Her big sister making friends was no problem at all. Ye Zhiyun naturally agreed—in fact, she ought to encourage it wholeheartedly.
Friends sitting side by side on a bench, sipping drinks and whispering secrets?
Fine. That was tolerable.
A bit more intimate, like holding hands or strolling shoulder to shoulder?
Well… acceptable! She gritted her teeth, but she could just about endure it.
But what if they hugged each other? What if they kissed?
—In that case, world, you might as well just end itself.
Who could possibly put up with that?!
Under the Head Maid’s helpless gaze, Ye Zhiyun shot to her feet and bolted into motion.
She charged toward the shadowy alley, toward that familiar back she had been longing for, running at full tilt.
The hem of her oversized trench coat billowed back against the headwind, whipping up a sharp whoosh.
The thunderous clatter of her feet pounding the paving tiles naturally startled the pair—plus one fox—in the quiet alley.
Ye Zhibai hadn’t even fully turned around yet.
The figure shrouded by the trench coat had already closed in right behind her, not far off.
And then—
It came, that explosive shout laced with worry and fury.
“Sister!!”
The roar was too loud, her cry too frantic—the exact words weren’t clear.
But that voice was familiar.
Yun’er…?
Before Ye Zhibai could react, she felt her arm yanked hard backward.
It was Lin Zihan.
Once Ye Zhibai had steadied herself, she realized Lin Zihan had stretched out one arm, shielding her protectively behind.
Lin Zihan’s right eye gleamed with sharp intensity as she guarded Ye Zhibai while glaring dead ahead.
Such a commotion—she’d naturally sensed it immediately: some suspicious figure barreling toward them like a rabid dog.
Lin Zihan’s first instinct?
—Protect Little Bai’er at all costs.
Only her protective grip had nearly yanked Ye Zhibai flat on her face!
That earlier flying hug had almost knocked her over, and now this again?
Thank goodness her balance was like a roly-poly doll’s—otherwise, she’d have eaten dirt twice today!
Guang Yu was the one truly spooked, though.
She’d been mid-sip when she nearly tumbled right off the stone steps!
Squinting, Guang Yu took a closer look.
Holy crap—what the heck was this thing?
Trench coat, sunglasses, mask, hat.
In the dim alley, it wasn’t just suspicious.
It looked straight-up like a ghost!
This “suspicious figure,” upon seeing Lin Zihan’s instinctive protective stance, froze in place without a twitch.
The two locked eyes across the distance in a tense standoff.
Even though the figure’s face was hidden, Lin Zihan could feel the hostility radiating from it thickening after her move.
Lin Zihan swallowed hard, marshaling all her focus.
Her plan: first, create an opening for Ye Zhibai to slip away.
She glanced back with her peripheral vision and whispered urgently.
“Little Bai’er… looks like we’re down on our luck tonight. City security leaves a lot to be desired. Sigh… In a bit, I’ll buy you some time. You bolt out the back of the alley, find somewhere safe, and call the cops right away…”
“Hold on.”
“Little Bai’er?!”
Lin Zihan was floored.
Little Bai’er wasn’t just ignoring her orders.
She was brazenly trying to slip past from behind her—to the front!
No, Little Bai’er!
At least let me play the hero saving the beauty here!
Normally, Lin Zihan would never have let Ye Zhibai step forward.
But then, that soft name from Ye Zhibai’s lips made Lin Zihan’s blocking hand freeze midair.
“Yun’er…? Is that you?”
“…”
Yun’er?
No way…
Lin Zihan’s tension evaporated in an instant.
She’d been too on edge before.
Peering carefully by moonlight, the figure did have Ye Zhiyun’s build… as if anyone could tell!
It was wrapped up tighter than a mummy— even a god couldn’t ID that! Guang Yu: Don’t remind me.
Before Lin Zihan could tense up again—
The “suspicious figure” slowly reached up and removed the hat concealing her identity.
Instantly, black hair cascaded like a waterfall.
The silky, flowing locks spilled free without the hat’s restraint.
The arc they traced was deeper than the night itself.
Next came the mask, then the sunglasses.
A pair of icy blue eyes emerged.
Ye Zhiyun’s face—chilly with frosty edge—crystallized clearly in their view.
Lin Zihan blinked rapidly.
Impressed despite herself, she tried a tentative little wave toward Ye Zhiyun.
“Hey…? Zhiyun? Evening!”
No response, as expected.
Ye Zhiyun ignored her completely. Right now, all of Yun’er’s attention was fixed on her sister standing beside Lin Zihan.
She wanted—just one thing—to prove to Lin Zihan.
—An indisputable fact.
Amid brimming jealousy, Ye Zhiyun forced a gentle smile onto her face.
She extended both hands toward Ye Zhibai, tentative but brimming with confidence.
“Sister…? Come over here to Yun’er, okay?”
She asked ever so carefully.
Afraid her sister might stay put beside Lin Zihan, ignoring her.
But Ye Zhibai’s reply came without the slightest hesitation.
“Oh, sure.”
“…”
Family showing up? What could be better!
She’d been fretting about how to get a ride to University City for dinner!
Woo, Yun’er—you timed it perfectly!
Huh…? But why was Yun’er here?
And dressed so weirdly…? Hadn’t she said she was taking a nap at noon?
Well, it was evening now, so that checked out… but it was still super odd!
Anyway, if Yun’er wanted her over, she’d go.
Before heading there, Ye Zhibai shot Lin Zihan a glance with her utterly unchanged expression, as if reassuring her not to feel down, then obediently took up position beside Ye Zhiyun.
And just like that!
In an instant!
Ye Zhiyun’s confidence surged to the max!
At this moment, facing Lin Zihan, she felt like a war goddess—backbone brimming.
Dignity without even trying!
Though she itched to settle things the old way with a flying kick at Lin Zihan, her sister had said last time that violence didn’t solve problems—it just planted seeds of hatred.
Ye Zhibai: I didn’t say quite that much.
In any case, Ye Zhiyun had decided: no violence.
She’d win with reason.
Ye Zhiyun mirrored Lin Zihan’s earlier move exactly.
—Pulling Ye Zhibai protectively behind her.
It was defense, yes—but also a statement to Lin Zihan.
“Lin Zihan, I think you’ve seen it. My sister’s heart is with me. She came today to make friends with you, but you…! Betraying trust! Shameless! Taking advantage of her kind nature, refusing to take no for an answer? And just now… you actually kissed her! Do you even know who you kissed…? My sister!! My sister! Lin Zihan, what the hell is going on in that head of yours?!”
Her voice rose, agitation building.
Yun’er replayed that scene in her mind, her head nearly exploding with rage!
Any more, and she’d probably launch that flying kick after all.
Misunderstanding!
Piecing it together with the earlier actions, Ye Zhibai instantly realized where Yun’er had gotten the wrong idea.
Given Lin Zihan’s flame-fanning personality…
Ye Zhibai figured she’d say something like—Yeah, it was a kiss!
If you fan the flames now, we’re all doomed!
Just as Ye Zhibai was about to poke Yun’er’s arm and preemptively explain—
Lin Zihan spoke up.
Her expression deadly serious.
“No, Zhiyun, you’ve got it wrong. Little Bai’er and I weren’t kissing. I would never do that without her consent.”
That wording…
So with consent, you’d go right ahead?!
Shocking Little Zhibai!
