Xing Nong poked Qu Yue: "Boss Qu, you black bean sesame bun, you’re really great at pretending!"
"What do you want me to do?" Mo Yaoguang’s gaze was filled with a sense of distance.
"Yaoguang, I’m bringing this up now not to denounce or scold you, but to help you enter the military academy smoothly. Have you thought about the consequences of insisting that you’re a boy when you register? Don’t tell me you’re thinking of impersonating a boy — the records won’t allow it, and the situation won’t permit it!"
Mo Yaoguang turned away, facing the wall without uttering a word.
Xing Nong helplessly pursed her lips. She had advised many times, of course, always with great care, but to no avail. Mo Yaoguang was a person of deep loyalty, but often acted with a sort of reckless abandon, unconcerned about consequences. Her obsession with her own gender was a manifestation of this madness.
"Luoluo, why does Qi Bin call that woman ’second mother’? Does his dad have two wives?" Trying to lighten the mood, Xing Nong started to gossip.
Luo Ye shook his head: "I don’t know. Brother Qi is a subordinate of my dad; he often comes to our house, but I never ask about people’s personal affairs. Do you think I’m as nosy as you?"
"’Ye’er,’ that’s really affectionate!"
"That’s how I’m called following my family’s way, just like your grandpa’s colleagues call you ’Nongnong’."
"Boss Qu, why aren’t you speaking? Feeling the pressure?"
When Luo Ye came out of the restroom, Qi Bin was leaning against the compartment door. Luo Ye’s face was slightly red: "Brother Qi, hello." It was unavoidably a bit awkward to encounter him in such a place.
Qi Bin revealed a gentle smile: "Luo Ye, I came here specifically to wait for you."
"Brother Qi, is there something you need?" Luo Ye looked at him, puzzled.
"It is something. Let’s talk in the next compartment." After moving to another compartment, Qi Bin checked around to make sure no one was there and also pulled on the bathroom door to check; reassured that they were alone, he looked at Luo Ye: "The fact that you were accepted to GF University, my ’second mother’ doesn’t know yet. But once we get off the train, if you go with us to the pick-up car, she will definitely notice.
You should know that in her eyes, you’re the number one enemy, the one who usurped her daughter’s love interest. Thus, she will definitely pay attention to you, and she has one advantage: she’s very familiar with the Ye Family."
Luo Ye curled his lips dismissively: "So what? She can’t get the school to expel me, can she? I haven’t broken any rules." What a pain, dealing with such a brainless mom.
"She can’t, that’s for sure, but Qing Zhu works at the school, and she has a good relationship with my little sister. Having Qing Zhu make things difficult for you doesn’t seem too hard to arrange."
"Why are you telling me this?" Luo Ye studied Qi Bin.
With a wry smile, Qi Bin replied: "You can tell from the way I address her; she’s not my biological mother. My own mother passed away when I was five, and two years later, my father married her when she was already pregnant. Grandpa had no choice but to accept her, and of course, there’s my dad... Anyway, let’s not dwell on this.
After she married into the family, she did put in effort, but her character just doesn’t mesh with this household. The reason I’m telling you this is for you to understand that her actions are without principles or limits.
So, I suggest when you get off the train, do it at a different time from us. Wait until we’ve left before exiting the station. You’re smart enough to know what I mean."
A light smile played on Luo Ye’s lips: "I understand that part. But, Brother Qi, what you also know that I don’t understand is..."
"It’s simple. Ye Xuan couldn’t possibly like Qianqian. I grew up with Ye Xuan, I know his character very well, and I don’t want Qianqian to be hurt too badly."
"Oh, I see. Thanks for being frank, Brother Qi." Luo Ye waved a hand, "Then I’ll head back first." She won’t pry further if he’s not willing to elaborate.
Watching Luo Ye’s figure retreating further and further away until completely out of sight, Qi Bin lit a cigarette, leaned against the door, and sighed lightly, staring out the window lost in thought.
As soon as the door opened, Xing Nong pounced: "Luoluo, if you didn’t come back, I was going to check the restroom to see if you fell down a hole."
Luo Ye rolled her eyes: "You worry too much. Hurry up and wash up and brush your teeth. Get ready for bed and brace yourself to suffer tomorrow."
"Humph, I’ll let you off for now. Yaoguang, let’s go; we’re leaving together." Xing Nong patted Mo Yaoguang, who was still facing the wall in penitence, and started dragging her away without any regard.
"Can you be gentler? If I get killed before even reaching school, it’ll become an eternal legend." Complaining, Mo Yaoguang was dragged out by Xing Nong.