Li Beinian was surprised as well. She was about to greet him when she saw him moving towards Old Master Mo.
She had wanted to approach him after he was done with the birthday greetings but unexpectedly, Nico had spotted her first.
Just as Li Beinian was about to respond, she heard someone muttering in her ear with a faint sneer, “That acting is really exaggerated.”
She turned around at once, and saw Mu Xichen’s darkened expression.
“So you know each other.” Mo Shengge looked taken aback. “Brother Xichen, who is this?”
Mu Xichen replied curtly, “A neighbor.”
Simple and to-the-point.
Apart from those two words, the man said nothing else to introduce Nico.
Nico wasn’t the least bit angry, and said with a smile, “How do you do. I’m Beinian’s and Xichen’s friend. My name is Nico, in Xia Nation I’m called Bei Yong. Or you may address me as Uncle Bei Yong.”
Mo Shengge was never shy with strangers. After the introduction, she nodded and said loudly, “Hello, Uncle Bei Yong. Nice name.”
“My lover gave me the name and I took her surname.”
“Oh?” Mo Shengge was surprised. “Your lover had the surname Bei?”
“Yes.”
“Wow, what a rare surname. This is the first time I’ve come across it,” Mo Shengge replied. Immediately, as though having sensed something odd, she continued, “Sister-in-law’s name is Beinian. What a coincidence indeed.”
Nico immediately smiled at Mo Shengge’s remark and said, “Yes, it’s fate, isn’t it? When I first met Beinian, there was a strange familiarity about her. She and Xichen treated me very well too. Oh, and they even made breakfast for me. I feel so blessed!”
His words instantly elevated their relationship to a whole new level in the eyes of the others.
Mo Shengge was the most direct and said as the realization dawned on her. “Brother Xichen rarely builds such good relations with others.”
“You talk too much.” Mu Xichen shot her a glare. “Go look for your sister.”
Mo Shengge shrugged and replied, “She’s gone to a family meeting.”
Mo Shengyun arrived only much later. After greeting Old Master Mo and conveying her birthday wishes for him, she was called away by her parents.
It appeared that something serious was going on.
Observing all this, Nico remarked, “I’m so envious. Seeing all these grown up children, I wish I had one of my own, even if it’s just to have conversations with.”
Li Beinian felt inexplicably sad to hear this. She looked at Nico and asked, “Why did you get here so late?”
“Oh, I had wanted to get here earlier, but my leg was acting up, so I had to get my doctor to attend to it. That delayed me.” Nico sounded a little annoyed, but he added, “I haven’t had dinner yet. I’m only here to see Senior Chief Mo and didn’t intend to stay long. I’m a little hungry.”
“Why are you leaving now? Stay and eat with us,” Grandaunt spoke up. “I’ll get the kitchen to prepare some food for you. Come, sit with us.”
Apart from Old Master Mo, all the seniors in the Mo Family were particularly hospitable.
Nico had expected this, but still, he acted pleasantly surprised and said, “I wouldn’t dream of troubling you.”
“You’re our guest, besides, you’re Xichen’s neighbor, so you must be staying in Guang City, right?” Granduncle smiled. “It’s late, and it isn’t easy for you to be moving around. We have plenty of room on our property, if nothing else. Why don’t you stay for a night and leave tomorrow? You’ve traveled a long way to come here to give Eldest Brother your birthday blessings. That’s really thoughtful of you!”
Nico was genuinely pleasantly surprised this time round. He did not expect the people of the Mo family to be so welcoming. He glanced at Beinian and did not decline. Instead, he asked, “May I?”