Although puzzled, Bai Ye didn’t ask why, nor did he speak to Bai Zhi.
They each did their own thing without disturbing one another.
Bai Ye knew all too well there was nothing good to be said between them.
What was there to say? Bai Zhi disliked him, and it wasn’t as if he was particularly fond of Bai Zhi either.
So there was no need to bother.
Bai Zhi felt much the same; she really didn’t have a good impression of Bai Ye. The fact that they hadn’t come to blows was reason enough for Ye Xiu to breathe a sigh of relief.
Bai Zhi made stir-fried pork and a spicy and sour shredded potato dish, and finally cooked the rice.
After classes, Ye Xiu saw that it was Bai Zhi cooking, tears welling up in her eyes, she covered her mouth with her hand, at a loss for words.
"Xingxing, when did you get here? Why didn’t you call mom?"
Bai Zhi placed the dishes on the table and looked towards Ye Xiu.
Actually, what Nan Jin said wasn’t entirely false; indeed she had lost weight, but to say her emotions had collapsed was probably not true.
Seeing her confident and buoyant on stage, it was evident she was actually doing quite well.
"I heard from Uncle Nan Jin that you were having a hard time because of me, so I came to see."
Ye Xiu’s face stiffened a bit at the words, then took Bai Zhi’s hand and spoke warmly, "How could it be because of you? Mom is just overwhelmed by recent events, but things will get better..."
In truth, Bai Zhi wasn’t exactly eager for an answer, but since Ye Xiu had spoken, she just nodded in response.
"Oh, I see. Let’s eat then."
Ye Xiu quickly sat down to have dinner, and Bai Ye came over as well.
Nan Xi and Ouyang were still outside, presumably talking about something, and when Bai Ye stepped out to look, nobody was in sight.
Ye Xiu told them to start eating without waiting; they had left of their own accord, not because they weren’t offered food.
Bai Yu hadn’t been coming home lately, claiming he was busy. Ye Xiu asked him several times, and he grew impatient, eventually closing the door on her.
This infuriated Ye Xiu, and she felt like a failure, never expecting to have raised her son to be .
But if you asked her to change her methods, she didn’t know where to begin.
There’s a saying: one may be able to manage other people’s children but not necessarily one’s own.
Bai Ye saved some of the dishes before joining them for the meal.
Strangely, all three of them ate in silence, as if by tacit agreement.
Ye Xiu kept eating the meal Bai Zhi had prepared, constantly placing food into both Bai Zhi’s and Bai Ye’s bowls.
Just then, Bai Yu and Nan Xi returned. Seeing them eating, Bai Yu made a snide remark.
"Looks like there’s no place for us in this family, not even waiting for us to eat, and she once complained about being wronged. Hah..."
Bai Ye frowned. Were these two looking for trouble?
"Why should I wait for you? Are we that close?"
Bai Zhi put down her chopsticks and coldly glanced at them.
"You..." Bai Yu was at a loss for words...
Bai Ye brought over the food he had set aside and placed it in front of them.
"See that? I saved some for you thinking you’d be grateful, but all you do is complain?"
Ye Xiu glared at them fiercely. It’s like they couldn’t go a single day without causing trouble.
Bai Yu snorted and sat down, with Nan Xi following suit, both starting their meal reluctantly.
"Bai Yu, I want a 1500-word self-reflection on today’s incident," Ye Xiu said bluntly, suggesting that if he was unwilling, he should stop coming back and stop asking her for money.
And she meant it; if it came to that, she’d definitely not allow Bai Ye to secretly let them in.
Bai Yu really didn’t dare to openly defy Ye Xiu, so he could only mutter that.
"As long as you can talk, you need to get those words out to me, even if you have to say them."
Bai Yu moved his mouth, wanting to retort that he couldn’t talk either.