Chapter 195: Igniting a Sinister Little Flame
"Senior Liu, how many more days will your current project take to complete?"
As they left the farmhouse restaurant, Ye Zhen hurriedly asked the question that concerned her most.
Liu Wei paused briefly before replying, "At least another month."
Then she sighed again, her voice growing much quieter. "I'm sorry, boss. I've always been such a disappointment to my parents… I…"
"I dare not, nor can I defy them."
Zhao Mengde looked at her strangely. "What do you mean you don't dare? What do you mean you can't? They treat you like property, and you just accept it?"
"They gave me two lives."
Under their curious gazes, Liu Wei recounted the story of her kidney transplant four years prior.
After hearing the story, Ye Zhen gradually understood her position.
At the same time, Ye Zhen felt a pang of curiosity. According to the original plot, the one who should have persuaded Liu Wei's parents was Bai Ruoting.
That scoundrel Bai Ruoting—a scheming villain through and through. What methods had he used to persuade the Liu family?
It probably wasn't anything respectable.
"As things stand now, even if your game becomes a global hit, Liu Wei, your parents will still pressure you to return home and take the civil service exam or become a teacher."
Zhao Mengde had already seen through the truth.
She remarked meaningfully, "Never underestimate human stubbornness. Their obstinacy has nothing to do with money—that's precisely why it's so difficult to resolve."
…
Half an hour later.
Ye Zhen dropped Senior Liu Wei off at the company.
Throughout the journey, she remained silent, reflecting on Zhao Mengde's words.
The game's success hinged on its three founders—and all three were indispensable.
Ye Fuli, seated beside Ye Zhen, cleared her throat softly twice.
When Ye Zhen looked at her, Ye Fuli pretended nothing had happened, quickly turning her head to watch the scenery flash by outside the window.
"Miss Ye, is there something you wish to say?"
Ye Fuli shook her head.
After a moment's thought, Ye Zhen reached into her pocket, pulled out a few mint candies, and placed them in Ye Fuli's palm.
As Ye Fuli looked up at her, Ye Zhen immediately clarified, "These aren't something I specially prepared for you. The cashier at the front desk gave them to me when I was checking out just now."
As she spoke, she nudged Miss Zhao Mengde sitting in the front seat: "Right, Miss Mengde?"
Zhao Mengde looked utterly bewildered: "Huh?"
"Don't play dumb! You saw it, didn't you?"
Ye Zhen's tone and expression both turned sharp, as if she'd lost her patience.
At that moment, Ye Fuli was staring intently at her.
Her gaze was intense, making one's face flush.
Zhao Mengde looked troubled: "I was buying books online. I didn't hear what you were saying. Oh, Ye Zhen, I really want to recommend a new manga to you…"
She instinctively handed over the tablet in her hands.
Halfway through the motion, she remembered they were keeping this from Ye Fuli.
Ye Fuli absolutely couldn't see this!
But Ye Fuli had already grabbed the tablet she was trying to pull back, catching sight of the pile of pink-covered manga in her shopping cart.
"What's this, Zhao Mengde?"
Ye Fuli wore a stern expression.
"Is this what you usually show Ye Zhen?"
A heavy silence fell over the car.
Only then did Ye Fuli suddenly recall the unfinished sentence Zhao Mengde had uttered earlier.
These books weren't introduced to Ye Zhen by Zhao Mengde—they were…
At this realization, a wicked flame seemed to ignite within Ye Fuli's heart. Though she hadn't personally experienced adult matters, she understood them well.
She had read many books—proper ones, of course.
As for the less proper ones…
she hadn't read, but she could guess what they contained.
Ye Zhen, who appeared to be a stunted little girl, was actually a fully grown adult.
At that moment, Ye Zhen was coughing violently, trying to hide the flush on her face.
How strange!
Reading those comics hadn't made her feel embarrassed, but now she was struggling to keep her composure!
Was this what they called social death, public humiliation?
Ye Fuli didn't press Zhao Mengde further. Instead, she promptly returned the tablet to him and sat up straight.
Everything went back to normal, as if nothing had ever happened.
Zhao Mengde got out of the car at the entrance of a coffee shop, leaving only Ye Zhen and Ye Fuli inside.
The already slightly awkward atmosphere now seemed to be brewing, bubbling up with pink bubbles.
Ye Zhen stiffened her neck and asked, feigning composure, "Ye Fuli, where are you going?"
"It's time for you to apply my face cream."
Ye Fuli also feigned composure.
Of course, Ye Fuli's acting was far superior to Ye Zhen's.
"And there's something I need to confirm," Ye Fuli suddenly leaned in close, whispering into Ye Zhen's ear, "Just now, at the dinner table—was that you using me?"
Gulp.
Ye Zhen swallowed hard. "Uh, yeah."
She admitted it after all.
This matter had nothing to do with Ye Fuli in the first place, yet she hadn't even asked Ye Fuli's opinion beforehand before dragging her into it.
"In your own words, we're not friends, not family, and certainly not partners," Ye Fuli leaned closer, her eyes darkening. "So, are you going to give me an explanation for what happened today?"
The docile Ye Fuli at the dinner table now resembled a wolf that hadn't eaten its fill.
Cornered by her, Ye Zhen panicked slightly. "Well… if you're going to put it that way, I still… I still applied the ointment for you! You owe me a favor too, you…"
Before she could finish, Ye Fuli's hand suddenly landed on her thigh, fingers lifting the hem of her skirt.
A cold breeze swept over her~
Ye Zhen shivered.
Their eyes locked as the leather seats beneath them creaked.
Fortunately, the driver remained focused on the road, eyes fixed straight ahead, oblivious to whatever was happening in the backseat.
"Organize the books you've been reading and send me a copy," Ye Fuli said with a smile. "That'll settle things between us."
Ye Zhen: "…"
Holy crap, you're Ye Fuli!
The aloof goddess, for crying out loud!
How could you possibly read trashy stuff like me?
"Alright, get out. The hotel I booked is right here."
Ye Fuli pulled the dazed Ye Zhen out of the car.
Once inside the hotel, Ye Zhen timidly piped up, "I forgot to bring my face cream…"
"Oh? Then just skip it for tomorrow."
Ye Fuli had no intention of letting her go just like that.
Of course, she wasn't planning anything drastic—just looking for an excuse to spend more time with Ye Zhen: "Since you're here anyway, wash a couple of my clothes before you go. My hands are all bandaged up, so it's inconvenient for me."
She added, "Just this once. Consider it a favor owed to me."
"It'll be too late soon! The dorms will be locked…"
"You're not going back to the dorm anyway. Does it matter if they're closed or not?"
Ye Zhen was momentarily speechless at her retort.
Before she could think of another excuse, it was already too late.
Once inside, Ye Fuli symbolically handed her two pieces of underwear, asking her to wash them clean.
By the time Ye Zhen finally finished scrubbing those two pieces of underwear, Ye Fuli was stroking her own face again, sighing pitifully.
"I really want to take a shower. Even if I can't, I'd love to at least wipe myself down with a wet towel…"