Chapter 043: Stop Messing with Me, Okay?
To be honest, Ye Zhen felt a bit dizzy.
It felt like happiness had come too suddenly.
She knew she shouldn't misinterpret Ye Fuli's words, but she couldn't help overthinking them.
After the brief dizziness of happiness passed, she pinched her arm again, forcing herself back to reality.
"I… I don't know."
"You don't know?"
Ye Fuli was dissatisfied with her answer. She grabbed Ye Zhen's waist and tried to flip her over… but the maneuver didn't quite work. Instead, Ye Zhen's legs ended up wedged on either side of Ye Fuli, making her look like a startled kitten.
This incredibly suggestive position, oh no…!
Ye Zhen felt like she might die from the overwhelming mix of excitement and fear.
She wriggled her hips, trying to escape this awkward predicament, only to be pinned down by Ye Fuli's hand on her back, collapsing once more.
Ye Zhen's voice cracked with tears as she pleaded, "Miss Ye, please stop teasing me, okay?"
Ye Fuli smiled. "I'm asking in all seriousness."
That laugh, at this moment, was clearly out of place.
Ye Zhen's face was burning hot enough to fry an egg, her whole body trembling as if standing on the edge of a bottomless abyss, ready to fall at any moment.
"I really don't know! Stop teasing me—I'm genuinely scared."
To be fair, one of Ye Zhen's defining traits was her extreme timidity.
Ye Fuli still laughed. "I don't think I've ever hit you before. Why are you so scared?"
"I, I, I…"
Perfect. Nervousness made her stutter.
Ye Zhen held that position for a moment before collapsing, nearly ending up face-first in the sink.
Ye Fuli stroked her hair as if petting a timid pet. Her touch was gentle, but it had the opposite effect.
Every cell in Ye Zhen's body bristled under the head pat.
Her tongue thickened as she stammered frantically, "Sorry, Ye Fuli, I really need to pee."
With that, she scrambled off the bed barefoot and bolted toward the bathroom like a refugee.
Running away was shameful, but incredibly effective.
After wolfing down three pieces of sushi, two rolls of bread, and a large bottle of milk in the bathroom, Ye Zhen finally calmed down.
She slapped her cheeks sharply, warning herself not to harbor any improper thoughts about the hunter—admiration was enough.
But returning to the bedroom and climbing back onto that bed, her nerves sent her mind blank again.
Ye Fuli had already fallen asleep.
She had only covered her stomach with the blanket, leaving her long, white legs exposed. Her toes, pale pink and slightly curled, seemed restless even in her sleep.
"Seriously, you've scared me so much I can't sleep, yet you're sleeping soundly."
Ye Zhen dared not disturb her. She tiptoed onto the bed, curled up in a small corner, and tried to force sleep.
…
The next morning.
When Ye Zhen awoke, Ye Fuli was already seated at her desk, flipping through her exam papers and marked-up work.
"Morning, Miss Ye."
Hearing movement from the bed, Ye Fuli closed the error notebook in her hands.
She pushed her glasses up her nose and flashed a meaningful smile.
That smile made Ye Zhen wonder if her mastery of three subjects had been exposed. After all, she hadn't made many mistakes lately and had even doodled little people during class!
Fortunately, Ye Fuli said nothing. She simply stood up and stretched lazily.
"Aren't you going to class?" Ye Zhen whispered. "If you want to skip, I can cover for you?"
Ye Fuli shook her head. "I don't think I want to leave. Your blanket smells so nice, and the bed is big enough for two. It's still spacious, isn't it?"
Ye Zhen: "…"
What?!
You don't want to leave?
Damn it, don't screw me over! I'm still young—I don't want to die!
Just then, the nanny's voice called out to her from downstairs, growing louder as she approached.
Ye Zhen panicked, scrambling out of bed and pleading, "Ye Fuli, you really should hide! If your own mother spots you, she'll beat me to death."
And she'll beat you to death too.
We'll both die together—tell me, is that a fair deal?
"Then answer the question I asked you last night."
Ye Fuli remained perfectly calm, completely unfazed by the knocking outside.
Ye Zhen was on the verge of tears. "W-with my grades, how could I possibly advance with you?"
"I didn't ask if you could. I asked if you wanted to."
Did she really have to nitpick over words at a time like this?
Ye Zhen sighed in resignation and nodded. "I do! Of course I want to get into a top university, just like you! But I…"
Before she could finish that "but," Ye Fuli covered her mouth with a hand.
She gave a faint smile and made a shushing gesture.
She then walked toward the bathroom, entered, and closed the door.
"Miss Ye Zhen? Breakfast is ready. The mistress sent me to wake you. Are you up yet?"
The maid outside seemed to be fumbling for her keys, ready to open the door.
Ye Zhen was currently studying at home, with strict schedules for waking up, meals, and even afternoon jogging… Her daily routine was packed tighter than school!
"Ah! I'm up! Hold on, I'm changing clothes."
Ye Zhen hurriedly replied.
The nanny paused her fumbling, sighed, and said, "Hurry downstairs, Madam is waiting."
She didn't like the atmosphere in this household either, but making money was paramount. She had no choice but to play the villain every day.
As Huang Li stepped out of her room, Ye Zhen emerged at the same moment.
Their eyes met.
Huang Li smiled faintly, about to lean in for a whisper, when he saw Ye Zhen raise her tightly clenched little fist.
"Oh! That little fist of yours—it's nothing compared to Senior Ye Fuli's, is it?"
He didn't take the fist seriously, still grinning.
Then…
…misfortune struck.
While he was distracted by her fist, Ye Zhen suddenly lifted her little leather-shoed foot and stomped down hard on the top of his foot.
Thud—
The floor echoed with a dull thud.
Hearing him yelp in pain, she coldly snorted, "If you keep up these dirty tricks, I'll tell Ye Fuli to beat you senseless—just like she did to Bai Ruoting!"
"Whoa~ No way! I didn't say anything! Is laughing a crime too?"
Huang Li sighed inwardly, thinking this was one sweet kick.
But that kick was brutal—right up there with Ye Fuli's viciousness.
The two descended the stairs, one ahead, one behind.
Mrs. Ye smiled and nodded.
"Please, sit down. After breakfast, you two should go out for a stroll. The family car and driver are at your disposal."
Ye Zhen glanced back, her eyes darting anxiously toward her bedroom upstairs.
Still, she reasoned that Ye Fuli was a clever woman and probably wouldn't reveal anything.
After breakfast, she made an excuse to fetch a hairpin and hurried upstairs.
Searching around, she found no sign of Ye Fuli and breathed a sigh of relief.
But then she noticed Ye Fuli's clothes from yesterday still hanging on the drying rack. Her heart skipped a beat!
"Quick, take them down! If the maid finds them, I'm dead meat."
She managed to take them down, but where could she hide them now?
The maid cleaned her room daily, sweeping even under the bed!
No hiding spot felt safe.
After some thought, she decided to pack everything into her backpack. She planned to return the items to Ye Fuli later when she went out.
She carried the bulging backpack back downstairs.
"Mom, we're heading out."
Ye Zhen lowered her gaze submissively, feigning obedience.
Mrs. Ye studied her briefly before nodding.
"Dress more maturely! Once you're out, buy some nice clothes. Don't worry about the cost—use my card."
"Okay, thank you, Mom."
Ye Zhen took the bank card, but her heart couldn't feel happy.
The bulging backpack in her hands felt like a ticking time bomb.
Perhaps it was her nervousness, but she kept glancing at the bag so often that Mrs. Ye finally grew suspicious. She couldn't help but ask, "What's in that bag? Bring it here for me to see!"