Chapter 067: This Puzzle Is Too Hard for Her to Solve
Over the next week, Ye Zhen periodically reported her observations and shared her coordinates with "He Ying."
This was an agreement they'd made before Ye Zhen left the town's guesthouse.
As He Ying put it, "Little sis is so timid, barely speaks up—like a little lamb. It's just too worrying to let her wander around alone."
When she'd run away from the Ye household, Ye Zhen hadn't considered whether her cute, innocent-looking face might put her in danger.
But after He Ying's reminder, she felt a twinge of fear.
She couldn't keep subconsciously thinking she was a strong man… The physical disparity between men and women was already significant, let alone being a loli—weaker than most girls.
Therefore, she dutifully shared her coordinates daily.
If any danger arose, He Ying could step in to help in time.
Hmm…
Ye Zhen never imagined her chat partner had already switched.
Had she known that the person occasionally chatting with her all this time was actually Ye Fuli—the one she feared most—she probably would have fainted on the spot.
At this very moment.
Ye Fuli sat in a small gazebo at the highest point, wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat, sunglasses, and an ordinary casual outfit. She watched Ye Zhen playing in the water below.
"She hasn't lost her childlike spirit,"
She took a sip of ice-cold lemon tea and sighed.
She switched hands, propping her chin up again.
"Why do I feel like an old mother accompanying her daughter on a trip?"
This strange thought made Ye Fuli's expression grow slightly awkward.
Looking down at Ye Zhen below, dressed in a sunflower-patterned deadstock swimsuit, she found her appearance increasingly childlike rather than that of a proper adult.
She rubbed her temples and quickly averted her gaze.
"I really shouldn't have fought Black Spider in that match. She really messed me up."
Ye Zhen had finished playing in the water and sat down on a stone slab by the shore, dangling her two pale feet and splashing cool water.
She tilted her head back, squinting at the cloudless sky.
"Ahhh~"
Ah, bliss!
Isn't this what life is all about? Hehehe!
A server pushing a cart selling freshly made drinks passed behind Ye Zhen.
Like a schoolgirl, Ye Zhen raised her hand and called out.
"Waiter, one lemon tea over here!"
"Sure thing. Eighty bucks a cup. Cash or card?"
"What?! You might as well just rob me."
"Hey, kid, watch your language. This is freshly squeezed lemon tea! If you don't understand, ask your parents."
Hearing herself called "kid," Ye Zhen's face flushed crimson with anger. She retorted loudly, "I'm a fully grown adult who completed a three-year degree program!"
Unfortunately, with her childlike face, her words held no persuasive power.
Seeing her so upset, a kind older sister nearby paid for her drink and helped her buy one. "Here you go, little sister. Don't get so worked up! By the way, where are your parents? They really trust you to come play by the water all by yourself?"
The well-meaning older sister had unwittingly delivered another verbal blow to Ye Zhen.
Ye Zhen passively accepted the lemon tea, her face twisted with hurt.
Only after the woman had walked away did it occur to her that she hadn't even said thank you.
"Seriously."
Ye Zhen abruptly stood up, hands on her hips.
"I'm a proper, strapping young man, yet I'm forced to play the cute little sister role. How infuriating!"
[Host, if you were a burly man, you might not have gotten this free lemon tea.]
"Nonsense! You have no idea how handsome I was in my past life, how popular I was. The nurse would always send me flirtatious glances, sneak in at night to tuck me in, and bring me roses in the morning."
At this point, Ye Zhen snorted again.
"It's all your fault, you useless system! Otherwise, I might even get free watermelon."
[Host, you should've asked for free watermelon earlier! I'd have airdropped you a twenty-pound watermelon~.]
"Hey! Mind your own business. Thanks, okay?"
She left the waterfront and headed toward the changing rooms.
At that moment, Ye Fuli finished the last sip of her lemon tea.
She stood up as well, intending to change positions and continue watching Ye Zhen.
This surveillance operation was actually quite exhausting. If someone else had been doing it, they probably wouldn't have lasted this long.
