Ye Can pretended not to hear Ye Shen’s frantic knocking and carried the salt straight to the kitchen. Lin Zixi, sitting at the dining table, glanced at Ye Can and reminded her, “Someone’s still knocking, Ye Can.”
Ye Can blissfully set the salt back down. “Ignore her. Let’s eat.”
They were neighbors, after all—Lin Zixi couldn’t just leave her out there. She sighed and got up to head for the door. Amid the thump-thump-thump of knocking, Lin Zixi pulled it open and said, “Excuse me, is there something else?”
Ye Can had said it was the neighbor borrowing salt, so that’s who Lin Zixi expected. But when she opened the door, she found Ye Shen standing there and froze. “Director Ye? What are you doing here?”
Ye Shen stared at her intently, her eyes holding the calm before a storm. “Miss Lin, if it’s not too much trouble, may I come in for a cup of tea?”
Lin Zixi paused, then pushed the door wider and invited her in. “Please, Director Ye, come in.”
Ye Shen had barely stepped inside when Ye Can emerged from the kitchen and widened her eyes. “How do you just barge into someone’s home like that?” She turned to Lin Zixi, who was closing the door behind them, and raised her voice. “Lin Zixi, how could you just let anyone in?”
Lin Zixi sighed. “Ye Can, don’t talk like that.” She’s your sister, after all—don’t treat her that way.
Ye Can huffed and ignored Ye Shen, striding straight to the dining table. She plopped down, grabbed her skewers, and started munching heartily.
As she ate, Ye Can called out to Lin Zixi, “Didn’t you say you were starving ages ago? Come eat already.”
Lin Zixi hadn’t expected Ye Shen to show up right then—it gave her a splitting headache. She glanced at Ye Can with helpless eyes. “You go ahead and eat. I’ll get Director Ye some water.”
Ye Can, skewer in mouth, looked thoroughly displeased. “Doesn’t she have hands? Why do you have to pour it for her? Don’t pour her anything—come eat!”
Lin Zixi ignored her and fetched a cup of hot water for Ye Shen, handing it over with both hands. “We only have boiled water at home, Director Ye. Please make do.”
Ye Shen scanned the room’s furnishings, took the cup without a word of thanks, and finally let her gaze settle lightly on Lin Zixi. “Miss Lin, this place of yours is quite nice.”
Lin Zixi flashed a professional smile. “Just a humble abode—nothing to write home about. As long as it keeps the wind and rain out, it’s enough.”
She was Ye Can’s sister, after all, so Lin Zixi mustered some patience and smiled invitingly. “Has Director Ye eaten? If not, please join us.”
Ye Shen thought for a moment, glanced at Ye Can at the table, and said, “Sure.”
Lin Zixi led Ye Shen to the table.
As Lin Zixi approached, Ye Can pulled out a chair for her. Chewing on grilled beef, Ye Can shot Ye Shen a hostile glare. “Weren’t you supposed to cook? How come you’re here mooching off our dinner?”
Ye Shen gazed at her sister, then at the table full of takeout, suppressing her heartache. In a soft voice tinged with distress, she asked, “Do you two eat stuff like this every night?”
Before Lin Zixi could reply, Ye Can snapped back. “What’s wrong with it? Be glad there’s food on the table—take it or leave it. If you don’t like it, get lost.”
Ye Can gnawed on her chicken wing, muttering, “What kind of person is she? Crashing for dinner without warning. Does she think we’ve got money to burn?”
Lin Zixi bowed her head, stifling a laugh as she scooped up a spoonful of porridge and brought it slowly to her lips.
Ye Shen was left speechless by the retort but held back, not wanting to upset her. She reached out silently and took a skewer from in front of Ye Can. “Looks pretty good.”
Ye Can glared at her. Ye Shen’s hand froze mid-air, unsure whether to grab it or withdraw in humiliation.
Lin Zixi thought these sisters’ dynamic was something else. She sighed and pushed an unopened bowl of seafood porridge toward Ye Shen. “Director Ye, have this one. It’s good for the stomach.”
Ye Shen let out a breath of relief, set the skewer down, and took the porridge.
Ye Can jabbed again. “You’re eating her food and you can’t even say thanks?”
Sisters are such a handful. Ye Shen looked up at Lin Zixi and said flatly, “Thank you, Miss Lin.”
Seeing a big-shot executive ground down like this by her own sister, Lin Zixi felt a twinge of sympathy.
With this unexpected guest, the meal left a sour taste for Lin Zixi.
Once full, Ye Can unceremoniously shooed her away. “Now that you’re done, head home. Isn’t your place next door? We’re going to bed.”
Being treated like this in front of others—even Ye Shen’s thick skin had its limits. She sighed and said to Ye Can, “I’ll head back then. Tomorrow… I’ll come see you tomorrow.”
Ye Can was far from thrilled. “Tomorrow? What for? More freeloading? One mouth to feed is enough around here—we can’t afford another.”
She waved Ye Shen off dismissively. “One free meal’s your limit. Don’t get greedy.”
“You’re pretty, so don’t get too full of yourself.”
Aside from that big fight over a month ago, this was the most Ye Can had said to her in one go. Ye Shen felt choked up but also a bit gratified.
