After dinner, the two returned to the Ye family villa.
Ye Xunzhi dove straight into her room because she had discovered that, at her current age, she still had to attend school, and final exams were only half a month away.
The scariest part was that she still hadn't done her homework!
Honestly, as a thoroughly respectable student at a prestigious university before transmigrating, and a seasoned veteran of rebirth, Ye Xunzhi should have thought nothing of these little final exams.
Unfortunately, no matter how well she had learned certain things back then, after spending enough time muddling through life, she had pretty much handed that knowledge back to her teachers...
In the study at the end of the third-floor hallway of the villa.
Ye Yunhuai told Old Master Ye what had happened at the company that day.
"I just received last year's accounts, which the finance director rushed to put together. We did find a shortfall of ten million. According to the investigation, the deputy director of finance might also be involved."
Old Master Ye looked particularly grim. He hadn't expected there to be a problem with someone working alongside his eldest grandson.
A moment later, however, he couldn't help feeling relieved. Thank goodness he had acted on a whim that day and had Ye Xunzhi accompany Ye Yunhuai to the company to broaden her horizons.
Otherwise, he didn't even dare imagine whether these old bones of his could have survived the consequences.
The old man couldn't help remarking, "We really owe Zhizhi this time. Speaking of which, you went out to eat with your sister today, didn't you? How was it?"
At the mention of this, a trace of softness appeared in Ye Yunhuai's usually cold, sharp features.
"It was nice. For the first time in my life, I got to experience my sister buying clothes for me."
The smile that had finally appeared on Old Master Ye's face immediately collapsed, and he glared at his eldest grandson.
"You mean Zhizhi paid for those clothes of yours just now? Have you no shame? How old are you? You're actually sponging off your sister? You little punk, have you thrown all your dignity away?!"
What gives you the right? The little one hasn't even bought me any clothes! Don't you know to respect your elders and wait your turn?!
Ye Yunhuai: "..."
Rein it in, Grandpa. Jealousy has already twisted your face beyond recognition.
Just then, an intensely emotional inner voice rang out.
[Help!]
Ye Yunhuai's and Old Master Ye's expressions changed at the same time, and they sprang to their feet.
[Knowledge is just like my worries-I've tossed every bit of it out of my head!]
The two plopped back down.
[I don't want to work hard anymore! I'll just sneak out of school tomorrow and find some random rich woman to support me. I give up today, we give up tomorrow, and I give up the day after. If that isn't self-discipline, what is?!]
"Her inner voice can actually adjust its volume according to her emotions." Old Master Ye rubbed his brow with a headache.
What was this little one thinking about all day? Finding a rich woman, of all things. Was the family's money not good enough for her?
In a room on the same floor.
Ye Xunzhi painfully clawed at her hair as she finished half her homework, deciding to improvise with the remaining half once she returned to school tomorrow.
She pulled up her blanket and slept very peacefully that night.
Before dawn the next day, Ye Xunzhi had to head to school wearing the face of a bitter, resentful woman.
"Life is dull and dreary. Six in the morning is murder." Ye Xunzhi stuffed a small dinner roll into her mouth without tasting it.
"Stop complaining." Old Master Ye pressed a glass of milk into her hand and reminded her worriedly:
"Your fifth brother goes to the same school. He's in the high school division, second year, Class 83, and his name is Ye Xiao. Go find him if you need anything."
Ye Xunzhi had been nodding haphazardly, still half asleep, before suddenly seeming to latch onto a particular keyword.
[Fifth Brother? Then I really do need to go see him.]
Old Master Ye had only mentioned it casually, but hearing that made him lose his composure.
After what had happened with the eldest and second eldest, he couldn't help wondering whether their family was somehow accident-prone. Was the fifth one about to have bad luck now?
But the old man pricked up his ears and waited for ages, only for there to be no follow-up.
When he looked up, he found Ye Xunzhi eating with a blank expression, her soul having drifted who knew where, her head clearly empty.
He bristled and glared beside her in frustration. You little brat, don't stop halfway! Tell me the rest!
Unfortunately, before he could prompt her, the driver came through the door. He was responsible for taking Ye Xunzhi to and from school.
The driver said, "Young miss, are you ready? If we don't leave now, you'll be late for school."
