Now, the birds that had lingered in the blue sky for so long finally saw her—the one who had tenaciously soared upward from the ground.
In that case, how could anyone deny the little bird the chance to tell the sky about the excellence of the person she held so dear?
Cough… The only surprise beyond Chi Yuliang’s expectations was just how high Little Bai had soared—a bit too high, really!
~~~
If it doesn’t fly, it stays put. But once it takes to the skies, it rides the spiraling winds ninety thousand li high.
~~~
Chi Yuliang poured out every bit of praise she held for Little Bai, one heartfelt word after another.
Even after the tea had gone cold, she still felt like she hadn’t said enough.
“Whew… Anyway, Mom, Little Bai has so many great qualities, I couldn’t possibly list them all in one go. How about I go into more detail when Dad gets home for dinner?”
“Fine, fine, your dad’s due back any minute now. Heh, you know, I never realized it before, but my Yuliang actually has a real talent for speeches. It’s rare to hear you talk so much in one breath.”
“Hmm? Why do you say that?”
“Oh, this girl, still asking me? Don’t believe me? Just ask Zhibai here—didn’t you put on quite the performance just now, full of emotion and vivid as can be? After hearing you, I honestly think Zhibai is the perfect girl!”
“R-Really? I wasn’t exaggerating that much, was I? Little Bai, what do you th—hey?”
Mmm…
What was going through Little Zhibai’s mind right now?
In straightforward terms, it felt as sweet and satisfying as downing an entire honeycomb of honey!
If not for Ye Zhibai’s innate ability to keep a calm expression no matter how amusing the situation, she would surely be tearing up with gratitude by now.
Two lifetimes… two whole lifetimes!
No one had ever praised her so earnestly and tirelessly!
In her previous life, slaving away at jobs—hauling boxes, scrubbing tables until her back ached and her waist screamed—she’d only get a perfunctory “not bad” from the manager, and no raise to show for it.
But smash even a single plate, and she’d face either a tirade of curses or a barrage of snide mockery—not to mention the pay deduction.
In this life, Ye Zhibai wasn’t short on compliments at home; Yun’er praised her every day.
But… Ye Zhibai was well aware of her own limits.
She knew she wasn’t truly that impressive. Right now, she was just living under Yun’er’s protection. If she wanted to truly earn those praises, she first had to grow stronger herself.
And the top priority? Getting stronger in bed.
Cough… It might not be the main focus of life, but it was definitely a crucial part!
Truth be told, every morning after a night of fun with Yun’er, that look in Yun’er’s eyes—like she was pitying the weak and berating herself for not holding back—really got under Ye Zhibai’s skin!
So, first and foremost, Ye Zhibai aimed to earn praise and admiration in bed, to leave Yun’er thoroughly convinced!
Back to the point.
That explained why, when praised, a sparkle lit up in Ye Zhibai’s eyes—one that first startled Chi Yuliang, then filled her with quiet delight.
Fang Wenyuan kept watching the two of them closely. She could sense the powerful resonance between them, a kind of vibe that even long-lost friends reuniting or fellow countrymen meeting abroad could rarely produce!
Naturally, this piqued her curiosity.
“Hmm…? Zhibai, speaking of which, I haven’t asked yet—
How exactly did you and Yuliang meet? Up until today, I thought you were her classmate, but now that I’ve seen you… Yuliang said you just finished the Gaokao, so you must have graduated high school recently? That means you’re at least four years younger than her.”
Good question.
Auntie Fang, you always catch me off guard with these, spiking my blood pressure every time. What a perfect shot.
Ye Zhibai and Chi Yuliang’s gazes met in midair once more, swiftly exchanging thoughts.
Chi Yuliang’s message was clear: Little Bai, got any excuse ready? If not, leave it to Big Sis; I’ll handle it.
But to Chi Yuliang’s surprise, Ye Zhibai didn’t shy away.
Instead, she boldly turned her little head toward Fang Wenyuan, looking every bit like “No need for Sister Liang to step in; I can manage.”
Not quite.
