Fortunately, Guang Yu possessed the wisdom of a deity. She deeply understood that a two-wheel-drive vehicle couldn’t outrun a four-wheel-drive one.
Sure, turning into a cat would make her four-legged too? Come on, that tin can on wheels had a beastly engine.
Not long after Ye Zhibai issued the order to regroup, the little fox cloaked herself in invisibility again and happily scampered—da-da-da—into the car, setting off on the journey home.
By the mood conservation law, her joy meant Ye Zhibai was doomed to be unhappy.
“What are you so happy about?”
“Pfft… I saw those plastic little people, and they were hilarious! They’re called figurines, right? So realistic… so plasticky!”
“I think ‘plasticky’ might not be a real word… So, what are you so happy about?”
“One plastic little person costs over a thousand bucks! Totally outrageous!”
“It is outrageous, but you’re still not answering me. What are you so happy about?”
“Because I bought you a whole box of them! Look, look—aren’t you thrilled?”
“!”
She knew it—the little fox had been hiding something behind her big tail earlier!
Guang Yu pulled out a large box. The figurine inside was Eromanga Sensei from Eromanga Sensei, instantly recognizable to Ye Zhibai, who was well-versed in adult anime.
Who the character was didn’t matter.
What mattered was the four-digit price tag glaring from the label!
Guang Yu… damn it, why?
“Guang Yu… Didn’t I leave my phone with you? Why couldn’t you scan a code for doujinshi, but you could for this thing?”
“Because you demoed it once for doujinshi. If I still couldn’t do it, it’d tarnish the name of a deity!”
“No, I mean, you knew the price was outrageous—why buy it?”
“Because it’s so realistic… so plasticky?”
Ye Zhibai stared at the brilliant smile of Eromanga Sensei beaming through the box and burst into tears.
“Fine, thanks for giving me the first figurine of my life in my stead. I’m thrilled.”
“Hee hee, I knew you’d be hap—”
“You just wait. We’ll settle the full score when we get home.”
“!”
On the way home, the Maid Corps had arranged a separate car to send Lin Zihan back.
Maybe there’d be a chance later to invite her over for dinner.
But given her mama’s strict oversight, getting permission to stay out for a meal might be harder than Ye Zhibai attending Comic-Con herself.
Well, compared to the raucous crowds at the Giant Dome Comic-Con, Ye Zhibai still preferred the peace of home.
The moment the Head Maid’s car pulled into the suburban Ye Family Manor, a wave of slacking off swept through the streets and alleys.
And so, Ye Zhibai knew it.
Time to head back to her soft bed for a good nap!
But after getting out of the car, she realized her path to bed wouldn’t be smooth.
Off course, Yun’er—the little villa was on the east side of the lake!
“Yun’er, where are we going?”
“Huh? Sister, I told you in the car. Old Dad said to come find him right after we got back—he has something important to tell us in person. You heard me, right? You even nodded… Ah! I get it… See, sister? I told you not to go out for long stretches lately. You should stay in bed and rest! You haven’t fully recovered since discharge. Look at you—you must be exhausted!”
“Sorry.”
She really was sorry. Earlier, she’d been wrestling Guang Yu over ownership of this thousand-buck figurine. Some frantic head-bobbing must have looked like agreement.
She vaguely recalled Yun’er mentioning something.
Yeah, she’d rest properly later.
Like, right now, she wanted a big nap—if Yun’er would let her.
Ye Zhibai let out a subtle, wistful yawn.
Framed against the fading sunset over the artificial lake as night began to fall, the motion was ethereal, like a fairy descending. Her silver hair, somewhat flattened after a day under the baseball cap, looked almost unreal yet tantalizingly within reach.
Yun’er retracted her half-extended thieving little hand, coughed lightly to avert her gaze, and tamped down the power plant sparking in her chest.
“Ahem, um… I know you’re tired, sister. We’ll head back for rest soon. But… let’s see Old Dad first. He sounded really serious on the phone earlier—it’s rare for him to be that earnest. I told him to just say it over the phone, but he insisted on doing it face-to-face.”
After laying out the background, Ye Zhiyun added with a wry smile, “The last time I saw Old Dad this serious was when you were hospitalized. He threatened the dean that if they didn’t provide the best care, he’d shut down the whole hospital.”
