“Ye Zhibai, did you see the big fish I caught? It was fierce—one as big as your head!”
“Where is it?”
“I let it go.” Guang Yu pointed at the calm lake surface and smiled contentedly.
“Oh ho… That’s new. It’s rare to see you show a shred of mercy.”
“Yeah, I figure it’ll grow even bigger in the future. Then, whether we braise it or steam it, it’ll taste even better! So, I decided to give it a chance.”
“…Can you give your own merit a chance? Knock that digital prayer counter more often.”
“I’m knocking it right now.”
You, a deity, tapping away on a digital prayer app—what the hell?
After escorting Sister Liang to the manor gate and watching her drive off, Ye Zhibai returned to the lakeshore. There she saw Guang Yu standing alone like some lone hero, hands on her hips.
The little fox faced the artificial lake, which had been surging just minutes ago but was now peaceful once more. She was putting on quite the performance of “The Fox and the Lake.”
Sorry, fish in the lake… Having a troublemaking fox like this at home must be tough on you all.
Grow up quick, little fish. I like braised too.
One person and one deity clasped their hands together, directing the most wicked prayer imaginable toward the lake.
Yun’er had actually been pacing nearby for quite some time already.
She was walking back and forth because she had something she wanted to ask but felt it wasn’t appropriate to voice it out loud. So she was caught in her own internal debate.
No worries~ Whatever she wanted to ask, Ye Zhibai already knew it full well.
After all this time, Ye Zhibai had a pretty good grasp on Yun’er’s little thoughts.
No need to ask.
I’ll just answer preemptively.
“Let’s go, Yun’er. I was just chatting with Chi Yuliang about things to watch out for after school starts. She’s a fresh undergrad grad, so she knows more about college life than we do.”
“Oh, so that’s it…! Cough cough, Sis, you don’t have to tell me what you two were talking about. You chatting with a friend—I wouldn’t pry.”
“You’re right.”
“Hee hee, but who can blame you for always being willing to share with me~ It’s not my fault for being curious!”
Of course not.
It’s not your fault for eavesdropping, so naturally it’s not mine for spilling.
In truth, not a word had been said about college life.
What they had discussed were things Ye Zhibai couldn’t tell her about just yet.
Looking at Yun’er’s carefree, giggling smile, Ye Zhibai helplessly buried those words deep in her heart for now.
Anyway, I’ll shoulder these burdens myself first.
Peach blossoms blooming everywhere, huh?
Watch me shatter this peach blossom formation with the sharp sword of time, sooner or later!
Yun’er naturally looped her arm around Ye Zhibai’s. The possessive grip made Ye Zhibai stumble, and the forceful impact sent the petite Guang Yu tumbling head over heels right beside them!
“Oof!”
“Hm…? What was that sound? Sis, I think I just bumped into something…”
“It’s fine. You did the fish a favor.”
“Fish…?”
“You wouldn’t get it. Anyway, isn’t it about lunchtime?”
“Yeah~ Ah… But we’ve been hanging out by the lakeshore the whole time—watching… er, strolling around. I haven’t prepped lunch yet. I’ll tell the Maid Corps to send some over from their kitchen. Then tonight, I’ll make a big feast!”
“Hold on.” Ye Zhibai reached out and pressed down on Yun’er’s phone, which she was about to use to message the Maid Corps. “No need to send it.”
“No need? But lunch…”
“Ah… I get it!”
“?!”
What do you get?!
I don’t care what you think you get—my alert radar is screaming that you better not say it!
But Yun’er’s face suddenly flushed red, her breathing quickening. No one could stop her overactive imagination.
“Hiss ha… As expected of Sis…! Is this a new punishment? You want me to try cooking even though there’s no time left, so I wrestle with the intense guilt of delaying your meal! Watching the clock tick past one… two… lunch still not on the table. The more anxious I get, the worse I cook… and the worse I cook, the more anxious I get—a vicious cycle! Until dusk falls, and you’re eating takeout while scolding me for being a lousy cook. How utterly…! Ah, but Sis, even so, I have to say—takeout’s not healthy, okay? Waaah!” Ye Zhibai delivered a light chop to her forehead.
“No wild imaginings allowed.”
“Wu… Okay, okay. I was just letting my mind wander a bit… It’s all because you snuck off again last night…”
“That was because it wasn’t the agreed time yet. You quietly changed the calendar alarm yourself—I haven’t settled that score with you.”
“Then if I confess, can I get some punishment?!”
“No punishment.”
“Oh no… I’m getting excited. ‘No punishment’—doesn’t that sound like a punishment itself…? Ha… No, I need to calm down first. Sis, seriously—why do you always change the subject? If we don’t message the Maid Corps, how are we eating lunch?”
Was I changing the subject?! Why don’t you ask Guang Yu, who’s lying there flat on her back, to weigh in?!
This pervert quirk of yours—I’m gonna carve out some one-on-one time to fix it!
Feeling it wasn’t worth getting tangled in this dead-end topic any longer, Ye Zhibai steered things back on track, as desired.
“I’m saying, no need for messages. It’s not far—we can go grab it ourselves.”
“Frankly, ever since Sis got back, the Maid Corps seems way more laid-back.”
“Er… It’s not about saving a few steps. Mostly, I want to go check on Zihan.”
“Why check on her?!”
“!”
Don’t yell like that out of nowhere!
“Cough… I mean, if you wanna see her alone, no need to time it for lunch…”
She and Yun’er were about the same height.
But to pat Yun’er’s head, Ye Zhibai still had to lift her arm a bit.
Ever since Zihan had moved into the mansion, Yun’er had been a little oversensitive.
A head pat was Ye Zhibai’s silent signal of reassurance to her.
It was also the highest level of comfort in their sisterly communication.
Yun’er got the message and visibly relaxed compared to before.
Ye Zhibai casually completed the gesture and took the lead, lightly stepping onto the gravel path ahead.
Yun’er followed suit.
“Zihan’s been in the Maid Corps Dormitory for about a month now, right?”
“Something like that…? But she comes over to crash here so often, I’m tempted to kick her out.”
“Even so, she’s only come twice this month. She’s gotten used to living there on her own?”
“Anyway, the Maid Corps reports say she’s all cheery every day, eating and drinking well. Sis, don’t worry about her. Our Maid Corps dorms are all single rooms—the facilities in one room are more upscale than a five-star hotel. No way she’d be shortchanged. Plus, everyone knows she’s your friend—no one dares mess with her over that alone. Even the Head Maid keeps asking if I need to be careful assigning her work. Well… Lin Zihan is pretty capable herself. Word is, she’s made great connections in the Maid Corps. Now no one’s even scared of her anymore.”
“That’s Zihan’s strong suit…”
“Wu… Sis is praising her again. What about me?”
“You have too many strong suits to list.”
“Hee… Thanks, Sis~ So, where are we headed now?”
“To check on Zihan.”
“I knew we’d end up going to that fox spirit!”
The sisters bantered back and forth as they walked away along the gravel path.
Leaving Guang Yu flat on her back, staring up at the clear blue sky in a daze.
Ah… Just now, I feel like I got launched like a wild bull charged me.
Ye Zhiyun—truly a fearsome creature.
Surpassing the big fish, and then some.
