“Confidentiality.”
This word was one of the few in the world that could crack even the shameless Little Zhibai’s defenses.
Take, for example, the time when Guang Yu’s wasabi paste and Ye Zhibai’s water cup both went missing at the same time. When Ye Zhibai asked where her cup had gone, Guang Yu just grinned and said, “Confidentiality.”
That was all it took.
Ye Zhibai would inevitably focus her energy and smack the fox right on the head.
Sister Liang’s “confidentiality” just now… Though it wasn’t the same as the wasabi paste incident, the mental storm it stirred in Ye Zhibai’s heart was even bigger.
She remembered chatting about this topic with Sister Liang over dinner before.
Sister Liang had said she had no plans to date at this stage.
In other words, her earlier statement had probably been a diplomatic white lie to placate her mom. That seemed most likely.
However… she couldn’t rule out the possibility that Sister Liang’s mindset had changed in the meantime!
In this era of romantic freedom, there was nothing wrong with Sister Liang wanting to date if she felt like it. Ye Zhibai had no right to interfere.
But…
But still, Ye Zhibai just felt like under the heavens… who could possibly be lucky enough or worthy enough to date Sister Liang? Damn it!
It was a selfish thought.
Yet the mere possibility made something inexplicably sour bubble up in Ye Zhibai’s chest.
Hiss… You never truly know the kind of damage a single “confidentiality” can inflict on a naive, kind-hearted, overthinking girl like Little Zhibai.
Even after finishing her tea and following Sister Liang back to her room, Ye Zhibai was still lost in philosophical brooding, head bowed as she pondered the mysteries of the universe.
Chi Yuliang gently closed the door behind them with a soft click.
She muttered under her breath, though it hardly sounded like a complaint.
“Um… Mama’s really something. I told her I’d handle all the lunch prep myself, but she had to show off and steal my thunder. Little Bai, don’t you think that’s too much… Little Bai?”
“Ah…? I’m here.”
“Your body’s here, but your soul looks like it’s wandered off somewhere.”
Given Chi Yuliang’s height, she had to bend her knees slightly to bring her face level with Ye Zhibai’s.
In the reflection of Ye Zhibai’s eyes appeared Sister Liang’s worried features, pressed close at eye level.
Her deep black eyes shimmered like rippling water, countless flickers of concern dancing within them.
“What’s wrong, Little Bai…? You’ve been listless ever since we finished tea. Did Sister do something wrong…?”
“Wrong, wrong, wrong—it’s my fault~ Don’t let your tears do the talking, awoo~~”
“……”
“……”
That banshee howl, which could scarcely be called singing, didn’t come from Ye Zhibai.
It was from Guang Yu, who had temporarily dropped her invisibility. She was sprawled shamelessly on the floor, rhythmically wagging her two short little legs.
A half-eaten piece of osmanthus cake sat in front of her. Sensing people behind her, the little fox turned around—crumbs still clinging to her mouth—and spotted the two stunned women.
But that didn’t stop her from greeting them enthusiastically!
“You’re back! Did you hear the new song I just learned? Wrong, wrong…! Cough cough cough! My fault~~ Cough!”
Guang Yu… you might not have the pipes of a singing god, but you’ve got the spirit.
Choking to death on osmanthus cake yet stubbornly belting out your tone-deaf tune to the very end?
Even a true singing god would have to bow to that tenacity.
And hey, didn’t I just hide that osmanthus cake on the table? You still managed to sniff it out, huh!
As soon as Guang Yu revealed herself, Chi Yuliang hurriedly grabbed a prepared bottle of mineral water and handed it to her, helping her catch her breath.
But right now, beyond that, Chi Yuliang had no attention left for the deity.
Little Bai’s issue was more important than the heavens themselves.
Circling around Guang Yu, who was chugging the entire bottle of water, Chi Yuliang took Ye Zhibai’s hand and led her to sit on the edge of the bed.
Her questioning showed no intention of letting it slide.
“Little Bai? Why won’t you tell me? If something’s wrong, you have to say it. In my memory, you’ve always been the straightforward type who speaks her mind. This isn’t like you at all.”
“Because… well, it’s really nothing. Unimportant… no need to say.”
“Huh? No way, your anxious look alone proves it’s not unimportant. Come on, tell me. Seeing you like this… Sister won’t be able to relax.”
No.
How did both Sister Liang and Yun’er pick up on my anxiety?!
Hand me a mirror with eight-times zoom and even I couldn’t spot any tells on this dead-fish face of mine!
Whatever. That’s not the point.
The important thing now was to answer Sister Liang’s question.
What Ye Zhibai was agonizing over… honestly, it wasn’t easy to spit out directly. After all, Sister Liang had just said “confidentiality,” so badgering her like this felt pretty shameless.
But more than embarrassment…
She didn’t want Sister Liang to worry.
Screw her pride!
When she finally asked, Ye Zhibai could feel her face heating up from the inside out with shame.
“Like… Sister Liang, earlier you said you have someone you like. I figured it was a kind white lie to fend off Auntie Fang, right? Yeah, my reaction was pretty quick on that.”
Poor Little Zhibai. When she got nervous and embarrassed, her words started tumbling out all jumbled by the end.
Chi Yuliang listened intently to every word from Little Bai.
Then…
Shockingly, even someone as sharp as her didn’t react right away.
