After a restless night and waking up early, Ye Shiyu took a mid-morning nap. By the ti she woke up, it was nearly noon, and Yan Huan had already returned.
“Shiyu, you’re up,” her mother, Ye Lan, greeted her warmly.
“Shiyu, co and try this caral pudding your little brother made. It’s quite delicious,” Aunt Chen added, gesturing toward the dining table.
Descending the stairs, Ye Shiyu spotted a small golden-yellow pudding on the plates in front of both Ye Lan and Aunt Chen. The pudding’s surface was smooth, the caral glaze perfectly balanced, and a faint vanilla essence lingered in the air, giving it a sophisticated appearance.
Glancing toward the kitchen, she saw Yan Huan removing an apron and hanging it on a hook. Carrying another plate of pudding, he walked over with a smile and said,
“Sister Shiyu, this is for you. We had molds and ingredients at ho, so I thought I’d make so for everyone to try.”
“...”
Ho...
The way he referred to this place as his ho grated on her. Her gaze drifted to the black porcelain dish in his hand, with her na written on it.
A cold expression crossed her face, but before it could deepen, Ye Lan’s voice broke in.
“Shiyu?”
“...Thank you.”
Though the chill in her expression didn’t completely fade, it receded slightly as she regained composure. Nodding, she took the pudding from Yan Huan.
After sitting down, Ye Lan snapped a quick photo of her pudding before taking a bite. The perfectly balanced sweetness made her hum in satisfaction. She turned to Yan Huan, impressed,
“This tastes amazing! Little Huan, you can make desserts too?”
“Not really. I learned at work. I used to work part-ti at a bar that served snacks and desserts. Things like fries and pudding are pretty simple.”
“A bar? That sounds like a chaotic environnt.”
Ye Lan frowned slightly, her voice tinged with disapproval. However, Yan Huan quickly reassured her with a smile,
“It was more like a lounge with live singers. The atmosphere was calm, the people there were nice, and the pay was great.”
“Ah, I see. That must’ve been tough for you, Little Huan.”
Ye Lan’s tone softened when she heard about the high pay, assuming that Yan Huan had no choice but to take such jobs for living and tuition expenses.
In truth, Ye Lan misunderstood slightly. Aunt Tong’s bar was reputable and far from seedy.
As Ye Lan and Yan Huan conversed, Ye Shiyu quietly picked up her spoon and took a bite of her pudding. Despite its impeccable flavor, it tasted bitter and coarse in her mouth.
Her gaze lingered on the cheerful banter between Yan Huan and Ye Lan, her dark eyes betraying growing resentnt. The more diligent Yan Huan seed, the more she loathed him.
Her spoon unconsciously scraped at the pudding, and her mask of indifference could barely conceal her turmoil.
Yan Huan, sensing her tension, discreetly glanced at her. Knowing about the Modifier’s presence made him more perceptive than even Ye Lan, but he kept his focus on the conversation, continuing to respond to every question and even managing to make Ye Lan laugh.
At one point, he turned to Ye Shiyu and asked,
“By the way, Sister Shiyu, have you used the school system to select your courses yet?”
“Course selection?” Ye Lan interjected curiously.
“Does your school require that? Aren’t all classes the sa for everyone?”
“Oh, that’s true for Longguo schools, but here, aside from the five mandatory courses, students can choose two electives. These are usually in the afternoon and mix students from different grades and classes.”
“Principal Hers didn’t ntion that to us.”
“That’s probably because you can also register for electives in person at the school’s academic office. The teachers there explain each course in detail, which you won’t find on the online system. That might be why Principal Hers didn’t emphasize online selection.”
Yan Huan smiled as he explained to Ye Lan,
“But since I’m familiar with the school’s courses, I can help you and Sister Shiyu choose now if you’d like.”
“Oh, that’s great. Shiyu, why don’t you grab my laptop and let Little Huan help you with this? I’d like to see how high school courses are chosen here too.”
