“You are a deity at the very least! Can’t you show a little dignity?!
“Normal gods partake of offerings openly and aboveboard, but not you—you even want to steal a drink!
“Such a bizarre story—if you tried to sell it as a tale, no one would believe it.”
Right before Ye Zhibai could explain her strategy to Guang Yu…
Ye Zhiyun came back, carrying the two iced drinks she’d bought.
Her smile brimmed with joy; every second spent with her sister filled her with happiness.
“Sis, look at this one. I remember it’s your favorite flavor, right? Lemon Vitamin C with extra konjac pearls and lots of ice. You always ordered this when we were kids, just like me~”
Ugh… Honestly, aside from copying you, I couldn’t have chosen anything else back then.
—What else was there to do but imitate you?!
Ye Zhibai wasn’t picky about flavors. Truth be told, her previous financial situation hadn’t allowed her the luxury.
She murmured a soft “Thank you” and took one of the cups from Ye Zhiyun’s hand.
Her gaze inadvertently drifted to the drink’s name sticker… and the price tag.
A full twenty bucks.
The equivalent of a quarter of a baseball cap.
“…”
“Sis? What’s wrong? Too icy? Here, we can swap—mine has less ice.”
“No… This is fine.”
Ye Zhibai shook her head lightly, quietly pulled out the straw, pierced the lid, and took small sips.
By now, she was too numb to be shocked anymore.
After all… maybe she was the one lacking common sense.
Ye Zhibai knew drinks could cost tens of bucks, but due to money troubles, she’d rarely set foot in places like this.
Since she never went, she gradually lost touch.
Only on holidays, her birthday, or after acing an exam would she treat herself to a “Honey Rain Ice City.”
Six bucks a pop—nice and affordable.
The cool sensation slid down her throat. This was truly the most romantic gift of summer!
Ye Zhiyun didn’t rush to open her own drink. Watching her sister enjoy hers was far sweeter than drinking it herself.
She settled into the seat right next to Ye Zhibai, propped her chin on one hand, her black hair cascading like a waterfall, her eyes full of indulgent affection as she gazed into her sister’s.
Hiss… Leaving aside everything else, getting stared at like this by a beauty of Yun’er’s caliber—even in non-pervert mode—was a little unsettling.
Of course, pervert mode was unsettling too!
Ye Zhibai tried to drink faster. After all…
Guang Yu was still salivating beside her!
As the level in Ye Zhibai’s cup steadily dropped, Guang Yu sat there with her mouth half-open. Good grief—she looked ready to have Ye Zhibai pour the drink straight into it!
Drool was practically dribbling out!
The plan to let Guang Yu have some drink was set… but with Yun’er staring like that, it was impossible to pull off!
Whatever.
Better to check on the real good Samaritan first than worry about whether the scummy fox got a taste.
Ye Zhibai quietly set down her cup and turned her gaze to Ye Zhiyun.
“How’s the Head Maid doing…?”
“The Head Maid?” Yun’er blinked, waving her hand with a smile. “She’s on standby nearby right now. Hmm… I know what you’re worried about, Sis. I’m not clueless—I get it. I won’t hold today’s thing against her. In fact, I’m giving her a raise. Because her decision today clearly lifted your spirits, and that’s a fact.”
With that, Yun’er lifted the student ID dangling from her neck, squinting her eyes in a grin. She felt utterly delighted inside.
Hearing this, Ye Zhibai breathed a sigh of relief.
“Phew… Okay. The Head Maid really took a risk for me, she…”
“Stop! That’s the end of it. You don’t need to say another word, Sis!”
“Huh?!”
Why?!
Can’t I even sum it up?!
Ye Zhiyun crossed her arms over her chest and raised one index finger, her expression deadly serious as she explained.
This was no joke.
“Because I don’t want you feeling grateful to her or owing her anything. Simply put, I don’t want you harboring any heartfelt thanks toward anyone but me. So, the raise settles that favor. You don’t need to think about it anymore—and I have to make that clear!”
Why do you have to spell it out like that?!
Ye Zhibai finally got it. Yun’er had been jealous of cat-form Guang Yu last time, but this? This was next level.
You’re guarding against the Head Maid too?!
The devoted Head Maid who’d diligently watched us grow up at home!
Terrified, Ye Zhibai ducked her head and took another sip of her drink. She didn’t dare mention it again.
The world was vast, full of wonders.
Some things swelling in Yun’er’s heart weren’t for Ye Zhibai to comment on.
Ye Zhibai took another sip… The level kept dropping, nearing empty… Guang Yu’s heart bled!
With the topic passed, Ye Zhiyun’s expression softened.
She poked her straw into her drink and suggested, “Once we finish these, Sis, let’s head home. I wanted to show you more spots around school… Sigh, but today’s heat isn’t great for outdoor fun. Even if you haven’t had enough, we can rest up at home and come back tomorrow, okay?”
