Shen Wanru was escorting Ye Feng to Qizhi Hall when Ye Wenqing stepped forward, shoving him with surprising force. Thankfully, Ye Qi intercepted at his waist, preventing Ye Feng from falling to the ground.
Seeing that Ye Feng remained upright, Ye Wenqing tried to push again, grumbling, “Do you even deserve to be in the same school as me? Do you know how many copper coins it costs each month? Do you even have money, you country bumpkin?”
Ye Qi stood protectively in front of Ye Feng.
Ye Qiuling, brimming with mischief, snapped back, “I have more money than you. Just look at the rags you’re wearing, nowhere near as nice as what my Xiao Feng wears. Could it be that your mother couldn’t afford to buy you proper clothes?”
She covered her mouth to stifle a giggle, looking triumphant.
Ye Wenqing, realizing he was being mocked and that indeed his clothes paled in comparison to Ye Feng’s, stammered, “…you… uh…” and ended up bursting into tears.
The old lady, seeing her precious grandson cry, rushed over with a handkerchief to gently wipe his tears, scolding Ye Qiuling, “You little troublemaker! How dare you speak like that to your own brother?”
Shen Wanru, fearing that scolding her daughter might be seen as unfilial, tried to mediate gently, “He started it with Xiao Feng first. Alright, Mother, let’s just let them in.”
Seeing the crowd around them, the old lady decided not to continue berating them, allowing the children to enter.
Ye Qiuling waved inside, “Xiao Feng, I’ll come pick you up after school.”
Ye Feng nodded with a bright smile, “Okay, Sister.”
The old lady wanted to scold Ye Qiuling again, but when she opened her mouth, no sound came out. Panic widened her eyes as she tried to speak, but her voice failed her. She ran toward the clinic, fearing that if she delayed, she might never be able to speak again.
Ye Qiuling watched her flee like a dog being chased, laughing hysterically in her mind as she told Ye Qi, “Look at her, Xiao Qi, she can’t speak! The panic on her face is killing me—this is hilarious.”
Ye Qi, caught up in her laughter, joined in.
Ye Qiuling asked, concerned, “When will she be able to speak again? Is this going to be a problem?” She didn’t want her parents to worry or have to deal with the old lady because of her prank.
Ye Qi patted his chest reassuringly, “It’s fine, she won’t die. This is just a silent spell—it lasts two hours and no reason can be traced.”
Feeling relieved, Ye Qiuling still muttered a few teasing remarks, telling the old lady she had it coming.
Walking home with Ye Qi, they ran into Chen Xuanmo, dressed in a black-and-purple robe that made him look even more handsome, his eyes carrying a gentle amusement.
He greeted Ye Qiuling and her parents, then curiously asked, “Who is this young master?”
Ye Qiuling laughed lightly, “Oh, him? He’s my son. Isn’t he cute?”
She even took advantage of the moment, pinching Ye Qi’s cheeks twice.
The words “my son” hit Chen Xuanmo like a thunderbolt. His face turned pale. She had a child? Did she already love someone? Was she already married?
Bitterness spread in his chest, yet his feelings for her remained uncontrollable. Even if she had a son or loved someone, he still cared for her. If that person treated her poorly, he would snatch her away.
Seeing his face go pale, Ye Qiuling panicked briefly, checked that he wasn’t hurt, and said, “Are you alright?”
Her hand accidentally brushed his, and she added, “Come on, let’s go to the clinic.”
Chen Xuanmo shook his head, forcing a bitter smile. “I’m fine.”
Shen Wanru, noticing his reaction, realized he had feelings for her daughter—otherwise he wouldn’t have looked so distraught hearing that she had a son.
Chen Xuanmo, worried about his own health after rushing to the palace the day before for the imperial consort’s birthday and then returning overnight, was now confronted with this news.
Unable to resist, he asked again, “Is he really your son?”
The words stung his heart, sharp and relentless.
Ye Qiuling, unaware of the sadness in his voice, replied playfully, “Guess.”
She met his gaze, noticing a glimmer of tears in his eyes, the smile on her face forced but gentle.
Chen Xuanmo looked at her, not wanting to let go. A child shouldn’t be without a father, and he wanted to be that person, even if it made him the villain—yet Ye Qiuling wouldn’t agree. He felt helpless, the vines of emotion tightening around his heart, and a single tear slipped from his eye.