She actually needed a moment to process and grasp what Little Bai meant.
It wasn’t that she hadn’t heard the words.
Precisely because she had, she needed that buffer time.
Under Ye Zhibai’s puzzled gaze…
Sister Liang suddenly whipped her head to the side. Her night-dark purple hair veiled her face, hiding her expression.
No one could see her eyes.
But it lasted only a moment.
Sister Liang turned back, as gentle as ever. Her worry melted entirely into a smile. “Pfft… Little Bai, I thought you were stressing over something huge. So this is it?”
Oh. Hearing that, Ye Zhibai relaxed.
Got it. That tone confirmed she was right on the money.
Those words earlier really were just to deal with your mom—
“Actually… I wasn’t lying, you know? Sister really does have someone she likes now~ No doubt about it.”
“？！”
Boom.
Guang Yu, does the Heavenly Realm have heavenly thunder?
Forget that awful song of yours—come quick and check if I’m about to get struck by five bolts of lightning!
Why does my head feel like it’s buzzing?!
In that instant of daze, Ye Zhibai straightened up and steeled her resolve.
No.
I…
I have to show some backbone here.
I’m not that same kid anymore who just hid behind Sister Liang, throwing tantrums and acting spoiled.
If Sister Liang really had someone she was smitten with… wasn’t her job to vet them, to protect Sister Liang’s path to happiness?
But…
But damn it, she still wanted to bang her head against a block of the softest tofu!! (Softest tofu, please. Thanks.)
“Sister Liang… in that case… can you answer some questions? Is the person you like… excellent?”
“Um? Yeah… I do think so. My sweetheart is the most outstanding person in the whole world. Unparalleled.”
What the hell…!
“Okay… fine. Does this person have a good personality? Is their family rich? Is their material life secure? What about their manners? I won’t ask about looks—people aren’t all about appearances, and it doesn’t really matter… though, they can’t be too ugly, of course.”
“Hah… Little Bai, you’re hitting me with all this out of nowhere—where do I even start? Let’s see… Their personality is super great; they always notice my little moods and take such good care of me. As for material life… heh heh, pretty inspiring story. Started out broke, then boom—became the richest person in the whole city! Oh, right, you mentioned looks—they’re top-tier. Super top-tier!”
Holy crap, what kind of domineering CEO is this?!
Great personality, caring, gorgeous face, loaded?
A flawless normie like that can’t possibly exist! If they do, explode right now, damn it?!
Ye Zhibai didn’t know where this nameless rage was surging from.
Even the “iceberg” expression on her face began to thaw under the flames, her lips trembling with fury.
She fired off another barrage of petulant questions.
After receiving Sister Liang’s glowing highest marks on every single one…
Ye Zhibai finally accepted it.
She slowly lowered her head, silver bangs half-veiling her calm, ancient-well eyes.
At last… she posed the final question she could think to ask.
“So… Sister Liang, do you truly like this person? Not just some fleeting impulse… right?”
“Well…”
Chi Yuliang tapped a finger against her lips, pondering for just a moment—or maybe not pondering at all.
Her answer slipped out alongside her smile.
“Yeah! I like them the most. Whether in the past or the future, I’ll always like them!”
“!”
Boom!!
Guang Yu, come here yourself and do me in.
Ye Zhibai never imagined that coming over today would reveal such a gut-wrenching fact!
Well… but seeing Sister Liang so thrilled, so animated while talking about it, she must be happy, right?
Sister Liang, you might not be able to keep hanging out with me in the future.
But I’ll send blessings your way in your stead—like the stars in the sky, forever lighting your path forward. You two… be happy, okay?!
Damn it, you blasted normies!! Who the hell is this even about?!
And so, after Ye Zhibai fell completely silent…
Chi Yuliang suddenly patted her chest. It rose and fell from the deep breath she had quietly taken.
She lowered her posture all of a sudden.
From below, she gazed up at the sparkling starlight in Little Bai’s clear eyes and fell silent for a long moment.
Yet she wondered if this silence would soon become too heartbreaking to maintain.
Only a few seconds passed before Chi Yuliang slowly posed a question.
Her voice was very soft, but perfectly clear.
“Little Bai… don’t you want to ask who the person Sister likes is?”
“Ask? Of course I want to ask!”
Little Zhibai’s head snapped up in an instant!
If it was something I could ask about, of course I’d ask!
The problem was… hadn’t she said it herself? It was a secret—something that couldn’t be shared.
That’s why all my earlier questions had been indirect, probing around the edges.
But when Ye Zhibai looked up, she didn’t see the pride on Sister Liang’s face from when she’d listed all those virtues earlier.
Instead, there was boundless indulgence.
It was a warmth so profound it could draw anyone in, leaving them unable to pull free.
“If it’s Little Bai asking… Sister might just tell you, you know?”
“…”
Well… maybe Chi Yuliang was just being coquettish.
Who said an older sister couldn’t act spoiled with her little sister now and then?
Silly girl—how could Sister possibly bear to make her ask for real?
Before Ye Zhibai could even voice the question,
Chi Yuliang’s answer drifted into her ears like musical notes, carried on a breeze scented with fragrance and memories, laden with anticipation and the joy of reunion.
“The person Sister likes… she’s far off at the edge of the sky, but right here in front of you.”
