Chapter 236: Chapter 236

When they arrived at the bungalow, it looked much cleaner than the last time they visited. Even the quilts were drying in the courtyard. Remembering that Zhang Linong said his mother had been tidying up, Shen Bin felt convinced.

Ye Ling hadn’t bought much over the past year since school, so there weren’t many things. After Wang Ping put down the items, Zhang Linong sent him off to fetch firewood. As soon as Wang Ping left, Zhang Linong couldn’t help but ask about Zhao Guodong’s application, and Ye Ling could see that he’d been holding it in all the way. Wang Ping couldn’t keep things to himself, so if he knew about Zhao Guodong, then Zhang Linong would too.

"I went to the office yesterday and watched Ji Zhongjun change the application with my own eyes. I only returned after that. I think the application forms were submitted today, so even if Zhao Guodong finds out, it’s already too late. Don’t worry." Ye Ling smiled, placing her belongings by the kang, thinking she’d only need to pull out the bedding at night.

However, Zhang Linong didn’t seem relieved after hearing this, "Ji Zhongjun must have given you a hard time, right?"

"You still don’t know what kind of person he is? Always ready to exploit a situation. Seeing me pleading with him, he wouldn’t miss a chance to cause trouble. Don’t worry, it’s just bowing my head, it’s not like I’d lose a piece of meat." Ye Ling waved dismissively, "It’s summer vacation now, you guys still have to go for military training, right? Since Zhao Guodong is going back to the hometown with Grandma Zhao, this summer you might have a bit of ease."

Seeing that Ye Ling didn’t want to say more, Zhang Linong didn’t ask further, "He’s planning to report directly when he receives the acceptance letter. Now that the application is changed, if he really gets accepted when the results come out, I still don’t know what kind of trouble it will stir up. I’d better keep an eye on him. Anyway, the application is for college, so whether I go to the company this summer makes no difference."

Ye Ling nodded, "If nothing much happens these days, you two don’t have to come by. I’m fine on my own. If my dad comes home, though, I’d have to trouble you to send a message to him, let him know where I am."

Actually, Ye Ling was also concerned about the matters at the Gao Family. Now that the money was sent back and a few days had passed without any response, the more it lingered, the more unsettling it felt.

"When my mom was tidying up the room, she called my dad. After that incident at the park, my mom has felt guilty towards you, saying you had nowhere to go after the exams and didn’t like going back to the compound, so she brought me over to clean up stuff." Zhang Linong embarrassingly scratched his head. He didn’t know how to bring it up, but his mother mentioned it first, which saved him the trouble of thinking about it.

Understanding his awkwardness, Ye Ling laughed, "Alright, there’s nothing to feel guilty about. When a person is unlucky, even cold water hurts. Who could have predicted such an incident would happen in a park full of people in broad daylight? You can’t be blamed for this either. I won’t dwell on it; you just need to tell them not to take it to heart. It’s all in the past now. Besides, you even got detained at the police station because of me. Fortunately, there’s no criminal record, otherwise, I’d be guilty for life."

Having a criminal record is no small matter.

Zhang Linong sighed, his face full of helplessness, "Dongzi has a temper, but after this incident, I see he’s become more steady. Perhaps, for him, it was a good learning experience. He’s about to head to college. I can’t keep watching over him forever. If he stirs up any trouble again, it won’t be like back home. Look how simple he thought changing his application was; even if he went to school to register, Uncle Zhao would drag him back. We’ve been brothers for many years, I don’t want to see him make a wrong step that ruins his life. Thankfully, you’re here to help; otherwise, I wouldn’t know what to do. At worst, even if he ends up hating me, I’d have to tell his family."

"He wouldn’t hate me?" Ye Ling felt that Zhang Linong was overestimating her influence.

A hint of unease crossed Zhang Linong’s face, his words not fully expressed, "Even if I can’t give a reason, I’m sure he won’t hate you, not even blame you." Official source is n0velfire.net

Not daring to meet Ye Ling’s eyes, Ye Ling wasn’t a naive kid. Although Zhang Linong didn’t spell it out, his guilty expression revealed a lot to her. At their age, boys and girls were like flowers blooming. Didn’t Zhao Guodong always say he liked Ye Qian? Yet, from Zhang Linong’s implication, was it her he liked instead?

Unable to make sense of it, Ye Ling shook her head and chose not to dwell on it. She had always regarded Zhao Guodong as a child, never considering it another way. Moreover, Zhao Guodong was always professing his fondness for Ye Qian. Anyone could tell from his tone when he saw Ye Qian that he liked her.

They didn’t speak much more as Wang Ping returned with a bundle of wood, grumbling, "How long has this wood been here? It’s full of bugs."

"Are you afraid of bugs?" Zhang Linong laughed, looking at him.

Wang Ping placed the wood next to the stove and brushed off his clothes, "I’m a man, why would I be afraid? It’s just that Ye Ling might get scared, so I thought about it, but don’t worry, I checked each piece, and any with bugs were discarded."

"Thanks a lot, I’ve always been afraid of bugs." Ye Ling felt uneasy just seeing them.

Wang Ping couldn’t resist flashing a proud look at Zhang Linong, as if waiting for praise. Zhang Linong laughed, considering they had to head back to the compound and didn’t have the heart to impose on Ye Ling for a meal. Ye Ling saw them off and locked the door from the inside, pulling a smile at the corner of her mouth. Acts of kindness, though small, seemed to always come when she needed them most. How could Ye Ling not remember this kindness?

Back on the kang, Ye Ling felt it was still warm, realizing it had been heated. She didn’t have much appetite, so she lay down directly on it.

Meanwhile, in the compound, Bai Xue had been behaving, completely staying put for a few days. However, news broke out about the Gao family in the city being investigated, which alarmed her. She worried the money-giving incident would be exposed, and that the police would summon her for questioning. Even if there really was nothing wrong, the impact wouldn’t be good.

Days passed anxiously without any sign from the police, and Bai Xue finally let her guard down, but when her husband suddenly returned home with a grim look, she knew this was unavoidable. Over these few days, she had been thinking of excuses and reasons, mainly concerning her daughter’s illness. But where it had worked before, it no longer held water with this big mess at hand.

"Dad, you’re finally back. Something happened to sister, and you weren’t home. It’s been impossible to find you; the whole family is in chaos." Ye Qian, stepping out from the West Room, teared up at the sight of her father, "Now that school’s out for break and sister hasn’t returned, Dad, you should find sister first."

Ye He Ping was fuming internally. Only on returning did he hear from Shen Bin about everything, so after reporting the situation at the company, he rushed straight home without delay. But seeing his younger daughter’s tearful concern, he found it impossible to be angry. (To be continued. If you work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my biggest motivation. Readers using mobile phones, please go to m.qidian.com to read.)