Because she had slept poorly the night before, Ye Shiyu had gone back to bed after getting up early. By the time she woke again, it was almost noon, and Yan Huan had long since returned.
"Shiyu, you're up."
"Oh, Shiyu, come try this Caramel Pudding your little brother made. It's quite good."
As soon as she came downstairs, Ye Shiyu saw a small piece of golden pudding on each of the plates in front of Ye Lan and Aunt Chen at the dining table.
The pudding had a smooth surface, accented by just the right shade of caramel. A faint scent of vanilla oil drifted from it. It looked wonderful and particularly elegant.
Aunt Chen was inviting her down to try some, while Ye Lan was taking pictures of the pudding on her plate with her phone.
Ye Shiyu came down and looked toward the kitchen, where she saw Yan Huan taking off his apron and hanging it on a hook.
Then he came out carrying another plate of pudding and smiled at her.
"Sister Shiyu, I made this pudding for you. We happened to have the molds and ingredients at home, so I thought I'd make some for you all to try."
"..."
At home.
Hearing him speak as though he already considered this his home, Ye Shiyu looked at his hands again, only to see that he was still carrying the black ceramic dish with her name on it.
A chill settled over her brow before she realized it, but just then, Ye Lan spoke behind her.
"Shiyu?"
"...Thank you."
The chill did not disappear. It merely retreated little by little into her eyes.
Her expression returned to normal, and she nodded and accepted the pudding Yan Huan held out.
After they sat down, Ye Lan finished photographing her pudding and took a bite. The sweetness was just right, drawing a satisfied sound from her.
She turned to Yan Huan and asked,
"Mm, this really is good. Xiao Huan, you even know how to make desserts for yourself?"
"No, I learned at my part-time job. It's a bar, but they sell desserts and other snacks too. Frying some fries or making a pudding is no problem."
"A bar? The atmosphere must be pretty rough, then?"
Ye Lan frowned, harboring a strange prejudice against places like that, but Yan Huan quickly explained with a smile,
"It's just a little pub with live singers. No strange people go there. My coworkers all look out for me, and the pay is pretty high."
"I see. You've really had it hard, Xiao Huan..."
At the mention of the pay, understanding appeared on Ye Lan's face.
Of course. What choice did a university student have when he needed money for living expenses and tuition? If he could find part-time work, how could he worry about the atmosphere or whether it was hard?
Ye Lan thought Yan Huan had no choice because he needed the money, but she had actually misunderstood a little. Sister Tong's pub really was a respectable place.
Listening to her mother's conversation with Yan Huan, Ye Shiyu silently picked up her spoon, the darkness in her eyes deepening.
The more attentive Yan Huan was, the more she loathed him.
She took a token bite of pudding. Though it was delicious, at that moment, eating it felt like chewing bitter bark and swallowing needles.
Ye Shiyu kept casting subtle glances at him chatting and laughing with Ye Lan. Even the mask of blankness on her face was almost unable to conceal her darkness.
Yan Huan gave her an imperceptible glance. Knowing about the modifier, he noticed this even more keenly than Ye Lan did.
Yet he continued talking to Ye Lan, smoothly responding to all her questions and concern, and even managing to make her laugh.
As they talked, he brought up a question himself.
"By the way, have you chosen your courses in the School Affairs System, Sister Shiyu?"
"Chosen courses?"
Ye Lan glanced at Ye Shiyu beside her and asked in confusion,
"You have to choose courses at your school? Doesn't everyone take the same classes together?"
"Ah, that's how it works in the Dragon Nation, but here, besides the five required classes, we choose two electives. They're usually in the afternoon, and you can take them with people from other years and classes."
"I don't think Principal Hermes told us about that?"
"That's because you can also go to the school's Academic Affairs Office in person to register for classes when the time comes. The staff there will explain each course in detail, which you can't see when you register online. That's probably why Principal Hermes didn't tell you about online registration ahead of time."
