Ye Yuning’s eyelids twitched sharply at his words.
She hadn’t expected Xiao Linye to say that. A conflicted look appeared on her face. "I... I’m not good at it?"
"Mhm, you’re not good at it," Xiao Linye affirmed. "So, let the nanny take care of those things."
Ye Yuning was momentarily lost for words. She really had struck gold this time. Even though it was just one sentence, it was so considerate. And he mentioned nannies in Lingcheng, plus hourly workers here, and I can spend money as I please. This man doesn’t seem to have any financial pressure at all. For an ordinary man, his sense of responsibility is truly top-notch!
Xiao Linye noticed she had stopped eating and was just staring at him, spellbound. He raised an eyebrow. "What are you looking at?"
Ye Yuning snapped back to her senses. Meeting Xiao Linye’s gentle gaze, she smiled. "I’m looking at how handsome you are."
She never hesitated to voice her appreciation for beauty.
Xiao Linye’s heart skipped a beat. He hadn’t expected this girl to be so bold as to say such a thing in public. At the same time, a hint of challenge sparked within him. "So, you like me then?"
"..." This time, it was Ye Yuning’s turn to be stunned speechless. In an instant, her face flushed red all the way to her earlobes.
She wasn’t usually one to be easily flustered.
But at this moment, the man’s gaze was so intense, so penetrative, it felt as if it could see right into her soul. That piercing gaze made her heart race inexplicably.
Xiao Linye said, "Hurry up and eat."
"Okay." Ye Yuning nodded.
Both of their moods improved considerably. Xiao Linye, in particular, visibly relaxed; the tension he’d been carrying seemed to dissipate.
Ye Yuning knew this was because the issues with the Xiao Family’s business had been resolved.
In contrast, the atmosphere at the Ye Family’s home was somewhat strange.
At the dinner table, Ye Shilong and Zheng Siyu were chatting amicably. Zheng Siyu, in particular, was regaling them with amusing anecdotes from Lingcheng University.
While on the topic of Lingcheng University, Zheng Siyu suddenly turned to Ye Tong. "Cousin, Auntie told me you graduated from Lingcheng University too. That makes you my senior, right? Which year did you graduate?"
"Ah?" Startled by the sudden question, Ye Tong snapped back to attention. Zheng Siyu’s inquiry had caught her completely off guard, leaving her momentarily speechless. Which graduating class...? I...! Her mind went blank.
When Zheng Cai saw she wasn’t answering, she nudged her. "Your cousin is asking what year you graduated."
"I..." Truth be told, Ye Tong had never been clear about which graduating class she was supposed to be from.
"I graduated last year!" she answered, her voice tinged with an inner nervousness.
Zheng Siyu nodded. "Then do you know Di Chen? He was in your graduating class."
"No, I don’t!" Ye Tong shook her head quickly. How could I possibly know this Di Chen? I don’t even know what Lingcheng University looks like! The denial was instinctive.
However, Zheng Siyu exclaimed in surprise, "Senior Di Chen? He’s one of Lingcheng University’s most famous campus heartthrobs! You don’t know him? Did you even go to Lingcheng University?"
Ye Tong was speechless.
Zheng Siyu’s direct question, striking at her guilty conscience, made Ye Tong’s breath catch. A thin sheen of cold sweat broke out on her back.
Zheng Cai chided gently, "Siyu, what are you saying? That’s no way to talk."
"But it’s true, Auntie! Senior Di Chen is incredibly famous. Everyone at Lingcheng University knows him, but Cousin doesn’t!" Zheng Siyu muttered.
Zheng Cai said, "You, always speaking your mind so freely." Yet, her reproving tone was laced with obvious indulgence.
She instinctively looked at Zheng Siyu. Zheng Siyu’s fair face glowed with confidence.
At that moment, her mother, Zheng Cai, was looking at Zheng Siyu with rare indulgence and affection. Her father, Ye Shilong, was even more so. He had never shown such warmth even to Ye Tong, his own daughter, yet now his gaze upon Zheng Siyu was incredibly gentle.
Seeds of jealousy began to sprout wildly in Ye Tong’s heart.
The conversation then shifted to the banquet and Xiao Qiye. Ye Tong finally understood: Zheng Cai and Ye Shilong intended for Zheng Siyu to cultivate a good relationship with Xiao Qiye.
They called it "cultivating a good relationship," but no one present was a fool. How could they not understand the implication? Are they actually trying to matchmake Zheng Siyu with Xiao Qiye?
"Mom, are you and Dad trying to push Siyu towards Qiye? Qiye is Ashuo’s Seventh Uncle!" Ye Tong stared at her parents in disbelief.
Although her relationship with Xiao Shuo was currently precarious, she was determined to win him back. And now they’re planning to pair Qiye with Zheng Siyu? Qiye? He’s the one in charge of the entire Xiao Family! And they’re seriously thinking of pairing Zheng Siyu with him? This is utterly absurd! More than anything, Ye Tong felt a deep sense of dissatisfaction. Xiao Qiye is countless times better than Xiao Shuo! Why didn’t they ever think of pairing me with Qiye? Instead, they’re reserving the best for Zheng Siyu. Just how much do they dote on this cousin of mine?
Zheng Cai smiled and nodded. "Yes, he’s Ashuo’s Seventh Uncle. That’s right. It doesn’t matter."
"How can it not matter? If I marry Ashuo, am I supposed to call my own cousin Seventh Aunt?"
At that moment, Ye Tong still hadn’t realized that Xiao Shuo had been serious about breaking up. Seeing them meddle with family ties so recklessly and then claim it "didn’t matter"? How could they say such a thing so casually?
Ye Tong stared at Zheng Cai in disbelief, the discontent in her heart surging uncontrollably.