Chapter 68: The Gift (3)

Mo Sa's assumption made perfect sense. The only people who could freely enter Jian Mansion were members of the Jian family, along with her, Aunt An, and her daughter, Mo Shiyun. Given that the bag had been left at the door, it was clear that the gift hadn't come from any of the Jian family members; they wouldn't leave something on the doorstep. This left Mo Shiyun as the most likely candidate, especially since the gift aligned perfectly with what she had previously mentioned to her mother.

Mo Sa hadn't even considered the possibility that Jian Yiling would return to Jian Mansion, let alone that she would bring a gift for her elder brother in this situation. In Mo Sa's eyes, Jian Yiling's temper as a young lady made it unlikely that Jian Yuncheng could win her over, let alone have her voluntarily come to give him a birthday gift.

As for why the gift had been left at the door instead of being personally handed to the eldest young master, it was likely due to her daughter's shyness. When she had initially asked Mo Shiyun to prepare a gift, her daughter had hesitated and seemed reluctant.

Seeing her mother smiling brightly, Mo Shiyun began to suspect that the gift might indeed have been purchased by her mother. Perhaps her mother had noticed how busy she was with her studies and took it upon herself to buy a ready-made gift, claiming it was handcrafted by Mo Shiyun. The thought of using a purchased item as if it were her own handiwork didn't sit well with Mo Shiyun. She felt it would have been more appropriate for her mother to discuss it with her beforehand. Now, the situation left her feeling quite embarrassed.

However, she recognized that her mother's intentions were good. Mo Sa had only acted out of concern for her daughter's well-being. If she confessed the truth now, it would undoubtedly make her mother feel awkward.

After wrestling with her thoughts for a moment, Mo Shiyun finally bowed her head slowly, choosing to neither confirm nor deny her suspicions.

Seeing her daughter's head lowered, Mo Sa interpreted it as her being shy. At that moment, Wen Nuan also recalled that tomorrow was her eldest son's birthday. For the past few days, her mind had been occupied with thoughts of her daughter at the old mansion and her younger son. In the process, she had overlooked her eldest son's birthday, only to be reminded by an outsider.

Feeling a wave of guilt wash over her, Wen Nuan turned to Jian Yunnao, who, despite not being in the best spirits these days, still managed to voice his wishes. "Brother, happy birthday! I haven't prepared anything, but I'll make it up to you next year." His voice was low and lacked the usual vitality.

Jian Yuncheng seemed to ignore Jian Yunnao's words entirely, his gaze focused on the sweater and scarf in his hands. The craftsmanship was exquisite, especially the intricate embroidery on the scarf. 

The scarf was made from pure black wool, featuring a stunning embroidery of a landscape with varying shades of silver-gray thread depicting mountains and a soaring eagle. The imagery symbolized great ambitions, perfectly reflecting Jian Yuncheng's current aspirations.

Although the embroidery wasn't large, the details were remarkably delicate, with the eagle's features and feathers brought to life in vivid detail. After a long moment of admiration, he lifted his gaze to Mo Shiyun and Mo Sa, who were still conversing quietly.

"This embroidery on the scarf is truly exquisite. Did you stitch it yourself?" Jian Yuncheng inquired, his voice steady but curious.

Mo Shiyun's head lowered even further, as she was too shy to admit the truth yet unwilling to deny it. 

"Do you know how to embroider?" Jian Yuncheng pressed further, wanting to hear from her directly.

Mo Sa, noticing her daughter's silence, quickly stepped in to answer. "I used to do embroidery work for a living, taking on projects from Hanfu shops. Shiyun learned a bit from me. Sometimes when I was too busy, she would help me out."

While it was true that Mo Shiyun had learned some embroidery skills, Jian Yuncheng observed the reactions of the mother and daughter closely. Although his expression remained neutral, the warmth in his eyes began to fade gradually. 

His thumb traced the back of the embroidery, where a name was stitched: Jian Yiling. Yet, the Mo family's insistence that Mo Shiyun had done the work left him feeling conflicted. 

As he contemplated the implications, the atmosphere in the dining room shifted, filled with unspoken tensions and questions. The gift's true origin hung in the air like a silent challenge, waiting to be unraveled.