Chapter 200: Clearing the table after a meal is basic courtesy.
What were the things she truly enjoyed?
In the darkness, Ye Zhen pondered deeply, her cheeks growing hotter with each thought.
The silent night, distant lights, and nearby ideals…
Ye Fuli was an exceptional hunter, skilled at luring prey into her trap, bit by bit.
She appeared to have handed all initiative to Ye Zhen, yet in truth, Ye Zhen had long been the soft kitten nestled in her embrace.
As she stepped out of the car, Ye Zhen stared at her right hand for a long moment before letting out a deep sigh.
Her heart was filled with regret.
Ye Fuli remained calm and composed, even taking the time to adjust Ye Zhen's skirt hem. She smiled faintly, "Your learning ability is truly remarkable. That clumsy act you put on before—it was all just for show, wasn't it?"
There was always a hidden meaning in her words.
Ye Zhen rolled her eyes inwardly.
"I wasn't pretending. I've always been clumsy. Don't go thinking I'm some genius."
"No, you are clever. Few people have ever beaten me, but you succeeded—and not just once."
Just then, Ye Zhen heard Ye Dad calling out to them.
Ye Zhen immediately tried to leave, but Ye Fuli grabbed her arm.
"Cleaning up after dinner is basic manners, isn't it, Miss Ye Zhen?"
Hmm, very good. Another subtle dig.
Ye Zhen pulled a pack of wet wipes from her bag and tossed it to her.
"Clearing the table should be the host's responsibility—that's proper hospitality!"
She couldn't let the wolf dominate forever.
Ye Zhen deliberately wanted to knock her down a peg.
Ye Fuli paused for a moment after catching the wipes, then chuckled, "Ah, you're right."
…
Pushing open the Ye family's front door.
Father Ye was instructing the kitchen staff to prepare a hangover soup.
When his daughters returned, he hurried back to the living room, rearranging the fruit platter to place their favorite fruits on top.
"Sit down quickly. Have some hangover soup—it'll settle your stomach."
In truth, neither Ye Zhen nor Ye Fuli had consumed much alcohol.
After sitting down, Ye Fuli asked the maid to fetch Ye Zhen an ice cream.
"This flavor should be to your liking," Ye Fuli said, wiping the spoon before handing it to Ye Zhen with a reassuring smile.
"Oh my, this… isn't something you can buy outside, is it?"
Holding the exquisitely presented ice cream bowl, Ye Zhen recognized it instantly.
Clearly, someone had prepared it in advance.
Ye Fuli didn't admit it, merely replying casually, "The weather's getting warmer, so we keep some chilled desserts on hand at home. No need to make a big deal out of it."
"Oh, I see. I almost got emotional thinking someone made it themselves."
Ye Zhen knew exactly how to mimic her tone.
As Ye Fuli watched her, Ye Zhen scooped a generous spoonful into her mouth, savoring the sweet and tangy flavor slowly.
The dizziness from the car ride had eased considerably by now.
Truthfully, she never disliked Ye Fuli's cooking.
Even during the times she disliked Ye Fuli the most, her stomach could still accept the delicious food made by her own hands.
Now, she couldn't quite pin down her feelings toward Ye Fuli, yet her body was gradually growing accustomed to being near her.
Clever girl, Miss Ye Fuli.
Ye Fuli narrowed her eyes, gazing at her meaningfully, falling silent.
This was far from the first time they'd engaged in this kind of verbal tug-of-war. Both constantly sought to outmaneuver the other, yet their efforts were increasingly meeting each other's strength.
Ye Fuli pressed her lips together, feeling a slight sting at the corners—probably a small cut.
How ruthless, Miss Ye Zhen.
They sat frozen on the sofa for over half an hour, until the episode of Tom and Jerry on TV finally ended.
Ye Fuli cleared her throat and asked, "How did you do on the midterms?"
"Hmm, not bad."
Ye Fuli asked again, "Planning to go back to school tomorrow?"
"Hmm…"
Tomorrow is Dad's birthday. If you go back to school tomorrow, he'll probably be very upset.
Upon hearing this, Ye Zhen set down the ice cream spoon in her hand.
She glanced at Ye Fuli: "Then I'll leave the day after tomorrow. I'll prepare a gift for him tomorrow."
Ye Fuli smiled. "What do you think he needs?"
"He likes fishing, so he probably wants…"
"No." Ye Fuli cut off her incorrect answer, stating directly, "What he wants is family harmony. He wants his Zhenzhen back, to call him 'Dad'."
That, however, was precisely the hardest thing to achieve.
Ye Zhen had too many inexplicable pasts, too many grievances, making it nearly impossible for her to return to this family.
She shook her head. "Ye Fuli, don't put me in this position."
A bright red cherry was plucked by Ye Fuli and placed into Ye Zhen's palm.
Ye Zhen stared at it, silent.
"Do you think Dad didn't recognize you?"
"Half the fruits on this plate are your favorites."
"Every time you come home, more than half the dishes we prepare are your favorites."
"He may seem more useless each year, but he's not stupid. In fact, he sees things more clearly than ever."
Ye Zhen lowered her eyes. "I know he recognized me."
With that, Ye Fuli also fell silent.
She knew further persuasion would be futile.
Ye Zhen might seem easygoing, but she was actually very decisive. Once she made up her mind about something, it was usually very hard to change her.
"Ye Fuli, I'm actually surprised you're telling me all this."
She squeezed the bright red cherry in her hand and popped it into her mouth.
It tasted as fresh and sweet as she'd imagined.
Ye Fuli offered her another one. "So, do you think I'm being too talkative? If so, I won't say these things again."
"No, I'm just really happy."
"…Happy?"
"Yes. It feels like you're finally acting like a person again. You don't make me feel scared anymore."
Ye Zhen obediently ate this cherry too.
Such bold and offensive words—even if she had three hundred times the courage, she wouldn't have dared say them before.
But now, she could say it with complete confidence.
"Ye Zhen, you really have some nerve." Ye Fuli's gaze was eerily intense as she stared at her. "How can you be so sure I won't beat your bottom for saying that?"
Ye Zhen raised an eyebrow, her expression utterly fearless.
At that moment.
Her dog system, which often went out hunting, suddenly beeped twice.
Ye Zhen's expression turned serious.
She silently asked, "Dog System, what's going on?"
[Nothing major. Just that this cute little thing snagged a weird item and is debating whether to sell it.]
"What kind of thing?"
[Remember those two eggs I gave you before? It's that system again! I've been holding it captive for ages, and it gave me another egg…]
"Huh?"
[But this egg is empty. Apparently, you can inject genes into it for DIY stuff.]
"Huh?!"