Chapter 26: Caught Off Guard
All the grand big talk once spoken would be reduced to timid submission in the face of reality.
Just moments ago, Ye Zhibai had been thinking—everything would be fine, there would be a way to handle it.
But as soon as she returned to the two-story villa, she realized that there was no way she could get back to her bedroom directly.
In the living room, Yun’er had not yet changed into her pajamas although she had returned tens of minutes ahead. She crossed legs sitting on the sofa and back facing Ye Zhibai in silent silence.
Clearly, this was a new posture to display her anger.
Ye Zhibai didn’t know that Yun’er had a telescope, but she did know that she only had a life. The overwhelming aura of jealousy surrounding Yun’er was so intense that Ye Zhibai froze on the spot—unable to decide whether to approach the sofa or retreat to her bedroom stealthily.
Fortunately, it was the clever Guangyu offering a sound suggestion.
“Listen, humans have a saying, ‘As long as the blue hills remain, there’s no fear of running out of firewood.’”(TL Note: if you safeguard the essentials (symbolized by the “green hills”), you will always have opportunities to regain what is lost or rebuild in the future, even if you face temporary setbacks.)
“Illiteracy, that’s ‘the green hills’…”
“Not important. What I’m saying is, in moments like this, you should retreat, save your strength, and devise a better strategy. Ye Zhibai, I suggest you go back to your room and think up a battle plan before coming back to face her.”
To be fair, the fox had a point.
Even in the cartoons, the protagonist has to rest and recover before storming the Demon King’s castle to face the final boss!
Right now, Yun’er is scarier than the final boss, so what’s wrong with going back to sleep before facing her?
One human and one fox carefully slowed their steps, intending to quietly slip back to Ye Zhibai’s bedroom.
But unfortunately, Yun’er wasn’t one of those elite monsters that always don’t move unless humans provoke them!
When she noticed movement voices behind her, she immediately lowered her crossed legs and stood up swiftly.
“Sister? You’re back?”
“!”
Ye Zhibai froze in place, but the heartless Guangyu, who Yun’er couldn’t see, quickly executed the original plan, running straight back to the bedroom and leaving Ye Zhibai alone… to face the storm!
You ask me if I’m back? Please, I’ve been standing at the doorway for five minutes already! Isn’t this you acting all boss-like in silence?!
But no matter how panicked Ye Zhibai felt inside, she was always acting like a “calmly” little angel outside.
She turned around and gave Yun’er a brief four-word reply.
“Mm, I’m back.”
“Mm-hmm, it’s good you’re back.”
After saying this, Ye Ziyun slowly turned around.
Her naturally cool expression still held traces of her sulking.
When Ye Zhibai saw the telescope Yun’er had just tossed onto the sofa, she immediately understood everything.
“Well, sister, although you ignored me after you came in, treating me like air with that silent ‘play,’ which I found quite exciting… let’s not do that today, alright? Yun’er’s feeling very anxious right now… unsettled, and doesn’t want to be ignored!”
Silent ‘play’? Please! You are the right one in silent silence to scare me, alright?!
Oh… It seems… I didn’t say anything either!
Now it’s the time for Ye Zhibai to reply.
“Why are you unsettled? Has life deceived you?”
Damn it!! I said the wrong word again in my nervousness! Ye Zhibai : !@#$%^&*
But the word “deceived” made Yun’er’s expression even more serious.
“Yes… life deceived me. Sister told me she was going to pick up takeout and clear her mind on the way. Didn’t she say she bought snacks? So, where are the snacks?”
“I ate them on the way.”
Ye Zhibai wasn’t lying. Before she left, Cool Sister gave her a bag of cookies, which she and Guangyu ate on the way.
“Mm, then the next question: who was the delivery person?”
“Chi Yuliang.”
“Haha, sister, you’re so honest! So, what did she come to see you for, so late at night?”
“To deliver takeout.”
“…”
As Ye Zhibai spoke, she even shook the fountain pen box in her hand, indicating that this was what she got as “takeout.” Ten thousand RMB!
Ye Ziyun, maintaining a steady and cautious attitude to Ye Zhibai, slowly went out the sofa area, inching closer with each question, until she was standing directly in front of Ye Zhibai, their eyes meeting.
No more beating around the bush.
