Shen Qi came to her senses and forced a smile to comfort Han Xueyou when she saw Han Xueyou nervously trying to explain herself.
“I’m not offended by your words; I was just thinking about something else.”
“What’s wrong?” Han Xueyou looked at Shen Qi worriedly and reached out to hold her hands. “Are you worried that you can’t find the man? Qi, don’t worry. I’ll definitely find that man for your sake. I promise!”
Shen Qi burst into laughter when she saw Han Xueyou’s attempts to reassure her. “Xueyou, why are you so silly? I should have settled my problem by myself but you always lend me a hand.”
“Because we’re besties! It’s just that…” Han Xueyou paused for a while as she seemed to recall something. She then asked softly, “Qi, we will be besties for our entire lives, right?”
Shen Qi nodded her head, “Of course.”
“Then…if I do something bad to you in future, will you…forgive me?”
What? Shen Qi couldn’t respond to her question at once. “Something bad to me?”
“Well, sometimes…you know how clumsy I am. Sometimes I may be careless and make mistakes unintentionally. If that’s the case, you will forgive me, won’t you?”
Shen Qi replied, “You have been so careless all these years but I was never angry at you for them before this. Moreover, you’ve helped me a lot all this while. I should be grateful to you!”
“Forget about it; let’s not talk about this anymore. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. Do you want to try just a small mouthful of this cake?”
“No way!” Shen Qi declined without hesitation.
Both girls enjoyed their banter in the café and left after finishing their desserts. Naturally, Han Xueyou offered to send Shen Qi back to the Ye residence. When they arrived at the entrance of the residence, Han Xueyou batted her eyelids and said, “Qi, let me see you to your room.”
Listening to her suggestion, Shen Qi shook her head after a moment of thought. “It’s okay. It’s getting late. It’s dangerous for you to drive back home too late; I think you should go back first.”
Disappointment was written on Han Xueyou’s face and she pouted as she said, “Alright then. I’ll drop by to visit you again tomorrow.”
After Han Xueyou had left, Shen Qi took light steps into the Ye residence. When she was about to head upstairs, a maid stopped her.
“Second Young Lady, Old Master Ye wants to see you.”
Shen Qi’s petite figure subconsciously trembled a little when she heard the name of Old Master Ye. “Alright. I’ll go to see him now.”
She thought Old Master Ye wanted to lecture her or assign her some tasks again. However, she was surprised to see Old Master Ye smiling at her when she entered his study room. The usual serious look on his fierce face was nowhere to be seen, instead it was replaced by a touch of friendliness which made her less afraid of him.
“Old Master Ye.”
“Shen Yue, you’re here.” Old Master Ye got up and walked toward the tea table. After sitting down, he pointed at the seat opposite him and said, “Come over here and have a seat.”
Shen Qi was perplexed by the sudden change in his character. Nevertheless, she obeyed him and went to sit in front of him. “Anything…that I can help you with?”
“Shen Yue, you’re married to Moxuan now. Why do you still address me as Old Master Ye?”
Shen Qi was stunned after listening to that. He didn’t say anything when I called him Old Master Ye before this, didn’t he?
“You should call me Grandpa.”
Shen Qi widened her eyes subconsciously in astonishment. What’s going on? Why is Old Master Ye so nice to me?
“Old Master Ye, I…”
“You’ve just moved into our house. Tell me if you feel uncomfortable in the house or if you need anything; I’ll take care of it.” As he said that, Old Master Ye suddenly pulled out a credit card and put it in front of Shen Qi. “I know your family’s condition. You have had a hard time. Consider this as pocket money from me.”
No! Something’s not right! Shen Qi stood up instantly and said firmly, “Grandpa, I can’t take your money. I’m paid to be Moxuan’s assistant now.”
“I know that, but it’s too little. As the second young lady of the Ye Family, you shouldn’t be looked down upon by others when you’re in public.”
With a pale face, Shen Qi grabbed the corner of her clothes tightly. “Grandpa, you have something to tell me…don’t you?”
Old Master Ye stood up and stroked his beard while looking at her with a smile. “You’re such a smart kid.”
Shen Qi’s heart thumped wildly. Indeed! No one will treat you nicely and expect nothing in return!
“Well, the friend that you brought home the other day is the daughter of the Han Family, isn’t she? What’s her name again?”
Shen Qi bit her lower lip and remained silent.
“She is a nice girl. Shen Yue, are you close to her?”
Shen Yue. That’s right. I’m Shen Yue now… Shen Qi looked down and answered nervously, “I guess so.”
“How did you get to know her?”
Shen Qi’s hand twitched and she almost took a step backward. Before she could answer his question, Old Master Ye continued, “Moxuan and Linhan are the only two grandsons I have. Since you are already married to Moxuan, I don’t have to worry about him anymore. However, Linhan is also at the age to get married now but he hasn’t met the right girl yet. I think that girl from the Han Family is quite nice…”
Listening to that, Shen Qi realized that Old Master Ye was actually trying to match Ye Linhan and Han Xueyou.
But…Will Han Xueyou fall for Ye Linhan? Or will Ye Linhan have feelings for her? I don’t think so. I’ve known Xueyou for such a long time. I’ve never seen her fall in love with any guy like Ye Linhan. Back when we were still in school, Han Xueyou often had a crush on those cool and domineering guys. She would never be attracted to obedient, book-smart guys no matter how handsome they were. She was only obsessed with those arrogant bad boys who hardly paid any attention to her. Of course, she never really got to date those bad boys.
Shen Qi knew that Ye Linhan was far from Han Xueyou’s ideal type.
“Grandpa, I…don’t think it’ll work.”
“What did you say?” Old Master Ye’s eyes turned stern out of a sudden, frightening Shen Qi as she took a small step backward and explained weakly, “Xueyou…already has a boyfriend!”
I don’t have a choice—I have to tell a white lie.
“She has a boyfriend?” Old Master Ye was stunned at first, but soon he came to himself and said, “What’s wrong with that? It’s just a boyfriend, not a husband. There is always a chance as long as she is still unwed. Do help me to ask her if she is interested in Linhan.”
The white lie did not work, I guess. Shen Qi bit her lips and replied, “Understood. I’ll try to ask her then.”
“This pocket money is for you. Keep it.”
Shen Qi didn’t dare to take the card, but looking at Old Master Ye’s stern and sharp stare, she was afraid he would think she was trying to turn his request down if she refused to accept the card. Hence, Shen Qi had no choice but to take the card unwillingly and leave the study room.
She went upstairs with all kinds of worries in her heart.
There was only one reason that she didn’t wish to see Xueyou together with Ye Linhan—the situation in the Ye Family was too complicated.
Ye Linhan, Ye Moxuan, as well as Old Master Ye are all on different sides. Obviously, they are fighting and attacking each other in the dark. If Han Xueyou were to get married into this family, it would just entangle her in trouble.
Han Xueyou is my best friend. I know well how difficult it is to live in this family. I will never drag her into the hellhole that I’m in!
