The Ye family was one of the earliest wealthy and influential clans to rise in Jiangcheng.
Although it was now Ye Fei’s uncle, Ye Qingyuan, who presided over the family, everyone in the vast city of Jiangcheng knew this truth.
The one who had originally elevated the Ye family to its current peak was Ye Qingyuan’s older brother, Ye Qingcheng.
Fifteen years ago, Ye Qingcheng was the undisputed legend of Jiangcheng’s business world. If not for the accident that claimed his life in a car crash, the Ye family would likely have reached even greater heights today.
Old Mrs. Huo was now crouched in front of Ye Fei’s wheelchair, tears streaming down her face in an instant.
“Yaoyao…” the old lady called out, her voice trembling. The way she lowered her head to wipe her tears seemed utterly genuine.
If Ye Fei hadn’t personally heard those four words—”let her fend for herself”—years ago, the scene before her would truly have been a touching reunion between grandmother and granddaughter after a long separation.
“Where have you been all these years? Grandma searched everywhere for you but couldn’t find you.” Gu Zhi reached out to stroke Ye Fei’s cheek, her eyes brimming with affection.
Jing Chu was quite curious about how the boss would handle such a scene of an elderly person in tears.
Would she bury her head and weep bitterly?
He had never seen the boss in an emotional moment before, and the thought stirred a little excitement in him.
Seated in the wheelchair, Ye Fei soon broke into a gentle smile, comforting the old lady with great understanding. “Please don’t be sad. I’m back now, aren’t I?”
Beside them, Ye Yanxia watched the scene and helped the old lady to her feet with a supportive hand.
The old lady lifted her sleeve to wipe away her tears. “Good, Grandma won’t be sad. This is a happy occasion.”
However, this sentimental moment didn’t last long before it was abruptly shattered.
Thud…
A child’s toy car crashed squarely into Ye Fei’s wheelchair. The wheelchair jolted backward from the impact but was stopped by Jing Chu.
The driver of the car, Ye Wen, seemed to have found something amusing and started it up again, ramming into the wheelchair once more.
Jing Chu nearly couldn’t resist tossing the little brat aside.
Clearly, this kid hadn’t been disciplined enough.
“Wenwen!” Gu Zhi pulled him over. “You mustn’t be so rude. You should call her Sister Yaoyao.”
Seeing this, Ye Yanxia gestured for a servant to take Ye Wen away and explained to Ye Fei, “Wenwen has been spoiled since he was little. Please don’t take it to heart.”
“I understand. A child born in one’s later years naturally receives more doting,” Ye Fei replied, appearing exceedingly understanding.
These words, spoken without bias, happened to reach the ears of Ye Qingyuan and his wife as they entered.
The middle-aged man in a tailored suit merely glanced at her without a word before heading into the main hall.
Seeing his displeased expression, Jing Chu beside her nearly burst out laughing.
The boss’s words—what man would enjoy hearing something like that?
“Lunch isn’t ready yet. Why don’t you take Yaoyao to the garden for a look?” Gu Zhi instructed Ye Yanxia before hurrying anxiously toward the kitchen. “I’ll go check if the soup is done.”
In Ye Fei’s memory, the backyard of the Ye mansion had once boasted a stunning patch of tulips. Every blooming season, it was truly a breathtaking sight. But now, those flowers had been replaced by flamboyant roses.
It was currently their peak blooming season—a vibrant sea of crimson, dazzling and radiant.
Inside the pavilion, Ye Fei leaned back in her wheelchair, eyes closed. The warm breeze sweeping around her rustled through her hair, carrying with it waves of floral fragrance.
The sapphire she was caressing in her hand shimmered brilliantly under the sunlight, its cut edges smooth and polished—clearly no ordinary gem.
“Boss, it seems Old Mrs. Ye is quite pleased with your return,” Jing Chu remarked, leaning against the railing.
Ye Fei tossed the gem in her hand up and caught it, asking indifferently, “When you were following Wen Qiao before, didn’t he teach you that judging a person goes beyond just their face?”
“You think there’s something off about that old lady?” Jing Chu quickly flipped down from the railing. “Then it’s simple—just tie her up and ask.”
Simple and brutal, yet the most effective method.
“What do you think you could get out of her?”
Jing Chu blinked, switching tactics. “Tie her up and hang her upside down from the rafters, no food or water. An old lady won’t last long.”
