Food comes first for the people, and that saying couldn’t be more true.
The very first thing on Ye Zhibai’s mind after “recovering” from her illness was to hurry and tell Yun’er—
No more cabbage today!
Look at her: three straight days of the stuff, and it had left even Guang Yu looking thinner from hunger. How heartbreaking.
Scummy Zhibai was obviously just craving meat herself, yet she kept repeating in her mind that this was all for Guang Yu’s sake.
Ugh, I’m done for.
In Ye Zhiyun’s room.
The moment her sister announced that her period was finally over, Yun’er’s excitement rivaled a troop of monkeys at the zoo.
She sprang to her feet in a flash!
“Really?! So tonight, Sister can…! Ahem, never mind. I mean, Sister can finally eat good food again. That’s worth celebrating!”
“…”
Oh no.
She’d been too hasty!
Only then did Ye Zhibai realize that maybe she should have kept up the sick act a little longer.
Look before you leap—true wisdom stands the test of time.
But now, clutching her stomach and pretending to hurt again was out of the question.
Yun’er had already begun pondering deeply.
“A big meal, though… The fridge is full of veggies right now, and prepping something last-minute might not work. How about we eat out? Let me check the restaurants nearby.”
“Uh… we don’t have to rush out. One more cabbage meal wouldn’t kill us.”
“No way! Three days of misery—you need to recharge your energy… Oh, right!”
She seemed to have hit on the perfect restaurant.
But Ye Zhibai planned to wait until Yun’er named the place. Then she’d quietly search the menu prices and weigh whether it was worth it.
Yun’er always picked those upscale spots where a single dish ran hundreds of dollars!
Occasional indulgence in that fancy atmosphere was fine.
But they couldn’t treat golden crab paste like everyday dipping sauce.
Ye Zhibai knew full well that with the family’s wealth, a little spending like that was nothing.
The problem was, it made her uncomfortable.
Yun’er’s water-boiled cabbage was every bit as good! Why throw money at a restaurant for nothing?
Luckily, these thoughts stayed firmly in Ye Zhibai’s head.
If she’d voiced them, lunch would be off the table—and Little Zhibai would become Yun’er’s “lunch” in minutes.
Yun’er pulled out her phone to confirm.
She even gave Old Dad a quick call.
Once she hung up, Yun’er finalized their lunch spot.
“How about we eat at our family’s restaurant? Sister, remember? When you were bedridden a few days ago, Dad wanted to take us to the new Ye Family place. It officially opened the day before yesterday, and the reviews are great. Perfect chance to try it.”
“Affordable?”
Yun’er snorted. “Pfft… Sister, still foggy from your illness? It’s our own restaurant—we eat at cost!”
“Let’s go.”
What else was there to say?
An affordable big restaurant? It would be a crime against her stomach not to go!
Guang Yu, hurry up and get ready.
We’re off to conquer the world!
The sleek black luxury sedan cruised along the wide ring road.
Ye Qinghe, behind the wheel, kept the conversation flowing nonstop the whole way.
Poor guy—he’d wanted to check on Zhibai earlier, only to get an earful from Yun’er. He’d thought his two darling daughters had grown tired of him!
But now they were willingly heading out for a family meal. Clearly, he wasn’t on the outs!
What a joy to take his girls to their own restaurant. No wonder he was in high spirits!
“Zhibai, Yun’er, just so you know, this place isn’t ultra-high-end. It’s the Ye Family’s latest venture into mid-range dining—to fill a gap in Qihai City’s restaurant scene. But since your dad recommended it, there’s good reason. Sometimes, mid-range dishes are just as good as the fancy stuff. Their water-boiled cabbage is legendary.”
What?!
No cabbage!
It wasn’t just Ye Zhibai—even Guang Yu felt a chill run from her head to her toes at those words. Yun’er, on the other hand, perked up at the signature dish.
Eh? Cabbage?
Perfect. She’d have to give it a real try. And if Sister loved it…
Fire the chef.
Hey! Show some respect for the chef’s hard work!
No matter how spacious the sedan’s rear seat—even in a seven-seater luxury model—Ye Zhibai always ended up squeezed into the corner by Yun’er.
Guang Yu was forever plastered right up against the window.
Guang Yu just had to say it: if this kept up, she really might start hating car rides!
Did all you mortals’ iron boxes have to be this cramped?!
The navigation chimed that they still had some distance to the restaurant.
Suddenly, Ye Qinghe remembered the most important thing of all.
“You two remember—Gaokao scores come out in five days. Don’t forget to think ahead about your college applications.”
Huh?
Oh!
Old Dad, if you hadn’t said anything, I’d have totally forgotten!
Gaokao results were almost here!
It wasn’t her first rodeo, but Ye Zhibai still felt a twinge of nerves remembering how she’d checked her scores subject by subject, hand cupped over the phone screen.
She needed to stay on top of this.
They said success on the Gaokao came in two stages: acing the test and picking the right major. Miss either one, and you were sunk.
Ye Zhibai was working herself up inside.
Then she heard Yun’er, sounding utterly carefree.
“No big deal.” Yun’er nudged Ye Zhibai’s leg with the calf of her own, clad in mid-calf white socks. “Gaokao scores don’t matter much~ What counts is getting into the same university as Sister. From that angle, yeah, applications deserve serious thought.”
Listen to that.
“Gaokao scores don’t matter much.”
Ye Zhibai smiled bitterly to herself, hoping Old Dad would set Yun’er straight.
Scores absolutely mattered—you had to pick based on your actual results.
Sure enough, Ye Qinghe chimed in soon after.
“Yun’er.”
“What?”
Yes! See? Old Dad’s tone was dead serious. He was about to lay down the law!
And his tone truly was.
Serious, that is.
“Yun’er, I think you’ve really grown up, looking out for your sister like this. Sigh. When you fill out your applications, talk it over as sisters. Forget the scores—just stay together. As long as you don’t leave Zhibai home alone and take her along to school with you, your dad will be thanking the heavens.”
“Dad, do I even need you to tell me? Taking Sister to the same university is a given!”
“Hahaha, true enough. I have no business lecturing you on that—look at me, the old fool!”
Yun’er giggled. “Pfft… Dad, you’re not old or foolish. But worrying about Gaokao stuff? That’s definitely overthinking it!”
“Haha, exactly!”
Ye Zhibai could only stare in stunned silence.
You two…
What the hell are you laughing about?!
She smacked her own forehead, wondering if her sense of common sense was broken.
Forget it—smacking her head hurt. Better to smack Guang Yu instead.
Soon enough, Ye Zhibai reached a conclusion.
My common sense isn’t the problem.
Theirs is!
Could we show the Gaokao a little respect?
You’re treating it like a pop quiz?!
What kind of family background lets you be this cocky?!
Oh, right. Billionaire family.
Fair enough. Guess I’ll laugh too.
Hahaha!
“…”
Kill me, I can’t even force a smile.
Amid the laughter and cheerful banter.
The restaurant’s silhouette came into clear view ahead.