Ye Xunzhi said, "Oh, oh, I'm coming!"
The old man desperately wanted to reach out like Erkang and drag her back to ask what exactly was going on, but he suppressed the urge and could only watch helplessly as Ye Xunzhi ran off.
The front door closed. The old man turned and shouted at Ye Yunhuai, who had just come downstairs for breakfast:
"Contact your fifth brother! Tell him to take Ye Xunzhi along wherever he goes today!"
Eldest Brother Ye: "?"
Meanwhile, after sleeping in the car for thirty minutes, Ye Xunzhi arrived at school without incident.
Ye Xunzhi attended a nationally renowned private school for the elite, with both junior and senior high divisions. Its high salaries had attracted an exceptionally strong teaching staff.
But this also meant that the wealthy children studying here placed great importance on social standing. Those of lower status generally had no choice but to swallow their grievances.
However, since most of the students here were either rich or influential, plenty of parents still sent their children here every year, one after another.
After all, if they really made a well-connected friend willing to give them a leg up, their future would practically be set for meteoric success.
"Young miss, why don't I walk you in? That badminton racket bag and your schoolbag look pretty heavy."
"Thank you, sir, but there's no need."
Ye Xunzhi waved a hand and lifted the badminton racket bag, which gave a loud clang.
"..."
For a moment, both of them fell silent.
The driver asked hesitantly, "Young miss, is your racket broken? Do you need me to buy you a new one?"
"No, no. Thank you, sir, but there really is no need." With that, Ye Xunzhi took off running into the school.
When she reached the foot of the building, she unzipped the badminton racket bag.
That was close. He almost discovered that what was inside wasn't a racket at all, but a steel spike.
Ye Xunzhi gave a crooked smile. Based on her experience over her previous lives, once she was kicked out of the Lin Family, the people who normally fawned over her would pretty much start turning their attacks on her.
And unless something unexpected happened, Lin Ranran would be the one egging them on. Since she had only just swindled a sum out of her yesterday, Lin Ranran would certainly stir things up even harder.
Thinking of the filthy insults once scrawled on her desk, the time she had nearly had a sack thrown over her head, and the whole string of other incidents.
Ye Xunzhi's eyes gradually filled with excitement. Awaken, my hunting hour.
Returning to her classroom, Ye Xunzhi entered through the front door and saw that, sure enough, another girl had already taken her original seat in the first row.
She wasn't angry. She walked straight to the window seat in the back row beside the trash can and found her desk.
The word "bastard," written on it in red paint, was particularly glaring.
Unexpectedly, however, a boy was sitting in her seat, covering his face with a book and arrogantly resting his feet on the desk.
[Have they changed tactics?]
Ye Xunzhi raised her eyebrows, paying no mind to the strange silence around her. After all, these classmates had been just as quiet when watching the show in her previous lives.
Seemingly noticing the sound, the boy slowly lowered the book from his face and said casually:
"You're back. You..."
Before the boy could finish, almost the instant the book moved aside, a silver streak flashed past.
Ye Xiao saw a steel spike come within a hair of striking him in the face. The girl standing before him had an icy gaze.
"Either pay for a new desk for me today, or don't expect to leave."
Then, after getting a clear look at him, she nearly lost her composure.
[Holy shit, isn't this my fifth brother? How the hell did he get so bored that he came looking for me this time?!]
Ye Xiao hadn't even had time to be shocked that this was the little sister his eldest brother had told him about over the phone.
He said she was as delicate as a little lamb?
Then who was this in front of him?? Had the little lamb been eaten???
Ye Xiao felt that this little sister wasn't remotely delicate. In fact, she looked ready to cut him down.
Then, before all the question marks in his head had finished popping up, that strange inner voice suddenly appeared in his mind again, matching the voice of Ye Xunzhi standing before him.
Ye Xiao understood. Could he be the legendary man chosen by the light?!
Fine. He could accept that.
Ye Xiao tried to put on his most impressive pose, deliberately lowering his voice:
"Little sister, this is our first meeting. Aren't you going to say something to me?"
Ye Xunzhi opened her mouth and was just about to speak.
Just then, the sound of someone knocking over desks and chairs came from beside them.
"Holy crap! Brother Xiao, your sister's approach is way too fucking wild!"
Before you continue