The Tea Break Was Seriously Good

The siblings got back into the car. Ye Qi'an had originally planned to take Ye Xunzhi straight back to the dormitory at the research institute.

Yes, as a broke guy, he naturally hadn't bought a home. He couldn't afford to rent one either, so naturally, he had to apply for staff housing.

Ye Qi'an generally frequented two places: the hospital and the research institute.

He couldn't get a single room in the hospital dormitory, so he usually stayed at the research institute. But while he was waiting at a traffic light, he received a call from his teacher.

Ye Xunzhi was opening the window to enjoy the breeze when she heard Ye Qi'an ask:

"I have an academic conference to attend. Do you want to come with me or go back to the dorm on your own?"

[An academic conference? Those are super boring. A bunch of PhDs, professors, and supervisors jabbering away in a language I don't understand.]

Ye Qi'an wholeheartedly agreed. Exactly, exactly, so you really shouldn't...

Ye Xunzhi said, "I want to go."

Ye Qi'an felt as though he'd been played.

Unwilling to give up, he said, "Academic conferences are really boring. You can't interrupt anything. You'll have to sit there doing nothing for hours."

Ye Xunzhi's eyes shone with longing. "That's all right. I want to follow closely in your footsteps, Third Brother."

Ye Qi'an thought, You don't have to follow quite that closely.

Whatever the case, he'd promised the old man he would keep Ye Xunzhi by his side like a keychain.

And she had confirmed that she wanted to go. If he went back on his word now and Ye Xunzhi complained to the old man later... he would definitely be in serious trouble.

Fine. I'll put up with it.

After they arrived at the venue, Ye Qi'an guaranteed on his own reputation that Ye Xunzhi absolutely wouldn't disrupt the conference. Seeing how young she was, the staff finally let her in.

Incidentally, Ye Xunzhi paid the admission fees for both of them to attend the academic conference. : )

Just as Ye Xunzhi had expected, the academic conference really was boring. But!

After sitting motionless for an hour like an old monk in meditation, Ye Xunzhi's eyes lit up at the dazzling feast of desserts in the hall.

[The tea break was seriously good!]

Cake rolls, straight into her mouth.

Cream puffs, straight into her mouth.

Macarons, straight into her mouth.

Black Forest cake, straight into her mouth.

Mousse cakes, fruit tarts, coconut milk squares, and fruit-all straight into her mouth.

Ye Qi'an followed behind her, holding a plate and sweeping through the food. It's free anyway. Eat, eat, eat, eat, eat!

Halfway through eating, he remembered something and pulled an opaque white plastic bag out of his pocket, quietly slipping it into Ye Xunzhi's hand. Before he could explain what it was for,

Ye Xunzhi had already deftly shaken the bag open, swiftly picked out a box of cherries, and stuffed it inside.

[Quick, pack it in, pack it in! It's free anyway. Anything we pack is a gain. Here's our chance to save on food expenses.]

[Weird, why hasn't Third Brother started yet? Don't tell me he's remembered that dignity he lost years ago at a time like this.]

Ye Qi'an was simply stunned. His little sister really knew the drill.

Ye Qi'an's teacher was a kindly old professor whom everyone called Professor Zhang. He greeted his friend with a cheerful smile.

Professor Zhang's friend asked, "Old Zhang, I heard you brought your prized student. Where is he?"

"Him? Isn't he right..." Old Professor Zhang was just about to proudly introduce Ye Qi'an and call him over.

Then his gaze landed on the backs of the siblings not far away, who were sweeping through like a swarm of locusts. He smoothly turned back with a smile and spread his hands.

"Suddenly, I can't seem to find him."

After finally getting his friend to leave, Old Professor Zhang saw that someone else was about to approach him. He darted over to Ye Qi'an and lowered his voice:

"You brat, with a face like that, can't you show a little restraint?"

Ye Qi'an said, "What's restraint? Can you stir-fry it and eat it?"

