All was silent under the night sky, with only the rustling of wind stirring the flowers audible. Not far away, the artificial fountain continuously sprayed water droplets.
Amid the sea of white flowers, the two figures—one lying and one sitting—formed a stark contrast.
The person on the lounge chair lay with eyes closed, posture casual and languid, exuding a much more relaxed air than the guests coming and going in the banquet hall.
After entering the hotel, he had found this quiet spot to lie down.
To avoid disturbing this ancestor’s rest, Chi Yan had specifically arranged for waitstaff to intercept any guests attempting to approach.
The staff here were all specially trained; it was impossible for them to make mistakes.
That the Ye family’s young heiress could reach this place without anyone stopping her—he didn’t believe that was a coincidence.
Sure enough, as Chi Yan speculated, the person on the lounge chair opened his eyes.
Unlike the gloom and hostility seen in the boxing ring, this time Ye Fei detected an expression of complete relaxation in those eyes.
But to be honest, surrounded by white petals and with such a face, for someone who appreciates beauty, it was truly an arresting sight.
“How long do you plan to keep staring?” The person on the lounge chair lazily glanced over.
Ye Fei curved her lips into a smile. “Who doesn’t enjoy admiring beautiful things? Looking a little longer isn’t against the law.”
“Smooth talker.”
Ye Fei didn’t deny it. She admitted she did quite like this face. If possible, she’d genuinely want to recruit him to her side.
After all, she needed a wheelchair to get around, and Jing Chu alone couldn’t carry her everywhere. With two people, it would be much easier.
Even palace gates have two stone lions—why couldn’t she have two attendants?
But this man’s aura, evident even from the boxing ring, was clearly not ordinary.
He wasn’t someone to be trifled with lightly.
Chi Yan, with all the subtlety of a thief hiding behind a tree, crouched behind the nearest trunk, cautiously peeking out to see how the two would proceed.
But before they could get closer, someone emerging from the main hall reached his side.
It was someone brought by Grandpa Zhi—the old man’s trusted confidant.
After the person succinctly explained the situation, Chi Yan had no choice but to step out and escort them over.
“I was hoping to see if you two would have any unexpected developments, but now the old man is calling. Come with me.”
Chi Yan swaggered between the two, looking relaxed as he addressed the person on the lounge chair.
“Then I won’t disturb you any further.” Ye Fei tactfully prepared to leave.
Before she could press the wheelchair’s button, Chi Yan reached out to stop her.
“Miss Ye Fei, Grandpa Zhi invites you to join him for a chat.”
Hearing this, Ye Fei looked at the person opposite her with renewed curiosity.
Number Thirty-Nine—was he from the Zhi family?
Inside the main hall, the guests were busy with their own socializing. Grandpa Zhi remained seated in the same spot as before, though now accompanied by Gu Zhi and Ye Yanqiu standing beside him.
Almost the moment the two entered, Grandpa Zhi pointed to the person beside Ye Fei and introduced him to Gu Zhi.
“This is my youngest grandson, Zhi Huai.”
Hearing this name, Ye Fei finally understood the identity of the person beside her.
Grandpa Zhi’s youngest grandson was indeed named Zhi Huai, rumored to be deeply cherished and doted upon.
However, this grandson was said to be unruly, arrogant, and difficult to discipline. He had left home at a young age, heading to the remote Northern Province.
Naturally, they were not as close as the other two grandsons raised by the old master.
“Truly outstanding individuals. I always said the young men of the Zhi family would never disappoint,” Gu Zhi remarked with a smile.
Beside her, Ye Yanqiu caught sight of the man entering the room, a flash of admiration crossing her eyes.
Such noble bearing and looks were far beyond what Zhi Yuan and Zhi Bo could ever match.
Grandpa Zhi observed the two who had arrived together, seeming to understand something in his heart.
He looked at his grandson, who remained as calm and composed as ever, then at the young lady in the wheelchair.
If anyone said there was nothing between these two, no one would believe it.
“She was as delicate as carved jade when she was little, and now she has grown into such a beauty,” Zhi Yuanhong praised sincerely.
As he spoke, the old master gestured for Zhi Yuan, who was standing nearby, to step forward and greet Ye Fei.
Upon hearing this, Ye Yanqiu abruptly straightened up. She understood Grandpa Zhi’s intention.
The Zhi family intended to select a granddaughter-in-law from the Ye family, though it was still unclear exactly who would marry whom.
But in all the time she had been here, the old master had never once asked Zhi Yuan to speak a word to her.
Now, as soon as Ye Fei appeared, the old master eagerly pushed Zhi Yuan forward. How could she not feel anxious?
Ye Yanqiu was thoroughly unsettled, her eyes fixed intently on Ye Fei.
Zhi Yuan politely half-crouched to greet the person in the wheelchair.
“Miss Ye, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Ye Fei nodded in response. Up close, his features were indeed handsome, but even as a cousin, he was far inferior to Zhi Huai.
The difference between the moon and the stars.
“Young people should chat more often. Don’t mind us old folks,” Zhi Yuanhong said with a smile.
Following his arrangement, Zhi Yuan took a seat beside Ye Fei and began conversing with her politely.
Chi Yan stood nearby, glancing at Ye Fei and Zhi Yuan, who were chatting and laughing, before turning his gaze to Zhi Huai.
Although the man hadn’t looked up at them once, Chi Yan could still keenly sense the tension lingering in the air.
His mood didn’t seem to be very good.
With this thought, he suddenly looked at the two across from him. To confirm his suspicion, Chi Yan joined the conversation between Ye Fei and Zhi Yuan.
“You two seem to be getting along well. I happen to have two tickets to a concert. I’ve been quite busy lately, so I’ll give them to you,” Chi Yan said with a smile.
“Miss Ye, do you enjoy classical music?” Zhi Yuan followed Chi Yan’s lead and turned to Ye Fei.
The orchestra performing in Jiangcheng this time was a rare sight, touring only once every five years and holding just three concerts in Jiangcheng.
Since she had been feeling rather bored these past few days, Ye Fei nodded in agreement.
Just like that, the two settled on attending the concert together at seven o’clock the following evening.
As soon as he handed over the tickets, Chi Yan felt a gaze directed at him from across the room.
A chill ran down his spine, and when he looked up, he saw the faint, ambiguous smile on the face of the man opposite him.
His entire back felt as if it were freezing over. Now he was certain—this ancestor, who never appeared in any public setting, had come here with intentions far beyond what met the eye.
After a while, Zhi Yuanhong finally remembered the person nearby and gestured for Zhi Huai to step forward and greet Ye Fei.
“You two met several times when you were children. Have you forgotten now?”
Ye Fei, who had assumed he wouldn’t acknowledge her, simply watched as the man on the sofa rose and walked over to her.
Guests who were already curious about the situation here practically craned their necks to get a better look.
Upon hearing that Ye Fei and Zhi Huai knew each other, most of them imagined a childhood sweethearts separated in their youth scenario.
But no one expected the man’s next words to leave them utterly stunned.
“That wheelchair looks nice—suits you quite well.”
After all, with broken legs, you can’t run away, can you?
In the next moment, the person in the wheelchair smiled sweetly, showing no trace of anger, and looked up at him with a gentle smile.
“Master Zhi’s mask is quite impressive too—looks rather high-end…”
Chi Yan nearly spat out the tea in his mouth.
Was this the setup for childhood sweethearts enjoying peaceful times?
It seemed quite the opposite.
These two clearly didn’t get along!
So, the serene scene under the cherry blossom tree earlier was all an act?
Were they deceiving his innocent heart?