“Sure… That works, but…” Ye Zhibai decided to speak up now, or she’d miss her chance. “There’s one last place I want to go.”
“Just one spot? Fine, tell me, Sis—I’ll set it up. Somewhere on campus? Or near home?”
“In East City District.”
“Pfft!”
The sip Ye Zhiyun had just taken nearly sprayed right into Ye Zhibai’s face!
Luckily, thanks to her eternal sister-loving heart, she held back the disaster.
But forcing it down left her choking hard!
Not because East City District was far.
But…
“Cough… Cough cough! Sis?! You actually… know about East City District? You didn’t even know the name of the street outside our house before!”
“…”
Don’t remind me, Yun’er. I know East City District, but I still don’t know our street’s name.
Ye Zhibai nodded, confirming she knew about East City.
Now Ye Zhiyun was even more baffled. “But Sis… what are you going to do in East City? Ah! Did that phone I gave you yesterday lead some scumbag to trick you into going there? I’ve heard about these online creeps nowadays. Tell me the spot in East City, and I’ll send the Maid Corps and bodyguards over. Watch me grind their bones to dust!”
Your mind really jumps!
I didn’t even consider that!
Ye Zhibai quickly pressed her palms down, signaling her to calm.
“It’s not like that. Don’t panic—hear me out.”
“Whew… Okay, got a bit worked up. That was unseemly. Go ahead, Sis. And how do you even know about East City anyway? Feels like you’ve gotten so knowledgeable lately.”
Tch.
Ye Zhibai knew full well: if she didn’t explain this clearly, getting to the East City Apartment was impossible.
Time to bring out my specialty again?
—My on-the-spot fibbing!
Ye Zhibai schooled her face to neutrality, propped her chin on her hands, and stared at Guang Yu, whom Ye Zhiyun couldn’t see.
Gazing at that fox maiden loli face somehow got her brain firing on all cylinders.
Finally, Ye Zhibai spoke.
“Yun’er… You’ve been wondering why I’ve picked up so much new knowledge lately, right? The reason I want to go to East City… that’s the answer.”
“…! You mean…”
“During the two years I was in a coma… I had a very, very long dream.”
Ye Zhibai put on a wistful expression, locking eyes with the utterly baffled Guang Yu across from her.
Guang Yu, don’t say a word—just let me stare to gather my thoughts.
Ye Zhibai’s impromptu speech (a.k.a. utter nonsense) began.
“That dream… it was incredibly long. I dreamed of a hillside, a chessboard. There was a person sitting across from me, playing some game—but what kind of game it was didn’t matter…”
“The important part: that person told me all sorts of worldly common knowledge in the dream. I gradually learned to speak, understood the value of communication, and came to know our city’s streets and alleys, its mountains and lakes.”
“Since it was a dream, things were fuzzy… but I remember the person I was playing with had a name very similar to mine—eerie coincidence, a near homophone. His name was also pronounced Ye Zhibai, a guy with a tragic life story. He… sigh!”
Even mid-nonsense, I don’t want to dwell on his life story! It just hurts!
Skipping that, Ye Zhibai turned to Ye Zhiyun, her pale purple eyes betraying no panic.
They just looked like that—hard to panic convincingly.
“Yun’er… You might not believe this. But that’s how the dream went. I think all this new knowledge comes from that long, long dream. And at the end… this Ye Zhibai told me his home was in a rundown little apartment in East City. So… I’m curious. I want to go check it out.”
If I don’t, Old Man Zhang the junk collector will clear out all my stuff at home!
Yun’er didn’t respond right away.
She seemed stunned.
The sheer volume of info Ye Zhibai had spun created a massive explosion in her mind.
She lowered her head in thought, furrowing her pretty brows, lost in contemplation.
Ye Zhibai nervously swallowed.
Isn’t what I made up… a bit too fake?
Saying you learned everything in a dream or whatever… I wouldn’t believe that either!
But how do you know.
Dozens of seconds later, when Ye Zhiyun raised her head again, there was no confusion in her eyes, but endless anger!
“Which damn brat is this exactly?! Dares to talk to sister in a dream?! And even play chess?! This is utterly intolerable! Sister! Besides this in the dream, you haven’t run into any other weird stuff, have you?! If you have, tell me—I’ll grind the bones of this punk called Ye Zhibai to dust!”
I should’ve guessed it long ago! The possessiveness in her head has seized the high ground again!
Also
Boo hoo, stop rubbing it, stop rubbing it. No need to trouble yourself—it’s probably already turned to ash by now!
Ye Zhibai strongly suppressed the urge to cry welling up in her heart and uttered this most crucial sentence.
No… I think he’s already dead.
…Eh?
