Ye Qiu savored the mysteries of the Enlightenment Realm before leaving the basement.
Then, he took Su Luoying home.
On the way, Su Luoying, nervous, asked, “Ye Qiu, it’s my first time going to your house. Should I bring a gift for your mom?”
He smiled, “No need. We’re going back to discuss some matters today.”
Half an hour later, Ye Qiu, holding Su Luoying’s hand, pushed open the door.
Already anxious about meeting his family for the first time, Su Luoying’s heart leapt to her throat when she saw Lin Jingzhi and Bai Bing on the living room sofa.
Bai Bing glanced coldly at Ye Qiu holding Su Luoying’s hand, clearly displeased.
The jealousy was evident.
Su Luoying quickly pulled her hand away, nervously saying, “Dean Bai.”
Bai Bing’s face was expressionless, silent.
Lin Jingzhi, ever the diplomat, walked over with a warm smile, “You must be Luoying, little sister?”
“So beautiful.”
“Come, have some fruit with me.”
She pulled Su Luoying to the sofa, casting a glance at Ye Qiu.
He shot her a grateful look.
A small figure darted from a room, leaping onto Ye Qiu’s shoulder.
The medicine marten!
The little creature nuzzled his cheek affectionately.
Ye Qiu petted its head, then went to the kitchen, where Qian Jinglan was cooking, with Qin Wan assisting.
He greeted them, then went to his bedroom, pulled out his phone, and started making calls.
Twenty minutes later, as he emerged, there was a knock at the door.
Knock knock
Opening it, he saw Su Xiaoxiao standing there with a bag of fruit.
“Come in!”
Su Xiaoxiao entered, saw Lin Jingzhi, Bai Bing, and the others, and her face flushed.
What shocked her most was Su Luoying’s presence, making her wonder, “Could it be, sister and Ye Qiu…”
Unbeknownst to her, Su Luoying was thinking, “Is Xiaoxiao with Ye Qiu?”
Ye Qiu turned to see Bai Bing’s icy gaze, chilling to the bone.
Lin Jingzhi looked at him with a half-smile.
He quickly explained, “Sister Lin, Sister Bing, don’t misunderstand.”
“I called Xiaoxiao over to discuss something.”
“To me, Xiaoxiao, as the daughter of Nine Thousand Years, is like my own sister.”
“Is that so?” Bai Bing snorted, “More like a sweetheart!”
Cough cough…
Ye Qiu choked.
Su Xiaoxiao, embarrassed and guilty, hid her own unspoken feelings.
He was about to seek Lin Jingzhi’s help when she stepped forward, took Su Xiaoxiao’s hand, and said, “Bai Bing’s just teasing, don’t mind her.”
“Come, sit with me.”
“Luoying just arrived too, let’s chat.”
Ye Qiu sighed in relief.
Soon, dinner was served.
It was the 24th of the lunar twelfth month, the Southern Little New Year. Qian Jinglan had made tangyuan and nian gao.
Everyone gathered around the table, eating and chatting, the atmosphere warm and joyful.
After the meal, Qin Wan began clearing the table but was stopped by Ye Qiu, “Sister Wan, hold off. While everyone’s here, I have something to say.”
All eyes turned to him.
“First, I owe you all an apology.”
“After all this time together, some of you still don’t know my true identity.”
“I’m from the Ye family, the top family in the capital.”
“My father was Ye Wushuang, the world’s greatest master over twenty years ago. During a turmoil in the capital back then, he was ambushed by many and his fate remains unknown.”
He glanced at Qian Jinglan, who remained calm, so he continued.
“All these years, I’ve lived with my mother.”
“I’m deeply grateful to her for raising me. It wasn’t easy.”
“I’m also grateful to you, Sister Lin, and everyone, for adding so much beauty to my life.”
“Two months ago, I received a challenge from the Forbidden City.”
“You probably all know about it.”
“Yes, on New Year’s Eve, I’ll face a life-and-death battle with them.”
“They want to kill me because I killed some of their people.”
“And I want to destroy them because they were behind the turmoil in the capital that harmed my father. I must avenge him.”
“You’re my closest people. I won’t hide this from you, nor do I need to.”
“I have no assurance of returning alive from this trip.”
At this, sadness clouded everyone’s faces.
The mood grew heavy.
Ye Qiu smiled, “Of course, there’s a chance I’ll win.”
“Though it’s slim, the Ye family, the War God, Master Longmei, Master Due, and Dragon Gate will all stand with me against the Forbidden City.”
“Until the last moment, life and death are uncertain.”
He continued, “Today is the 24th. In a few days, I’ll head to the capital.”
“Before I go, I have arrangements to share.”
“If I don’t return, I fear the Forbidden City may target you. I’ve instructed Dragon Gate’s Cao Qingcheng.”
“If I die, she’ll immediately take you away from Jiangzhou to a secret place to live.”
“You might return to Jiangzhou someday, or you might stay there forever.”
“But no matter what, even if I die, I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Tears streamed down Qin Wan, Su Luoying, and Su Xiaoxiao’s faces.
Bai Bing’s eyes were red, tears glistening.
Only Lin Jingzhi and Qian Jinglan remained calm, their faces like still water.
Ye Qiu said, “If I don’t return, Sister Lin, Sister Bing, Sister Wan, Luoying, Xiaoxiao, I entrust my mother to you.”
“Please care for her, see her through her days in my place.”
“For this great kindness, I’ll repay you in the next life.”
Bai Bing broke down, sobbing loudly.
Her tears triggered Qin Wan, Su Luoying, and Su Xiaoxiao to cry too.
Slap!
Lin Jingzhi slammed the table, shouting, “Why are you crying?”
“Ye Qiu’s not dead yet, and you’re mourning already?”
“Cry again, and you’re all out!”
Her outburst stopped the tears.
Then, she added, “Bai Bing, Sister Wan, take a few days off work.”
“Come to my place. We’ll all stay with Ye Qiu.”
“Even if he doesn’t return, we’ll ensure his bloodline continues.”
