After comforting the clingy little rabbit, Fu Yi said there was no need to serve tea her ancient parents were far too unreliable. Yet Ye Xunshu, deeply influenced by the traditional Three Bonds and Five Constants, insisted on performing the tea ceremony.
Helpless, Fu Yi worried that Lin Wan and Fu Shen might say something inappropriate to her wife, so she had no choice but to accompany her.
They arrived at noon.
The Fu family’s business had grown, with hired workers overseeing every process, leaving the elderly couple with little to do most of the time.
Fu Yi thought that while her parents were backward in their thinking, their bond was strong. After all, in an era where marriages were often arranged, how many couples could remain so loving after so many years?
When she led Ye Xunshu into the house, Lin Wan and Fu Shen were huddled together, staring intently at something mirror-like, completely oblivious to their arrival.
Their absorption was so deep that Fu Yi grew suspicious for a moment and glanced at Ye Xunshu, who was still holding the tea tray.
“…” Fu Yi cleared her throat lightly, and Lin Wan finally looked up, startled. “Yi’er, when did you get here…?”
Fu Yi sighed inwardly: …Your eyesight is truly impressive.
“Xunshu offers tea to Father and Mother.” As she spoke, Ye Xunshu knelt before them.
Lin Wan and Fu Shen exchanged glances. Seeing Ye Xunshu’s respectful demeanor, seemingly unaffected by their earlier words, they awkwardly masked their discomfort, pretending nothing had happened.
The elderly couple accepted the tea and drank. Fu Shen still seemed uneasy around Ye Xunshu, but Lin Wan helped her up with a smile. “Xunshu, this tea is exceptionally well-brewed.”
Ye Xunshu smiled sweetly. Seizing the chance to interject, Fu Shen quickly added, “Xunshu was born into a tea merchant family. She’s been skilled in brewing techniques since childhood far surpassing Yi’er in craftsmanship.”
Fu Yi: “…”
Sacrificing your own daughter to salvage your image in front of your daughter-in-law?
Fu Yi glanced at Ye Xunshu, realizing this was what adults meant by “someone else’s child.”
So this annoying habit has been around since ancient times…
By sheer coincidence, Ye Xunshu also looked over at that moment. Their gazes met with uncanny synchronicity, and in the blink of an eye, Fu Yi’s face flushed red.
Ye Xunshu quietly averted her eyes, covering her face as she laughed.
“Thank you for your praise, Father and Mother.”
“Ahem…” To dispel the awkwardness, Fu Yi sidestepped Ye Xunshu and approached her parents. “What are you two looking at?”
The moment she finished speaking, her eyes landed on the “mirror,” where shifting images played out. Fu Yi’s expression turned to shock.
This…
…This this this!
This mirror could play videos?!
She stared at Lin Wan and Fu Shen in disbelief.
Startled, Lin Wan avoided her gaze, wearing the guilty smile of someone caught red-handed. “Yi’er, why are you looking at us like that…?”
Fu Shen wrapped an arm around Lin Wan defensively. “It’s just some clips of an Alpha abusing an Omega! Don’t you dare copy this! Xunshu is your properly wedded wife, if you dare lay a hand on her, we won’t take your side anymore! Now that you’re married, you better drop all those bad habits of yours.”
Fu Yi glanced at Ye Xunshu, who stood frozen nearby.
…That’s not what you two were saying this morning!
“Putting on airs in front of their daughter-in-law, really trying to save face.”
Fu Yi sighed deeply at the two elders who showed no semblance of maturity. Then, she sensed a faint trace of spiritual energy emanating from the mirror.
Memories from the past flooded Fu Yi’s mind. She recalled hearing during her time in the Upper Realm that the rapid development of its civilization was partly due to the abundance of spiritual energy there. The world was divided into three realms: Upper, Middle, and Lower. The Middle Realm, also known as the Void Realm, served as a barrier separating the Upper and Lower Realms.
Yet, this barrier had flaws, allowing spiritual energy from the Upper Realm to inevitably seep into the Lower Realm.
Staring at this “mirror,” Fu Yi fell into thought.
So, the Lower Realm wasn’t entirely backward in its civilization after all.
Lin Wan, worried that the images here might corrupt the child, lightly tapped the surface. The video of an Alpha pulling an Omega’s hair and beating her in a corner instantly vanished without a trace, and the mirror reverted to an ordinary one.
Fu Yi: ????
A “mirror” that could play videos wasn’t that just like the apps in the Upper Realm?
Lin Wan coughed twice and instructed someone to put away the water mirror. Sitting down, she said to Fu Yi, “Yier, now that you’re married, your father and I have discussed it. It’s time for you to rein in your playful nature and start learning how to manage the family business.”
Fu Yi: …Huh?
So after working for so long in the Upper Realm, finally getting a chance to relax in the Lower Realm, she had to start working again?
Fu Yi felt she was destined to be a wage slave in this lifetime.
Lin Wan continued, “Since you’re just starting, begin with the basics.” She glanced at Ye Xunshu, who stood nearby. “Xunshu, you’ll need to help out more. You’re more meticulous than Yier, so keep a close eye on her.”
