"Dad, Mom, you’re too much, favoring the little sister and treating me like air. To think I was worrying about you all this way!" Ye Gaosheng complained.
He had been standing here for quite some time, watching Dad and Mom shower the little sister with affection without even a mention of him.
Ye Gaosheng suddenly felt the disparity in treatment was indeed too great.
Just as Ye Gaosheng was voicing his complaint, Madam He turned her head and finally noticed Ye Gaosheng standing beside her.
Immediately, Madam He let go of the adoring Ye Jiu whom she was embracing, moved forward, and, just as an emotionally moved Ye Gaosheng was about to open his arms, she pinched his ear, "You insensible boy, how dare you complain? I told you to find someone, and you managed to lose yourself; in the end, it was your sister who had to go out and bring you back. And you still have the nerve to say..."
"Mom, this ear is flesh, and I am your biological son..." Ye Gaosheng exaggeratedly protested.
The pained expression on Ye Gaosheng’s face made Madam He pause her movements, and shortly after, Ye Gaosheng broke free from her grasp and ran away.
That move was exceedingly deft, clearly the work of an expert.
"Mom, I’m of the age to marry soon. Can’t you leave me some dignity in front of others?" shouted Ye Gaosheng from a distance.
In the capital city, others would courteously address him as "Fourth Master." Although he knew it was all for the sake of his little sister.
Yet the moment he returned, he was grabbed by the ear; the difference in treatment was so great that it was momentarily hard for him to adjust, but also inexplicably comforting.
Madam He’s eyes reddened as she glared at Ye Gaosheng, looked at the entourage and the two carriages that followed them back, but ultimately refrained from acting.
Her tone still carried a hint of reproach, "You’re aware of your age to marry, yet in our village, people your age... they’re already fathers!"
She wasn’t lacking a daughter-in-law, but having such a grown-up, unmarried son at home was always a concern on her mind, something she felt unsettled about until it was resolved.
Next to the carriage, Lin Songhan, who had just changed his name, upon seeing Ye Gaosheng’s ear being pinched, immediately worried and wanted to come over but was stopped by Qingyue. "What are you doing?"
The Ye Family was in the midst of a family reunion. It seemed a little inconvenient for them to go over at this time.
Moreover, Qingyue had positioned herself as a servant to Ye Jiu. Without an introduction from the family, it would be impolite for them to intrude so abruptly.
Even though the young master had accepted her as a sister, she was fully aware of her status. After all, she wasn’t the young master’s real sister. The young master had accepted her because she had served the lady for many years, and at the final moment, she was willing to risk her life to deliver an urgent message to him.
Qingyue was very clear about her place and never overstepped her boundaries, which was also why Qing Li had accepted her.
As for Lin Songhan, being so young, he still couldn’t comprehend these things, but after spending many days together, he held a lot of respect for Qingyue.
Afterward, Qingyue reminded him, "From now on, we need to change the way we address others. You can’t call them ’uncle’ and ’auntie’ anymore; you should call him ’Fourth Master’ and her ’Miss’."