Yan Huan smiled at Ye Lan and said,
"But I know quite a bit about the courses at school, so I can explain them to Auntie and Sister Shiyu. You can choose them now, too."
"I see... Shiyu, why don't you bring Mom's computer downstairs and have Xiao Huan help you choose your courses? I'd like to see how course selection works at universities here, too."
Ye Shiyu stopped using her spoon like a blade to gouge viciously at the pudding's flesh, nodded, stood up, and went upstairs.
Just as she left, Aunt Chen said she was going to prepare lunch, and Yan Huan's voice came again, offering to help.
"No need. Stay here and choose courses with Miss and Shiyu. Xiao Huan, since you made such delicious pudding, Aunt Chen will show you a couple of my specialties too. What would you like to eat?"
"Really? Then I want ribs. I just saw some in the fridge."
"Hey, you even spotted those? All right, I'll make them for you later."
"Come on, Xiao Huan, sit down. Tell me how the courses at your school work."
"Well, Auntie..."
Listening to their conversation from the stairs, Ye Shiyu climbed more and more slowly.
Perhaps this warm, lively atmosphere was even better than when she was home?
After all, she did not talk much and usually spent most of her time in her room working on her dolls, so the atmosphere at home had always been lukewarm...
Or perhaps he was actually better suited to being part of this family, which was why he drew all her mother's attention to himself.
"..."
For some reason, although it was only a fictional movie, she now felt exactly as its protagonist had.
So, for her original wish to do nothing more than drive him away to shift a little...
That was perfectly normal, wasn't it?
Gripping her phone, she silently went upstairs and soon disappeared up the spiral staircase from the second floor to the third.
After lunch and a short afternoon rest, Yan Huan opened Totsuki's course selection website on the computer for Ye Shiyu.
He logged in with the account Principal Hermes had given Ye Lan and helped search for courses she could take.
For practically the whole process, Yan Huan and Ye Lan did the talking. Although they kept asking Ye Shiyu, she essentially repeated the same actions.
Think, nod, "I don't mind."
It was almost as though Yan Huan was the one choosing courses.
They finally finished selecting two electives, one of which, "Handicraft Practicum," was the very same class Yan Huan was taking.
Ye Lan checked the time. It was almost two in the afternoon. Just as she was about to say something, Aunt Chen poked her head out of the kitchen and said to her,
"Miss, we're running a little short on groceries. The nearest place to buy them is rather far. Could you drive me?"
"I was planning to take these two little ones out for a movie this afternoon and eat out. I'll give you the other car key."
So Ye Lan had a car. Why had she needed a driver yesterday, then?
"Oh, forget it. I haven't sorted out my Linmen driver's license yet, and I drive even worse than you. If I went out on the road, I'd get plenty of points deducted too. I'll catch a ride over to buy groceries later. But if you won't be home for dinner, what am I going to do with these ribs?"
With that, Aunt Chen went back into the kitchen.
So Ye Lan had a license but hardly drove.
Ye Lan flushed slightly and glanced at Yan Huan beside her in embarrassment before asking,
"Xiao Huan, Shiyu, let's go see a movie later. Have a look and see if there's anything you want to watch."
"...Anything is fine."
That was what Ye Shiyu said, but she did not actually feel much like going.
She rarely watched movies and was not particularly interested in them. She had only managed to keep watching yesterday because she identified so strongly with the story.
Still, if her mother wanted to go, she could go.
Yan Huan glanced at Ye Shiyu, then suggested with a smile,
"Auntie, why don't we just take a look around the supermarket instead? We can buy some groceries for Aunt Chen and have dinner at home."
"How thoughtful..."
Ye Lan covered her mouth with a smile and stroked his head, then abruptly changed tack.
"But I think you just want ribs. Am I right?"
"I'm mainly worried about wasting food, Auntie. It has absolutely nothing to do with the ribs. Really."
"Hahaha..."
Yan Huan had made Ye Lan laugh again. She looked at Ye Shiyu beside her and asked,
"What do you think, Shiyu? Do you want to see a movie?"