Ye Zhibai was charging ahead for one reason alone.
That glance just now…
She hadn’t understood it.
She thought Sister Liang was telling her to come up with something!
But Little Zhibai didn’t disappoint.
As always, ever since reincarnating into this body, her mind had grown remarkably sharp.
“It’s like this, Auntie. I have a cousin named Ye Guang Yu, who’s Sister Chi’s high school classmate. One day, she suddenly told me she wanted to introduce me to an amazing senior mentor. Since I was about to take the Gaokao, she said I should learn from her and ask for advice. Before long, Sister Chi and I got to know each other well. Yeah, that’s how it happened. Thanks to Sister Chi’s guidance these past few days.”
“Oh! Zhibai, no need to thank me—helping others helps yourself too. When Yuliang reviews the material with you, she brushes up on it herself. We’re the ones benefiting! Next time you come over, bring your cousin along. Yuliang’s amazing in every way, but she doesn’t have many friends. If she could make more outstanding ones like you, her dad and I would rest completely easy! You’re such an exceptional girl, Zhibai!”
“Ha… Thanks, Auntie?”
Whoa, my spur-of-the-moment excuse actually worked?!
Thank you, Ye Guang Yu.
Sometimes you’re my cousin, sometimes my distant cousin—it all depends on what I need.
And Sister Liang, stop holding back that laugh!! Coming up with that on the spot was already a stroke of genius under pressure!
She had just breathed a sigh of relief when Fang Wenyuan refilled their teacups with hot water.
Then she lobbed a mortar-round of a question.
Hmm… If her earlier perfectly timed queries were hand grenades, this one was definitely a mortar.
“Dear me… Zhibai, girls as wonderful as you are rare these days… Your parents must have it so easy with a daughter like you. Oh, right—Zhibai, are you seeing anyone right now?”
“Pfft!”
“Little Bai, you okay?!”
“I-I’m fine, Sister Liang… The water’s just a bit hot…”
That tea was barely fifty degrees, but Ye Zhibai made it feel like a hundred!
Chi Yuliang used her sleeve to wipe the tea from Ye Zhibai’s mouth, shooting her mom a reproachful glance in the process.
Mom, seriously… What kind of question is that to spring on Little Bai out of nowhere!
Ye Zhibai knew her manners. She shook her head to signal Sister Liang she was fine, then straightened up to answer.
“No… Auntie, I don’t have anyone, but… I do have a little sister.”
“Huh? A lit-little sister?”
“Never mind, Auntie, forget I said that. I don’t have a little sister… I mean, I don’t have anyone.”
Argh, damn it! It’s all Yun’er’s fault with those fingers—every time I think of ‘anyone,’ I picture Yun’er’s every smile and gesture!
Now I just look like an idiot!
Fang Wenyuan brushed her short black hair back and gave an apologetic smile.
“Sorry, Zhibai… I was just asking offhand. You’re still young, after all. Even if you were looking, it’d be after college starts—plenty of time for wonderful encounters~”
No, no, Auntie, my situation’s a little different. The kind of ‘anyone’ you’re thinking of? I won’t have one in this lifetime.
Better to focus on how to counter Yun’er’s fingers.
But Fang Wenyuan’s very next words revealed the true intent behind bringing it up!
Ye Zhibai hadn’t expected it, but Auntie Fang’s real goal… was a feint!
The sound was aimed at Ye Zhibai, but the strike landed on Chi Yuliang!
Fang Wenyuan gently touched the side of her face, her expression mirroring that universal look of every worried parent in the world—tinged with concern.
“Sigh… Zhibai, you’re still young, but my girl’s not! Lao Yang’s daughter upstairs is about to get engaged. Yesterday, he even asked about Yuliang, and all I could say was she’s still proudly single~ Ha… You two wouldn’t believe his face—he couldn’t fathom how a girl as outstanding as Yuliang could still be single. Unbelievable, he said.”
“……”
Here it comes!!
The classic Earth phenomenon!
Namely—marriage anxiety.
Why call it wondrous? Because the anxiety doesn’t hit the person involved; it always strikes their parents instead.