Old Professor Zhang saw right through him. "Are you broke again, you brat? Wait, I think I forgot to buy your admission ticket today. Did you go ask your brothers for money because you were broke?"

The bag was full and couldn't hold anything more. Ye Xunzhi raised her hand. "I paid."

Old Professor Zhang looked at this fourteen-year-old minor, then at his prized student in his twenties. His gaze was so complicated that Ye Qi'an couldn't decipher it.

Old Professor Zhang said, "If you're out of money, can't you ask your teacher? You went to your little sister instead? Impressive! I'll transfer you some money right now."

Ye Xunzhi said considerately, "There's no need. My third brother has money now. Five thousand, in fact, and it's cash he just withdrew from the bank today. Look."

To prove that she was telling the absolute truth, Ye Xunzhi brought up a photo on her phone, and Old Professor Zhang looked down at it.

Ye Qi'an was pinned to the bank floor by six security guards, holding a bulging black bag.

Old Professor Zhang blurted out, "Have you finally gotten so poor that you've taken to robbing banks?! I took every possible precaution, but this day has come after all."

He was somewhat distraught. "You haven't escaped from prison, have you?!"

Ye Qi'an thought, My reputation is being ruined.

Only after a great deal of explaining did he finally clear things up. Ye Qi'an had nearly talked himself dry:

"So why does my little sister have this photo? Don't you owe me an explanation?"

He looked up, ready to find fault with her. It would be even better if he could squeeze some compensation for emotional distress out of his little sister.

Instead, he saw his teacher smiling as he rubbed Ye Xunzhi's head, his old face practically blooming with joy. His voice was gentler than Ye Qi'an had ever heard it, pinched into an old man's cutesy tone:

"Hello there. My name is Zhang Cheng, and I'm your brother's teacher. You can call me Grandpa Zhang."

Perhaps it was because he was getting older, but Old Professor Zhang found Ye Xunzhi adorable no matter how he looked at her, far cuter than all those batches of brats he'd taught.

Ye Qi'an thought, Is no one going to speak up for me?

Ye Xunzhi greeted him. "Hello, Grandpa Zhang. My name is Ye Xunzhi."

Old Professor Zhang beamed. "Hello, hello."

"Isn't this Professor Zhang? Long time no see."

A distinctly unpracticed, foreign-accented voice spoke in Chinese. Eating the desserts on her plate, Ye Xunzhi slipped behind Ye Qi'an.

She even took all the bags from his hands, showing plenty of consideration for her third brother's dignity.

Old Professor Zhang and Ye Qi'an looked over. The newcomer was a blond, blue-eyed foreigner, an older man who had grown somewhat stout.

Old Professor Zhang smiled. "Professor Bruce, long time no see."

The two shook hands and exchanged a few pleasantries before Professor Bruce said with a hearty smile:

"Professor Zhang, have you given any thought to our previous invitation? Country M is approaching this with the utmost sincerity. Salary is certainly negotiable."

Old Professor Zhang said, "This isn't a question of money. I was born in Huaxia, and I will only serve my motherland. If you're inviting me to take up a position, then..."

He shook his head, declining tactfully. Hearing this, Professor Bruce didn't give up, but instead took a step back:

"Even if you won't take up a position in Country M, could we extend a special invitation to you and several other experts to visit Country M for a technical exchange?"

For people at their level and standing, money could hardly sway them; only technology could. Sure enough, Old Professor Zhang visibly looked tempted.

Yet the more Ye Xunzhi heard, the more familiar it sounded. Looking at Old Professor Zhang, she had never met him before.

[Zhang Cheng, a team of experts, an invitation from Country M, and he's Third Brother's teacher...]

Hearing the voice in his ears, Ye Qi'an frowned. He was just about to turn around and send his little sister away first. With her here, he couldn't even properly listen to the conversation.

[I remember now. This is the MZ657 Air Disaster.]

Ye Qi'an's hand hung in midair.