Zhan Yin said, “Your daughter is already in primary school, and her grades are still so good. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Yanyan.”
“You’ll see her soon. Our Yanyan is as sensible as ever, growing more and more like a big sister,” Ye Junbo replied.
Like Zhan Yin, Ye Junbo was particularly indulgent with his daughter, treating her with leniency while being strict with his son. He often told his son that the responsibility of taking over the family business would fall to him, so his sister wouldn’t have to bear the burden.
When the children were younger, they didn’t understand. Now that Jun Yan was in primary school and more aware, she would ask Ye Junbo, “Daddy, does the successor have to be my brother? Why can’t it be me? Is it because I’m a girl?”
“Does Daddy think I’m useless, not as capable as my brother, so I can’t be the successor?”
Her questions forced Ye Junbo to spend a long time explaining repeatedly.
In the end, his daughter would still say, “Daddy, you just think I’m not as good as my brother, so you won’t let me be the successor.”
This left Ye Junbo with no choice but to tell his children, “Regardless of gender, it’s about ability. When you grow up, the successor will be chosen based on merit.”
Only after this did Jun Yan stop asking why.
In truth, at present, Ye Yao was not as capable as his sister. Ye Yao was lively and mischievous, typical for a seven-year-old boy. Expecting maturity and steadiness at this age was impossible.
Jun Yan, however, was naturally calm and composed, a trait of her personality.
In terms of grades, both siblings were equally outstanding, always at the top. But in terms of capability, Ye Yao currently seemed slightly better than his sister.
Jun Yan wasn’t trying to compete with her brother for the successor role. She wanted her parents to treat her and her brother equally, not to dismiss her as a candidate just because she was a girl.
Her family believed the successor role was taxing and hoped she could live happily and carefree, not burdened by responsibilities. But she didn’t want to be a useless princess who accomplished nothing.
She wanted to compete with her brothers. If she lost, she would accept it wholeheartedly.
But if she won, she wouldn’t yield to her brothers.
Her great-aunt supported her.
Ye Junbo’s aunt doted on Jun Yan, her grandniece, and Jun Yan loved talking to her, feeling that her great-aunt understood her.
“Daddy, we’re boarding the plane. Can’t you chat with Uncle Zhan when we get there?” a clear, childish voice interrupted.
Ye Junbo immediately said to Zhan Yin, “My daughter’s scolding me. I’ll hang up now, and we’ll talk when we meet.”
He quickly ended the call, reached out to gently pinch his daughter’s cheek, and smiled at Mu Qing, “My daughter’s starting to boss me around.”
Mu Qing teased him, “The only one who can control you now is your daughter.”
Ye Junbo chuckled, “Not true. You can control me too. I’m very obedient to my wife. Everyone in A City knows I, Ye Junbo, am under my wife’s thumb. At home, my wife has the final say.”
The couple let their children board the plane first, following behind.
Seeing how much their children had grown, Ye Junbo suddenly whispered to his wife, “Qingqing, have you ever thought about having another child?”
Mu Qing glared at him, retorting, “You think our house isn’t lively enough? I’m well into my thirties. Another pregnancy would make me an older mother. I don’t want to go through that again. I already have both a son and a daughter.”
The exhaustion of late pregnancy still lingered in Mu Qing’s mind.
Because she had carried twins, her belly had been larger than most, and even a single pregnancy in the later stages was tiring.
“If we have another set of twins, I’d lose my mind,” Mu Qing added, worried that a second pregnancy might result in twins again, possibly even identical ones.