"Anything is fine."
Once again, Ye Shiyu looked expressionlessly at Yan Huan in front of her.
Feeling that gaze upon him, as though she were looking at something dead, Yan Huan pretended not to notice, his smile growing even brighter.
Locking the door definitely wouldn't be enough...
That was what he thought.
Ye Lan changed her mind as well and called toward the kitchen,
"Aunt Chen, what groceries do you need? We'll go buy them for you in a bit."
"You're not going to the movies?"
"Haha, Xiao Huan loves your ribs."
"Oh dear, it looks like Linmen really has nothing good to eat. The poor boy's been starved."
"Hahaha... Hurry up, what groceries do you need? We'll be leaving soon."
Once Aunt Chen finished listing the groceries, Ye Lan took the car keys and led Yan Huan and Ye Shiyu to the garage outside.
The garage opened to reveal an extremely cheap miniature electric car.
It was only a little bigger than a fish head with chopped chilies.
Yan Huan looked at the tiny, cheap car, then at the eager Ye Lan beside him.
You're a Linmen CEO with an outrageous net worth, and you drive this?
Dazed, Yan Huan followed Ye Shiyu into the back seat. The moment she got in, Ye Shiyu fastened her seat belt.
While Yan Huan was still baffled, the electric car started.
"Ready to go."
Then the whole car suddenly reversed, plunging straight into the garage wall with a sharp noise.
Thud!
Yan Huan lurched, then fell back against his seat.
Beside him, Ye Shiyu remained as steady as a mountain in a storm, apparently long accustomed to this.
"..."
He seemed to understand why President Ye drove such a cheap car now.
Looking thoroughly apologetic, Ye Lan turned around and said to Yan Huan,
"Sorry, I put it in the wrong gear. It's fine now. We're heading off right away."
"Sure, Auntie."
Yan Huan silently fastened his seat belt, his smile a little strained.
"Hahaha, Miss, you nearly scared Xiao Huan to death."
At dinner, Aunt Chen poured drinks for everyone. Seeing Yan Huan still looking shaken made her laugh.
Ye Lan pouted, feeling a little dejected herself.
"I'm already driving much better than before. Apart from accidentally putting it in reverse in the garage, everything else should have been all right..."
Sure. Aside from all the drifting, instantaneous lane changes, erratic speed changes, and death races, everything else really had been all right.
It had just made him feel a little sick.
Especially since the electric car accelerated and decelerated so abruptly. In short, it really had managed to make Yan Huan, who never got carsick, carsick.
Now, with a pale face, he was still smiling as he reassured Ye Lan,
"It'sh fine, Auntie."
His terribly strained smile successfully amused Aunt Chen too.
"Hahahaha."
"Here, have some ribs to shut your mouth."
Ye Lan put a piece of rib in Yan Huan's bowl, then gave Ye Shiyu one too, and a cheerful atmosphere filled the dining area.
Only Ye Shiyu beside them remained silent, so Yan Huan took the initiative to speak to her.
"By comparison, you're really amazing, Sister Shiyu. You weren't scared at all."
"..."
There was no answer, so Ye Lan smiled and filled the gap in the conversation.
"Your big sister is the most considerate of me. Unlike you, Xiao Huan."
"Shiyu's used to riding with you. Didn't she used to get dizzy too?"
"..."
Still there was no response, and dinner ended amid this intermittent conversation.
"Aunt Chen, let me help."
This time, Yan Huan was the first to stand and help Aunt Chen clear the table, while Ye Lan rested her chin in her hands and smiled at his retreating figure.
After a brief pause, she turned and went to a cabinet in the living room, searching for something.
The cabinet was full of photo albums of all kinds.
Seeing this, Ye Shiyu understood.
Presumably, that moment would come very soon.
Those albums held many old photographs, including, of course, photographs of Yan Huan's parents.
