The wind blew from all directions, stirring up the leaves on the ground.
Ye Mingxuan followed the address given by Zhao Dongxuan to an old residential area. The area was off the city center, with outdated facilities, but fortunately, the environment was pleasant and relatively clean.
His nose was slightly sweaty from running all the way from the bus stop.
After circling the neighborhood a few times to find the correct building, Ye Mingxuan ran up the stairs.
Liu Yan was pouring tea for Zhao Dongxuan when she heard footsteps. She set down the teapot and joyfully walked to the door: “Mingxuan!”
“Mom!” Ye Mingxuan grabbed Liu Yan’s arm, “Mom, are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Liu Yan smiled and let him in, “The lady is inside.”
Ye Mingxuan paused, then walked in and saw Zhao Dongxuan sitting elegantly in the small living room, sipping water.
He stood stiffly, his voice softening several degrees: “Good afternoon, Madam.”
“Mingxuan, please sit down.” Zhao Dongxuan stood up and pushed Ye Mingxuan into a chair. “Look, this is the house I got for you. It’s a bit old and far away, but it’s much better than the old servant’s quarters.”
“Please don’t take offense, but our family hasn’t been earning much lately, so we can’t afford to spend much money at the moment.” Zhao Dongxuan sighed.
“Madam,” Liu Yan said anxiously, “please don’t say that. This house is already very good, and since I’m not working now, you still pay me a monthly salary. How could I possibly ask for more?”
“Mingxuan, come and thank the lady.” Liu Yan finished speaking and called Ye Mingxuan forward.
Ye Mingxuan nodded: “Thank you, madam.”
“No need to be so formal. We should thank Mingxuan for agreeing to marry President Tan in place of Yufan.” Zhao Dongxuan smiled.
Ye Mingxuan recalled what Ye Yufan had told him in the restroom and lowered his eyes.
“But Mingxuan, Auntie has something to ask you.”
“Last night… and today, did President Tan say anything to you?” Zhao Dongxuan stared at him.
Ye Mingxuan looked confused. He hadn’t seen the man since he woke up this morning, and after getting up, he found out that the man had gone to the company.
However, last night, he seemed to hear the man speaking.
In his dream, Tan Sizhe seemed to call his name.
“Did President Tan mention me?” Zhao Dongxuan pressed.
Upon realizing what Zhao Dongxuan was asking about, Ye Mingxuan sighed in relief, then grew even more confused: “No.”
Ye Mingxuan shook his head.
Zhao Dongxuan observed Ye Mingxuan’s expression and felt that he didn’t seem to be lying, so she let out a sigh of relief.
Tan Si Ze probably wouldn’t hold it against her, Zhao Dongxuan thought.
However, she fell into deep thought again. How far had Ye Mingxuan and Tan Si Ze progressed in their relationship?
Why had Tan Sizhe answered the call she had made?
And why was he speaking on Ye Mingxuan’s behalf?
A thought flashed through her mind, but Zhao Dongxuan suppressed the urge to ask and stood up. “It’s getting late. I should go.”
“Don’t linger here too long either; if we’re discovered, we’re finished.” Zhao Dongxuan said to Ye Mingxuan.
After she left, Liu Yan pushed the fruit on the table toward Ye Mingxuan. The fruit was fresh, with dewdrops still clinging to it, glistening with moisture.
Ye Mingxuan ate two grapes, glanced at his mother, swallowed, and pushed the plate toward Liu Yan: “Mom, I’m full.”
Liu Yan said, “Eat a few more.”
Ye Mingxuan shook his head, and Liu Yan finally took them and ate them herself.
Since he had class in the afternoon, Ye Mingxuan stayed for a while before getting up to leave. Liu Yan asked him to take the fruit to school, but Ye Mingxuan refused: “Mom, I’m staying at President Tan’s house now, so I don’t need much money. You should buy more things for yourself.”
After some back-and-forth, Liu Yan took the fruit: “Alright, I will. Take care of yourself and come visit Mom often.”
“Hmm,” Ye Mingxuan mumbled, “Mom, don’t eat leftovers. They’re not good for your health.”
“Alright,” Liu Yan smiled. “Mom understands. Next time you come, I’ll make you my specialty dish.”
He went out the door and downstairs, waved goodbye to his mother in the hallway, and turned to leave.
After a forty-minute bus ride followed by a half-hour walk, Ye Mingxuan finally arrived at the Ye family home.
“Oh, Mingxuan’s back,” Zhao Dongxuan came out to greet him with light steps, “Come in quickly.”
Ye Mingxuan shrank his neck: “Madam.”
“Why call me ‘Madam’? Your status is much higher than mine now.” Zhao Dongxuan took his hand and led him inside,
“It’s just that you’ve been put through so much trouble, coming back to act out this lie, and you can’t let President Tan find out, so you had to walk here.”
She spoke with concern, but her tone was filled with mockery.
Ye Mingxuan carefully rubbed his aching legs, dared not utter a word.
“Mom!” Ye Yufan ran downstairs, “That damn bird pooped on my curtains! My curtains are all dirty!”
“What’s the rush?” Zhao Dongxuan glanced at her son and pushed Ye Mingxuan forward. “Mingxuan is back, let him wash them.”
Ye Yufan saw Ye Mingxuan and glared at him with disgust. “Go wash the curtains! I need them tonight!”
Ye Xiangkai sighed helplessly, “Yufan, Mingxuan is here to play with you today.”
Ye Yufan exclaimed, “Dad! The curtains are dirty and need to be washed! Aunt Liu has left, and the new maid you hired has been sent away. Who’s going to wash the dirty things for me?”
Zhao Dongxuan walked over to Ye Mingxuan: “We did hire new maids, but we temporarily sent them elsewhere for the sake of the performance. Now there are no maids at home, so you’ll have to wash them yourself.”
“After all, it’s just a performance. We still have to maintain the appearance for outsiders, right?” “ Zhao Dongxuan smiled, ”Mingxuan, you don’t mind, do you? Your mother’s salary…”
When his mother was mentioned, Ye Mingxuan panicked: “Madam, I’ll go wash them right away.”
Ye Yufan looked smugly at Ye Mingxuan’s flustered figure and walked over to Zhao Dongxuan: “Mom, you’re so clever.”
“Don’t get too excited yet. You have a task today.”
“Huh?”
Zhao Dongxuan instructed him, “Today, you need to subtly ask Ye Mingxuan how he and President Tan have been getting along lately.”
“Why?” Ye Yufan didn’t understand. “What’s there to ask about?”
“Just listen to me,” Zhao Dongxuan said.
“Yufan, listen to Mom,” Ye Xiangkai frowned.
“I know, I know,” Ye Yufan pouted, picking up the fruit plate from the table and heading upstairs.
