Evening, as the wind grew slightly cold.
The spacious dining hall was crowded, yet eerily quiet.
Everyone from the Ye Family was present except for Jiuliang.
The Ye Family placed great importance on protocols, evident from the seating arrangent at the dinner table.
Ye Rong sat at the head, with his eldest son, Ye Yan, to his left, and the rest seated according to seniority.
"What a show-off just after getting back, thinking he’s really sothing," Ye Xin muttered under her breath, cursing Jiuliang countless tis in her heart.
Ye Rong frowned slightly, his eyes catching the figure who arrived late, his brows then relaxing.
"Everyone seems to be here."
The voice was clear and carried a hint of laziness.
The crowd looked towards the source of the voice, and in the brilliant light, the young girl’s beautiful face ca into view. Her narrow, bewitching eyes were indifferent and cold, veiled as if shrouded in a mist, inscrutable.
Ye Yan gave her a fleeting glance, then averted his gaze.
"Sit down now," Ye Rong said sternly.
Jiuliang raised an eyebrow and casually picked a chair to sit on.
It was either intentional or coincidental, but he ended up directly opposite Grandpa Ye.
That was, indeed, at the very end of the table.
"Jiuliang, why sit so far? Here’s your place," Ye Yu said, looking at her tenderly and gesturing her over.
His smile was kindly, as if the incident where Jiuliang had hit Ye Miao had never occurred.
Jiuliang glanced at the empty seat next to Ye Miao and hooked her red lips slightly, "No trouble needed, I actually find this spot quite good. I’ve sat here since I was little, and I’ve grown quite fond of it."
At her words, the expressions around varied.
Jiuliang and Ye Miao were the sa age, but Jiuliang was still a month younger. When Grandma Ye and Jiuliang’s parents were still alive, Jiuliang always sat at the end of the table.
After her parents died, Jiuliang was sent abroad and only returned ho two or three tis for the New Year.
Each of those tis, she only stayed for two days before returning abroad.
In Jiuliang’s mory, the only ti she did not sit at the end of the table was when her father returned that ti.
The tall, aloof man was always gentle in front of her, lifting her high, reading bedti stories, carefully deboning fish for her; he was the only warmth she felt in the Ye Family.
With him there, no one dared to bully her, but sadly, that return beca the last ti she saw her father.
Jiuliang’s eyes dimd slightly, a hint of pain gliding through their depths.
It was still the sa intricately carved dining table, but her protective father was no longer there.
As the atmosphere was about to turn stiff,
Ye Rong picked up his chopsticks, breaking the silence, "Let’s eat."
The servant placed cutlery in front of Jiuliang and then stepped aside.
"Amiao, in two days, Jiuliang will transfer to your school. If she doesn’t understand sothing, try to help her," Ye Rong said quietly after sipping so wine.
At those words, even Ye Yan glanced sideways.
"She’s going to the sa school as ?" Ye Miao paused dramatically, his tone aggressive.
Seeing Grandpa Ye frowning, Ye Yu subtly tugged at his sleeve, "Amiao."
"Grandpa, Beisen Academy really values academic performance. Jiuliang’s basics are not solid, it will be tough for her there," Ye Xin chid in swiftly.
Her seamless comnt was both overtly and covertly mocking Jiuliang for her poor grades, implying she wasn’t qualified for Beisen.
"Xinxin, this is your grandfather’s decision. Eat your al quietly," finally, Ye Yan spoke, his tone laced with a hint of warning.
Ye Xin, both respectful and fearful of her father, imdiately fell silent.
"Amiao, we are all siblings here, it’s only right to help each other," Ye Yu said, glancing at Jiuliang with a smile, attempting to lighten the mood.
Ye Miao’s face darkened, but he didn’t respond.
"This matter is settled, let’s eat," Ye Rong declared, brooking no argunt.
Seeing this, the others had little appetite despite the array of sumptuous dishes.
At that mont, a cell phone rang.
Aware of the gazes directed at her, Ye Jiuliang calmly took out her phone and answered the call right in front of everyone.
Ye Rong was sipping his wine, his eyes surreptitiously sweeping towards Ye Jiuliang.
Whatever the person on the other end of the line said caused Ye Jiuliang’s lips to curve up into a beautiful arc.
Her smile was subtle, yet it carried a bit more warmth.
Ye Jiuliang humd, "I’ll co over now."
After hanging up the phone, she stuffed it into her pocket and stood up.
"It’s so late, you’re still going out?" Ye Rong asked.
Ye Jiuliang lightly nodded, "I’m full; you guys take your ti."
With that said, she turned and left.
Everyone watched her retreating figure, each with different thoughts.
It wasn’t until the girl’s figure vanished at the door that a hoarse voice pulled their attention back.
"Since Jiuliang is back, there are so things I want to say outright. Although Jiuliang has been abroad these years, no matter what, she is still a mber of the Ye Family. I hope to never hear from outsiders about discord among our own, giving others reason to laugh at us."
As he spoke, Ye Rong’s gaze swept over everyone, lingering a few seconds more on Ye Miao and Ye Xin.
Ye Xin kept her head low, her face full of displeasure.
It was always that damn Ye Jiuliang acting too arrogantly. Why did grandfather always have to be so partial to her?
...
The bustling street was brilliantly lit.
At the desolate entrance, a dainty figure looked around east and west.
A cool breeze blew, ssing up her auburn hair.
Seeing an opportunity, the girl’s eyes lit up, waving her hand excitedly.
"Little Liangliang, this way."
Ye Jiuliang squinted, seeing that bouncing figure, and with a slight smile hooked at the corner of her lips, she walked towards it leisurely.
"Missed to death, co here, give a hug," Gu Xinuo wrapped Ye Jiuliang in a bear hug.
"If I rember correctly, we just saw each other yesterday," Ye Jiuliang glanced sideways at the koala hanging on her.
Gu Xinuo clung to her neck, swaying as she sweetly said, "But I missed you after an hour, can’t I miss you?"
Ye Jiuliang was almost shaken to nausea, "Can you talk normally?"
"Look, I’ve even brought you a gift," Gu Xinuo stood firm on the ground, smiling as she presented her treasure.
Ye Jiuliang followed her gaze, under the warm yellow street light, a pink electric scooter stood alone.
That garish pink, really...
She raised an eyebrow, "You’re not saying this bike is for , are you?"
"I just knew my Little Liangliang is the smartest," Gu Xinuo said with a flattering smile, "You see, Aqian and I made a bet, and the bet was his silver sports car."
Ye Jiuliang, "So, you lost?"
"That was just his good luck." Gu Xinuo looked depressed for a mont, then hugged Ye Jiuliang’s arm and chuckled, "Little Liangliang, I know you love the most, isn’t this electric scooter adorable? It’s perfect for you."
Ye Jiuliang chuckled, having never used anything in such a garish pink in her life.
She lowered her gaze as Gu Xinuo blinked innocently.
Ye Jiuliang pinched the bridge of her nose, digging out the keys from her pocket, "Take it."
"I just knew you loved the most, muah!" Gu Xinuo took them, puckering her lips as if to plant a kiss on her face.
Ye Jiuliang dodged to the side, less than impressed, "Save it, give that routine to Aqian and Achen."
The two shared a laugh.
After the joke, it was ti to circle back to the main topic.
"How has the Ye Family been treating you?" Gu Xinuo asked.
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