.
"Was the gift for my brother really from you?" Jian Yunnao demanded, cutting straight to the point. His tone left no room for evasiveness.
"What's going on?" Mo Shiyun's voice was soft, laced with a hint of surprise.
"I'm asking you right now—was the gift for my brother from you or not? I want an honest answer!"
"Yes, it was from me... I left it at the door that day…" she replied, her voice slightly trembling but still holding firm.
"Liar!" Jian Yunnao's jaw clenched as he spoke, his voice dripping with bitterness. "The person who sent the gift has already been identified! I don't understand why you would lie to me!"
He felt utterly betrayed, a deep sense of foolishness washing over him. It seemed like everyone he trusted was betraying him, one after the other. First Jian Yiling, and now Mo Shiyun.
"I didn't lie…" Mo Shiyun's voice quivered, her hands tightening around her sleeves as she struggled to maintain her calm.
"You're still denying it?"
Mo Shiyun tried to steady her voice as she continued, "Is it possible… could there be some kind of mistake? I don't have any reason to do something like that, do I? If I didn't give the gift, why would I claim that I did? A lie like that would be too easy to expose."
Her reasoning sounded plausible, even to Jian Yunnao. If someone else had given the gift, it would be revealed as soon as the real giver stepped forward. Why would Mo Shiyun risk telling such an obvious lie that could easily blow up in her face?
Mo Shiyun went on, "Giving a gift is just a gesture—it's not like it was something incredibly valuable. I honestly don't have any reason to make such a claim."
"Then why is it that my brother received a gift from someone else and not from you?"
"I… I don't know. I remember clearly that I put the gift in a paper bag and left it at the door. When I saw Aunt An bring it in during dinner, I thought for sure it was mine…" Mo Shiyun explained again, her voice wavering.
Inside, she was terrified. Her heart pounded, her hands were drenched in sweat, and she felt the pressure mounting with each passing moment. She wasn't good at lying, but for her mother's sake, she had to push through this. She had no choice but to stick to her story, no matter how difficult it was to keep up the act.
Jian Yunnao furrowed his brows. Mo Shiyun's explanation seemed to make sense, and her words weren't unreasonable. But at the same time, he knew that his parents and older brother had no reason to deceive him either. The conflicting emotions inside him left him feeling more confused than ever.