In the capital, you could randomly pull someone out of a crowd, and chances are they’d be some kind of elite.
Even if you were a dragon, you’d have to coil up when you came here.
Uncle Ye understood this principle well. Yet, when he saw the license plate on the car parked in front, he still froze for a moment.
The plate read “Jing 6666.”
This wasn’t something money could buy. Just like the all-zero plates Uncle Ye had seen before, these kinds of plates weren’t publicly issued—they were held tightly by those at the top. No amount of bidding could get you one.
These plates were reserved for specific individuals assigned by higher authorities.
The Ye family had suffered heavy losses, and even their own dragon vein couldn’t be restored, let alone qualify to work for the state. A car like this should’ve been seen near the Fu family, not here.
As he was lost in thought, the sapphire-blue car door opened.
A middle-aged man stepped out from the driver’s seat.
“Captain Liu,” Uncle Ye recognized him as someone from the military district. They had met before during an academic exchange conference for the feng shui community, organized when the Shen family pinpointed a dragon’s lair.
This was a government official. Uncle Ye immediately stepped forward to greet him.
Captain Liu showed no surprise at being recognized. He simply nodded at Uncle Ye, carrying himself like someone accustomed to being looked up to.
“I—” Before Uncle Ye could say anything, Captain Liu walked past him.
“Miss Ye, the Chief knew you were coming to the capital and had arranged for us to pick you up. Unfortunately, the team missed you at the airport. Luckily, Ning Zhou called,” Captain Liu saluted Ye Shaohua before continuing, “This car was prepared by the Ning family for you. It just arrived in the capital a few days ago. Originally, they planned to send it to S City, but Ning Zhou said you were coming here, so they kept it. The Chief joked that Ning Zhou had everything covered, leaving him with nothing to do, so he got you this license plate instead.”
He handed her the keys and a freshly issued driver’s license.
Though surprised by Ning Zhou’s meticulous arrangements, Ye Shaohua didn’t refuse. She did need these things—buying a car and handling the paperwork herself would’ve been a hassle. “Thanks. Need a ride somewhere?”
“No need,” Captain Liu waved her off. “My team’s around here. I’ll head to the branch office first.”
He didn’t dare let Ye Shaohua drive him and quickly declined.
Only after her understated yet luxurious car drove away did a military-licensed vehicle slowly pull up. Captain Liu got in and left.
Uncle Ye stood frozen at the Ye family’s gate, unable to process what had just happened.
…
When Fu Jinyun arrived, Ye Shaohua had already ordered hot pot.
Compared to the ones in S City, though, the broth here was disappointingly mild.
“Fu Hengzhen didn’t come?” Seeing that Fu Hengzhen—who usually stuck to Fu Jinyun like glue—wasn’t with him, Ye Shaohua paused.
She wondered if she’d actually been a bad influence on the kid.
Fu Jinyun sat to her left and glanced at her. “Ye Shaohua, did you think I was lying to you earlier?”
Ye Shaohua studied his face for a moment before leaning back in her chair with a laugh. “No, my bad. Here, the first slice of meat is yours—I won’t fight you for it.”
She placed a freshly cooked slice into his dipping bowl.
Watching him eat with clear enjoyment, she leisurely cooked a few more pieces. “Did you not eat after going back?”
She found it odd. Even if the Ye family didn’t pay her much attention, they’d at least prepared snacks for her. Uncle Ye had even thoughtfully asked if she needed anything else. How come Fu Jinyun, who’d gone back to his own home, had worse treatment than her?
Fu Jinyun didn’t pause. “No, my cousin happened to be back too.”
At the mention of his cousin, Ye Shaohua understood—it was Fu Weifeng, the one engaged to her second sister, who had recently gained fame for identifying a burial site.
“Look up,” Ye Shaohua picked up her phone and angled it toward Fu Jinyun’s face. “Smile—yeah, just like that. Perfect.”
“What’s this for?” Fu Jinyun glanced at her.
“Ye Ming asked what I was up to,” she sent the photo to Ye Ming. “Figured I’d rub it in. He can come eat our leftovers later.”
Fu Jinyun had always disliked that brat Ye Ming. He snorted. “Let me see.”
He meant to take her phone, but his hand accidentally brushed against hers.
They’d known each other for three months but had only spent two together.
Fu Jinyun had always known his life would be short, so he rarely cared about anything around him. The one thing he hadn’t expected was developing feelings for someone in what little time he had left.
Of course, he knew his circumstances and had never voiced them.
A dying man shouldn’t disturb others.
But thoughts were one thing. Fu Jinyun realized, for the first time, that his hand had a mind of its own.
They were close because of the photo, close enough to hear Ye Shaohua’s steady breathing—a rhythm that inexplicably calmed him. It was also the first time he’d touched a woman’s hand besides his mother’s.
His heartbeat was anything but normal. Desperate to distract himself, he focused on Ye Shaohua’s hand instead.
That only made things worse.
Ye Shaohua’s hands were beautiful—not meticulously manicured like those of women who pampered themselves, but slender and clean. He couldn’t look away.
“Sis!” A bright voice called from outside the private room before a figure bounded in.
Fu Jinyun instinctively let go.
His expression remained calm, but inwardly, he sighed. For a fleeting moment, he’d wanted to throw caution to the wind.
But in the end, he held back.
The consequences of recklessness were something he couldn’t afford.
“Snuck out early?” Ye Shaohua raised an eyebrow at Ye Ming.
Ye Ming grinned but didn’t deny it. He greeted Fu Jinyun before monopolizing Ye Shaohua’s attention during the meal, leaving little room for Fu Jinyun to interject.
Ye Shaohua was usually a strong-willed person—Fu Jinyun knew this well—but her patience with Ye Ming was astonishing.
When Ye Shaohua stepped out to take a call, Ye Ming’s cheerful demeanor shifted instantly.
His face, now more mature, turned serious. “Mr. Fu, if possible, I’d like you to keep your distance from my sister.”
