Watching her fourth brother floor the gas and speed off, Ye Shishi clicked her tongue. Having a girlfriend really changes a man.
She opened the door and walked inside, where a middle-aged beauty in an apron stood nearby, wearing a gentle, virtuous smile. She looked at Ye Shishi and greeted her respectfully, “Miss, your father is waiting for you in the study.”
“Got it, Auntie Cai.” With that, Ye Shishi headed for the stairs. In fact, she’d been back in the country for days, but this was her first time coming home—she’d been busy gathering information on Gu Wan’er.
Suddenly, something occurred to her, and she turned back with a grin. “Auntie Cai, I’ve been gone for a few years, and you still haven’t won Dad over yet?” She then bounded up the stairs, leaving a wry-smiling Auntie Cai behind.
The five siblings had lost their mother at a very young age, and with their father buried in work, they were basically raised by Auntie Cai. Back then, she’d been just a girl in her twenties. She’d worked for the Ye family all these years, now over forty, and still unmarried.
The siblings had actually discussed this privately before—they were open to having Auntie Cai as their stepmother. But their father was stubborn; he always said he’d never marry another woman because his heart belonged only to their mother.
Outside the study on the third floor, Ye Shishi took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
“Come in.” A deep voice responded from inside.
She opened the door and entered, looking at the man behind the desk. His temples were already graying, the desk lamp casting light on one side of his face, revealing many new wrinkles. A thin blanket was draped over his shoulders—clearly Auntie Cai’s doing. An unfinished cigarette still smoldered in the ashtray beside the desk.
Dad’s getting old.
“Dad, you’re still working this late.”
Ye Jianguo grunted in acknowledgment without even looking up, his pen scratching across the paper.
Ye Shishi turned up the central air conditioning. “You’ve got it so cold in here—you’ll catch a cold.”
Ye Jianguo chuckled and looked up at his daughter, holding her gaze for about three seconds before saying softly, “Have a seat.”
“Okay.” Ye Shishi sat down obediently across from him, actually looking quite like a proper daughter for once.
Ye Jianguo finished writing his last few notes, capped his pen, and set it aside. He picked up the half-smoked cigarette, took one drag, and stubbed it out. “Where’s your fourth brother?”
“Busy rushing home to make you a grandchild,” Ye Shishi said with a pout.
“He’s not seeing a decent girl. Remind your fourth brother to be careful.”
“What? Doesn’t Fourth Brother know?”
“First love always clouds a man’s judgment. I’m not in a position to say it, but you are.”
Ye Shishi didn’t think it was that serious, but she decided she’d look into it herself. If what her father said was true, she’d have to object. Casual flings were fine, but she absolutely couldn’t bring someone like that home.
“Got it. I’ll find the right time to talk to him.”
“It’s late. Go get some rest. Your Auntie Cai was thrilled to hear you were coming back—she cleaned up your room for you.”
Ye Shishi had expected a scolding, but her father hadn’t given her one. That made her uneasy. No, I need to be yelled at to feel right.
“Dad, aren’t you going to scold me?”
Ye Jianguo was taken aback, then chuckled softly. “You can’t sleep unless I chew you out?”
“Mm.”
“I just heard the gist of what happened today. So you lost. That’s fine—life is never perfect. But from now on, watch your image out there. You’re the eldest daughter of the Ye family, not someone who competes over who’s got the bigger ego.”
Watching her stern father scold her, Ye Shishi finally felt at ease. “Got it, Dad.”
“Sum it up. Why did you lose?” Ye Jianguo asked, lighting a fresh cigarette. Ye Shishi walked over and opened the window, turning on the ventilation fan.
“Intelligence failure.”
Ye Jianguo walked to the window and exhaled a plume of smoke. “I don’t need to tell you how important intelligence is. If this were a real business war, your opponent would already have you dancing to their tune. At the very least, you’d go bankrupt. At worst, your entire family would be ruined.”
Ye Shishi listened in silence.
“No matter who your opponent is, never underestimate them or look down on them. Give it everything you’ve got—one hundred percent—and crush them so completely they can’t fight back.”
“I tried. But I’m still not as good as her,” Ye Shishi said softly. She didn’t want to admit it, but that was the truth.
Ye Jianguo looked at his dejected daughter. He’d never seen her like this before. The blow must have been significant.
“The Gu family has raised an impressive young woman, but my daughter is no slouch either. I’m sure you already have some ideas.”
“Dad, I want to take over managing the branch office here.”
“Cough, cough, cough!!!” Ye Jianguo choked on his smoke. She’d always refused to join the company before, saying she wouldn’t let anyone cage her free spirit. And now look—she’s volunteering.
Ye Shishi didn’t quite catch her father’s reaction, but she was simply unwilling to accept defeat.
“Fine. Go ahead and do it. If you don’t understand something, ask your second brother.”
“Okay.”
“It’s late. Go rest. Since you’re planning to join the company, I’ll take you to meet some of my old friends tomorrow.”
Ye Shishi naturally had to go. But after such a humiliating loss today, she didn’t exactly feel proud about facing her father’s acquaintances.
“Dad, you should get some rest too.”
“Mm.”
Just as she was about to leave, Ye Shishi suddenly turned around and asked, “Dad, when are you going to marry Auntie Cai?”
Ye Jianguo’s face twitched. “What business is that of a child? Go to bed.”
“Come on, Dad. Auntie Cai takes care of your meals, your clothes, your home—everything. Sometimes she even acts as your secretary. She’s been by your side, working tirelessly for over twenty years. If you don’t like her, why keep her around and waste her time?”
Ye Jianguo’s expression turned serious. “You child! You can’t even sort out your own problems, and now you’re meddling in your father’s affairs!”
“Then if I take care of my own personal business, will you and Auntie Cai…” She held up her thumb and hooked it, gesturing playfully.
Ye Jianguo shot her a glare. “We’ll talk after you’ve actually done it.”
“Ooh~ so you’re just too proud to make the first move! I’m going to tell Auntie Cai!” With that, Ye Shishi opened the door and ran off, leaving Ye Jianguo feeling exasperated. This girl… If your mother knew you were pushing your father toward another woman, she’d spank you for sure.
But as he thought about it, a faint smile crept onto his face, and he picked up his pen to continue working.
As Ye Shishi stepped out, she ran right into Auntie Cai, who was carrying a tray of nourishing soup upstairs.
“Auntie Cai, I did some digging for you. My dad wants to marry you, but he’s too proud to admit it.”
“Ah!” Auntie Cai froze, her face instantly turning bright red.
Seeing Auntie Cai’s embarrassed expression, Ye Shishi clenched her fists and cheered her on. “Auntie Cai, go for it! Hurry up and get my old man to fall for you!”
Auntie Cai: “…”
That night, Ye Shishi had suffered a crushing defeat, and the news had sent shockwaves through their social circle. Some even said that Gu Wan’er had taken Ye Shishi’s place as the top woman in Longhai City. The news even reached circles in Jingzhou and beyond, earning high praise for Gu Wan’er as a formidable dragon who’d done their Jingzhou circle proud.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yu was still fast asleep. When his phone buzzed on the nightstand, he picked it up and saw it was his younger sister calling.
“Hello.”
“Brother! You’re still sleeping?! Your dream girl is in big trouble!”
