Chapter 308: Chapter 308
After confirming with her father, Ye Ling became even less happy.
It was a rare sight for Bai Xue to see her arrogant eldest daughter being discouraged, and she almost couldn’t help but laugh out loud, though she pretended to care, saying, "You child, how could you not know this? You’re a child of the north, so when you’re allocated a place, of course, they’ll allocate you back here. Look at you, looking so unwilling to come back; they say even a dog doesn’t mind a poor home. Why are you wearing such a sullen face? What’s wrong with the north?"
Ye He Ping’s gaze swept over, and Bai Xue sensibly kept her mouth shut. Having already added insult to injury, she naturally wouldn’t provoke her husband further.
Ye Qian’s gaze was not on Ye Ling but on Liu Zhiyuan. It was at this moment she noticed Brother Zhiyuan’s gaze had been on Ye Ling the whole time, with a worry still lingering on his face. Ye Qian’s heart was in chaos. She knew Ye Ling and Brother Zhiyuan were at the same school, which certainly meant they had interactions, but she had no idea what their relationship had developed into.
"Brother Zhiyuan, look at my sister’s expression, she really doesn’t know." Ye Qian didn’t want the man she liked to keep staring at someone else, especially when that someone else was Ye Ling.
Suppressing the jealousy deep within her heart, she playfully stuck her tongue out at Liu Zhiyuan.
Liu Zhiyuan’s attention was brought back by Ye Qian’s words, and he realized he’d been staring at Ye Ling, causing him to blush slightly and his smile to carry a hint of embarrassment.
Seeing him, usually so composed, feel shy, Ye Qian felt a cold chill in her heart. She understood what this shyness represented; she needed no further inquiry to comprehend Liu Zhiyuan’s feelings for Ye Ling. Upon suddenly discovering such a secret, Ye Qian felt as though she heard the sound of her heart cracking, her mind went blank until a pain in her arm and her mother’s voice calling her brought her back, forcing out a smile.
"What’s wrong?" Bai Xue noticed her daughter’s pale face and asked with concern.
Ye Qian shook her head. "Nothing, just thinking that since Sister and Brother Zhiyuan are at the same school, they can take care of each other, I’m quite envious. It’s my fault for not studying well; otherwise, I could be going to school with them."
Listening to her, Bai Xue couldn’t help but feel sorry for her younger daughter, directing an increasingly hostile gaze at the elder daughter. Liu Zhiyuan, on the other hand, slightly frowned. He wasn’t a child, and having lived in the compound, he understood Ye family’s dynamics. Seeing Aunt Bai shift all the blame onto Ye Ling, Liu Zhiyuan felt that Aunt Bai was being immensely biased.
"Uncle Ye, I’ll be heading back first." Liu Zhiyuan didn’t want Ye Ling to be glared at by her own mother, nor did he wish to get embroiled in Ye’s family affairs, "Ye Ling, I coincidentally have a question I can’t solve, could you help me take a look?"
Ye Ling looked at Liu Zhiyuan, puzzled. She wasn’t in a good mood and didn’t think much of it, "Then come with me."
Ye Ling didn’t really believe Liu Zhiyuan had a question he couldn’t solve. She didn’t have the energy to ponder his real intent, preoccupied with the thought of having to return here after graduating college, feeling drained of life. Once inside, she asked Liu Zhiyuan about the subject and took out the books, finding that Liu Zhiyuan indeed had some queries, so Ye Ling patiently explained them to him.
Ye Qian stood at the doorway watching the two, feeling like she was excluded from a world she couldn’t enter, leading her to drop her head in disappointment. Bai Xue noticed everything, pulled her daughter into a hug, "Qianqian, let’s make dinner and after we eat, I’ll take you to Uncle Liu’s place."
Ye Qian had realized that merely looking would only frustrate her, so she joined her mother in the kitchen. Meanwhile, Ye He Ping, upon realizing his daughter’s reluctance to return, dwelled on the matter without paying attention to other things. Liu Zhiyuan left soon after asking about the problem, but not before inviting Ye Ling to watch the lanterns that night. Ye Ling dismissed him by saying it was too cold to go out, sending Liu Zhiyuan off; when passing by the kitchen doorway, she saw Ye Qian looking at her, and guessing Ye Qian’s thoughts, Ye Ling immediately realized the misunderstanding, then smirked, lifted her chin smugly, and walked into the living room. Find the newest release on novel•fire.net
Seeing this, Ye Qian was filled with resentment, smashing the celery she was holding, leaves and all. Bai Xue hated her arrogant elder daughter too, quietly comforting her younger daughter, "She’s just having those thoughts, but Aunt Wu doesn’t think much of her."
Ye Qian’s face flushed, yet she shook her head, "But I see Brother Zhiyuan really cares for Sister, growing feelings over time, they might both fancy each other, how can Aunt Wu stop it? Mom, when you see Aunt Wu, don’t mention this; otherwise, Brother Zhiyuan could get reprimanded by her."
"If he’s wrong, of course, he’ll be reprimanded. Don’t involve yourself, according to Aunt Wu, in a year’s time, you can be promoted. If Aunt Wu can help you get promoted, you could stay in the Art Troupe as an administrative officer; if you really switch careers, you might find those jobs unsuitable." The welfare in the army is nice, and since her daughter is bound to marry a military officer, staying in the army is naturally beneficial.
Bai Xue has methodically planned out her daughter’s path, but Ye Qian wasn’t sure. When at home, she didn’t feel it, but upon arriving in the army, she realized there are always better people out there; not only did they dance better, but they also had better family backgrounds. Promotion opportunities were scarce, and everyone was fighting fiercely for them. Her father was just a minister, no match for someone else’s grandfather.
Already troubled by the family matters, Ye Qian didn’t divulge the truth, waiting to see how Aunt Wu would handle things. If Aunt Wu truly liked her, she wouldn’t be treated unfairly, discussing with her mother would be in vain.
The New Year’s dinner was finally ready, hearing the firecrackers outside, the Ye Family began their meal. There were fish and meat, making up six dishes, a sumptuous affair, as Ye He Ping drank a glass of white wine, Ye Qian chimed in with sweet words, cheering Ye He Ping up. Afterward, Ye Ling and Ye Qian cleared the table, Bai Xue returned to her room to change clothes, then called Ye Qian to leave.
"The table isn’t cleaned yet." Ye He Ping went to lie down in the East Room, Ye Ling did not stand on ceremony, placing the plates she held back on the table, showing that if Ye Qian didn’t do it, she wouldn’t either.
Bai Xue’s look could pierce, but Ye Qian intercepted her, "Mom, you go ahead, I’ll finish cleaning with Sister, then come over."
Thinking it over, Bai Xue agreed and left first. Upon arriving at Liu’s house, she naturally complained, talking about how her elder daughter constantly competed with the younger daughter, how sensible the younger daughter was. During New Year, Wu Mengyi wasn’t fond of such talk, so she listened without intervention. Fortunately, Ye Qian arrived soon, Wu Mengyi’s expression softened, and with Ye Qian present, telling witty stories and appeasing, Wu Mengyi soon laughed out loud. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, feel free to visit Qidian (qidian.com), to vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)