As soon as Ye Zhibai arrived, the atmosphere changed completely.
Even Guang Yu, who had stealthily followed along while invisible, found the speed of the shift utterly astonishing.
It had been a tense standoff just moments ago.
How had it suddenly turned back into a warm, harmonious family scene?
By the way, the picture of harmony that was Old Dad Ye Qinghe didn’t dare step foot inside the house to speak at all.
This villa was Yun’er’s “forbidden domain,” a space belonging exclusively to her and Zhibai. No one else could cross the threshold.
Ye Zhibai wasn’t one to ignore politeness.
She led Ye Zhiyun out of the house and stood by the fence outside. Only like this did the conversation feel natural.
Ye Zhiyun hesitated for a moment, wondering whether to tell her sister about this frustrating matter.
After thinking it over… she decided to speak up anyway.
If she didn’t, they’d probably just keep arguing endlessly.
“Sis, sorry to disturb your rest. Here’s the thing… I was planning to take these couple of days off to stay home and look after you, help you get more familiar with the house, and show you around the manor. But then Dad suddenly tells me I have to go to school and give some speech! Isn’t that totally out of nowhere? Anyone could give it, and I’d already asked for leave ahead of time!”
“Yun’er, that’s just you venting,” Ye Qinghe replied, though his voice lacked conviction. He never dared raise his voice at his daughters.
Instead, he patiently explained bit by bit, “You’re the top student in your grade and the student council president. Not to mention, it’s our family’s school! The Gaokao is less than a week away—you at least need to show your face there these couple of days!”
Ye Zhibai quickly pieced together the key information.
Titles like “top of the grade” and “student council president” didn’t surprise her at all. Yun’er was outstanding; of course she had those.
The real shocker was…
Our family invested in and built the school?!
Holy crap, that’s ridiculously exaggerated!
Wasn’t Qihai No.1 Middle School the best private high school in the entire city?
Ye Zhibai shivered inwardly, not daring to insert herself into the conversation between these two big shots.
Ye Zhiyun looped her arm around Ye Zhibai’s, glaring discontentedly at a pebble on the ground and kicking it away.
She let out a soft sigh. With her sister right there beside her, she softened her stance a bit.
“Sigh… Dad, I’m almost in college now. I’m not unreasonable. I know I should make an appearance, but it’s not exactly essential, right? Can’t this wait? What’s the rush—couldn’t the speech happen in a few days?”
“It really is that urgent. Plans can’t keep up with changes… You… Hmm? See, here she comes.”
Ye Qinghe let out a light sigh.
Then the sisters heard the rapid patter of footsteps on the gravel path not far away.
A maid came running at an astonishing speed, waving her arms wildly toward them!
From a good distance off, she shouted, “Director Ye! The principal from Qihai No.1 Middle School just called. If Second Miss doesn’t show up soon, the Gaokao pep rally today is done for! All those eager students at the school will be done for too!”
“Scout again and report back!”
“Yes!”
The maid slammed to a halt, spun on her heel, and dashed back to gather more intel!
Whew… Ye Zhibai could practically feel the principal’s desperation through that phone call.
“See?” Ye Qinghe spread his hands helplessly. “Yun’er, the school really needs you—especially right now, with the Gaokao so close. They need you to steady the students’ morale. Zhibai will be fine here at home. I’ll have the maids look after her. It’s just a morning—nothing to worry about.”
“…”
It was clear Ye Zhiyun had no desire to go.
She clung tightly to Ye Zhibai’s arm. It had been so hard to reunite with her sister… She didn’t want to waste even a single second.
Ye Zhibai’s body hadn’t fully recovered yet, so Ye Zhiyun couldn’t possibly take her to school.
The thought of not seeing her sister for a whole morning… It felt far too long, far too agonizing.
The situation had reached a stalemate.
~~~
That called for someone to break the deadlock.
And Ye Zhibai was just the person to do it!
“Yun’er… you should go to school. I’ll be fine.”
“Sis?”
“It’s just a morning. I can manage on my own.”
Oh, and there’s a certain fox to keep me company.
Ye Zhiyun paused for only a moment before her eyes welled up with misty tears!
“Wah… Sis! You don’t have to sacrifice yourself for my sake like this!”
?!
Sacrifice what?!
All I’m doing is napping at home for a bit!
Ye Zhiyun was even choking up as she explained her gratitude. “Sis is willing to stay home all alone and lonely just to keep me from being put in a tough spot… I… I don’t even know what to say! Sis, all I can say is, I love you!”
Hey, don’t keep confessing to me out of nowhere like that!
No girl ever confessed to me in my last life. You’re making me look like such a doofus here!
Ye Qinghe blinked in surprise.
He never would have expected Zhibai—who never usually weighed in—to step up and persuade Yun’er like this!
And with that, Ye Qinghe saw a glimmer of hope.
“So… Yun’er, what’s your decision?”
“I’ll head to school.” She wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes, her gaze resolute. “Sis has sacrificed so much for me already. If I don’t step up decisively now, I’d just be letting down her heartfelt intentions! Dad, have a maid bring a car around. I’ll go change into my uniform and leave in ten minutes!”
“Good!”
Ye Zhibai had only said one sentence the entire time.
Yet now, both Ye Zhiyun and Ye Qinghe were looking at her with expressions of grateful relief. How utterly baffling!
In Ye Zhibai’s mind, Guang Yu’s mocking laughter even echoed directly.
“Hahaha, that’s hilarious! Look at that, humans! Didn’t I tell you your status in this house is sky-high? Remember to make requests next time! Maybe even get a soft bed for the family cat~ Who knows, it might happen!”
Get lost! You scummy fox, always scheming for your own gain at the first opportunity!
Wah, all I want is to use this privilege to buy myself a couple of mugs!
And just like that, the issue resolved itself with surprising ease—despite its underlying complexity.
Ten minutes later, Yun’er emerged from her room in her Qihai No.1 Middle School uniform, making Ye Zhibai’s eyes light up anew.
She’d been too exhausted yesterday… hadn’t properly appreciated Yun’er’s uniform look. Now she saw it clearly.
This must be what an unrivaled beauty looked like.
The black-and-white uniform, accented by a blue bowtie at the collar and satin trim along the skirt’s hem.
Her long black hair draped perfectly over the uniform’s shoulder cape, as if made for it.
But the real soul of the outfit was the pair of black thigh-high socks that perfectly outlined Yun’er’s stunning legs! Ye Zhibai had to give that a huge thumbs-up!
Ye Zhiyun grabbed just a piece of bread from the dining table, wolfed it down as quickly as possible, then walked reluctantly over to Ye Zhibai on the sofa.
She crouched down halfway, took hold of Ye Zhibai’s hand, and gave her instructions.
“So… Sis, you have to stay put at home. No going out. Wait for me to come back. I know it sounds bossy… but when you’re not with me, I won’t allow you to step outside. I just… I don’t want to see anything like what happened before ever again…”
As she said this, Ye Zhiyun’s eyes filled with sorrow and worry.
What had happened before referred to the car accident that had left Ye Zhibai in a vegetative state.
Ye Zhibai nodded. “Okay.”
It was enough to set her mind at ease.
“Mm! As long as Sis understands. I’ve got twenty-seven maids patrolling around the villa. Any sign of trouble, and they’ll let me know right away, so don’t worry!”
?!
Wait, then why bother telling me not to go out?!
Even if I wanted to, could I get past them?!
