Chapter 171: Are You Two Sure There's No Telepathy Between You?
"Huh? Why are you sitting here? Where's Ye Fuli?"
Ye Zhen hadn't expected that patient Ye Fuli would skip work after just a few hours on the job.
This just wasn't like Ye Fuli.
Zhao Mengde, sitting in Ye Fuli's spot, held a copy of The Spring and Autumn Annals, his face flushed and heart racing as he read.
Startled by Ye Zhen’s voice, he gasped, quickly covering the book before clearing his throat twice.
"Ye Fuli? She went home to have dinner with her old man… Well, that's what she said, but I don't know if it's true. What do you think, is it?"
Ye Zhen: "Oh."
She didn't press further about what Ye Fuli had actually gone home for.
As for the excuse of "going home to have dinner with her old man," Ye Zhen found it hard to believe.
"Is 'oh' all you've got? Aren't you curious what kind of despicable deed that cold-blooded killer went off to do?"
"That's her business. It's none of mine."
Ye Zhen said this, but deep down, she still hoped Ye Fuli would do fewer things that could drive her mad.
Just as she was about to leave the office to grab a late-night snack from the food stall across the street, Ye Zhen suddenly spotted a large pile of origami cranes and five-pointed stars tucked away behind the counter.
"Who tossed these?"
"Ye Fuli, of course." Zhao Mengde propped his chin up, narrowing his eyes. "She's been acting crazy for days now. She spent ages folding these, intending to give them to someone. But then she got cold feet, worried they wouldn't accept them or might toss them right back in her face."
Ye Zhen fell silent.
She felt that Ye Fuli probably wouldn't even engage in such an act as folding these things.
It was almost certainly someone else who tricked her into doing this.
But who could it be?
Ye Zhen narrowed her eyes, fixing them on the lazily slumped figure of Zhao Mengde.
Zhao Mengde's slender frame trembled. "Hey, don't look at me! I didn't tell her to throw it away!"
"You made her fold them, didn't you?"
Zhao Mengde: "…"
Seriously, you two don't have some kind of telepathic connection? Are you two conspiring together to play me for a fool?
Ye Zhen flared up: "It really was you!"
"Aww, it wasn't me, really, it wasn't me, sniffle sniffle~"
Watching him expertly bury his head like an ostrich, Ye Zhen felt both exasperated and amused.
She couldn't even imagine the expression on Ye Fuli's face while folding these things.
It must have been like she had a huge chunk of ginger in her mouth, or downed a big gulp of herbal medicine.
Poor thing.
Ye Zhen had intended to ignore these decorations, but remembering she still needed to buy something for the front desk, she decided to keep them. She'd buy a large glass tank to display them as ornaments.
Oh my!
What a huge amount of money saved without even trying!
[Tsk, you're clearly just too stingy to waste Ye Fuli's thoughtful gift, yet you make up excuses like this. Tsk tsk tsk~]
"Shut up, dog system."
……
……
The Ye residence.
Ye Fuli rushed back, exhausted from the journey, arriving the next morning.
The moment she pushed open the door, the aroma of baked egg tarts wafted toward her.
She frowned.
Amidst the egg tart aroma was a rich, distinct scent of blueberry jam—a flavor she had adored as a child.
Alongside the egg tarts, there was also the scent of grilled fish.
This particular grilled fish aroma was distinctive—it reminded her of the fish stall at the end of her childhood alleyway. Cheap, yet irresistibly tempting.
This wasn't the kind of scent one would expect in an affluent neighborhood.
Someone was deliberately trying to please her—or rather, to please the owner of this house.
The realization sent a wave of murderous intent surging through Ye Fuli's eyes.
Ever since her biological mother had died in a tragic accident, the house had indeed grown much quieter. Yet Ye Fuli had no intention whatsoever of bringing it back to life.
Yet, the word "respect" sent a wave of unease through her.
This home didn't belong to her alone.
What right did she have to dictate others' lives?
If she forced Ye Dad to accept her arrangements, how would she be any different from her former Ye family parents?
"My preferences aren't that important," Ye Fuli reminded herself. "As long as Jiang Nini doesn't act recklessly, she shouldn't have to die."
"My dear, you're back."
Ye Dad emerged from the kitchen, a gentle smile on his face.
"Sit down. Dinner will be ready soon."
Ye Fuli's expression darkened.
She saw Jiang Nini bustling about in the kitchen.
After a few days apart, Jiang Nini looked even more plainly dressed, her hair casually pinned up, and the carefully maintained glow had faded from her face.
Spotting Ye Fuli's return, she wiped her hands and emerged from the kitchen with noticeable restraint.
"Young Miss, you're back."
Ye Fuli remained silent throughout.
She loathed the atmosphere in this house now, loathed the woman before her who deliberately dressed to look pitiful, loathed it so much that even sitting down made her feel physically uncomfortable.
She stared intently at Jiang Nini's face, as if she intended to carve a piece of flesh from it.
Jiang Nini trembled in fear, her hands holding the soup bowl shaking slightly.
But the thought that she hadn't done anything wrong forced her to steady herself.
She had merely prepared things she remembered Ye Fuli liked. Was that enough to deserve a beating? Jiang Nini refused to believe Ye Fuli was that twisted.
"There's one more dish—fried mushrooms—coming right up."
Jiang Nini smiled as she placed the soup in front of Ye Fuli.
Ye Fuli twisted her lips into a thin smile. "You've worked hard, Jiang Nini."
When she pronounced Jiang Nini's name, she emphasized each syllable with deliberate force, her voice dripping with venom.
Jiang Nini's smile froze.
She shot a pleading look toward Ye's father.
But whether Ye's father genuinely missed the look or chose to ignore it, he only said, "It's her job. What's so hard about it? We're paying her, after all."
These words managed to calm Ye Fuli's inner turmoil somewhat.
It seemed her father hadn't been swayed by the other woman's words.
"Though I never knew Jiang Nini was your childhood friend," Ye Dad remarked as he sat down, pushing the grilled fish toward Ye Fuli. "Try some? She says it was your favorite when you were little."
Ye Fuli remained silent for a long moment before finally picking up her chopsticks, taking a bite of fish, and placing it in her mouth.
It was indeed a familiar taste.
Unfortunately, she no longer enjoyed this kind of fish.
It was too rich, too oily—nothing like the delicious memory she held.
Why had she ever liked it back then? Probably because of poverty. There were so few choices, and her family rarely saved anything good for her. Getting to eat grilled fish once in a blue moon made it seem exceptionally delicious.
Next, a baked egg tart generously topped with blueberry sauce was placed before Ye Fuli.
Ye Fuli picked it up and took a bite, trying to be polite.
The overwhelming sweetness made her cough.
Ye Dad quickly poured her a glass of water: "How is it, dear? Drink up and soothe your throat."
Taking the glass, Ye Fuli drank it all in one gulp.
Watching the harmonious scene between father and daughter, Jiang Nini's expression darkened.
"Jiang Nini, I told you—my daughter might not even like things from her childhood anymore." Ye Dad's expression was equally sour. "Don't make this again."
Jiang Nini lowered her head and clenched her apron tightly.
After gathering herself, she murmured softly:
"Alright, I won't do these things again."
Beneath the gloom, a flash of ruthlessness flickered in her eyes.
Ye Fuli, oh Ye Fuli, you don't like these dishes, do you? Just wait. I'll soon serve you a "feast"…