That’s right. After Xu Liang and Wang Jue got together, Tan You became Ji Li’s exclusive photographer. Tan You had, after all, studied under Xu Liang for a long time. Plus, she knew Ji Li inside and out and had a great sense of style, so she definitely had her own ideas on how to best capture Ji Li in photos.

At first, when Xu Liang and Ji Li ended their professional partnership, there was some gossip among the fans. But later, when everyone saw that Ji Li, Xu Liang, and Wang Jue still hung out from time to time, they realized the three had simply moved on with their own lives, and there hadn’t been any falling-out.

Ji Li’s gaze was warm as she looked from Xu Liang to Wang Jue, who was opening the passenger-side door.

"You two are getting married, and you still call him Teacher Xu?"

Wang Jue stuck out her tongue. "It’s a habit. Teacher Xu must be used to it too, right?"

Xu Liang smiled. "Yeah, I’m used to it."

Ji Li deadpanned, "I shouldn’t have even asked. Still, I’m happy for you both, seeing you so happy."

Wang Jue sounded a little curious. "Have you ever thought about finding someone? Don’t you get lonely by yourself all the time?"

"To be honest, I do get a little lonely sometimes. But I can find ways to pass the time. Like making dough figurines, for example?" Ji Li arched an eyebrow. ’I used to be so afraid of being alone, so afraid of the loneliness.’

’But now I have Tan You. We’re practically inseparable, and she knows everything about me. So whenever I have those negative feelings, Tan You always finds a way to help me work through them.’

"Hmph, and what about your dough figurine skills..." a voice suddenly grumbled. Ji Li froze, then glanced into the back seat to see a stern-faced old man.

A huge smile suddenly broke out on Ji Li’s face, and she quickly slid into the back seat. "Grandpa, what are you doing here in person? Did you come just to pick me up? I’m so honored!"

"You little brown-noser!" The old man tried to keep a stern face, but the hint of a smile still creased his cheeks. He snorted, feigning displeasure. "I wanted to see for myself what’s so special about someone who can mangle dough figurines into such shapes."

Ji Li just chuckled, not the least bit offended by being called a brown-noser. She leaned closer to the old man. "I’m just an ordinary girl. Nothing special about me at all."

Grandpa Wang shot her a look, but ended up laughing out loud. He tapped the back of the driver’s seat. "Let’s head back. You must be feeling pretty smug that this old man came to pick you up himself, eh, lass?"

"Of course! I’m just a small fry, yet you, sir, came to get me in person. It’s a massive honor." Ji Li played along. She was usually calm and reserved around people her own age, but she knew how to be playful and charming with her elders.

Grandpa Wang smiled. ’People are strange,’ he thought. He had only seen Ji Li a few times over video calls, but he’d taken an instant liking to her.

"We’ve prepared a room for you at the house. Don’t even think about staying in a hotel. That would be treating us like strangers."

Ji Li beamed. "In that case, I won’t stand on ceremony, Grandpa. Say, weren’t we just talking about dough figurines? You have to teach me step-by-step this time..."

The old man’s expression twisted for a split second. "Fine. I’d like to see just how all-thumbs you really are. Speaking of which, aren’t you good at everything else? How come you’re so hopeless when it comes to dough figurines?"

Ji Li threw up her hands. "I don’t know either. Are you talking about the inlaid character candy I made? That stuff is actually simple. You know I studied engineering. I just drew up the plans on my computer and then stacked the candy according to the blueprint."

"It doesn’t require much artistic imagination."

The old man shook his head. "You always have an excuse."

Ji Li shrugged helplessly, but then her expression brightened. "Yuyu, I brought a few wedding presents for you this time. I didn’t show them in my video."

Wang Jue played along. "Really? I can’t wait! I’ll have to take a good look at them later."

Ji Li said, "They’re all in my suitcase. I just hope you like them."

The group chatted and laughed all the way to Wang Jue’s ancestral home. Staring at the traditional courtyard house before her, Ji Li gasped in amazement. "Grandpa, are you by any chance looking for another granddaughter?"

"The kind who can dance, draw, and cook?"

With his hands behind his back, the old man looked rather pleased with himself. "We’ll see how you behave. Get inside first."

Ji Li instantly went into full-on suck-up mode. "You got it, Grandpa! Are your shoulders sore? Why don’t I give them a little massage for you..."

Watching Ji Li follow her grandfather inside, Wang Jue was a little surprised. "It’s rare to see Grandpa like this. Ali really is charming."

"She’s just putting on an act, just having some fun with Grandpa." Xu Liang said, picking up Ji Li’s suitcase. "I’m sure Grandpa realized that, so he’s just playing along with her."

"You know, if she really wanted to buy a courtyard house, she could definitely afford it," Wang Jue said with a sudden smile, thinking about Ji Li’s net worth.

"Probably. Do you think a major influencer like her is short on cash? Besides, she’s so good with her finances." Xu Liang ruffled Wang Jue’s hair. "Come on, let’s go find Ji Li and see what wedding gifts she brought us."

"I have to admit, I’m really curious."

Wang Jue said, "Me too."

The Wang family wasn’t very large. After following Grandpa Wang inside, Ji Li met Wang Jue’s parents. With only five people living in such a large courtyard house, it did feel a bit quiet.

With his hands behind his back, the old man said, "It’s nice to have some peace and quiet. But once Wang Jue is married, the house ought to liven up. And when they have a little one, I’ll just focus on looking after my grandbaby."

Ji Li asked, "Aren’t you worried the little one will take after Teacher Xu? Isn’t he also completely useless at this sort of thing?"

"They’d still be better than you," the old man shot her a sidelong glance, his meaning clear: if he could find someone like *her* tolerable, surely Wang Jue’s child couldn’t possibly have less of an artistic spark.

Ji Li understood his meaning and didn’t say anything more. Just then, Wang Jue and Xu Liang walked in, and she grew eager to present her gifts.

"Come see the wedding gifts I brought for you!"

Wang Jue’s parents were also curious. They knew Ji Li and were aware of how close she was with their daughter. When Wang Jue and Xu Liang first got together, the couple had been worried.

Since Xu Liang had been Ji Li’s exclusive photographer, they had worried that there might have been something more than friendship between them. But seeing how the three of them interacted now, the couple was finally able to put their minds at ease.

Thus, everyone was curious to see what Ji Li’s gifts were.

Ji Li pushed a small suitcase aside and opened the large one next to it. Wang Jue cupped her cheeks in her hands. "Are all these for me?"

"Mhm-hmm, they’re all wedding presents for you," Ji Li said with a smile. "Just don’t think I’m being too materialistic. To be honest, my handiwork is pretty average, so I had a few of these custom-made by a master craftsman."

As she spoke, she took out four boxes of various sizes and lined them up in a row. They gave off just one impression—grandeur.