Fu Yi: …Yeah, yeah, yeah.
“Listen carefully!” Lin Wan’s tone cooled slightly, sending a chill down Fu Yi’s spine. It made her wonder was Fu Shen so obedient to Lin Wan because she was actually a wolf in sheep’s clothing, secretly using sudden pressure to scold him?
Fu Yi forced a smile, trying to act cute. “Mother…”
“No negotiations.” Lin Wan’s expression was stern. “If you don’t take over the business, do you want the Fu family’s textile trade to just die out? Yier, your parents have raised you all these years. What will you do when we’re too old to work?”
Fu Yi replied offhandedly, “I can do something else.”
Ye Xunshu shot her a look.
“Do what?” Lin Wan raised her eyes, serious. “If you haven’t caused trouble for us growing up, that’s already a blessing. You barely know a few characters, what else could you possibly do?”
Fu Yi was left speechless.
So the original owner could barely read.
But she could.
Modern Chinese characters evolved from ancient script, and with careful examination, she could roughly decipher their meanings.
Lin Wan sighed deeply, looking at her child’s immature demeanor with great concern.
“Father and Mother need not worry.” After staying quiet for a long time, Ye Xunshu finally spoke. “Xunshu is literate and can assist Sister Fu Yi. My family was also in trade, so I know a thing or two about commerce.”
Lin Wan seemed pleased. She nodded, her expression softening slightly. “Xunshu, you’ve always been secluded in the inner chambers, but now that you’re married, there’s no need to adhere to those rules anymore. The Fu family’s dye workshop is located west of Yangzhou. Tomorrow, let Yier go familiarize herself with it and take you out for a stroll as well. How does that sound?”
Ye Xunshu was taken aback. She truly knew very little about the world beyond these walls and had often yearned to leave the secluded courtyard to experience the bustling life outside.
Fu Yi noticed the slight upward curve of Ye Xunshu’s eyes was she happy?
“I’ll follow whatever Sister Fu Yi decides,” Ye Xunshu said, suppressing any outward signs of joy in front of her elders.
After all, nothing had been settled yet.
Suddenly addressed, Fu Yi met Ye Xunshu’s beautiful eyes, brimming with hidden anticipation, and found herself momentarily stunned.
Truthfully, she didn’t want to go.
Going would mean she had fallen into Lin Wan’s trap, that she had agreed to take over the Fu family business.
But…
She looked at Ye Xunshu, the little rabbit was staring up at her with wide, pleading eyes. Noticing Fu Yi’s gaze, Ye Xunshu shyly averted her own, as if afraid.
She really seemed to want to go.
“O-okay,” Fu Yi scratched her head.
“How about I take you tomorrow?”
Ye Xunshu burst into laughter and replied, “Alright.”
Seeing her smile, the reluctance in Fu Yi’s heart seemed to soften.
There was no helping it.
Who could resist when she wanted it so much?
As the two left the elders, Ye Xunshu’s lips curled into an irrepressible smile.
Fu Yi glanced at her rabbit-like expression and couldn’t help but smile secretly herself.
“Is Sister laughing at me?” Ye Xunshu tilted her head slightly and mused, “Perhaps Sister thinks my excitement makes me seem common, but I truly long to see the world outside.”
“Life in the inner chambers is so dull. After sixteen years of it, every day feels like being trapped in a cage.”
“But now, it’s better.” Ye Xunshu reached out to take Fu Yi’s hand. Startled, Fu Yi instinctively pulled back. Ye Xunshu froze, and Fu Yi immediately realized her mistake, quickly grasping her hand instead.
Ye Xunshu paused, then gently tightened her grip, lifting their joined hands as she said, “Thank you, Sister Fu Yi, for being willing to take me outside.”
“…” Fu Yi watched the girl before her, nearly giddy with joy, and felt an indescribable mix of emotions.
She had never imagined Ye Xunshu would be so eager to see the outside world.
“No need for thanks,” Fu Yi said, lowering their hands. “If you’d like, I can also tell you stories you’ve never heard before and show you games you’ve never played.”
Stories and amusements that existed only in the upper realm.
Ye Xunshu grinned. “Like what?”
“Like?” Fu Yi’s gaze fell on the plum blossom pattern adorning Ye Xunshu’s dress. She thought of the upper realm’s movies, video games, VR experiences, concerts.
Ye Xunshu: “Sister?”
Fu Yi: “Like this, I’ll tell you a story right now: The naughty little rabbit gets eaten by the big bad wolf!”
For a moment, Ye Xunshu didn’t react, staring blankly at Fu Yi.
Then, suddenly, she let out a soft snort.
Soon after, as if tickled, she covered her mouth, giggling uncontrollably.
Hand in hand, they continued walking. Fu Yi watched Ye Xunshu, still laughing, then glanced down at their tightly clasped hands and thought
So, the little rabbit isn’t always timid and fragile. Sometimes, joy can briefly overshadow her fears, emboldening her to reach out and take the big bad wolf’s hand.