Ye Shiyu’s hand paused as she scraped at the pudding, then nodded silently and went upstairs.
As she ascended the stairs, she overheard Aunt Chen and Yan Huan chatting again.
“No need for you to help with lunch, Little Huan. You’ve already made such delicious pudding; let
show off my cooking skills. What would you like to eat?”
“Really? Then I’d love so ribs. I saw so in the fridge earlier.”
“Oh, you spotted those? Alright, I’ll cook them up for you later.”
“Aunt Chen, your cooking is amazing!”
“Haha, Little Huan, tell
more about your school’s courses,” Ye Lan chid in.
“Sure thing, Aunt Ye...”
Hearing their warm and lively conversation, Ye Shiyu’s steps slowed.
The atmosphere seed so harmonious, better than when she was ho alone with her mother. Usually, she stayed in her room, tinkering with her dolls, leaving the house’s atmosphere tepid at best.
Perhaps... he was better suited to be part of this family, soone who could draw her mother’s attention effortlessly.
“...”
Though it was just a fictional movie, she couldn’t shake the empathy she felt with its protagonist.
So, was it really surprising that her original desire to drive him away was starting to shift ever so slightly?
Clutching her phone tightly, she ascended the stairs and disappeared into the spiral staircase leading to the third floor.
After lunch and a brief rest, Yan Huan helped Ye Shiyu access Yuanyue’s course selection site. Logging in with Principal Hers’ account, he helped browse available electives.
The process felt as though Yan Huan and Ye Lan were making all the decisions. Every ti Ye Shiyu was asked for input, her responses were the sa:
“Think.”
“Okay.”
“I don’t mind.”
It felt as though Yan Huan was choosing his own courses instead.
In the end, she ended up with two electives, one of which—“Handicrafts Workshop”—was the sa as Yan Huan’s.
Noticing the ti, Ye Lan said,
“Let’s watch a movie later this afternoon. Pick sothing you’d like to see.”
“...Anything’s fine,” Ye Shiyu replied listlessly, though she had no real interest.
Yan Huan glanced at her, then suggested with a smile,
“Aunt Ye, why don’t we go to the supermarket instead? We can pick up groceries for dinner and eat at ho.”
“Such a thoughtful kid...”
Ye Lan smiled as she tousled Yan Huan’s hair. Then, with a sudden grin, she teased,
“But I think you just want to eat ribs, right?”
“No, it’s about avoiding waste. It has nothing to do with ribs at all!”
“Hahaha...”
Laughing, Ye Lan turned to Ye Shiyu,
“Shiyu, do you want to see a movie?”
“Anything’s fine,” Ye Shiyu replied coldly, her gaze piercing as it rested on Yan Huan.
Sensing her hostility, Yan Huan pretended not to notice, his smile only brightening.
Locked doors probably wouldn’t suffice anymore...
He thought grimly.
Ye Lan ultimately decided on grocery shopping, and soon the three of them were on their way to the carport.
Inside was a tiny electric car, barely larger than a plate of chopped fish heads.
Yan Huan stared at the comically small car, then at the cheerful Ye Lan, bewildered.
You’re a wealthy Linn CEO, and this is your car?
As Ye Shiyu silently buckled her seatbelt in the backseat, Yan Huan resigned himself to the absurdity and did the sa.
“Ready to go!”
But the car imdiately reversed into the wall of the garage with a loud thud.
“...”
Yan Huan slumped in his seat as Ye Shiyu remained unmoved, clearly accustod to this chaos.
“Sorry! Wrong gear. Here we go for real this ti!” Ye Lan called cheerfully.
“Alright, Aunt Ye...”
Yan Huan’s forced smile stiffened as he braced himself for the ride.
Sure, apart from the drifting, split-second lane changes, irregular speed shifts, and life-or-death racing vibes, everything else about the ride was fine.
It’s just that sitting in the car made him want to throw up.