On Friday, Yan Huan had said he would stay here for the weekend. Now the atmosphere was good, and over the course of this day, he had almost become part of the family.
All her mother needed to do was talk a little about the past, and he could stay here as a matter of course.
"Mom, I'm going upstairs to make clothes."
At that thought, Ye Shiyu stood up expressionlessly and said those words.
"All right, go ahead."
Ye Lan was still looking through the photo albums, while Ye Shiyu turned away with a shadow hanging over her and went upstairs.
"...Found it."
Ye Lan soon found an album, took it out, and returned to the living room sofa.
After spending a long time busy in the kitchen, Yan Huan finally washed his hands and came out carrying two bowls of the double-skin milk pudding he had just made.
Seeing only Ye Lan sitting in the living room, he asked,
"Auntie, where's Sister Shiyu? I made dessert for you and her."
"She went upstairs to make clothes."
Ye Lan said this with a beaming smile, then beckoned him over.
"Come here, Xiao Huan. Let me show you something."
"Sure, Auntie."
Setting the milk pudding on the coffee table, Yan Huan sat beside Ye Lan and watched her open the heavy photo album in her hands, revealing the photographs arranged inside.
Her finger moved, stopping on a photo of two young women together.
In the photo, a short-haired Ye Lan stood with a slightly awkward smile beside a young woman with flowing long hair and a sunny smile, who casually flashed a peace sign at the camera.
The mere sight of the beautiful girl standing beside Ye Lan made Yan Huan's eyes shift slightly.
The girl's features really did look very much like his, especially when she smiled.
And so, Yan Huan understood who she was.
"Look, Xiao Huan. This is your mother, Wang Yulu, my university classmate."
Ye Lan smiled faintly, her finger moving over one photo after another as she continued speaking to the stunned Yan Huan beside her.
"When I first started university, my family's business was going through a slump, and things were very hard. Don't be fooled by how glamorous I look now. Over twenty years ago, your auntie was so poor at university that she could barely afford food and clothing."
In the photos, some of Ye Lan's clothes were clearly the wrong size for her, looking a little too large.
"But what young person would be satisfied with just burying themselves in books? We all needed some fun, to go out and socialize.
"But I had no money to buy clothes. Everything I brought to university was my older sister's, a size too big. Never mind what other people thought when I wore them out-even I felt inferior looking at myself.
"With clothes like that, there was no question of anything else. Makeup, snacks, electronics-I had none of it."
In every photograph, the girl standing beside Ye Lan was smiling brightly, either making a gesture at the camera or striking a silly pose.
Even from the photos alone, it was clear that she was a very sunny person.
"Your mother was my roommate back then.
"When she saw I had no clothes to wear out, she lent me hers that were about the right size. If I had a date or an interview and no makeup, she let me use hers. She taught me skincare, took me out to exercise, studied with me, and introduced me to more friends.
"That was when your father and mother met. Here, this is your father. Your parents were the picture-perfect couple of the literature department back then."
In one photograph, Ye Lan, Wang Yulu, and a handsome man wearing glasses all looked at the camera. They seemed to be at a dining table, with some other classmates behind them.
"Your mother was an incredibly kind, incredibly sincere person. Without her, who knows what psychological problems I might have developed over those six years of undergraduate and graduate study.
"She was my very, very best friend, right up until we finished graduate school, when she and your father chose to come to Linmen to pursue their careers. They flew all over the world, and their phones were often out of service range. As for me, my failed marriage and my family's business kept me running in circles.
"Over all these years, I occasionally sent texts to see how they were, but I never got a reply. I thought they were too busy. Who knew..."
As she spoke, Ye Lan's eyes gradually reddened.
She turned the album's page, but no longer dared to look, as though afraid that seeing Yan Huan's mother's face again would make her cry.
Yan Huan considerately pulled out a tissue for her and held it beside her hand.
Meanwhile, a photo in the album caught Yan Huan's attention: his mother leaning close to a crib with a broad smile.
