One thing had to be made clear: Yun’er always forgetting about the Gaokao had absolutely nothing to do with a bad memory.
On that front, Ye Zhibai had the most authority. When it came to bedroom matters, Yun’er’s memory was sharp as a tack.
If she said she was going to leave Little Zhibai a boneless puddle today, it sure as hell wouldn’t wait until the sun rose the next morning—no mercy given.
So, her forgetting could only mean the Gaokao was utterly unimportant to her. Picking majors? Even less relevant.
Truth be told, what Yun’er was really thinking right now was how to get Old Dad to spit out whatever he had to say already!
She was in a hurry to get back and have a heart-to-heart with her big sister… cough, cough, to let her big sister rest and get some quality shut-eye!
After a moment of speechless exasperation, Ye Zhibai refocused her attention on Ye Qinghe. He sat primly in the executive chair, elbows propped on the desk, chin resting on his interlaced hands, eyes closed in deep thought.
Indeed, ever since she’d woken up and come home, this was the first time Ye Zhibai had seen Old Dad looking so conflicted.
A long while passed.
Finally, Ye Qinghe let out a soft sigh and spoke.
“Sigh… I’ve been thinking a lot these past few days about your Gaokao majors. Today, with the three of us father and daughters behind closed doors, let’s speak from the heart. You’re both sensible, good girls, so I won’t worry about this sounding like bad parenting. Tomorrow’s the last day to submit, and honestly, with our family’s resources, what college you pick for the Gaokao won’t make a dent in your futures.”
“That said, no impact or not, if your scores allow it, you should aim for the best. Whether it helps or not is one thing; the learning environment and campus life during university are another entirely.”
Ye Zhibai listened intently, just like a model student. These words were music to her ears.
A parent actually telling their kids, “The Gaokao doesn’t matter for you.” Was this the power of wealth?
Yun’er’s occasional nods and “Exactly”s only amplified that power.
Having laid out the premise, Ye Qinghe’s expression turned wistful once more.
He pushed himself up from the desk with both arms.
Turning to face the grand wall painting behind him—”Triumph Assured”—he stood with his back to his two daughters, his voice even lower and more subdued as he finally reached the heart of what he wanted to say.
“The real reason I called you two here today… well, mainly, your dad wants to apologize. A few days ago, I told Yun’er I hoped you’d both pick local colleges in Qihai City. Looking back, that was shortsighted of me. Of course I want you staying nearby to visit your lonely old man more often. But right after I said it, I regretted it. As a father, what I should be doing is respecting your own choices.”
“I shouldn’t meddle in your decisions. If Yun’er wants to take her big sister out to see the wider world, and Zhibai feels the same, then that’s the right path for you.”
At this point, Ye Qinghe half-turned, his weathered face—etched with the marks of a seasoned life—bearing a smile that strained against his paternal dignity. Relief and melancholy mingled there, painting him in gentle benevolence.
“So… I called you here today to tell you personally: forget everything I said before. Your futures must be decided by you yourselves, or your old dad here will feel guilty about it, haha.”
The sunset had faded into night, draining the room of light.
But in Ye Zhibai’s eyes, a brighter glow seemed to fill the space.
Well, it was actual light, anyway.
—Because Yun’er had stood up and flicked on the office lights.
Click. Lights on.
Thanks, Yun’er. Perfect timing with that switch.
No worries—the emotion Ye Zhibai had just felt, one she’d never known in her previous life, was already tucked away like a little furnace warming her heart.
Family meant putting aside your own disappointment to support their wishes, a selfless act with no expectation of reward.
For Ye Zhibai, who had once grown up without parents, this kind of devotion felt refreshingly novel.
Her heart warmed, and she lifted her head, tilting it ever so slightly.
Her silver hair flowed like liquid light; even if angels’ wings truly existed in this world, they’d pale in comparison.
No smile, but it was better than one.
“Dad, thank you.”
“!”
“!”
Double strike!
Ye Zhibai would never know just how devastating her head-tilt charm was on family.
Ye Qinghe staggered, nearly toppling before the Triumph Assured painting—saved only by the sturdy executive chair catching him! Yun’er, caught in the crossfire, nearly yanked the light switch plate right off the wall with a slip of her hand!
Face to the wall, Yun’er quickly patted her chest, as if calming some frantic flutter.
Only then did she regain her poised, elegant demeanor, sitting back on the sofa beside Ye Zhibai like nothing had happened.
“Ahem, Big Sis, give a heads-up next time before unleashing that. It’s a bit hard to handle.”
“…”
Unleashing what? She was just praising fatherly love! Couldn’t a daughter pass on some filial piety?
Nah, Yun’er just thought her sister’s charm had always been boundless, but since waking up recently, it had gained an even more human touch!
Ahh… Sis, if you keep ramping up that allure, more and more fox spirits out there will start eyeing you! That’s why I keep saying, rein in that power a bit!
Composing herself, Yun’er slowly looked up at Ye Qinghe across the massive desk, still basking in fatherly pride and satisfaction.
“Dad, snap out of it and get to the point. I get what you mean. No need to get all emotional about it—a family’s not two families. We understand, as you can see, Big Sis does too. You don’t need to stress like this. Why? Because from the start, I never planned to let you sway me.”
“?”
“Isn’t that right? You give your suggestion, Sis and I pick our majors. That’s how it should be, no? Dad, you didn’t seriously think we’d be so naive we couldn’t decide our own colleges, did you?”
“Yun’er… of course not! The daughters of the Ye Family—if they lacked even that much backbone—wouldn’t deserve to be mine and Xiao Qing’s girls!”
“Exactly, haha!”
“Right on!”
“…”
Ye Zhibai glanced left at Yun’er, right at Old Dad. Their awkward laughter seemed genuinely cheerful.
A wry smile tugged at her heart.
Our family… what a bunch of stubborn personalities.
Yun’er might’ve been influenced by Dad’s suggestion deep down, but her seemingly heartless words were really just giving him an easy out, so he wouldn’t worry.
On the surface, the family vibe felt stiff, but really, things were pretty harmonious at home!
Just as Ye Zhibai basked in that warm thought, reality slapped her in the face.
Yun’er grabbed her arm, buzzing with eager anticipation.
“Alright, that’s done! Dad really dragged Big Sis here for this little thing? Come on, Sis, time to head home and rest.”
“This little thing…? Yun’er? Your attitude needs adjusting!”
“No attitude, just tired. Okay, Sis, pretend you heard nothing. Dad’s just caught up in his fatherly ego trip—cut him some slack. And Dad… with the talk over, no need to ramble on. It’s pointless.”
“Fine…!”
Alright then.
Our family’s harmony was relative, not absolute.
Just before Yun’er could drag Ye Zhibai out of the office by the arm…
Ye Qinghe lightly slapped the desk and asked one more time, full of anticipation.
“Yun’er, Zhibai? You still haven’t told me—what are you planning for those Gaokao majors? Tomorrow’s the deadline; no time left to think. You must have decided by now?”
“However it should be filled, that’s how we’ll fill it.”
That was Yun’er’s reply.
Ye Zhibai was utterly lost.
—What the hell did “however it should be” even mean? She had no idea!
But after a brief stun, Ye Qinghe suddenly got it, enlightened.
“Of course…! Not worthy of my daughters—such insight, such guts.”
“No big deal. Like I said, no need to bother Sis’s rest over Gaokao nonsense.”
“Ha… Guess your dad jumped the gun. You’re right. Go on, get some rest. Don’t forget to submit tomorrow.”
“Got it.”
“…”
So!
What exactly are you filling it as?!
Can’t you smart people just speak plainly? Gotta be all lofty, huh!