The electric car’s rapid accelerations and decelerations finally managed to make even soone as motion-sickness-proof as Yan Huan feel queasy.
Now, with a pale face, he still managed a weak smile to reassure Ye Lan,
“It’s nothing, Aunt Ye.”
His strained expression, coupled with the effort to smile, drew a burst of laughter from Aunt Chen.
“Hahaha!”
“Here, have so ribs and stop talking nonsense,” Ye Lan teased, placing a piece of pork rib on Yan Huan’s plate before also serving Ye Shiyu.
The atmosphere at the dining table was lively, filled with laughter and chatter—except for Ye Shiyu, who remained silent.
Sensing the tension, Yan Huan turned to her and said,
“Compared to , Sister Shiyu is amazing. You’re not even fazed by the ride...”
“...”
No reply.
Ye Lan chuckled to fill the silence,
“My daughter’s always so considerate, unlike Little Huan. Shiyu got used to it. She used to feel dizzy in the car too.”
Still, Ye Shiyu didn’t respond. Dinner concluded with intermittent conversation, punctuated by monts of silence.
After the al, Yan Huan was the first to stand and offer to help Aunt Chen clear the table.
Ye Lan leaned her chin on her hand, smiling as she watched Yan Huan’s figure retreat to the kitchen.
After a pause, she rose and walked to a cabinet in the living room, rummaging through its contents.
The cabinet was filled with photo albums.
Seeing this, Ye Shiyu instantly understood.
The mont she had been expecting was near.
Those albums contained countless old photos, including ones of Yan Huan’s parents.
Yan Huan had ntioned on Friday that he would stay for the weekend. Now, with the atmosphere so harmonious, it was only natural that her mother would bring up the past.
Once they talked about it, Yan Huan would seamlessly integrate into the household.
“Mom, I’m going upstairs to work on so clothes.”
Ye Shiyu’s face was blank as she stood up and announced her departure.
“Alright, go ahead,” Ye Lan replied without looking up, focused on the albums.
Carrying her shadowed thoughts, Ye Shiyu turned and ascended the stairs.
“...Found it,” Ye Lan murmured.
She retrieved an album and returned to the sofa in the living room.
Yan Huan, after a while of helping in the kitchen, erged with two bowls of freshly made double-skin milk custard.
Seeing Ye Lan alone in the living room, he asked,
“Aunt Ye, where’s Sister Shiyu? I made dessert for both of you.”
“She went upstairs to work on her clothes,” Ye Lan replied with a warm smile. Then, waving him over, she added,
“Co here, Little Huan. I want to show you sothing.”
“Sure, Aunt Ye.”
Placing the custards on the coffee table, Yan Huan sat beside her. She opened the thick album, revealing rows of photographs.
Her fingers paused on a photo of two young won.
In the picture, a short-haired Ye Lan stood beside a long-haired, radiant woman who smiled brightly while flashing a “peace” sign at the cara.
Looking at the woman beside Ye Lan, Yan Huan’s eyes shifted subtly.
The resemblance between that woman and himself was uncanny, especially in her smile.
He imdiately understood her identity.
“Look, Little Huan. This is your mother, Wang Yulu. She was my college roommate,” Ye Lan explained with a soft smile.
Her finger moved from photo to photo as she continued,
“When I started college, my family’s business was struggling, and tis were tough. Don’t be fooled by how glamorous I am now—back then, I was barely scraping by in school...”
The photos showed a younger Ye Lan in clothes that didn’t quite fit her, often a size too big.
“As a young girl, you want more than just studying—you want to socialize, go out, and have fun.
“But I didn’t have the money for new clothes. Most of what I wore were hand--downs from my sister, and I felt so self-conscious, so inferior.
“And it wasn’t just clothes. Makeup, snacks, gadgets—I had none of it...”
In every photo, the girl beside Ye Lan—Wang Yulu—was all smiles, making playful gestures or striking quirky poses. Even in still images, her sunny disposition shone through.