There was such a thing!
The dean had it rough.
Stuck with a patient like me—talk about bad luck across eight lifetimes.
In other words, this matter was as grave as my hospitalization drama!
She had no idea what it was specifically, but it wasn’t trivial. Guang Yu… settling scores could wait.
For now, they’d face the storm together!
“Ye Zhibai, I’m heading back to unbox the figurine first! No time to lose!”
“Wait—”
She ran off.
So heartlessly.
Yeah… one figurine, and loyalties crumbled. Guang Yu, you’re a real scumbag.
But surprisingly, Guang Yu soon ran back, hugging the figurine!
Ahh… a chilled heart could still be warmed again!
“Having a change of heart?”
“I forgot where I put the scissors for unboxing.”
“Get lost. Find them yourself.”
“Eek… Look at that attitude. Aren’t you afraid of chilling a deity’s heart?”
“……”
Folks, my family’s fox seems to be getting scummier by the day.
What to do? Can I even keep her?
Whatever.
Guang Yu wouldn’t help much anyway. Better if she went back.
Trailing after Yun’er, the sisters chatted and laughed (one-sided, courtesy of Yun’er) all the way to Ye Qinghe’s home office.
This time of day was usually one of his busiest for work, yet today he’d come home early.
At the office door, the waiting bodyguards stepped aside for the two young misses.
Ye Zhibai was about to knock politely.
But Yun’er grabbed the handle, shoved the door open without a word or greeting!
A true powerhouse always takes the lead.
Fine.
Good manners were for outsiders. At home, no need for formalities.
Ye Zhibai had seen the tidy office interior once before—when checking Gaokao scores.
Ye Qinghe heard the commotion and didn’t even need to look up to know who it was.
In all of Qihai City, only his own daughters dared barge into his office without announcing themselves.
He sat steady in his boss chair, hands propping his chin, his weathered yet imposing face etched with restraint.
It was a stark contrast to Old Dad’s usual goofy vibe.
Yun’er shut the door behind them and plopped onto the sofa, casually calling out “Old Dad” in greeting. Ye Zhibai followed, softly saying “Dad.”
But!
That flat, emotionless “Dad” instantly unwrinkled Ye Qinghe’s furrowed brows!
The heavy atmosphere in the office shifted to a warm, buoyant glow around Old Dad!
“Hey! Good girls—Zhibai, tired from Comic-Con today? Had dinner yet? If you’re not busy, head to the banquet hall with Yun’er later and—”
“Ahem.”
“!”
Ye Zhiyun was forever the family’s stabilizing anchor.
One cough from her, and no one dared speak.
Deeper than the falling night, her sapphire eyes held an abyss of black.
“Look… Old Dad, sister won’t say it, but I have to. How long ago did she leave the hospital? What she needs most is rest. Sigh… Dad, I get it—you’ve been trying extra hard to act like a responsible father since her discharge. But sometimes overcaring just backfires, turning into pressure for her. Please reflect on that.”
Ye Zhibai was dumbfounded after hearing this.
Yun’er!
Are you introducing yourself?!
Who was the biggest culprit in excessive caring if not her?!
“I understand. I need to reflect on that. Calling you here specially today was rash.”
Don’t reflect, Old Dad!
Do you two get it? My little villa is just a measly two hundred meters from here. “Specially coming over”?!
Am I some nationally protected species to you?!
Seeing Yun’er and Old Dad’s conversation veering further off-track, Ye Zhibai steered it back.
“Dad, I’m not tired. You have something really important to tell us, right?”
“Yeah…” Ye Qinghe leaned back in his chair, inwardly thanking the heavens for his thoughtful little darling.
He got so lost in gratitude that Yun’er nearly dragged Ye Zhibai out!
“Whoa! Don’t go yet! I wanted to talk about Gaokao volunteer choices!”
“Gaokao wha—? Oh, right… Gaokao volunteers. Go ahead, Old Dad.”
Oh my gosh, my little sister was so chill.
Yun’er!
You totally forgot about Gaokao again, didn’t you? Absolutely!
Hilarious—a top-fifty Gaokao scorer forgetting the exam itself. What a shocker.
