Chapter 253: Chapter 253

After Ye He Ping returned home, he talked about the picnic, and while doing so, he asked Bai Xue to prepare some food. Bai Xue was naturally happy to hear this, after all, the families involved were all high-ranking in the compound. Watching her husband and younger daughter talking in the living room, Bai Xue went to the West Room to get some money to buy groceries for the food they would take tomorrow. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net

As she was leaving the house, she saw her younger daughter chasing after her, "Why did you come out?"

"Mom, find out where the Zhang Family’s bungalow is and bring my sister back as well. Tomorrow’s picnic involves several families and is also to celebrate their college admission; if she doesn’t come back, it wouldn’t be good." Ye Qian naturally didn’t like Ye Ling coming back, but she knew it was unavoidable. Since that was the case, she thought it better to bring it up proactively, which would annoy Ye Ling and make their mother dislike her even more.

Even though doing this wasn’t necessary now, Ye Qian didn’t mind the effort. She wouldn’t miss a chance to kick someone when they’re down.

"Your dad has plans for that. We don’t need to invite anyone and end up being warm faces slapped against cold asses. Just go back, don’t worry about her." That little wretch must be having the time of her life.

Ye Qian said with difficulty, "Mom, if sister comes back tomorrow morning, who knows what people in the compound will think of her? She’s been living outside all summer and not at home; otherwise, that incident in the park wouldn’t have happened. People in the compound have already been speculating a lot, and this is a chance. If mom can reconcile with sister, it will also resolve previous misunderstandings."

This wasn’t out of goodwill; saying all this only reminded Bai Xue of things she was about to forget, making her like her elder daughter even less.

"No matter what we do now, people in the compound never stop gossiping. I just act thick-skinned and pretend I don’t know what they’re saying. If she wants to live outside, let her. I won’t say anything. I just don’t believe she’ll manage to find in-laws by herself in the future." Bai Xue was holding in this frustration too.

Ye Qian bit her lip sadly, "I really can’t bear to see mom and sister in conflict . Since that’s the case, I’ll go persuade dad."

Saying this, she ignored her mother calling her from behind and turned back into the house. Bai Xue, seeing her daughter acting , only sighed at her daughter’s kindness and said nothing more, then turned and went to the market.

Back in the living room, after Ye Qian came back, she approached her father with a downcast face, "Dad, I just tried to persuade mom to bring sister back, but mom said even if she went, sister wouldn’t come home. I can tell mom wants to bring sister back too. Anyway, since you have time today, why don’t you and I go bring sister back?"

Ye He Ping looked at his younger daughter, who was gazing at him timidly and innocently, as if afraid of making him angry, and his heart softened, "Forget it, your sister doesn’t like staying at home. We’ll pick her up tomorrow morning."

"Then it’s settled, tomorrow morning we’ll pick up sister together." Ye Qian sweetly squinted her eyes with a smile.

Ye He Ping nodded to his daughter with a smile, "Alright."

Although his wife and elder daughter didn’t get along well, Ye He Ping didn’t want the elder and younger daughter to stay distant from each other, so he agreed.

In the afternoon, Zhang Linong couldn’t resist bringing the news to Ye Ling at the bungalow, so Ye Ling knew that her father would probably come over early the next morning. Thus, she got up early and freshened up, and sure enough, around seven, she heard the main door being knocked on outside.

"Dad." Ye Ling opened the door, and as her gaze finally fell on the person beside her father, the smile on her face gradually disappeared.

Ye He Ping also noticed it, and his happy expression faded, becoming more tense, "Lingzi, today the compound is celebrating your college admission. Your sister insisted on coming to get you yesterday, let’s go, pack up, and we can go for the picnic."

"I don’t really have anything to pack, let’s just go." Ye Ling lifted the key and lock in her hand, and a smile appeared on Ye He Ping’s face. Once the door was locked, Ye Ling turned around, forcing a smile, which was worse than not smiling, "I’m really worried about the picnic."

She didn’t want to make her father feel bad, but seeing Ye Qian there, and her father still trusting Ye Qian so much, Ye Ling felt very uncomfortable. Hence, she couldn’t help but say this. Although her mother wasn’t wrong about her leaving the park, if her mother truly cared, perhaps what happened that day wouldn’t have occurred to a daughter at home.

Despite the resentment, Ye Ling knew that she was stuck in her own mental blockade. No matter how she felt, it couldn’t change anything. In the end, it was her fault.

But at that moment when she saw her father trust Ye Qian so much, Ye Ling couldn’t hold back her jealousy. Although she knew it was natural for her father to dote on Ye Qian, her heart couldn’t be so generous.

Her words made Ye He Ping’s smile freeze on his face, and he stood there stunned for a moment before lowering his head, like a child who had done something wrong. Anger flashed in Ye Qian’s eyes, but her face remained cautious as she glanced at her father with a face of concern, and finally cautiously looked at Ye Ling.

"Sister...." This Ye Ling is indeed crafty, with just a few words she made father feel like he owed her something.

Suppressed the disappointment in her heart, Ye Ling feigned playfulness and said, "Dad, I was just teasing you, you actually believed it."

"You child...." Ye He Ping raised his head and looked at his daughter, not knowing what to say.

He had always known that his daughter internally carried this matter, but what had he, as a father, done about it? After his daughter returned home, not only did his wife not help, but she even took five thousand yuan from the other side, leaving his daughter to bear this grievance. In the end, it was the daughter who stepped up to solve the issue; otherwise, he wouldn’t even be able to enjoy others’ envious stares or keep his job now.

And how long has it been since that happened? He had already forgotten all about it and was even happily bringing the younger daughter along, leaving the elder daughter wondering what to think. The five thousand yuan his wife accepted was justified by the excuse of the younger daughter’s health issues.

"Dad, let’s go, otherwise we’ll keep everyone waiting." Ye Ling did not hold her father’s arm as she used to but walked ahead with a smile.

This sudden lack of closeness was palpable to Ye He Ping, especially with his younger daughter holding his arm, which made him uncomfortable all over, but he couldn’t just drop the younger daughter’s arm. What would happen then?

Ye He Ping, feeling conflicted, made his way back to the compound without quite realizing how. Ye Qian had been sweetly and proactively initiating topics, but noticing her father’s distracted demeanor, she eventually went quiet too. The three of them entered the compound without speaking again.

The families who were to go on the picnic were waiting at the compound entrance, and the vehicle they were to use—brought in from the company—was a minibus, enough to seat eight families. Once Ye Ling entered the compound, she went straight to Zhang Linong and them, and did not say another word to her father until she got on the bus. (To be continued. If you work, please go to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)