Ye Zhiyun had “Bai.” Ye Zhibai had “Yun.”
So what did Guang Yu have?
She had “Yu.”
Hilarious—you didn’t seriously think she’d copy Ye Zhibai’s outfit without slapping a trendy character on the back to keep up with the times, did you?
The Little Fox was the trendiest of them all. There was no way she’d miss out on something this cool!
No one to pamper her, no one to love her. So when she changed her clothes, she wrote “Yu” on the back. That was Guang Yu showing the ultimate respect to herself.
“Yun.” “Bai.” “Yu.”
Little did they know, as the three walked side by side toward the car at the villa’s entrance, they looked perfectly uniform from behind, despite their varying heights.
The sight evoked the image of a yakuza trio that no one wanted to mess with, wherever they went.
~~~
The Head Maid was used to driving by now. Her task today was to take the two Eldest Misses to pick up Lin Zihan from her residential complex first, then head to the amusement park together.
The Maid Corps had already stationed themselves there ahead of time.
When both the Eldest Miss and the Second Miss went to a crowded, noisy place like that for some fun, maximum security was non-negotiable. It was the most basic principle of the Maid Corps’ work.
By now, the car had picked up Lin Zihan, and the Head Maid had just set down her walkie-talkie.
“Received. Heading toward the amusement park. Operations may continue. The Eldest Misses will arrive soon. Over.”
“…”
Wow!
Guang Yu, did you hear that?
She actually said “over”!
Ye Zhibai knew all about it. In all those cool movies, the secret agents and elite operatives always ended their walkie-talkie chatter with “over,” instantly cranking their cool factor through the roof.
Seeing it in real life proved it was true. The Maid Corps’ internal comms were badass.
While Yun’er traded glares and verbal jabs with Zihan, who had just gotten in the car, Ye Zhibai mustered her courage and brewed up a question.
Heh… She’d ridden in the Head Maid’s car plenty of times these past few days. They weren’t exactly buddies yet, but she had the guts to strike up a conversation.
For a social hermit crab like Little Zhibai, that was downright exhilarating!
“Head Maid, if you don’t mind… what were you just telling the person on the other end of the walkie-talkie?”
“Ahaha… I’ve told you so many times already, Eldest Miss. Please don’t use the word ‘please’ with me. It always leaves me flustered, not knowing how to reply. Oh, you were asking about the Maid Corps’ task for today? Let me report back. The Maid Corps has already arrived at the amusement park you’re heading to. Right now, they’re conducting a thorough, no-blind-spot inspection of every ride’s safety features and eliminating any potential hazards.”
“Oh, oh, I see. So you’re clearing out safety haz… uh, all the facilities? Eliminating hazards?”
“That’s right. You’re probably worried about disturbing the other tourists, aren’t you? No need to fret. Our maids are entering in plain clothes. We’ve already coordinated with the park staff. We’re checking the equipment one by one rather than shutting everything down at once. It won’t affect normal operations. Ensuring safety benefits everyone, including the other visitors. It’s a good thing.”
“I wasn’t trying to say… Well, okay, yeah. It is pretty good.”
“Mm. Also, I hope you, the Second Miss, and Miss Lin have a wonderful time playing today.”
“Thanks.”
Ye Zhibai simply lacked the energy to poke holes in all the absurdities here.
Or perhaps…
She had grown relatively accustomed to the Old Ye Family’s level of extravagance?
She silently leaned back into the leather seat, and while she was at it…
She gave Guang Yu’s fluffy tail a little tug. No more questions. Wasn’t that just fine?
She had only just settled her mind when she realized the left and right sides of the car had been in a constant uproar since earlier.
“But… I just think your sense of style when picking clothes is a bit behind the times. Oh, I don’t mean you’re tacky at all, Zhiyun. Please don’t misunderstand. I’m really not saying your taste is trashy, okay?”
“Heh, that’s hilarious. So you think you’ve got great taste, huh? Sorry to say it, but that outfit of yours belongs buried in some third-century wasteland.”
“Aya, fashion is cyclical! If this look was hot back in the third century, who knows? It might be leading the trends right now!”
“Oily-tongued little slick. Besides running your mouth, what else can you do? Talking to you is a waste of breath, sis!”
