After a few attempts, what Yun’er cradled in her palm was none other than a ring she had folded and woven from a few strands of her own long hair.
Yun’er was truly a genius.
She hadn’t even needed anyone to demonstrate. She had simply fiddled around on her own for five minutes, and she actually managed to weave the ring!
Perhaps it wasn’t so much genius as it was her competitive spirit as a woman—her absolute refusal to lose in certain areas—that had awakened her potential.
In any case, when she held up the ring, Yun’er’s eyes sparkled so brightly that even she couldn’t believe she had pulled it off!
The Ye Family’s Second Miss had never liked childish toys since she was little, but now she was as thrilled as a seven-year-old child!
“Sis… Sister!! Look, it’s a ring! I really made the ring!”
“Good grief… What in the world.”
“Sister…?”
“I mean, my Yun’er is just too incredible.”
“That’s only natural! I’m your sister, after all—cut from the same cloth, so of course I’m capable of anything!”
“……”
Listen, Yun’er, let’s not even get into the fact that we have zero blood relation, so “same cloth” doesn’t apply.
Besides! Sure, if you’re capable of anything, I admire you for it. But the problem is, I’m not! What makes me worthy of sharing the same vein with you?!
Yun’er cradled the ring in her left palm while clenching her right fist in triumph. She shot a smug little glance at Lin Zihan—a declaration of victory!
What reaction could Lin Zihan give her?
A wry smile, a helpless shrug, a nod.
Fine, fine, you’re amazing, you’re amazing. You really are.
Sometimes, you just had to admit defeat. Talent was something you couldn’t argue with.
But what did that have to do with Lin Someone here?
Admiration was all well and good, but beyond that? Nothing!
Little Zhibai was oblivious to the covert battle between these two treasures.
All she needed to do was be a good big sister, and that was enough.
In this contest that shouldn’t have had a winner, Yun’er just barely came out on top in Little Zhibai’s heart.
Zihan’s willow branch ring was beautifully crafted, full of friendship, and it had deeply touched Little Zhibai.
Yun’er’s hair ring was crudely woven, the process clumsy. The overall shape barely resembled a ring at all, and no matter how you looked at it, it wasn’t anywhere near the artistic masterpiece that Zihan’s was.
But…
But this one hurt!!
Pluck willow branches until the tree is bald, and it won’t cry out in pain. But yank out hair? Of course it hurts!
Something that painful had to take the slight edge, right? Where was the justice otherwise?!
Well… that was one reason, anyway.
The real emotion went without saying.
Guang Yu: Exactly. Squeezed together all the way, affections and grievances alike—all unspoken.
“Thank you, Yun’er. I’ll treasure this one.”
“Eh?!!”
“Uh… what’s with that reaction?”
What was wrong with saying she’d treasure the handicraft Yun’er had worked so hard on?
She had finally made it, so putting it in a display case alongside the previous vine ring and such seemed perfectly normal, didn’t it?
But who knew Yun’er’s gaze would subtly drift toward the ring clenched in Ye Zhibai’s hand.
Every time her eyes met the ring made from her own hair, her cheeks would flush faintly.
Finally, after some bashful hesitation, she leaned in close to Ye Zhibai, stroked her ear, and whispered in a coy voice.
“Sister, you’re so naughty… And besides…
There are other people here… You just openly say you’re going to keep someone’s hair like that… This… this isn’t right? Th-that’s not what I meant! I mean, it’s great! But Sister, you don’t need to keep so much hair… If you’re really interested… I can cut more for you when I get home, and then you can pull and tug on it as much as you want… Wait, no… that doesn’t sound intense enough? Hehe… hehehe…! Or you could just yank it right off my head! I… I won’t resist! Sister can bully me however she wants… Mmph… forget I said that.”
Some words could turn Ye Zhibai’s rosy little face pale in an instant.
Old Dad.
And her mom, drifting off who-knows-where.
Sorry, parents. Your daughter… she’s beyond saving.
Yun’er, wipe your drool. Let’s stay good sisters.
The destination wasn’t far to begin with. The vehicle didn’t travel much longer before pulling up right at the entrance to the residential complex where Lin Zihan lived.
Lin Zihan breathed a sigh of relief!
Riding with Little Bai’er was delightful, but the driver was the Head Maid!
Don’t forget, Lin Zihan was currently a maid of the Ye Family. Having the Head Maid drive her around was like a superior chauffeuring a subordinate!
It was a novel life experience, to say the least—thrilling, even.
This residential complex was already close to her family’s flower shop, just about two kilometers away. She could get there on a shared bicycle in no time.
Little Zhibai had visited the flower shop before, but this complex was still a fresh sight for her—the first time she’d come.
Peering out the car window at the gates, it was your standard, no-frills residential complex entrance. Nothing as grand as Sister Liang’s mountain-view complex, of course, but far classier than the budget ones.
If she remembered right, this place was the last property the Lin Family had left for their Eldest Miss.
Out of courtesy, Ye Zhibai wanted to get out and see her off.