Ye Qiuling, puzzled, felt an impulse to wipe it away. After all, brothers help each other with tears.
She wiped the tear from his face, laughing, “I tricked you. That’s my adopted little brother.”
Chen Xuanmo looked up at her in confusion, his voice trembling, “Really?”
There was a hint of hope in his voice, a key loosening the vines around his heart.
Ye Qiuling, genuinely puzzled, asked, “Really, why are you crying?”
Chen Xuanmo, embarrassed, said, “I’m not crying. It’s just… sand got in my eyes.”
Ye Qiuling teased, “Wait, you call yourself ‘this Wang’? Aren’t you a prince?”
His heart skipped a beat. He had inadvertently revealed his identity. He nodded, “Yes, I am the Third Prince. I didn’t mean to hide it, I just didn’t want to cause you trouble.”
Ye Qiuling laughed, unconvinced, “Third Prince? And I’m the Sixth Princess? You’re just cosplaying with me.”
Chen Xuanmo, anxious to be believed, said seriously, “It’s not cosplay. I really am the Third Prince.”
Ye Qiuling relented, “Fine, fine, you’re the Third Prince.”
Suddenly, a voice shouted in her mind, “I’m hungry!!!”
She looked at Ye Qi and asked, “What do you want to eat?”
Ye Qi, scrolling videos in the system space, wanted everything, especially grilled fish that made his mouth water. “I want grilled fish.”
Ye Qiuling smiled, “Alright, call me ‘Sister’ and I’ll get it for you.”
Ye Qi was silent, turning his head away.
He issued a task in the system space: Grilled fish task: reward—a small food cart.
Ye Qiuling was speechless. If he didn’t want to call her, fine, but now there was a task too!
The small food cart, however, caught his eye—he could cook all kinds of food with it.
Ye Qiuling wanted to redeem a fish from the system, but she couldn’t conjure one from thin air. They had to buy it.
The group went to the small fishing beach. The fish stall owner, an older woman, saw them and anticipated selling lots of fish, rubbing her hands excitedly.
She asked Shen Wanru, “How many fish do you want?”
Shen Wanru asked about the price. Seeing the large group, the woman quoted a higher price, expecting them to buy in bulk.
Ye Qiuling intervened, “Madam, these fish don’t look fresh. They’re from yesterday, right?”
Some fish floated belly-up, pale in the bucket.
Ye Qiuling’s sharp gaze made the woman realize her fish were indeed from yesterday.
She tried to cover it, “Impossible! Our fish sell out every day. If you think it’s expensive, I can lower the price a little. No need to question my fish.”
Ye Qiuling, seeing her refusal, countered, “Mother, let’s buy from another stall. I don’t think these fish are fresh.”
Shen Wanru, thinking the price too high, relented.
The fish stall owner, realizing her earlier tactic failed, hurried inside to fetch fresh fish and handed them over to Ye Qiuling, “Miss, look, all fresh.”
Ye Qiuling examined them; indeed, the bag in her hands was fresh, but the copper coins were for yesterday’s fish.
She turned to leave. “No, I don’t believe it. Mother, let’s go elsewhere. This stall is too expensive.”
The woman gritted her teeth and lowered the price by two copper coins. “You can have them for four coins.”
Exactly what Ye Qiuling wanted to hear. “Deal, Mother, give him the money.”
Shen Wanru, surprised at her daughter’s bargaining skill, handed over four coins.
The fish stall owner realized she had been outmaneuvered and resignedly cleaned the fish, handing them over with a forced smile. “Come again next time.”
Ye Qiuling, amused, replied politely, “Next time I’ll come again.”
The woman, smiling, said, “Yes, next time.”
Chen Xuanmo, watching Ye Qiuling’s smiling eyes and curved brows, felt his heart race. Moments ago he had felt like he’d fallen into hell; now he felt reborn.
Ye Qiuling wandered the market, noting no bean sprouts, and bought two blocks of tofu and some vegetables.
Chen Xuanmo asked, “Qiuling, you mentioned opening a hotpot restaurant last time. When will it open? Need my help?”
Hearing him say “this Wang” felt odd, but she let it slide, “Not yet. I haven’t hired anyone. I plan to post recruitment later. About ten people are needed.”
Chen Xuanmo, realizing he could place two people there to help her, thought it would ease her workload and handle troublesome customers.