Luo Ye gestured with her hands, "I am this much taller than you!"
Ye Xuan, with a deadpan expression, thought that this girl could be profound one moment and childishly playful the next. He really couldn’t keep up with her thoughts.
Suddenly, Luo Ye’s smile vanished, and she turned serious, "Brother Ye, no more jokes. I will say ’thank you’ only today and won’t bring it up again. If you ever need my help, just let me know. Even if I may not be able to do it, I’ll try my best. Though I’m a girl, my word is as good as gold!"
Ye Xuan nodded, "Okay, I know."
Luo Ye turned back to her seat and, resting her chin on her hand, studied Ye Xuan, "Brother Ye, uh... can you tell me why you are so good to me and my family?"
Ye Xuan chuckled lightly, "Why? I was personally involved in your family’s situation. How could I let you suffer unjustly? Besides, protecting a clever sprout like you is my responsibility."
"Is it because Brother Ye has fallen for me?" Luo Ye’s eyes sparkled mischievously, "You know, if anything unexpected happens, it would affect the very foundation of the Ye Family. For a grand family like yours to take such a risk for a family unrelated to yours is really hard to justify. Moreover, taking on this case must have been opposed by at least 80% of your family members. Just looking at how much thinner you have become, I can tell the pressure you’re under. Come on, spill it; I won’t laugh at you."
"What nonsense are you talking about, you little mischief-maker!" Ye Xuan quickly stood up, "It’s getting late, I’ll take you home."
"Tsk tsk... embarrassed, are we? Of course, I know Handsome Ye wouldn’t fall for me. It was just a joke, look how scared you got." Luo Ye stood up and waved her hands, "No need for you to take me; you said you can’t go to our place anyway, I don’t want to trouble you!"
"I’ll drop you off outside the compound."
While Luo Ye was fastening her coat buttons, Ye Xuan took a red scarf from the end of the bed, wrapped it around her so that only her eyes were visible, and grabbed his jacket, "Let’s go."
"Trying to suffocate me?" Luo Ye pulled the scarf down to reveal her nose and mouth, took a deep breath, "With this getup, if someone sees me, they might think I’m a big celebrity trying to hide my face!"
"Even celebrities are no match for Ye’er!"
"Okay, then. I’ll take that as a compliment," Luo Ye chirped and hopped out the door.
As he locked the door, Ye Xuan shouted to someone nearby, "What are you sneaking looks for? If you want to look, do it openly!"
Luo Ye glanced at the tightly shut door and looked at Ye Xuan worriedly, "This won’t cause you any trouble, will it?"
"No worries, they are all brothers; I know what I’m doing. By the way, Ye’er, your recent performance has improved a lot, well done."
Luo Ye looked up at Ye Xuan’s smile-filled gaze, wrinkling her brow discontentedly, "Can we make a deal? When you talk to me, don’t use the tone you’d use for kids."
"You are still a kid..." Seeing the ’daggers’ in her eyes, Ye Xuan quickly apologized, "Alright, alright, I’ll be careful from now on."
"That’s more like it!"
"Ye’er, you didn’t even say hello when you arrived." As the two reached the lobby, Qu Yue approached, his gaze lingering a bit on Ye Xuan, smiling, "And who is this?"
Luo Ye cheerfully introduced them, "This is Brother Ye, and this is Qu Yue Brother. By age, Qu Yue Brother is a bit younger."
"Hello! Hello!" Qu Yue shook hands with Ye Xuan and then turned to Luo Ye, "Ye’er, are you leaving? I heard from the staff that you came to eat with a girl, how come..."
"Qu Yue Brother, are you worried I got sold?" Luo Ye laughed and waved her hand, "It’s too late; I won’t bother you any longer, we’ll chat another day."
"Ye’er!" Qu Yue chased after her, pulling Luo Ye aside with a concerned face, "I’ve never heard of this guy and haven’t seen him before. Maybe I should take you home instead."
"It’s fine, stop worrying needlessly. He’s as trustworthy as family to me, relax. By the way, what are you still doing here so late?" Luo Ye grinned mischievously, "You’re not up to something naughty, are you?"
Luo Ye’s statement "He’s as trustworthy as family" made Qu Yue a bit uneasy, but his face still wore a sunny smile, "Ye’er is teasing me again. As pure and good a man as I am, how could I do anything bad? I’m just waiting for our Ye’er to grow up."
"You’re never serious. I’m leaving if there’s nothing else." Luo Ye turned to leave but Qu Yue pulled her back, "Ye’er, are you really sure?"
"Since when did Qu Yue Brother become such a worrywart?" Luo Ye shook off Qu Yue’s hand holding hers, "Listen, I’m leaving."