But getting out of the car wasn’t so simple.
Guang Yu was still wedged right beside her! This girl had been squeezed the whole ride and was still sulking, refusing to budge. Ye Zhibai spent a good while negotiating with her. The moment Lin Zihan noticed Little Bai’er’s movements—
She hurriedly unbuckled her seatbelt, flung both arms over the seatback with a thud, and blocked Ye Zhibai’s next move!
“Li… Little Bai’er! Don’t get out of the car—just… just stay in the car!”
“Huh?” Ye Zhibai took it as an underestimation of her stamina. “I should at least walk you to the door.”
“No, no! You’ve got it wrong!” Lin Zihan’s hands waved so frantically they blurred. It was clear she was desperate.
Ye Zhibai figured…
Don’t panic.
But if you don’t explain soon, I’m going to start panicking.
Lin Zihan wanted to explain, but… she felt like saying these things to Little Bai’er—to her dear friend—would be impolite, hard to voice.
Yun’er saw through it but said nothing. She was still nestled happily in her sister’s arms, uninterested in the golden-haired woman’s trifles. Besides, Sister definitely understood~ Leave the rest to the Head Maid.
In times like these, the Head Maid was the most reliable.
A flash of understanding crossed the Head Maid’s eyes—a sense of duty, and further affirmation of the Eldest Miss.
Before turning off the engine, she deliberately pulled the car a bit farther from the main entrance.
As she parked by the roadside, she explained the situation to Ye Zhibai.
“Eldest Miss, Miss Zihan is… probably concerned about Lin Madam. From what I know, Lin Madam is notoriously averse to major clans. It’s not exactly a secret. Um… Miss Zihan, may I continue?”
“Hah… Head Maid Sister, go ahead, please. You’re actually bailing me out here…”
“Very well. Given the circumstances, the residents here are all closely connected. If they see Miss Zihan stepping out of a luxury car—with someone of your outstanding presence, clearly from a major clan, seeing her off—word will spread like wildfire. It’ll reach Lin Madam’s ears in no time, putting Miss Zihan in a tough spot. So I believe it’s wise for you not to get out.”
The Head Maid couldn’t help but admire her more and more.
Really.
—Not for nothing was she the Eldest Miss.
Her life skills hadn’t fully recovered yet, but her intellect was sharpening by the day.
What a miraculous child Madam had picked up back then… Her talents were obvious.
She had wanted to get out earlier but kept hesitating, circling back and forth.
Those extra movements were buying time—and that time was for the Head Maid to speak up.
—Without sacrificing etiquette toward her friend, she had waited for the subordinate to explain, thus considering Miss Zihan’s actual situation.
After all, even if she couldn’t walk her out, such words shouldn’t come from the Eldest Miss as Zihan’s friend.
If she didn’t say them, the subordinate would. She could play innocent, unaware, tending to everyone’s feelings.
Such meticulous thinking… such grand vision.
The Ye Family’s future looked bright.
Little Zhibai tilted her head in confusion.
She pondered blankly for a long while before the realization hit her like enlightenment!
Oh! So that’s it! That’s the reason!
Yeah, yeah, getting out really wouldn’t be appropriate.
But why didn’t you say so earlier? If you had, I could’ve pushed Guang Yu aside and gotten out already—no trouble!
Lin Zihan took a deep breath and patted her chest, finally relaxing.
She seemed to have figured something out too. With a helpless shrug, she pressed her palms together toward Ye Zhibai, tilting her head in a wry smile.
“Sorry, Little Bai’er… I can’t even let you walk me to the car properly. Had to sneak around, and you had to put up with it. When I start my shift next time… I’ll make it up to you…! Ahem… won’t keep you any longer! It’s getting late—I’m off! See you tomorrow, Little Bai’er!”
“Oh… oh? Tomorrow?”
Under Yun’er’s knife-sharp glare, Lin Zihan decided discretion was the better part of valor and didn’t dare linger.
Before getting out, she double-checked that no one was around before boldly stepping away from the car door.
As she passed the rear window…
She didn’t forget to flash Ye Zhibai a lovely smile through the glass.
Even… that smile didn’t quite match her hurried little steps.
Only after watching her run off into the distance did Yun’er slowly straighten up from Ye Zhibai’s shoulder, her smile brimming with indulgence.
“Sister, you really are… so gentle with everyone. If you keep acting like this… even I’ll start envying that girl.”
“Indeed.” The Head Maid smiled contentedly and nodded vigorously before restarting the vehicle. “You could tell that Miss Zihan’s gratitude toward the Eldest Miss couldn’t be hidden. Our Ye Family’s Eldest Miss truly understands the human heart. If the Family Head knew, they would surely be gratified too…”
?
You know?
It’s just playful talk, not nonsense.
Little Zhibai was too lazy to argue about it anymore.
—She was used to it.
She hugged the fox tail tightly, squinted her eyes, and planned to catch a quick nap.
Convinced.
Tired.
