Chapter 121: Chapter 121

After Ye Ling returned to the compound, her life was very calm. Every day, except for reading books in her room, the only times she came out were to eat and use the bathroom; she hadn’t even stepped out of the house. As for her mother and Ye Qian, who lived under the same roof, they were always out early and back late, until one day they came back before noon with two people and called Ye Ling out of the East Room.

The middle-aged man, although younger in age than her father, looked even older. He was precisely her mother’s only brother, Bai Guoping. He was very thin, with an air of shrewdness on his face that made people dislike him, with the kind of weasel-faced and monkey-cheeked appearance.

As for the girl they brought, she was clearly the same age as Ye Ling, both sixteen, but looked as if she were thirteen or fourteen, obviously undernourished. However, compared to her demeanor, Ye Ling completely outshined her by miles. At the first sight of someone, she would look down and twist the hem of her clothes stubbornly with her long pigtails reaching her waist, similar to the hairstyle of girls nowadays.

Her red and white checkered long-sleeve shirt looked a bit old, but Ye Ling found it familiar. When she saw Ye Qian, she vaguely remembered that when she first went to the city with her grandmother for the New Year at the age of thirteen, Ye Qian wore this shirt under her sweater. She had pestered to have it back then, and was scolded by her father for it. No wonder she found the shirt familiar now.

It’s rare to see such a mother who wouldn’t give it to her own daughter but gave it to her niece instead.

In the moment Ye Ling glanced around, her uncle Bai Guoping greeted with a smile, "Is this Lingzi? It’s been so long! You’ve grown so much, started working yet? Do you have a boyfriend? There’s a son from the captain of our production team who’s been asking me to introduce someone for him. His family is in great condition."

"No need, uncle, better leave him for Hehua." Ye Ling bluntly shut him down.

Bai Guoping looked embarrassed, "Look at this child, my Hehua couldn’t match up. That’s the captain’s son we’re talking about."

Bai Xue also intervened, "Lingzi, take your Hehua to your room. Don’t listen to your uncle’s nonsense."

Ye Ling ignored Ye Qian’s gloating gaze, turned around and entered the room. Behind her, she could still hear Bai Guoping’s dissatisfaction, "Sis, Lingzi is so spoiled by you, doesn’t even know basic manners, talking to me like that."

Meanwhile, Bai Hehua had already followed into the room, standing at the doorway, occasionally glancing at Ye Ling who was reading, then lowering her head like she was wronged.

Ye Ling didn’t bother with her. It wasn’t because she had a bad temper, but because she knew this father and daughter too well. Her uncle only had one daughter, and her aunt had been seeking medical treatment for not being able to conceive for years. Now that her daughter was grown, she had given up. Now, Bai Hehua was sent here because her aunt had unexpectedly gotten pregnant.

In her past life, the same thing happened. Her uncle sent Hehua over, saying she’d stay for a few months until her aunt was well enough to take her back. But in her past life, her mother didn’t agree. During those days Bai Hehua stayed, she shared a bed with Ye Ling, and Hehua had lice, which tormented Ye Ling, leading her to have her hair cut short like a boy’s, using medication after medication until the lice were gone. The people in the compound laughed at Ye Ling back then.

But back then, Ye Ling had not returned to the city to work early. She was always trying to please her mother, not daring to complain, and ended up being scolded by her mother for fear she might pass the lice to Ye Qian.

Later, when Ye Ling got married, Bai Hehua visited once. By then, Hehua was also married and no longer timid as the first time, her manner appalling as her father’s.

Thus, in this life, as soon as Ye Ling saw this father and daughter, she disliked them, let alone having just heard those words; there was no way she’d show them kindness.

Bai Hehua was pushed into the room, and the door to the East Room was closed by her mother, leaving the conversation voices lowered, so Ye Ling couldn’t hear what they were saying. Watching Bai Hehua carefully surveying the room at the doorway, Ye Ling curved her lips slightly.

Raising her hand, she pointed to a slightly larger bed by the door, "You can sleep there tonight."

Bai Hehua looked startled, "Older sister, where will the younger sister sleep? How about I sleep with you?"

Is it because she knew Ye Qian was the favored one, and she was not, so she picked on the easy target?

Ye Ling did not expose her thought, "She sleeps with my mom. There’s no need to squeeze into one bed when there are two beds in the room. Besides, I’m not used to sleeping with others. Why don’t you go and ask my mom how she plans it?"

Her mother leaving the girl to her, thinking the improved relations would make her yield? Did they think Ye Ling couldn’t see through such plans?

Bai Hehua looked troubled, "Then... then I’ll ask auntie tonight."

Bai Hehua was the same age as Ye Ling, yet a month older than Ye He, so she called Ye Ling older sister, and naturally, Ye Qian was the younger sister.

Ye Ling didn’t say anything, just nodded and continued reading her book.

This timid person knew to bully those easy to target, so Ye Ling didn’t have to say much. Instead, Bai Hehua walked a few steps forward, and when she reached Ye Qian’s bed, she asked softly, "Older sister, you’re in high school now?"

Ye Ling held a book for high school students, while Bai Hehua had only graduated from elementary school. All the family money went to her mother’s medical treatment, leaving none for her education. She knew her aunt’s family had two kids, and one had been living in the countryside, but she hadn’t expected her to be so different, even attending high school. How could she not feel jealous?

Ye Ling responded with a faint "hmm." If Bai Hehua’s questions were not met with silence, then it was just a simple "hmm." After a while, Hehua understood she wasn’t welcomed and said nothing more.

When Bai Xue finished cooking and opened the door to call the two for lunch, she saw her eldest daughter reading and her niece sitting properly on the younger daughter’s bed, not daring to move. She frowned slightly, "Hehua, come have lunch with your cousin."

In the living room, Bai Guoping had already started eating heartily. There were scrambled eggs, braised pork, and a cold dressed salad. Bai Guoping sat on one side, with Zhong Qian across from him. When Bai Hehua came out, she sat next to Ye Qian.

Although Ye Qian felt disgust inside, she sweetly put a piece of braised pork into Bai Hehua’s bowl, "Cousin, have some meat. My mom specially made it for you and uncle."

Bai Hehua blushed and nodded.

Bai Xue sat next to her niece, leaving Ye Ling, who came out, no choice but to sit beside her uncle Bai Guoping. Though not pleased, Ye Ling could tolerate it for a meal and said nothing, directly serving herself a bowl of rice and sitting down. Just when she picked up the chopsticks, the bowl in front of her was taken away by Bai Guoping, and the rice was poured out. An empty bowl was handed back.

"Go serve yourself another bowl." Bai Guoping didn’t think it was a problem. (To be continued. If you work, welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)