“Your mom noticed I didn’t have clothes to wear, so she lent
hers. If I needed makeup for a date or an interview, she shared hers. She taught
about skincare, took
out for exercise, studied with , and introduced
to friends.
“That’s how your mom and dad t. See, here’s a picture of your dad.”
She pointed to a photo of herself, Wang Yulu, and a bespectacled, handso man sitting at a table with other classmates in the background.
“They were the ‘golden couple’ of the literature departnt.”
As she spoke, Ye Lan’s voice grew wistful. Her finger lingered on the photo as she said,
“Your mom was such a kind, genuine person. If it weren’t for her, I don’t know how I would have made it through six years of college and grad school.
“After graduation, your parents moved to Linn for work. They traveled constantly and were often unreachable. I, on the other hand, was stuck dealing with a failed marriage and my family’s business...
“I tried to stay in touch, but my ssages went unanswered. I thought they were just busy, but I never imagined...”
Ye Lan’s voice faltered, her eyes reddening.
She flipped the page but hesitated to look further, afraid that seeing Wang Yulu’s face again would make her cry.
Understanding her feelings, Yan Huan silently handed her a tissue.
A particular photo caught his eye: Wang Yulu leaning over a crib, smiling brightly at a baby—Ye Shiyu—who gripped her pinky with tiny fingers.
The caption beneath the photo read:
“Shiyu eting her godmother for the first ti.”
Yan Huan’s pupils contracted slightly at the sight of the caption.
Beside him, Ye Lan smiled faintly despite her tearful eyes.
“Your mom and I promised to be each other’s children’s godmothers. I’ve always told Shiyu this... So, Little Huan, I hope you can understand why I was so emotional when I first saw you. I might have co on too strong, and it must have felt overwhelming...”
She wiped her eyes again, her voice trembling.
“Just seeing your na—I couldn’t help it. She used to say that if she had a child, she’d na him that because she loved to laugh. She thought her child would love to laugh too...”
Ye Lan’s tears stread uncontrollably, and Yan Huan gently reached out to wipe them away.
“Aunt Ye...”
Ye Lan clasped his hand and, with a soft but hopeful voice, asked,
“So, Little Huan, will you stay here? Live with Aunt Ye. I’ll treat you as my own and take care of you, just as your mom would have wanted. Will you?”
“...”
Facing Ye Lan’s tearful yet eager gaze, Yan Huan felt an indescribable weight on his chest.
The proposition was logical, heartfelt, and almost impossible to refuse.
Over the past two days, he had seamlessly integrated into this household. From a practical perspective, staying would be a golden opportunity. The wealth and resources of the Ye family were undeniable.
Yet, Ye Lan’s plea ca from a place of pure emotion—an unshakable bond forged through shared mories and mutual support.
It wasn’t a clichéd drama of love triangles or grudges. It was a simple, genuine connection.
Moved by her sincerity, Yan Huan found himself wavering.
Sensing his hesitation, Ye Lan’s expression grew more sorrowful, her emotions swelling like a tidal wave, making rejection feel almost criminal.
“Aunt Ye...”
Lowering his gaze, Yan Huan broke the silence with a bitter smile.
“I can’t stay.”
Ye Lan’s eyes widened in disbelief. She quickly pressed,
“Why not? Am I difficult to live with?”
“Of course not.”
“Is it because of Shiyu? She’s just not used to being around others, but I believe having you here will help her open up.”
“It’s not because of her, Aunt Ye. I’ve never thought that.”
“Then why? If it’s about money, I can solve all your problems. If there’s anything you’re unhappy with, just tell ...”
Her voice trembled with confusion and sadness as she searched his face for answers.
Trapped by her tearful eyes, Yan Huan silently cursed the Modifier that forced his hand.
Maintaining his smile, he finally t her gaze and replied with quiet determination,
“I’m sorry, Aunt Ye...
“I can’t stay here. I need to return to the South District.”
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