Hm?!
What was this? Yun’er somehow managed to infuse that “sis” with the domineering vibe of a kid tattling to a parent!
Ye Zhibai had known the moment she heard Yun’er and Zihan start bickering again that she wouldn’t escape unscathed. Yun’er eyed her with utter disdain, clenching her fist backward and jabbing her thumb toward Lin Zihan, who sat on the far edge looking all innocent with her big eyes blinking rapidly.
“I have nothing to argue about with her. Sis, you be the judge. Aren’t our outfits way better than that third-century sunhat getup of hers? I can admit my own taste is iffy, but surely you’ll acknowledge my sister’s taste!”
“Of course. If Little Bai’er said I looked bad, I’d throw a crying fit and accept it. But I don’t think that’s likely~ After all, not everyone’s got that sharp, nitpicky angle like you do, Zhiyun. Especially not Little Bai’er with her all-embracing mind~”
“Exactly! Sis’s mind is all-embracing li… Hiss! Who’s the nitpicky one?!”
“Aya, who could I be talking about? Wonder if anyone will take it personally~”
“Lin Zihan, you are just…!”
“Stop. No more arguing. Harmony is precious.”
Ye Zhibai’s single statement…
…worked wonders.
Others were peacemakers. Ye Zhibai was the peace boss.
Cough. Though even she hadn’t expected them to listen to her so obediently and give her that much face.
As for Zihan’s outfit, Ye Zhibai had seen it. It wasn’t the third-century sunhat disaster Yun’er made it out to be.
It was a white-and-brown women’s summer hoodie with a capelet, paired with loose long pants. Two chain cords dangled from the front. The overall design was cool, flashy, and totally on-trend.
And Zihan had topped it off with a women’s straw hat today. Super trendy!
Yun’er’s choice looked great too. They all did.
Since they all looked good, the conclusion was clear: their bickering was nothing but making trouble where there was none!
With both sides quiet now anyway, Ye Zhibai didn’t mind chiming in.
Her steady, even tone took on the weight of earnest advice only in moments like these.
“I invited everyone out together this time… in the hope that you could all get along. Whatever past grudges there were, they’re in the past. We can’t… keep fighting every time we meet. Bickering does nothing but harm and no good. The biggest damage? It hurts the ears… Cough. I won’t belabor the point. Anyway, you two—shake hands and make peace. Be good friends, not enemies.”
The effect was, once again…
…immediate, following a brief silence.
“I’m sorry… Sis. I troubled you.”
“Little Bai’er, I’ve done some deep reflection… Bickering really is pointless. I should work on curbing my little temper…”
Mm, that’s more like it.
Mm?!!!
Wait…
This wasn’t right, was it?
They had shaken hands and made peace, sure.
But they weren’t shaking hands with each other?!
Yun’er had grabbed her left hand.
Zihan had grabbed her right hand.
Was this what people called shaking hands and making peace?!
Facts proved there was no “harmony” to be had here at all.
“Ah…!! Lin Zihan, let go of my sister’s hand! Who gave you permission to touch her?! You jerk!”
“Tch! It was Little Bai’er who said to shake hands and make peace! You demon, you won’t even listen to your own sister?!”
“If the car weren’t so cramped, I’d beat you senseless!”
“If the car weren’t so cramped, would I dare act this cocky?!”
Aah… whatever, whatever.
As they stubbornly kept up their quarrel, neither forgot to keep frantically caressing her hands.
They sat on either side of her, with Guang Yu perched on Ye Zhibai’s lap.
This time, the Little Fox hadn’t been squished against the window!
Guang Yu drooped her two fox ears flat against her head. Her little brows furrowed into what looked like mountain ridges.
“Ye Zhibai… You and your sis really are family through and through. Your bickering sounds like chanting curses. It’s like hearing alpacas shrieking across the plains all over again. Mental exhaustion, version 2.0.”
“Sorry… Yeah, I get it now. It’s total mental drain.”
Even alpacas couldn’t produce noises this aggravating.
Luckily, the torment wouldn’t last much longer.
Because the amusement park’s main castle structure—with its towering spire—had just come into view through the car’s windshield.
