Chapter 035: Genuine or Fake, She Could Tell
Back at the Ye residence, Ye Zhen and Huang Li spent the evening glaring at each other.
Now proficient in three subjects, Ye Zhen had completely lost her previous drive to study hard. All that remained were various astonishingly creative ways to slack off.
Huang Li couldn't help but sigh, pressing his hand to his forehead. "Look, if you don't want to study, just tell your parents sooner. It's better for you, and it's better for me."
Sitting in Ye Zhen's room like this, he felt like he was sitting on pins and needles, okay?
Every half hour, he had to report back to Ye Fuli and sneak photos of Ye Zhen to show her.
"Do you really think I'd dare oppose my parents' wishes?"
Ye Zhen lifted her head lazily and glanced at him.
Standing over a meter apart, their eyes locked. Huang Li shook his head helplessly.
She dared not, and neither did he!
So they sat here, torturing each other and wasting time.
Huang Li wasn't sure if he'd been assigned to focus on studies or romance, but neither had gone well. Instead, he'd just worn himself out.
As for Ye Zhen…
She was likely nearing her breaking point too.
As a newly-minted heiress, she had no choice but to accept her elders' arrangements.
To enjoy the family's resources, they must obey the family's rules.
It wasn't just them—others were the same.
"Alright, I suppose tonight's study session has to end here." Huang Li gathered his test papers, stuffed them haphazardly into his backpack, and prepared to take his leave.
Tonight, his mother didn't leave either. She was downstairs drinking tea, waiting for him to go home together.
Once in the car,
Mrs. Huang asked, "How are things going between you and Ye Zhen lately?"
"Nothing special. Just average, I guess."
Huang Li yawned, sounding too lazy to keep up the pretense.
"I don't like girls who aren't fully developed, Mom. Please spare me."
Hearing this, Mrs. Huang gave a cold laugh. "Do you think this has anything to do with whether you like her or not? The Ye family's status is something countless people strive for but can never attain. Now that the opportunity is right in front of you, dare you say no?"
Huang Li, her patience worn thin by a night of tedious homework, snapped back with obvious irritation, "If I don't have the right to refuse, then why even ask?"
"I'm merely reminding you that sometimes, to achieve your goals, you have to resort to special means."
The look in Mrs. Huang's eyes was pure disappointment, as if she were frustrated with his lack of resolve.
She might as well have told him outright: if romance doesn't work, resort to force—make it a done deal first!
Huang Li felt a cold sweat break out on his back.
He stared at his mother in disbelief, as if he no longer recognized this woman.
"Mom, get this straight—that's the Ye family. If I pull something like that, neither of us will walk out of that mansion unscathed!"
"Then set up a meeting." Mrs. Huang closed her eyes briefly, her composure unshaken. "You're a master at charming women. You know these things better than anyone. Seize the opportunity—this weekend."
Huang Li sighed heavily, his face darkening as he stared out the window.
He did enjoy flirting with girls, but being forced into it like this? He couldn't stand it.
He needed Ye Fuli to come up with a plan to rescue his fragile self from this mess!
"Oh, and one more thing."
Mrs. Huang frowned, opened her handbag, and pulled out a file to hand him.
"Your father mentioned seeing a child at the orphanage recently. He felt an instant connection—the boy is clever and quick-witted, already showing remarkable maturity in his young age. He wants to bring him home as a companion for you. See if you're interested."
Hearing his mother say this, Huang Li casually picked up the file.
Opening it, he saw a photo of a boy around his own age named Zheng Jun. The boy had messy, short hair and wore cheap black-rimmed glasses. He looked frail and timid.
After just one glance, Huang Li lost interest.
"I don't need any company. Let's just forget about it."
"What do you mean, forget it? It's your father's kindness! After all, you'll be going abroad soon. Having someone to accompany you in a foreign land, take care of your daily needs, would give your father some peace of mind."
Mrs. Huang claimed to be giving him a choice, but in reality, she left him no room for decision.
The matter was clearly already settled.
……
……
Weekend.
Ye Zhen rose early.
Still preoccupied with the chance encounter between Ye Fuli and her biological father, she left the villa complex early, hailed a cab, and headed straight for the main street.
However, after waiting all morning at the café across from that hotel, nearly nodding off, Ye Zhen still hadn't seen Ye Fuli's figure appear.
She felt a bit anxious, but it wasn't appropriate to bring up the matter directly. Instead, she pretended to invite her for coffee and tried to subtly ask where she was.
Ye Fuli's voice sounded lazy on the other end of the phone: "I'm at home."
Ye Zhen quickly replied, "Would you like to come to the coffee shop on Central Street? It's on me!"
"Sure."
"…Huh? What? Wait?!"
She hadn't expected Ye Fuli to agree so readily.
After hanging up, Ye Zhen felt a bit dazed.
She felt she'd acted a bit rashly. As the fake heiress, was she really looking forward to sending the real heiress home?
