The butler was so overjoyed he couldn't speak. Damn, he realized he was too happy and had forgotten how to breathe!
"Uncle Butler, I'll head back now," Ye Zhi said with a sweet smile.
"Ah, yes, yes…" The butler, having snapped back to reality, watched them go with a chuckle.
It hadn't been easy. He'd almost thought he'd have to wait fifty or sixty years!
As the two walked away, the butler fell into a dilemma. Should he call Cheng Yi first to share the good news, or should he see how far the two of them had progressed?
The pair arrived at Ye Zhi's home. The moment Qi Xuan let go, Zhaocai jumped down from his embrace. It raised its tail high and trotted upstairs with delicate cat steps.
"Uh, I'm home…" Ye Zhi felt a bit awkward now. What should happen next? She had never dated and had no experience at all! Suddenly, as if struck by an idea, she said excitedly, "How about I escort you back?"
Qi Xuan: …
Were they really going to do this escorting thing for such a short distance?
"No need," Qi Xuan said gently. "You must be very tired today. Get some rest early."
"Okay." Ye Zhi nodded obediently.
As Qi Xuan was about to leave, he hesitated for a moment and said softly, "Close your eyes."
"Huh?" Ye Zhi looked at him, bewildered.
"Just for a moment."
Ye Zhi's heart suddenly began to race. Although she didn't know what he was going to do, she still closed her eyes.
Suddenly, it felt like fingertips brushed her eyelashes. Then, Qi Xuan chuckled softly, "Okay."
Ye Zhi opened her eyes and looked at him questioningly.
"There was cat hair on your eyelashes just now," he explained.
Ye Zhi: …
The cats had really earned big points! She wondered why what she was seeing felt a little off just now.
She knew it. Qi Xuan was the type of person who would never do anything out of line.
"Then… I'm leaving," Qi Xuan said, looking at her with reluctance.
"Mhm, mhm, see you tomorrow," Ye Zhi nodded.
Qi Xuan sighed softly and turned to leave.
Ye Zhi returned to the living room and paused. Oh dear, she could have invited Qi Xuan to stay for a while just now! No wonder Qi Xuan had looked like he had something to say but didn't when he left.
Never mind, she'd improve next time!
Ye Zhi went back to her room, put away the certificate, and then flopped onto the soft bed. A sweet smile graced her lips. So, this was what being in love felt like!
She suddenly wanted to share this good news with someone.
Taking out her phone, Ye Zhi made her first call to Zhan Ruoqing.
When the call connected, Ye Zhi said happily, "Ruoqing, I'm in a relationship!"
Zhan Ruoqing was taken aback. She asked in surprise, "You and Qi Xuan are together?"
Ye Zhi was confused: "I haven't said anything yet. How do you know it's Qi Xuan?"
"It's only you who doesn't know. The whole world knows Qi Xuan is pursuing you, okay?" Zhan Ruoqing said, feeling speechless.
Ye Zhi: …
So she was the only one who didn't know? Why did she suddenly feel a pang of guilt…
"Ye Zhi, you've really decided to be with Qi Xuan?" Zhan Ruoqing asked regretfully.
She hadn't expected Qi Xuan's "boiling frog slowly" strategy to actually cook the frog. Although she had thought Qi Xuan would likely win Ye Zhi over, she hadn't expected it to happen so quickly. Uh… actually, thinking about it, it wasn't that fast.
"Yes. When he confessed to me today, I didn't actually plan to agree immediately. But later I realized, we're very compatible. If I were to spend my life with him, I wouldn't resist; instead, I'd look forward to it. Wait a minute…" Ye Zhi sounded a bit surprised. "Why does it sound like you don't want us to be together?"
"Of course," Zhan Ruoqing said, sounding a little dejected. "Ye Zhi, don't you really consider being my sister-in-law?"
Ye Zhi chuckled, "Don't just casually ship us, okay? Your brother and I are just friends…"
"What if my brother also pursues you?" Zhan Ruoqing asked expectantly. "Be subtle, don't be too direct!"
Ye Zhi found it amusing, "Anyone who pursues me has to give me a satellite."
"Did Qi Xuan give you one?" Zhan Ruoqing retorted, unconvinced.
"He did. I even named it Hong Luan," Ye Zhi said with a giggle.
Zhan Ruoqing: …
Why did she suddenly feel force-fed dog food? She felt like kicking the dog food bowl over!
"Then what if my brother also gives you a satellite? Would you consider my brother?" Zhan Ruoqing asked persistently.
Ye Zhi paused slightly. She said tactfully, "Actually, I think being friends with your brother is quite good…"
"Boo hoo, it seems my brother has no chance anymore…" Zhan Ruoqing wailed to the sky. "I hate it!"
Ye Zhi was startled. "Hate what?"
Zhan Ruoqing sighed. "I hate that I'm not a man. If I were a man, I would have pursued you long ago, why would Qi Xuan get a chance?"
Ye Zhi laughed. "...If you were a man, I might not have let you get close to me."
"That's true!" Zhan Ruoqing sighed with regret. Suddenly, as if struck by an idea, she asked expectantly, "How about you consider monogamy? One husband, one wife, a perfect life!"
"Are you trying to make me an enemy of the Zhan family?" Ye Zhi said, torn between laughter and tears.
"Just kidding," Zhan Ruoqing said with a smile. "Then I'll look forward to your wedding with Qi Xuan, lightly~"
"That's still a long way off," Ye Zhi said, amused.
After a brief chat, they hung up.
Next, Ye Zhi found Liu Lingyu's number and called her.
When the call connected, she said directly, "Mom, Qi Xuan and I are together~"
"You're finally together?" Liu Lingyu sighed with relief. "Then find some time to bring Qi Xuan over for a meal."
Ye Zhi: "Mom, why do you sound not surprised at all…"
Liu Lingyu said, "The first time I met that young man last year, I could tell. The way he looked at you was unusual. It was exactly the same way your dad looked at me…"
Before she could finish, Ye Yongxian's displeased voice drifted from afar, "Don't compare him to me! I was aggressive back then! I won you over in three months! Qi Xuan, this kid, actually took so long…"
"Is it possible your daughter is just harder to pursue?" Liu Lingyu asked, feeling a bit exasperated.
Ye Yongxian paused, then chuckled. "That's true! She's worthy of my daughter! She should be tested properly!"
Ye Zhi, who had heard their discussion throughout: …
She didn't test Qi Xuan, thank you.
"Don't disturb my conversation with my daughter," Liu Lingyu said reproachfully, shooing Ye Yongxian away. Then she said, "Xiao Zhi, it's rare that he could persist for so long. We're very relieved you chose him."
After hanging up, Ye Zhi stood up and walked to the balcony, looking across.
The window opposite suddenly opened. Qi Xuan looked at her, his gaze gentle. "Perhaps, we could consider building a bridge in between?"