“Sister… All day today, I’ve felt a deep unease. I could turn a blind eye to the thing about Lin Zihan, but now… in the deep night, another woman is showing up at our doorstep! You expect me… to just pretend I didn’t see it?”
Ye Ziyun couldn’t stand this kind of injustice!
Really, the situation had escalated to a point where it could no longer be ignored.
???
In truth, most of the time, the jealousy was self-inflicted. Who was bullying you! Cool Sister was just here to give me her blessing, alright?!
Ye Zhibai calmed herself from Ye Zhiyun’s words and decided to explain logically, trying to reason her way out of this battle.
“Chi Yuliang is just a regular friend. Why she dressed up as a delivery person is just trying to avoid any trouble.”
“Then… What about Lin Zihan?”
“Lin Zihan is a new friend I just met today. We haven’t even spoken much yet.”
Look, it’s so much sense, right?
Ye Ziyun froze for a moment upon hearing this explanation.
After calming down a bit, she felt a pang of heartache.
Not just from the explosion of jealousy—more importantly, it was seeing her sister lower her head and explain herself with such an appearance — it broke her heart.
Her sister didn’t have any friends before – the first time she added someone on QQ whom she could actually talk to—it was something worth celebrating.
But what had she been saying just now? – She actually questioned her sister!!!
The tangled mess of jealousy and frustration had been weighing on Ye Ziyun’s heart for days. Even though she had been the one questioning, after hearing Ye Zhibai’s simple explanation, she too lowered her head.
Both sisters, head bowed to head!
In fact, Ye Zhibai wasn’t lowering her head because of sadness.
But she was feeling guilty!!
Lin Zihan was indeed a casual acquaintance, not even a formal friend, which was true since they had just met.
But as for Cool Sister… It wasn’t just a regular friend.
In Ye Zhibai’s mind, Cool Sister was family—an older sister. But definitely not the strange kind of relationship that Yun’er was imagining!
Both remained silent, each locked in their own internal struggles.
Suddenly, Ye Zhibai remembered Guangyu’s advice — as long as the blue hills remain, there’s no fear of running out of firewood.
If this way doesn’t work… then retreat for now and come back later.
Ye Zhibai slowly turned back, showing a somber expression (at least in Yun’er’s eyes).
“Alright… Yun’er, if you’re upset… I’ll delete them from my friends list. That’s it… I’m going back to my room.”
In other words, I’m making my escape!
I’ll delete them from this QQ account, but I can always add them on my other QQ account, right?!
Ye Zhibai silently praised her own quick thinking.
Just as she turned to leave…
She felt a sudden embrace from behind!
The force of it almost knocked her over!
“Sister!”
“Mm?!”
“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!! Sister, I’m too selfish! I deserve to die!”
“!”
Yun’er was hugging her tightly, so tightly that it felt like she was squeezing the air out of her!
Are you trying to kill me or something!
What’s going on all of a sudden!
Ye Zhibai patted Yun’er’s hand, signaling her to let go.
Let’s talk in a normal way, all ok?!
Yun’er, being obedient, quickly loosened her grip.
As Ye Zhibai regained her freedom and turned around, she saw…Yun’er was already in tears, looking fragile, like a rain-soaked kitten, utterly pitiful.
Ye Zhibai’s heart ached.
Ah… how did things end up like this?
She used her sleeve to gently wipe the tears from Yun’er’s cheeks, her heart in turmoil, comforting Yun’er with concern.
“Yun’er… don’t cry.”
“Sister… I’m sorry, I’ve been so selfish, I… I went too far with my wild guesses!”
“It’s okay. Admitting your mistakes and correcting them is the sign of good charac—mm?!”
Before Ye Zhibai’s signature phrase could go on, it had been cut off.
And she was unable to go on anymore…
Her lips were suddenly sealed by Yun’er’s soft lips, who had swiftly moved in.
At the same time, something not-so-pure was happening—a small mischievous hand had firmly grasped her breast!
Ye Zhibai’s hand, still holding the pen box, tightened in shock.
Everything happened so suddenly.
The “rain-soaked kitten” suddenly pounced and bit!
I’m sorry, sister.
Even though I feel guilty and know I’m being selfish,
Sister… I just couldn’t hold back anymore.
