What a thoroughly satisfying family bonding activity

"What do you mean? Who are you looking down on?"

Ye Yizhou clicked his tongue and complained irritably, "Are you even my real dad? Other people's kids are always better, huh?"

A good father wouldn't undermine his own child's confidence and self-esteem.

After giving it some thought, Ye Chongli said tactfully, "It's not that you aren't outstanding. But think about who Yan Qingdu is. He's a breathtaking talent, a true prodigy."

Ye Yizhou said, "Well, I'm no ordinary nobody either."

"Fine, fine, you're a match made in heaven, all right?"

Knowing nothing he said would help, Ye Chongli gave in. "Then when will you bring him home so your mother and I can meet him first?"

"There's no rush. We're not getting married yet. We're still one tiny step away from marriage."

Ye Yizhou suddenly looked a little downcast.

Ye Chongli asked with concern, "What's missing? Does his family object?"

"No."

Ye Yizhou shook his head solemnly and said with a serious expression and an earnest tone, "The only thing standing between us and marriage is getting acquainted."

Ye Chongli: ...

"Hahahahahahaha!"

Seeing his dad's speechless, helpless expression, Ye Yizhou laughed like a little devil whose prank had succeeded.

"Ye Yizhou, you're asking for a beating, aren't you?"

Ye Chongli spoke through gritted teeth, bending down to take off a slipper and hold it in his hand.

"Hang on. Mom's home, right?"

Ye Yizhou wasn't flustered in the slightest and played his trump card.

"So what if your mom's home? Even she can't save you." Ye Chongli stood up, making to chase Ye Yizhou and hit him with the slipper.

In a flash, Ye Yizhou put some distance between them, grinning gleefully. "Who said I wanted Mom to save me?"

"Ye Chongli, you're done for."

Ye Yizhou gave him a meaningful look.

"What do you mean?" Ye Chongli paused, watching Ye Yizhou warily.

Ye Yizhou offered no explanation, only declaring haughtily, "Just wait till you get an earful! Hmph!"

An ominous premonition stirred in Ye Chongli's heart.

Sure enough, it came true the very next second.

"Mom! Mom!"

Ye Yizhou began shouting upstairs.

"Hey, hey, hey, stop shouting! Don't go yelling nonsense."

His shouting sent Ye Chongli into a panic. He hurried over to cover his mouth, but Ye Yizhou dodged him, and the two tussled for a while.

"Chongli, I think I heard our little darling. Is he home?"

Lu Qingwan's gentle voice drifted down from upstairs, followed by the sound of footsteps descending the stairs.

The father and son stopped their chase instantly, both looking toward the stairs.

Lu Qingwan wore a white qipao, her hair swept up and a set of fine, translucent emerald-green jade bangles on her wrist that clinked as she walked. She was the very picture of a gentle, graceful beauty from the river towns south of the Yangtze.

At the sight of Ye Yizhou, Lu Qingwan's smile grew even gentler. Her delight was impossible to hide, and even her steps grew lighter.

Lu Qingwan took Ye Yizhou's hand and examined her son carefully, immediately noticing something amiss. "Darling, what's all this on your face, your hair, and your clothes?"

Ye Yizhou said nothing, merely glancing at Ye Chongli.

Ye Chongli was already drenched in sweat.

Lu Qingwan turned to Ye Chongli with a slight frown. "What are you doing with that slipper? Were you going to hit him?"

"Honey, you don't know what he just..."

Ye Chongli hastily began defending himself, but he had barely opened his mouth when Ye Yizhou's lips turned down. His eyes instantly reddened, tears welling up in them. He looked so pitiful it tugged at the heartstrings, as though he had suffered an enormous injustice.

Ye Chongli: Huh?

With acting like that, who exactly kept trashing his son as a pretty face with no acting skills?

"Yes, it's all my fault. I made Dad angry. If he wants to hit me or scold me, I deserve it."

Ye Yizhou admitted his own fault, cutting off Ye Chongli's chance to complain about him. His tone was sincere, with a hint of tears. "If Dad's still angry, he can throw water straight at me. Spitting it out of his mouth is a little unhygienic."

Ye Chongli: ??

Well, well. So this was what the brat had been setting him up for!

He really was full of mischief.

"Ye Chongli!" Lu Qingwan's heart ached terribly for her son, and she turned to glare at Ye Chongli.

"That's not-I didn't-honey, hear me out!" Ye Chongli hurried to explain, but once again failed.

Lu Qingwan's expression was cold. "I'm not listening. Just tell me whether you're the one who sprayed that water on our little darling."

"...Yes."

"And were you holding that slipper to hit him?"

"...Yes."

Ye Chongli couldn't defend himself, no matter what he said.

"What do you mean by treating my son like this? Is it him you have a problem with, or me?"

Lu Qingwan was usually gentle and soft-spoken, but she was quite imposing when she spoke with a cold expression.

"I don't! I wouldn't dare have a problem with either of you!"

Ye Chongli's defense was feeble. Looking past Lu Qingwan, he saw Ye Yizhou behind her, tears still clinging to the corners of his eyes while a mischievous smile curled his lips.

Ye Chongli couldn't help glaring at Ye Yizhou.

Smack!

Lu Qingwan slapped Ye Chongli's arm and said sternly, "And you're still glaring at him."

"I'm not. Honey, you saw wrong," Ye Chongli denied meekly.

Ye Yizhou covered his mouth to hide his silent laughter, enjoying the show.

Ye Chongli felt miserable and furious, but there was nothing he could do about his unfilial son!!

Sensing Ye Chongli's gaze, Ye Yizhou stuck his tongue out to one side and cocked an eyebrow, looking like a villain who had successfully driven a wedge between people.

The instant Lu Qingwan turned around, he switched to a wronged puppy-dog look.

"Darling, go back to your room and clean up. Put on some clean clothes. Mommy has something to discuss with Daddy."

Lu Qingwan stroked Ye Yizhou's head, her voice soft and gentle.

"Okay~" Thoroughly satisfied, Ye Yizhou headed upstairs with a spring in his step.

Even upstairs, Ye Yizhou could hear his dad taking a one-sided "beating." His heart ached so very much for his old father, and he tearfully invited his brother to join the fray next time.

The quiet tearoom had an antique charm. Incense burned and tea brewed in leisurely comfort.

"Extensive market research and data show that, given the current situation and future trends, the return on investment for this project will only increase. If we can't..."

Ding!

The phone on the table sounded with a new WeChat message notification. Ye Jing’an glanced at the sender out of the corner of his eye, and his voice stopped abruptly.

"Sorry, it's a message from my younger brother. Let me reply first."

As Ye Jing’an picked up his phone to reply, he made a point of telling Yan Qingdu, since they had just been discussing business.

"It's fine."

Yan Qingdu's voice was clear and cool. Lowering his eyes, he lifted the teacup before him and took a sip.

Ye Jing’an tapped the voice message, but before he could bring the phone to his ear, a cheerful voice played aloud:

"Bro, Dad and I just had a thoroughly satisfying family bonding activity at home. It was loads of fun. I'll bring you along next time!"