Chapter 101: Chapter 101

On the morning of the second day after the incident at Ye’s house, Ye He Ping returned home from the company. After entering the house, he didn’t acknowledge his wife and searched the house briefly until he couldn’t find any trace of his eldest daughter. It was only then that he stopped and looked at his wife with questioning eyes.

Ye Qian also heard the commotion. When she came out from the West Room, she happened to see her father staring at her mother. "Dad, you’re finally back. My sister hasn’t come back since she left yesterday. Mom was so worried she couldn’t sleep all night."

Ye He Ping didn’t look at his younger daughter; his gaze was intensely fixed on his wife, filled with disappointment and helplessness. Without waiting for his wife to speak, he turned around and left the house.

Ye Qian watched her father’s hurried departure and then looked at her silent mother, unsure of what to say. With the high school entrance exams looming tomorrow, there was nothing she could do about Ye Ling. She just hoped that this turmoil wouldn’t affect Ye Ling’s performance; otherwise, Ye Qian would have no other recourse. As for herself, Ye Qian decided on the surest option — not taking the exam. It was better than failing after participating.

"He blames me," Bai Xue said, sitting in the living room, wiping away her tears after her husband ignored her.

"Mom, don’t be sad. Dad’s just worried about sister. Everything will be fine once we find her." Ye Qian coughed lightly a couple of times, finally catching Bai Xue’s attention on her younger daughter.

"You look so unwell; go back and lie down." No matter what, her husband didn’t blow up like last time, which gave Bai Xue some relief, although her husband’s attitude still troubled her.

Ye Qian shook her head, "The high school entrance exam is tomorrow, so I should study a bit more."

Seeing the daughter’s face dotted with purple spots, Bai Xue felt heartbroken. "Stop studying. If you don’t do well on this exam, just repeat a year. Listen to me and don’t stress your body."

Ye Qian lowered her head in silence.

"What I think is that you shouldn’t even take this exam. It’s not that I don’t have confidence in you, but your health is more important." Bai Xue softly persuaded, "Given what’s happened at home, you haven’t been taking care of your body these past two days. If you faint during the exam tomorrow, what then? Besides, your grades have always been average. If you repeat a year, you can improve a little."

Bai Xue knew her daughter’s grades well. Despite her daughter’s earnest efforts, there had been no significant improvements, and recently, due to illness, she had frequently taken leave. Even without thinking about it, one could tell that the upcoming exam wouldn’t go well.

So Bai Xue had been hoping her daughter wouldn’t take the exam this time. "Qianqian, you must understand your academic abilities. Though you’ve been diligent in your studies, it’s not really your forte. Repeating a year to stabilize your grades, ensure a high school entrance, and eventually move into the company’s assistant department — you have to at least graduate high school for that."

Thinking about this, Bai Xue felt the urge for her husband’s promotion, "Your dad now faces a promotion dilemma and suffers from the lack of an academic background. He’s a high school graduate. In his time, a high school education was considered high, but now it’s not suitable for his current position in the company."

Talking about her husband, Bai Xue’s spirits, which had just brightened, fell again.

Ye Qian went over and held her mother’s hand. "Mom, I’ll listen to you. I won’t take the exam this time. I’ll repeat a year and take it next time."

Seeing her daughter not resisting like before, Bai Xue felt comforted. Her younger daughter always understood her feelings, making Bai Xue feel that all her efforts were worthwhile.

While Bai Xue and her younger daughter settled on not taking the exam inside Ye’s house, outside, Ye He Ping came out of the house and went from guesthouse to guesthouse searching in the streets. It wasn’t until dusk that he found his eldest daughter at a guesthouse near the school.

Ye Ling opened the door at the sound of knocking, and upon seeing who was outside, turned back into the room without a word. Ye He Ping took off his hat and followed her inside, closing the door behind him. After a quick glance around the room, he pulled out a chair and sat down.

"Are you really not planning to come home?" Ye He Ping went straight to the point.

Ye Ling nodded, "I’m not going back."

Though the swelling and bruising on her face had subsided a bit since last night, she still looked quite disheveled. The bruises revealed that they were from pinches or scratches, with some areas having skin breaks and others merely showing a red mark.

Initially, upon hearing that his eldest daughter said in anger that she would never return home, Ye He Ping was filled with rage. Although he knew his wife was at fault, his eldest daughter’s tendency to leave home at the slightest provocation irritated him. However, upon seeing his eldest daughter, he could no longer find the will to be angry.

"The high school entrance exam is tomorrow. Go home for now, and after the exam, I’ll take you to the company to experience life for a while. When the new term starts, you can live on campus and won’t have to come home." Ye He Ping said to his daughter, "But before the exam is over, you need to come home. I know you don’t want to see your mom, but you have to think about your future. You may not understand now, but when you’re older, you will. Moreover, regardless of the issues between you and your mom, she is still your mother. Until the day you marry and have your own family, you should save some face for her, allowing her to hold her head high in the community."

"She doesn’t need me to save face," Ye Ling retorted reluctantly.

Yesterday, she had declared her independence, yet she still had to return to that home. Why? Why should she care about her face after everything?

"The matter is settled. Pack up and come home with me." Ye He Ping found himself unable to get angry with his eldest daughter. "I have taken leave from the company, and after your exams, I’ll take you to the company for a few days."

Though he didn’t explicitly say it, Ye He Ping indirectly reassured his daughter that he would stay home these days, so she wouldn’t have to worry about anything else, essentially giving her a promise.

Seeing his daughter still sitting in silence, he walked back and forth in the room with agitation, his expression stern. After pacing a few times, he stopped and said, "Ye Ling, you’re not a child anymore. You’re already sixteen. After this exam, you will start high school. I don’t want to hear about running away from home and denying this family ever again. Regardless of the conflicts between you and your mom, she is your mother. Unless one day you marry and have your own family, and you dislike her, then you can stop coming to this house."

Sadness and bitterness showed on Ye Ling’s face. Would she only escape this home once she married?

Ye He Ping turned his head aside, pretending not to see his daughter’s expression, but deep inside, he was at a loss. His voice had softened significantly, "Alright, let’s go home. I’ll take you to buy some meat. Since we have exams tomorrow, let’s make dumplings tonight."

Knowing there was no room for negotiation anymore, Ye Ling reluctantly stood up. In the end, it was Ye’s father who settled the bill for the guesthouse. Feeling down, Ye Ling didn’t express gratitude and walked with her father towards the vegetable market. (To be continued. If you work, you are welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for it with recommendations or monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)