"Mom, why are you being so secretive too?" Ye Chenhan asked casually while being pulled along. He felt as if he had been isolated from the outside world, with everyone keeping things from him.
Shen Meixiu anxiously covered his mouth, afraid he would provoke Ye Qianzhi.
"Keep your voice down!"
A slap landed on Ye Chenhan's back.
Anxious, Shen Meixiu paid no mind to how hard she was hitting. The slap almost knocked him to the ground.
Ye Chenhan clutched his chest, feigning dramatic pain as if he were spitting blood.
"Ouch – a pain that tears my heart apart!"
His cry startled Shen Meixiu.
Among her four sons, Ye Chenhan was the one closest to her. Shen Meixiu quickly rubbed the spot she had hit, asking with concern, "Let me see."
After a couple of rubs, she started to push up Ye Chenhan's shirt.
He had grown up and wasn't like he was when he was little.
Ye Chenhan evasively dodged, "I'm fine, it doesn't hurt anymore."
If he were truly injured, he wouldn't recover so quickly. Seeing him being playful again, Shen Meixiu became even more annoyed.
"You little brat!"
"I was just trying to cheer you up because you seemed unhappy."
Ye Chenhan coaxed her while holding her arm.
If her happiness could be so easily achieved with a few words, it would be wonderful. The moment she thought about what Ye Yubin had said on the stairs, her heart wouldn't stop pounding.
For several consecutive days, he couldn't sleep peacefully, always feeling that Ye Yubin would get into trouble.
"You've been at the company all these days, has anything happened at the company?" Shen Meixiu asked.
Did something happen at the company?
Ye Chenhan had no idea. Although he was at the company every day, his mind was elsewhere.
Every day, he would go there to sleep or watch practice videos of the band, not even touching a pen.
"Mom, do you know something that I don't?" Ye Chenhan asked with certainty.
After much thought, Shen Meixiu decided to tell Ye Chenhan what was worrying her. Of her children, he was the one with the most time and energy at home.
"Pay more attention to your second brother at the company these days. Contact me anytime if anything happens," Shen Meixiu instructed.
As Ye Chenhan listened, he felt a sense of familiarity. Wasn't Di Mingjue giving him the same instructions to watch over Ye Ziyu? His eyes rolled, and a mischievous idea formed. If that was the case, he wouldn't be polite.
He naturally reached his hand out towards Shen Meixiu, wiggling his fingers meaningfully.
Shen Meixiu frowned, not understanding his gesture.
"I can watch him, but I'm a bit tight on cash lately. I'm afraid I'll be thinking about money and won't have time to monitor second brother," Ye Chenhan explained.
In the end, it all came down to wanting money.
Shen Meixiu took out her personal assets. "Put some effort into this. If I find out you took the money and didn't do a good job, you'll see how I deal with you."
Clutching the money tightly, Ye Chenhan grinned shamelessly and promised, "Don't worry, I'll make sure to keep a close eye on second brother, not even letting a fly get near him to bother him."
He had a way with words, talking about anything and everything.
Shen Meixiu felt weary, her body even more fatigued. Before leaving, she reminded him again, then walked upstairs with heavy steps.
With the money, Ye Chenhan immediately changed his clothes and stealthily left the Ye family home. In less than a week, his band received two infusions of funds.
...
After dinner, Ye Ziyu and Di Mingjue didn't rush to take the children home. The five of them held hands and strolled through a nearby square.
The square was lively at night, with families like theirs and some affectionate couples.
Where there were many people, there was naturally business. Both sides of the square were lined with stalls selling various items and food.
Qianqian's eyes lit up as she looked at the cotton candy machine, her legs feeling like they were weighed down by sandbags, unable to move under the temptation of cotton candy.