In the crib, he saw Ye Shiyu, still a baby, reaching out a tiny hand to grasp Wang Yulu's little finger, while Wang Yulu's face was full of smiles and surprise.
Under the photograph were the words,
"Shiyu's first meeting with her godmother."
Reading the caption beneath the photo, Yan Huan's pupils contracted slightly. Beside him, Ye Lan smiled when she saw the picture too.
"Your mother and I agreed that we'd be godmothers to each other's children. That's what I've always told Shiyu, too. So, Xiao Huan, I hope you can understand why Auntie lost her composure so badly when we first met. Maybe I was a little too eager, too affectionate, and made you feel uncomfortable."
"I just... sob... I couldn't help myself even when I saw your name. She always said that if she had a child, she'd give him that name, because she loved to smile. She said... her child would surely love to smile too."
Yan Huan pulled out another tissue and offered it to her, but Ye Lan had reached the point where she did not even notice.
And so, at the risk of overstepping, he could only wipe her tears himself.
"Aunt Ye..."
But Ye Lan gently clasped the hand Yan Huan had extended. Looking at him, she asked softly,
"So, Huan, would you stay? Just live here with me. I'll treat you as my own child and take good care of you in your mother's place. All right?"
"..."
Looking at Ye Lan before him, her eyes brimming with tears and earnest hope, Yan Huan parted his lips, an unnamed emotion filling his heart.
It was an offer he could not refuse, whether out of sentiment or reason. After these two days, it was almost a natural, inevitable outcome.
Perhaps Yan Huan had already considered it from a "rational" perspective earlier. The weight carried by the title of Ye International's Linmen CEO needed no explanation.
Honestly, when a benefactor like this fell from the sky, even the greatest fool could understand the value of that easily given answer: "yes."
Yet everything Ye Lan had just said had come from an "emotional" perspective.
There was no melodramatic love triangle, no theatrical tangle of love and hate.
There was only help offered in a time of hardship, only years spent together day after day.
But after she revisited all those years and laid the precious bond between them completely bare for Yan Huan to see, even if Yan Huan was an orphan transmigrator, he could hardly remain unmoved.
It was precisely because he had felt the sincerity of Ye Lan's emotions that he now hesitated.
Sensing Yan Huan's hesitation, Ye Lan, tears still at the corners of her eyes, began to turn down the corners of her mouth uncontrollably again.
That expression surged toward Yan Huan with a torrent of emotion, making a refusal somehow feel like an unforgivable crime.
"Auntie."
Yan Huan's eyes slowly lowered, avoiding that expression of hers.
After a moment's silence, he said with a bitter smile,
"I can't stay."
At his words, Ye Lan looked somewhat incredulous. She blinked and hurriedly pressed him.
"Why? Does Auntie make you feel that I'm difficult to get along with?"
"Of course not."
"Then is it your big sister? She just hasn't spent much time with other people. She's not a bad person at heart. I believe that with Xiao Huan around, she'll slowly become more outgoing too."
"It's not because of her either, Auntie. I've never thought that."
"Then why? Auntie has plenty of money. I can help you solve a lot of problems. Even if there's something you're unhappy with, you only have to tell me."
Ye Lan's expression grew increasingly bewildered, the hurt and sorrow on her face spilling over more and more.
She kept looking into Yan Huan's eyes, pursuing his evasive gaze until he had nowhere left to turn.
Just as I thought...
There's no escaping this, Yan Huan.
Blame those damned Modifiers, Aunt Ye, for leaving me no choice but to do this.
Yan Huan maintained his smile, finally raising his eyes little by little to meet Ye Lan's gaze directly.
There was no disgust in his eyes, only that firmness in his voice.
It was seven thirty on Sunday evening, inside Ye Lan's mansion in Jinghe District.
Looking at Ye Lan before him, Yan Huan spoke with equal sincerity.
"I'm sorry, Aunt Ye.
"I can't stay here. I have to go back to the South District."
Before you continue