Ye Fei chuckled and gently patted Ye Yunqi's head, shaking his head at her teasing. "Don't start with that nonsense," he said, but the playful exchange lightened the mood as they continued their walk together.
Ye Yunqi stuck out her tongue, then turned to Lin Ling, who was quietly listening. "Don't mind me, sister-in-law," she said, "I'm just talking nonsense."
Though Ye Yunqi often referred to Lin Ling as 'sister-in-law,' it still made Lin Ling blush every time she heard it. Softly, she replied, "I know. Besides, Brother Ye wouldn't go for a girl like Xiao Fei."
Ye Yunqi gave her a sly look. "Oh? It sounds like my sister-in-law is feeling pretty confident!" She teased. "Tell me, if there were a girl like me, do you think your brother Ye would like her?"
Lin Ling responded without hesitation, "Of course! If I were a boy, I would definitely fall for you."
Ye Yunqi's eyes brightened, and she quickly followed up, "And what if someone like me fell in love with your brother? Would you fight her over it?"
Lin Ling paused for a moment and then sighed softly. "No, I wouldn't. Sometimes I even think how nice it would be if you weren't Brother Ye's sister. Then maybe the three of us could stay together forever."
Ye Yunqi's eyes suddenly grew misty with emotion. She took Lin Ling's hands and said, "Thank you, Lingling." This was something she had always been anxious about—whether Lin Ling would accept her feelings for Ye Fei. Now, hearing Lin Ling's understanding, she couldn't help but feel deeply moved.
Lin Ling was a bit taken aback by Ye Yunqi's sudden gratitude, not fully grasping why it was such a big deal. But before she could ask, Ye Fei chimed in, "Then let's all be together forever!"
Knowing the complicated relationship between Ye Fei and Ye Yunqi, Lin Ling simply smiled and nodded. She didn't bring up future obstacles, such as marriage, and instead said, "Yes, no one will ever separate us."
With Lin Ling's words easing her biggest concern, Ye Yunqi was in an excellent mood for the rest of the day. Even though Xiao Fei was still around, Ye Yunqi refrained from picking on her. Xiao Fei, who had sensed the skill gap between herself and Ye Yunqi, had also kept a low profile throughout the afternoon. It made for a surprisingly peaceful day.
After school, Ye Fei and Ye Yunqi decided to head to their family's villa in the east, opting to take a taxi rather than return to the courtyard. They hadn't been home in a while, and both were eager to see their mother and sisters. They were also excited at the thought of surprising their family with an unannounced visit.
"Aunt, how about I go with you on this mission?" Ye Fei asked, worried for her safety.
"Nonsense!" Liu Junyi shot back. "This isn't some kind of adventure. It could be dangerous, and I don't want you getting involved."
Liu Yiru, however, supported Ye Fei's suggestion. "I think it's a good idea. Let him go and gain some experience."
Despite her mother's approval, Liu Junyi was firm. She didn't want Ye Fei in harm's way. "I appreciate your concern," she said, softening her tone, "but I have an important job to do, and I can't be distracted worrying about you."
Ye Fei, undeterred, pushed further. "Then how about this: if I can beat you in a match, you'll let me come with you."
Liu Junyi was amused but confident. "Fine, if you can beat me, you can come along. But don't cry when I wipe the floor with you!"
And so, they all headed to the underground training room for what would be an unexpected test of Ye Fei's growing strength.
The four of them headed towards the underground training room together. As they walked, Ye Fei, following behind his mother, suddenly asked, "Mom, why haven't I seen my eldest and second sisters around?"
Liu Yiru smiled and replied, "Your second sister's martial arts school has grown quite a bit, and she's been busy managing the increase in students. On top of that, with the company's affairs being settled recently, I asked your eldest sister to help out. They've both been tied up with work and didn't make it back home tonight."
Once they reached the basement, the training room was spacious and ready for the challenge. Liu Junyi, standing casually in the center, smiled and called out, "Xiaoman, have you thought of what moves you're going to use against your aunt?"
Ye Fei stepped into the middle of the room and smiled back, "Not really, because I can't bring myself to hit you. So, how about you take the lead, and I'll stick to defending."
Liu Junyi laughed, playfully scolding him, "You cheeky brat! You're confident, aren't you? Alright then, get ready—your aunt's about to attack!"
Ye Fei nodded, still not taking things too seriously. Sensing his lighthearted attitude, Liu Junyi decided to tease him a bit. She lifted her palm and aimed a slap at him, using only a fraction of her full strength—less than one-third, just to gauge his reaction.