Ye Fuli, however, found it endlessly entertaining.
As dusk fell, Ye Zhen began preparing for tonight's camping.
"There's a camping spot near the scenic area. Quite a few people have set up camp there," Ye Zhen said, carrying her suitcase and slinging her backpack over her shoulder as she headed toward the location marked on the map. "That'll be the spot."
……
……
Late at night.
Ye Zhen, who usually slept soundly, found herself tossing and turning tonight.
She tossed and turned on the plush rug, hugging her quilt, her eyes burning from the strain, yet sleep remained elusive.
In such a quiet and lonely night, her mind kept wandering to countless thoughts.
Ye Zhen thought of her parents, of He Ying, of Ye Fuli, and even of Ye Fuli's adoptive parents.
A pang of pain shot through her heart when she thought of Ye Dad.
She quickly pushed aside that fleeting sense of reluctance, reminding herself not to dwell on things that weren't meant for her.
When Ye Zhen thought of Ye Fuli, she covered her face.
She suspected she was proving the adage that "distance makes the heart grow fonder."
After being away from home for so long, the image of Ye Fuli in her mind was becoming increasingly perfect and kind.
Even the memory of Ye Fuli scolding her loudly seemed less unpleasant now.
She recalled the gold ring Ye Fuli had given her, remembered the meals Ye Fuli had cooked, and even remembered how earnestly Ye Fuli had taught her in the swimming pool…
"Aaaah…!"
Ye Zhen slapped herself twice across the face.
"Stop it, stop thinking about it, please! This damn brain of mine."
This inexplicable emotional shift filled Ye Zhen with dread.
The pain brought her back to her senses a little.
She cradled her cheeks in her hands, stuck her bottom out, and lay sprawled on the plush rug, wiggling her toes.
"Since I can't sleep anyway, I might as well tackle some math problems and preview my four-year curriculum. Hmm!"
[Host, you're finally taking the initiative to study! Σ(⊙▽⊙"a]
Seems like there might be some hope after all for a life of luxury riding this lazybones host.
"What are you talking about? Your host—me—has always been extremely diligent and hardworking, okay? Just look at my outstanding grades! Ah, look!"
[Host, you really have thick skin…]
Ye Zhen raised an eyebrow and smiled.
……
At that moment.
Outside the tent.
Ye Fuli, standing quite close to her, stroked her phone thoughtfully.
The chat interface with Ye Zhen remained open.
She kept wanting to talk to Ye Zhen about something, yet found herself at a loss for words.
She let out a soft sigh.
After briefly smoothing her wind-tossed hair, she put her phone away, still looking frustrated.
"Why do I always feel the urge to say something to her?"
"Do I want to scold her, or threaten her?"
"Do I want to lock her up, or keep letting her roam free?"
Ye Fuli's mind was in turmoil.
Her mind was sharp, rarely stumped by anything, but this problem was truly too difficult—she couldn't solve it.
Back in her simple tent, sleep still eluded her.
"If I'd known I'd be losing sleep, I should have brought some challenging homework with me."
Watching time crawl by like this was unbearable.
Beep-beep-beep—
The notification sound from her phone jolted Ye Fuli upright.
She pressed her hand over her heart, patting it gently as if to comfort herself, before checking the source of the new message.
When she saw it was from "He Ying's Secondary Account," her expression froze.
Her mood instantly soured.
He Ying's Secondary Account: Hey! K1, got some good news for you—that stock I'm managing for you made money again! Dividends as usual—should I transfer them directly to that card?
Ye Fuli: No more useless messages like this at night.
He Ying's Secondary Account: Hey! What do you mean useless? That's five million! FIVE MILLION! Can you show some respect for five million?
Ye Fuli: I'm sleeping.
A measly five million—it cost her a night's sleep she'd almost gotten. She felt cheated.
Ye Fuli shut off her phone, pulled the covers over her head, and buried herself under the quilt.
"Annoying. Why isn't it dawn yet…"