Ye Ximeng took it with surprise.
She glanced down at the box in her hand.
Huawei Mate X5, a triple-foldable screen phone.
She asked uncertainly, “For me?”
“Yes,” Jiang Yufeng replied. “You gave me white tea yesterday, so this is my return gift.”
Ye Ximeng realized it was a matter of reciprocity.
This gesture was quite generous, and she liked it.
Just as she needed it—her phone screen was cracked. Originally, she planned to replace the screen once the money from her online shop arrived.
But yesterday, after discussing the company startup with Luo Yuanyuan, she invested 150,000 yuan all at once.
That was almost all of her savings.
She had been thinking she would postpone replacing the phone screen and buy a new phone once the company operations stabilized.
Now, Jiang Yufeng’s gift was truly timely assistance.
“Thank you, I’ll insert my SIM card.”
Ye Ximeng happily took the phone box and hurried upstairs with light steps.
Changing her phone and clothes, she also applied a simple, light makeup.
Her features were naturally delicate; with just slight enhancement, she looked like a stunning beauty emerging from a painting.
Her lips were like painted lacquer, her cheeks flushed with color—that vibrant hue resembled the most brilliant flower blooming in spring.
Jiang Yufeng sat on the sofa, flipping through a scripture while waiting for Ye Ximeng.
He had waited for Mother Ye before and knew that when girls go out, they change clothes, apply makeup, and take quite some time.
But as someone who practiced Buddhism and meditation, patience was something he certainly possessed.
Time passed slowly, and Jiang Yufeng heard footsteps coming from the staircase.
In his perception, it hadn’t been too long—he had only flipped through about ten pages of the scripture.
Usually, when waiting for Wen Tonghua, he would flip through at least thirty pages.
Ye Ximeng was faster than he expected.
He stood up from the sofa and turned his head.
Immediately, his usual cool expression faltered momentarily.
The girl descending the stairs seemed to be stepping out of an exquisite painting.
Even as someone who believed in Buddha and embraced the concept that form is emptiness, he had to admit—Ye Ximeng was beautiful.
By the time they set off from Qian Shui Wan to the Ye family’s old residence, it was already past four o’clock.
…
The Ye family’s old residence was located in the Yu Jing Hao Ting villa area within Beijing’s third ring.
Ye Ximeng’s stepsister Ye Xiaorou and her newlywed husband Lu Xuan had returned early; now, the newly married couple were chatting with Ye’s father and mother on the sofa.
Ye Ximeng’s stepmother Sun Yuan glanced at the time and suddenly remarked, “It’s already this late, why hasn’t Ximeng returned yet?”
Mentioning Ye Ximeng, Ye’s father Ye Wenhan’s expression darkened.
He snorted coldly and said, “Even for returning home, she needs repeated reminders—really inconsiderate.”
Ye Xiaorou suddenly covered her mouth and chuckled softly, “Perhaps Sister is embarrassed to come back.
I heard that Brother-in-law doesn’t favor Sister at all; he usually doesn’t even stay in the marital home.
Separated right after marriage—today Brother-in-law surely won’t accompany Sister back home either.”
Upon hearing this, Ye Wenhan snorted again, “Such a useless thing, married yet unable to win over Jiang Yufeng.”
Then, Ye Xiaorou gazed affectionately at Lu Xuan beside her and said, “Not all men are like my Lu Xuan.
The homecoming gifts were specially chosen by Lu Xuan after careful consideration yesterday.”
…
Qian Shui Wan was quite distant from the third ring.
Jiang Yufeng drove, and by the time he and Ye Ximeng arrived at the Ye family villa, it was almost tea time—not too late.
After parking the car, Jiang Yufeng got out first and very gentlemanly opened the car door for Ye Ximeng.
Unfortunately, there were no spectators.
The front door of the Ye family villa was tightly shut.
This was normal; it wasn’t like they were welcoming royalty in ancient times, so there was no need for a grand reception.
Ye Ximeng walked to the door and entered the password to unlock it.
But unexpectedly, the password lock emitted a prompt tone: “The password you entered is incorrect. Please re-enter. Remaining attempts: 5.”
Ye Ximeng stared incredulously at the lock and tried again.