By then, she’d spill whatever they wanted to know.
Ye Fei rolled her eyes. “I’m staying here for half a year. If you kill her off so quickly, who am I supposed to play with here?”
Besides, Gu Zhi had only wanted nothing to do with her back then—it hadn’t reached that point yet.
But the mask this person wore could only last so long; it was just a matter of testing her endurance.
Not far from the two, on the second-floor balcony, Ye Qingyuan leaned against the railing, staring intently at the figures in the pavilion.
Behind the sharp glare of his glasses, his eyes narrowed slightly.
“Whatever it takes, find that person. Alive or dead, I want to see them.”
As he hung up the phone, Su Lan entered the study and set down a cup.
“Do you think the child already knows about this since coming back?”
Before she could finish, Ye Qingyuan turned and glared at her, his expression icy. “Watch your mouth. Know what should and shouldn’t be said.”
Su Lan chuckled softly. Having lived in this household for so many years, she certainly knew how to speak appropriately.
Meanwhile, Ye Fei was lazily basking in the sun. After fiddling with his phone for a while, Jing Chu eagerly leaned in.
“Boss, I’ve prepared a surprise for you!”
“What kind of surprise could you possibly have?” Ye Fei replied without opening her eyes. “I’m guessing it’s more of a shock.”
Before Jing Chu could explain, a remote-controlled helicopter flew straight toward them, showing no sign of turning despite its close proximity.
The rotor spun rapidly, and laughter seemed to echo from a distance.
Jing Chu reacted swiftly, intercepting the toy helicopter just two centimeters from Ye Fei’s face.
“Damn,” he muttered under his breath.
Ye Fei looked up and saw Ye Wen approaching from afar, surrounded by servants.
“Give it back.”
He walked up to Ye Fei and held out his hand unabashedly, his attitude bold and unapologetic.
The servants following him were panting and sweating, some visibly bearing bruises on their faces.
Ye Fei took the helicopter from Jing Chu and smiled at the child before her. “Before asking for the helicopter back, shouldn’t you say something to me?”
Ye Wen ignored this entirely, stepping onto the stone stool beside Ye Fei and shouting down at her.
“Give it back!!”
Ye Fei glanced sideways; the noise was genuinely hurting her ears. Jing Chu promptly lifted Ye Wen down with one hand.
The servants tried to step forward but were deterred by a single glare from Jing Chu, leaving them to stand silently aside.
“I’m telling Grandma you’re bullying me!” Ye Wen suddenly yelled.
Ye Fei’s already bright smile deepened. Right in front of him, she reached out, snapped the helicopter’s rotor clean off, and tossed it back into his arms.
“Here, it’s returned to you.”
Ye Wen stared in disbelief, his eyes wide—his model airplane was broken…
This was the first time he had ever been bullied like this. Once the shock wore off, he burst into wailing sobs.
The servant nearby was at a loss. In the entire Ye family, who didn’t give in to the young master? That was exactly what had nurtured his little tyrant personality.
Now, as soon as Miss Ye Fei arrived, she had made him cry. Who knew what Old Mrs. Huo would say about it.
Soon, Ye Wen’s cries drew the attention of others, and Old Mrs. Huo hurried over.
The servant briefly explained what had just happened.
Gu Zhi glanced at her still-crying grandson, then looked at Ye Fei.
“It’s fine, Wenwen was just being unreasonable,” Old Mrs. Huo reassured Ye Fei.
The servant nearby was somewhat incredulous. All these years, she had never seen anyone provoke the young master without being scolded by Old Mrs. Huo.
Miss Ye Fei truly was quite favored by Old Mrs. Huo.
Gu Zhi watched as Ye Wen was coaxed away by the servant, then gently took Ye Fei’s hand, her smile warm. “When you were little, you were also quite willful. Once you started crying, no one could talk you out of it.”
Ye Fei seemed to reflect on this, replying along the lines of what Old Mrs. Huo had said, “In a child’s world, likes and dislikes are always so clear-cut.”
Gu Zhi raised her hand and gently ruffled Ye Fei’s hair. “Now you’ve grown so big.”
Amidst the blooming flowers, the scene was one of harmonious affection between grandmother and granddaughter.
When Ye Yanqiu stepped out of the car, this was the warm, joyful scene she saw.