Ye Zhongquan and his daughter Ye Changmin stood in the cold wind, not feeling the chill on their skin, but a sense of desolation crept into their hearts, as if they were unwelcome.
Compared to the radiant, youthful glow of the Gu couple, the contrast was stark.
Still, neither father nor daughter dared to harbour resentment towards Ye Chen in their hearts, for they knew this was the consequence of their own actions.
Inviting everyone into the house, Ye Zhongquan quickly said to Ye Changmin, “Changmin, go brew some tea. It’s not dinner time yet, so I’ll have a chat and a cuppa with Yanzhong and Chen’er.”
Gone was Ye Changmin’s old air of the Ye family’s pampered eldest daughter. With a smile as polished as a professional waiter’s, she replied with a mix of respect and humility, “Dad, just wait a moment, I’ll get the tea set and leaves ready.”
With that, she bustled off eagerly.
Ye Changmin didn’t dare hope Ye Chen would give her a Rejuvenation Pill, but a faint thought lingered in her mind: if she seized every chance to show him kindness and humility from now on, perhaps if Ye Chen’s impression of her improved, he might one day take pity and grant her half a pill, or even a whole one.
Lin Wanqiu, feeling that Ye Changmin, as Ye Chen’s aunt, shouldn’t be left to tend to everyone alone, whispered to Gu Qiuyi beside her, “Nannan, go help your Aunt Ye out, lend her a hand.”
Gu Qiuyi nodded quickly, “Sure, Mum, I’ll go now.”
Ye Changmin overheard and immediately waved her off with a smile, “Oh, Nannan, you’re a guest! There’s no need for you to lift a finger. Just stay here with your parents and Grandpa Ye. I’ll manage on my own.”
Then, with another quick smile, she added to Ye Chen, “Chen’er, you sit tight too, keep Nannan company.”
Ye Chen gave a slight nod, thinking to himself, “This aunt of mine is a completely different person now. The old Ye Changmin was a proper diva. Despite her age, she had more pride than the youngsters, and a temper to match. But looking at her now, it’s like she’s a new woman. A total transformation.”
As the host, Ye Zhongquan ushered everyone to the sofa area to sit. Once settled, he sighed to Gu Yanzhong, “Yanzhong, if you’ve got nothing on, you should pop by the house more often. I’m just an old man rattling around here, and it gets awfully dull. Sometimes I really crave a good chat.”
Gu Yanzhong replied with earnest respect, “No problem, Uncle Ye. We’ve not got much else going on lately, and Nannan’s back to rest and prep for the New Year. If you’re feeling bored, the three of us will come by often to keep you company!”
Ye Zhongquan’s face lit up with delight, and he nodded enthusiastically, “If your family of three could visit regularly, that’d be brilliant! Most of the Ye family are up at Ye Ling Mountain keeping vigil these days, and at my age, traipsing up there isn’t exactly convenient. It does get lonely around here.”
He glanced at Ye Chen beside him and sighed again, “Truth be told, I’d love for Chen’er to stay in Yanjing longer, spend some proper time here. But every time he comes back, it’s a whirlwind visit, and he’s off again before long. I barely get a chance to have him keep this old bag of bones company.”
Ye Chen smiled faintly but stayed silent.
He was, after all, a married man now, with a home in Jinling. Picking up this thread could lead to talk of his engagement with Gu Qiuyi, landing him right back in an awkward spot.
At that moment, Gu Qiuyi chimed in with a smile, “Grandpa Ye, Brother Ye Chen’s got so much on his plate these days, he hasn’t got much time to spend with you. But don’t worry, once I quit the entertainment biz, I’ll be a jobless layabout at home. I’ll come visit you all the time then!”