The same prompt tone sounded once more.
She looked somewhat embarrassed at Jiang Yufeng.
Jiang Yufeng’s expression remained as cool and detached as usual. He said, “Ring the bell.”
Shortly after the doorbell rang, a maid came to open the door.
Ye Ximeng walked in with Jiang Yufeng by her side.
Passing through the entryway, they saw Ye Wenhan, Sun Yuan, Ye Xiaorou, and Lu Xuan sitting around the sofa, chatting while enjoying afternoon tea.
Sun Yuan was the first to look at Ye Ximeng.
Ye Ximeng wore light makeup that enhanced her complexion, making her truly stunningly beautiful.
Even Sun Yuan was momentarily stunned.
But what surprised Sun Yuan most was the man standing beside Ye Ximeng.
Yet Sun Yuan reacted swiftly.
She immediately adjusted her expression, stood up, and approached them, saying, “Ximeng is back. Why didn’t you call ahead? Li Sao, quickly prepare tea and snacks for the eldest daughter and her husband.”
Ye Wenhan only looked toward Ye Ximeng when he heard the words “her husband.”
He glanced at Ye Ximeng first, his eyes seeming impatient, but when his gaze landed on Jiang Yufeng, it immediately turned warm and gentle.
“Yufeng, you’re here. Come sit quickly.” He greeted his son-in-law first, not his daughter.
Jiang Yufeng led Ye Ximeng to sit down and thoughtfully brought a cushion to place behind her, gentle and gentlemanly throughout.
From every angle, they looked like a loving couple.
Beside them, Ye Xiaorou watched these painfully vivid scenes, her fists clenched tightly.
In her previous life, after she and Jiang Yufeng had broken up, Jiang Yufeng had barely even acknowledged her, let alone accompanied her back home, held her hand to seat her, or thoughtfully brought cushions!
She had also tried lowering herself to please Jiang Yufeng.
But it was useless; Jiang Yufeng remained unmoved.
So why, with Ye Ximeng, everything was different!
Suddenly, Ye Xiaorou seemed to think of something and blurted out, “Ye Ximeng, did you sign a marriage contract with Jiang Yufeng?
Everything you’re doing now is just pretending to be loving, right!”
Ye Ximeng looked at Ye Xiaorou, neither shocked nor angry, nor jumping to defend herself.
She simply smiled, her tolerant gaze seeming to look at a younger sister who didn’t understand: “Xiaorou, what nonsense are you talking? Pretending to be loving, marriage contracts—these are just plotlines from novels. Have you been reading too many novels lately?”
Looking at Ye Ximeng’s radiant beauty and the hands she and Jiang Yufeng still held together, Ye Xiaorou gritted her teeth.
She had always hated Ye Ximeng’s face since childhood.
Now, Ye Ximeng and Jiang Yufeng holding hands together pierced her eyes even more.
Ye Xiaorou continued, “You aren’t even living together right now, aren’t you?
Jiang Yufeng doesn’t even return to the marital home to live, isn’t that true? Everything now is fake, pretend. Jiang Yufeng, he simply…”
Ye Xiaorou’s next words were cut off by Ye Wenhan’s stern reprimand.
Normally, Ye Xiaorou’s wild talk at home or her gossip about Jiang Yufeng’s capabilities were not significant matters.
But such words absolutely could not reach Jiang Yufeng’s ears.
Ye Xiaorou, after this rebuke, finally calmed down.
She glared hatefully at Ye Ximeng, then nestled herself into Lu Xuan’s embrace.
Ye Xiaorou seemed to have changed her tactics.
From then on, she no longer verbally attacked Ye Ximeng.
Instead, she began to show affection with Lu Xuan.
She seemed to want to provoke Ye Ximeng by displaying their intimacy.
Before dinner, when Ye Ximeng went to wash her hands at the sink, Ye Xiaorou followed her, leaned close to her ear, and said, “Sister, you don’t need to force yourself to show affection in front of me.
Jiang Yufeng definitely hasn’t touched you, right? I told you long ago, he’s incapable.
Unlike my Lu Xuan, he’s gentle and considerate when he does things, and he pays special attention to my feelings.
The sensation of it, those who haven’t experienced it will never understand.”