A woman about Mother Ye's age stood at the door, looking at her smugly.
Hearing this voice, the smile on Mother Ye's face vanished instantly.
She set down her chopsticks, stared at the woman, and her eyes flashed with thick killing intent.
Ye Chen's heart jolted—he knew that murderous look all too well.
When he was little and disobedient, this was the death glare Mom gave him before a spanking.
Ye Chen shivered and whispered, "Dad, does Mom have a grudge against this woman?"
Father Ye nodded. "She was your mom's co-worker back in the day; you should call her Aunt Zhang. They actually got along, but Aunt Zhang loves showing off, so whenever they meet neither gives an inch and they end up bickering."
Ye Chen understood why his mom dropped all pretense of being a future mother-in-law the moment she saw this woman.
"Your mom and Aunt Zhang used to be evenly matched, but their kid's grades are better, and yours… aren't. That became your mom's weak spot; she always ends up on the losing side, hence the attitude."
Ye Chen was dumbfounded.
So I'm the one to blame for all this!
…By now, the duel between Mother Ye and Aunt Zhang had begun.
"Xiuying, your family's having dinner."
From Aunt Zhang's angle she saw only the Ye family; Xia Yingluo, seated further inside, was invisible.
"My son just got into Zhejiang University last year. He's back for the weekend, so I'm treating him to a meal."
With that, Aunt Zhang pulled forward a young man.
The youth wore glasses, looked a bit handsome, and surveyed the Ye family with arrogance and faint disdain.
After living in a big city so long, everything in Jiangzhou felt rustic to him—the city and its people alike.
Mother Ye said politely, "Not bad, Zhejiang University is one of the 985 universities, quite impressive."
Aunt Zhang was all pride: "More than impressive—it's a top school. I heard your son's grades aren't great; how about letting my son tutor him in his spare time?"
Mentioning her child made Aunt Zhang's eyes sparkle with pride.
Mother Ye chuckled, "Thanks, but my son doesn't need tutoring."
Aunt Zhang assumed Mother Ye was saving face: "With poor grades he must get help. Xiuying, you don't value his studies; that's why Xiao Chen's always near the bottom. Without a good University, finding a job later will be hard!"
She expected embarrassment, but Mother Ye remained unruffled.
"My son's grades are actually decent—he just happened to score First Place in the Whole School on the latest mock exam at Jiangzhou Middle School."
"First place!"
Aunt Zhang's jaw dropped.
Her own son had graduated from Jiangzhou Middle School too, ranking only in the twenties school-wide.
What did first place mean? It meant a real shot at Huaqing and Beijing University!
Schools that left his University in the dust.
Aunt Zhang ground her teeth.
Who could have guessed Ye Chen's grades would skyrocket? Mother Ye's former weakness had become her own.
Aunt Zhang had swallowed a silent loss, but she wasn't giving up—she still had a trump card.
"Grades are one thing, ability matters more. My son's a student-cadre at college; lots of girls chase him. Some are really pretty, but he has high standards."
Aunt Zhang started bragging again.
Mother Ye beamed, "Yingluo, this is Aunt Zhang, my former colleague—say hello."
Xia Yingluo stood up and sweetly called, "Aunt Zhang."
Aunt Zhang stared at Xia Yingluo, stunned.
This girl is gorgeous—so fresh and pretty.
Who is she? The Ye family only has a son—where did this beauty pop up?
"Is she… a relative of yours?" Aunt Zhang asked, puzzled.
Mother Ye shook her head. "None of our relatives are this pretty—she's my son's girlfriend."
"Ah…"
Aunt Zhang's mouth fell open in shock.
Why is someone else's son's girlfriend so beautiful?
Compare this girl to the one in her son's phone photos—no contest.
Right now she saw her son gazing at the girl, eyes shining, almost drooling.
Aunt Zhang lost another round.
She coughed and said, "Xiuying, the kids are in Senior Year of High School and you still let them date? Studying comes first; you'll regret not stopping this."
Mother Ye sighed, "I used to think so too, but ever since my son—former bottom-of-class—got a pretty little girlfriend who tutored him, he accidentally scored first in the school."
"I'm puzzled; other kids' romances hurt their grades, yet mine keeps climbing. Today I'm treating Yingluo to thank her for tutoring him."
Aunt Zhang took another critical hit.
She was completely KO'd, with zero power left to resist.
She lost her appetite. "All right, let's head back; our food's getting cold."
With that she hustled her son away in defeat.
Mother Ye watched Aunt Zhang's fleeing back, feeling on top of the world.
These past years she'd been crushed every time they met, all because of Ye Chen.
This total victory swept away years of gloom.
Right now Mother Ye liked Yingluo even more.
"Yingluo, these pig's trotters are delicious—have one."
By now Xia Yingluo's bowl was piled high with meat Mother Ye had served her.
It's rude to refuse food from an elder.
But this is way too much!
Just as Yingluo fretted, Mother Ye added two pork ribs to the heap.
Seeing the mountain of meat, Xia Yingluo nearly teared up.
After dinner Mother Ye and Father Ye went home happily.
But Xia Yingluo was stuffed.
Ye Chen rubbed his stomach, looked at her pained face, and laughed, "If you can't eat any more, just stop."
"They're dishes your mom served—how could I refuse? What if later…"
Ye Chen teased, "What about later?"
Xia Yingluo rolled her eyes at him. "Hmph, not telling you."
Leaving the restaurant, Ye Chen walked with Xia Yingluo along the road at a lazy pace.
Streetlights stretched their shadows long.
To help digestion they walked all the way back to the Orphanage.
As they strolled their hands occasionally brushed.
Xia Yingluo's cheeks turned pink.
You blockhead, why don't you just hold my hand?
Their hands brushed again.
This time Ye Chen caught hers.
Feeling the warmth of his big hand, Xia Yingluo blushed even deeper.
The walk took nearly an hour, yet when they reached the Orphanage she complained it was too close.
"I'm going in then?" Xia Yingluo looked at Ye Chen reluctantly.
Ye Chen smiled. "See you at school tomorrow."
Xia Yingluo nodded, opened her mouth as if to say something.
But she spun around and ran inside without a word.
Ye Chen watched her back, the corners of his mouth lifting.
Though she hadn't said it, he already knew what she wanted to tell him.