"What are you laughing at! Stop, explain yourself!" Shen Meixiu, tightly restrained, turned and shouted at Ye Ziyu's retreating back.
The impassioned voice startled Di Mingjue in the living room. Seeing Ye Ziyu enter, he immediately stood up from the sofa and came to her side.
"Did she make things difficult for you?" Di Mingjue asked, his body close, head bowed.
Ye Ziyu's expression darkened, and she deliberately teased him, "Mm."
"You go up first, I'll handle this." Di Mingjue said, making a move as if to go confront Shen Meixiu.
Seeing how he defended her, Ye Ziyu quickly grabbed his hand, "I was just teasing you."
"Teasing?" Di Mingjue lowered his head, approaching Ye Ziyu with a dangerous intensity.
Just as their lips were about to meet, Ye Ziyu noticed the gazes of those sitting on the living room sofa turning towards them. She immediately turned Di Mingjue's head away.
With the distance created, Ye Ziyu sprinted upstairs.
After Di Mingjue exchanged a look with Ye Qianzhi on the sofa, he followed Ye Ziyu upstairs.
Having stayed in the hospital for a period, Ye Ziyu's mindset had changed. The fourth child was no longer a source of distress but had become a motivation.
She had a realization overnight: to find the fourth child, she needed to search for him in her best possible state.
As for Xingxing, she no longer felt troubled. She treated him as she always had.
At the dining table, the entire family gathered around the long table. With Yu Xixi's presence, the atmosphere became much more lively.
"It's been so long since we've all sat together to eat like this," Ye Qianzhi said, seated at the head of the table, looking at the children below. His face was filled with happiness.
This must be what it's like to have a house full of descendants!
Seeing Ye Qianzhi in such a good mood, Shen Meixiu immediately chimed in, "Yes, it was too quiet at home while Ziyu was in the hospital. Now that she's back, the children are all so lively."
She smiled at Ye Ziyu, but Ye Ziyu wasn't in the mood to play along and didn't even look at her.
After waiting for a moment, Shen Meixiu awkwardly withdrew her gaze.
Yu Xixi, sitting opposite, saw this and gave Ye Ziyu a thumbs-up in her heart. Indeed, someone would deal with the wicked!
Ye Chenhan followed Yu Xixi's gaze to Shen Meixiu's position. He lowered his head and whispered into her ear, "If you don't want to face her, we can switch seats."
Yu Xixi froze for a moment, then quickly pushed Ye Chenhan away, "Everyone's watching, sit properly. Don't get any closer to me."
If it was enough for Shen Meixiu to dislike her alone, letting Ye Qianzhi dislike her too would jeopardize their relationship.
Seeing Yu Xixi's serious and cautious demeanor, Ye Chenhan immediately straightened up and diligently followed her command.
"Ye Chenhan is truly smitten with Yu Xixi!" Di Mingjue whispered into Ye Ziyu's ear.
Smitten?
Ye Ziyu raised an eyebrow, leaning her head against his shoulder, "What about you?"
"I'm smitten with you too." Di Mingjue's hand secretly squeezed Ye Ziyu's hand underneath the table.
Xingxing, bending to pick up the placemat in front of him, inadvertently saw their clasped hands. He looked up at Ye Ziyu's shy expression.
It seemed she was only truly happy and relaxed when she was with Di Mingjue... Had she thought he was terrible when he suggested they divorce?
Sensing a gaze, Ye Ziyu looked up and found Xingxing watching her. Just as she was about to return his smile, Xingxing quickly lowered his head.
"Let's start eating!" Ye Qianzhi said.
Chopsticks clinking against plates mingled with footsteps from outside.
"Dad." Ye Shaoting entered from outside, with Gu Xiuyu beside him.
As an uninvited guest, Di Mingjue and Ye Chenhan regarded him with suspicion.
"Uncle." Gu Xiuyu greeted Ye Qianzhi.
Ye Shaoting stood aside and explained, "We ran into President Gu on the way back. He wanted to pay you a visit, so we came back together."