How’s that for wondrous?
Chi Yuliang, the target of her mom’s subtle jab, calmly lifted her teacup for a sip.
She wanted to pretend she hadn’t heard… but that would be rude.
“Cough… Mom, didn’t I tell you before? No need to rush about partners. I’m about to start grad school—super busy as it is. No time or energy for that; it’s too much hassle.”
“You always say that… The two aren’t mutually exclusive. Your dad and I met in college, and my grades didn’t suffer.”
Fang Wenyuan was a top student for a reason.
She knew how to use leverage.
Better than nagging herself, she understood that a friend’s opinion would sway Yuliang far more.
So she smoothly passed the ball to Ye Zhibai.
“Zhibai, what do you think? Us old folks might not get you young people. But to us, girls should find someone sooner rather than later—can’t keep putting it off, right?”
Right?
“Uh oh… Auntie, you’re obviously trying to get me to back your opinion and help you persuade Sister Liang, aren’t you?”
One could see that Chi Yuliang was occasionally casting slightly embarrassed sidelong glances at Ye Zhibai right then.
She seemed to be seeking Little Bai’s help to bail her out of this.
Which side would Ye Zhibai take?
A meaningless question.
Hehe, as if there was even a choice to make.
When it came to picking sides, Ye Zhibai had never gotten it wrong since she was a child!
It had to be said that when Ye Zhibai began sharing her thoughts, the innate chill radiating from her face carried an immense air of poise and pressure.
“Auntie, I might not be qualified to pass judgment on Sister Chi’s personal matters yet, but… I think something like this depends on fate. The more you push her, the more likely it is that she’ll end up taking a detour.”
“That’s… true enough, but if we don’t push, who knows how long we’ll have to wait…”
“Good things come to those who wait, and forcing something before its time will only backfire. Take wasabi, for example. You only really enjoy it as a condiment when you find the right dish to dip in it. But if you’re eating wasabi just for the sake of wasabi and chug it straight down, you’ll be left half-dead from the burn. I know that one from personal experience.”
“Must… wasabi?”
“Mm, wasabi.”
“……”
Fang Wenyuan felt a bit dizzy.
It wasn’t just the confusing words—her aura was downright otherworldly too.
The silver-haired girl sitting across from her spoke with the presence of someone far beyond her teenage years. She was more like a sage whose wisdom encompassed the vast starry skies.
She really understood wasabi.
After this simple yet profound speech, Fang Wenyuan found herself at a loss for words.
Amid Ye Zhibai’s narration, which felt like a heavenly deity descending to earth, she failed to notice the gentle, water-like gaze watching her from the side.
Chi Yuliang hadn’t jumped in right away because she was savoring the moment. Now Little Bai had grown to the point where she could speak up for her big sis. A warm feeling bloomed in her heart.
Suddenly, Ye Zhibai felt her arm enveloped in something soft beyond description!
Looking down, she saw it was the result of Sister Liang hugging her arm with both hands—her elbow sinking deep into the cotton candy cleft at her chest!
Chi Yuliang followed up with a blissful smile, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
This expression on Yuliang was something Fang Wenyuan had never seen in the ten years they’d lived together.
And the words Chi Yuliang spoke next stunned everyone present.
“Mom, you can rest easy. Your daughter gets your good intentions. Actually… sorry, I’ve been keeping this from you, but the truth is, I already have someone I like—and I’m working hard to pursue them!”
“Wha-what?! Yuliang, you’re serious?!”
“Mm-hmm, of course, Mom. When have I ever lied to you?”
“What’s their name? Which city are they from? What university did they graduate from?”
“Haha… about that, well, I can’t say just yet. Keeping it secret for now~”
“Oh, oh, Mama understands! A girl’s little secret—I was the same way when I was young! This is wonderful! Next time I see Lao Yang, we’ll see him try to act all smug!”
“No need for that, Mom!”
Whether it was from the excitement of the conversation or something else entirely, Ye Zhibai felt the arm clutched in the embrace growing tighter and tighter.