She smiled faintly. “Alright then. Tomorrow, I’ll bring my own food.”
Ye Can snorted coldly, thrown off by the gentle response and unable to keep sniping.
Seeing Ye Can soften, Ye Shen turned to Lin Zixi. “Could I trouble Miss Lin to walk me out? The hallway’s dark, and I didn’t bring my phone.”
Smart as she was, Lin Zixi got the hint—this was for a private talk. She nodded without hesitation. “Sure, I’ll see you out, Director Ye.”
Ye Can wasn’t happy. “Afraid of the dark? Won’t Lin Zixi be scared? I’ll walk you—don’t bother her.”
She hurried toward the door in her slippers. Ye Shen glanced at Lin Zixi, who sighed and gently pulled Ye Can back. Gazing at her softly, Lin Zixi said, “Don’t fuss. Stay home like a good girl. I’ll be right back.”
Ye Can stared at her for a long moment. “Really? You won’t let me go or follow?”
Lin Zixi nodded. “Yes. Just be good and listen.”
Ye Can read her intent, paused, then said, “Fine. I’ll reluctantly wait here for you, then.”
Lin Zixi released her hand and left with Ye Shen. Once they were gone, Ye Can went to the door, flung it open on purpose, and leaned against the frame with her arms crossed, waiting.
Lin Zixi glanced back helplessly. “Ye Can, close the door and go inside like a good girl.”
Ye Can refused. “No way. I’ll leave the light on so you know the way home.”
Lin Zixi rubbed her temples in exasperation. “Be good. I’ll be back soon, okay?”
Ye Can huffed, then simply squatted by the door, propping her chin in her hands and gazing at Lin Zixi with big, pitiful eyes. She looks just like a little puppy.
Ye Shen watched with a mix of envy and jealousy. As they neared the apartment entrance, she sighed. “She never clung to me like she does to you.”
Ye Shen looked up sharply. “Miss Lin, I underestimated you.”
Lin Zixi smiled but said nothing.
Choosing her words carefully, Ye Shen continued, “Your relationship with Ye Can… whatever it is now, our family isn’t old-fashioned. As long as you don’t wrong her, I can accept it.”
“But taking care of her like this isn’t convenient. Why not get a new place, and…”
Lin Zixi had thought Ye Shen’s domineering CEO vibe had mellowed, but nope—same old story.
She sighed lightly, cutting her off. “Director Ye, both Ye Can and I are free agents. I’ve never planned to leech off this relationship for anything.”
Lin Zixi figured, in Ye Can’s current state, she could turn around tomorrow and decide they weren’t right together—ex-girlfriend status in a heartbeat.
She wasn’t overly optimistic about her and Ye Can, but not pessimistic enough to avoid starting either.
They could date just fine on their own—Ye Shen meddling soured it.
Ye Shen smiled, gazing at Lin Zixi, and delivered her disrespectful words in the gentlest tone. “But you can’t even take proper care of her, can you? She’s grown up on Michelin-starred chefs’ cooking, custom high-fashion clothes, villas with top-tier security.”
“Her classmates and teachers were all elites. Before fifteen, awards poured in nonstop.”
Staring at Lin Zixi’s silent face, Ye Shen landed the killer blow. “Forgive my bluntness, Miss Lin—what can you give her?”
Lin Zixi thought Ye Shen might need therapy more than Ye Can.
She met Ye Shen’s gaze steadily, her tone calm. “Director Ye, I know full well that even a lifetime of effort won’t give me your kind of wealth, so I can’t provide what Ye Can grew up with.”
“But… these past two months, she scarfed down every ten-yuan crew box lunch with joy. She lit up over clothes I bought her on Taobao for a few hundred bucks. She was thrilled playing background extra on set, costumed in whatever smelled funky, no lines needed.”
“For over two months with me, nothing like that incident with you has happened.”
“She likes me more than you. That’s enough.”
When it came to stinging words—backing up arguments or script fights—Lin Zixi, as a screenwriter, never lost.
Ye Shen pressed her lips together and fell silent.
Seeing her like that, Lin Zixi held back and said evenly, “I don’t care what you think of me. I’ve got nothing left to lose anyway.”
“You can’t make Ye Can leave me now, so you’re no threat.”
She exhaled. “If you truly care about her, could you send me her old medical records? If not, that’s fine too.” Lin Zixi gazed at her and sighed softly. “All I want is for her to be happy with me.”
Lin Zixi turned, tossing over her shoulder, “It’s late—Ye Can’s waiting for me. Next time you visit, Director Ye, please learn to communicate with us ordinary folks as equals.”
Lin Zixi had it figured out: Ye Shen was that loathsome capitalist with rigid class views. Behind closed doors, she didn’t speak like a normal person.
She was glad Ye Can just had minor mental issues, not turning into this. Compared to Ye Shen, Ye Can was a million times cuter.
With that thought, Lin Zixi walked back into the light at her door. Ye Can, squatting there, jumped up and threw herself at her.
Ye Can hugged her tight, pushing her inside while chattering nonstop against her ear. “I saw you two talking at the door. What’d she say?”
Lin Zixi felt the hot breath on her ear and smiled. “Nothing much. She was just concerned about you and asked a few questions.”
With a sister that awful, better not let Ye Can know. She’d be too pitiful.