Once Ye Fuli returned to the Ye family, what good would come of it for her?
Theoretically, what she should be doing is preventing them from meeting at all costs!
Theoretically…
Well, that was the theory.
Ye Zhen's mind was in turmoil.
Of course, deep down she understood this position wasn't meant for her and couldn't be held onto. Trying to cling on would only lead to a miserable death at the hands of that scheming Feng Aotian.
So, perhaps by being sincere and proactively demonstrating her principle of non-competition, she could lessen Ye Fuli's hatred toward her?
She didn't have to wait long. Ye Fuli, dressed in a tracksuit, arrived riding a shared electric scooter.
Ye Zhen spotted Ye Fuli and the scooter through the second-floor floor-to-ceiling windows. She quickly got up and went downstairs to greet her.
"It's hot today, isn't it? I've already ordered blueberry ice cream, an iced Americano, and some snacks…"
At that moment, Ye Zhen noticed that even this ordinary, off-season clearance tracksuit looked like a hidden treat when worn by Ye Fuli.
Sweat dampened Ye Fuli's hair, and her rosy lips were slightly pursed—she looked parched.
Without a second thought, she shed her jacket and tossed it into Ye Zhen's hands.
Beneath that plain gray jacket was a white spaghetti-strap tank top!
Such an excellent figure paired with such figure-hugging clothing was simply deadly.
Worse still, the sheer tank top was poorly made—sweat made it see-through… Ye Zhen blushed at the sight.
She quickly removed the silk shawl draped over her own shoulders and solemnly placed it around Ye Fuli's neck.
Ye Fuli looked at her curiously. "Why are you blushing?"
"N-nothing! I just got hot."
Ye Zhen dared not admit she was imagining all sorts of inappropriate things about her—she'd be beaten to death if she did!
Just then, Ye Fuli lowered her head again and glanced at the silk shawl draped over her shoulders.
"Why did you put this on me? I only took off my jacket because I was hot."
Just as she reached to take it off and return it to Ye Zhen, Ye Zhen swiftly grabbed it: "Don't! I think… it looks better on you than it does on me."
Truthfully, whether it looked good was beside the point—Ye Zhen simply didn’t want anyone else to see her exquisite figure!
Call it selfish if you will.
Seeing this usually meek girl display such firm resolve made Ye Fuli laugh.
She didn't see anything strange about wearing it like this. After all, people dressed like this everywhere on the streets. It covered all the necessary areas and didn't reveal anything revealing!
But Ye Zhen wasn't as open-minded as her; her thinking was surprisingly conservative.
"Come on, stop laughing at me! Hurry up, the ice cream is getting cold… no, it's melting!"
Entering the café, the two walked up the staircase to the second floor, one after the other.
Just around the corner, Ye Fuli suddenly halted in her tracks.
On the third-floor landing, two middle-aged men were chatting and laughing as they descended the stairs, heading to the restaurant across the street to continue their business talks.
The man in front lifted his head and spotted Ye Zhen.
He froze instantly.
"Zhenzhen, what are you doing here?"
His gaze quickly swept over Ye Fuli.
"This young lady must be Ye Fuli, right? She looks very familiar."
Ye Fuli's expression immediately turned serious.
She looked at Ye Zhen, as if waiting for her to speak first.
Ye Zhen gave an awkward smile, scratched the back of her neck, and timidly looked at Ye Fuli: "Um…"
Miss Ye Fuli, please say something!
He's your biological father, not mine. If I were to suddenly start calling him "Dad" in front of you and play up this whole father-daughter bond thing, wouldn't you strangle me?
"Hello, Uncle! I am indeed Ye Fuli. I'm deeply grateful for the care your daughter Ye Zhen has shown me, and for your kindness as well. Thank you!"
Ye Fuli bowed, putting on the perfect act of a good person.
"Haha, no need for formalities. What would you like to eat today? My daughter will treat you." Ye Dad had already walked up to them. He patted Ye Zhen's shoulder with a smile and gently reminded her, "Take good care of your friend. If you need money, just tell Dad."
This scene felt like a knife twisting in Ye Fuli's heart.
After Ye Dad left, Ye Zhen noticed her face had turned grim.
"I… I really didn't know they were here," Ye Zhen managed to say, struggling to explain. "If I had known, I would have…"
Ye Fuli smiled faintly and shook her head.
"Ye Zhen, don't be so tense. I'm not blind."
With her sharp mind, how could she fail to see if someone was lying?
This encounter here was indeed unexpected.
But what surprised Ye Fuli even more was Ye Zhen's attitude.
The panic and unease that had flashed across the little runt's face moments ago, along with the sincere apology she was offering now—Ye Fuli had taken it all in.
This didn't seem like an act.
She reached out and pinched Ye Zhen's cheek, neither too hard nor too soft.
"Since you had the guts to ask me out, cheer up and stop looking so gloomy."