"It's yours to have, I need to prepare a dowry for my daughter," Xu Yifan said.
"No need, Mom. You've raised me so well, and it was already a lot of work. I don't lack food or clothes now, and I can buy anything I want. When the baby is born, your time spent with me is enough."
"Alright then. Since you have it, I won't prepare anything. Eat quickly, before it gets cold," Xu Yifan urged.
Ye Zi didn't stand on ceremony. Although they were just home-style dishes, Xu Yifan cooked them very well. Ye Zi ate two steamed buns and half of the dishes. Li Minyu, suffering from morning sickness, ate very little, just a bowl of millet porridge. Xu Yifan and Li Minxi were too engrossed in their conversation to eat much.
"Auntie, your cooking is so delicious, it's made me stuffed," Ye Zi said, patting her stomach ungracefully.
"Eat more if you like it," Xu Yifan said, handing her another steamed bun.
"I can't eat anymore, Auntie. My stomach will burst if I eat any more."
"That's an exaggeration. Have a little more."
"I really can't eat anymore, Auntie. You all eat slowly, I'm going to take a walk," Ye Zi said as she prepared to get up.
"Wait for me, I'll go too," Li Minyu said, standing up.
"We haven't finished eating yet, what are you two doing?" Li Minxi asked, displeased.
"I need to go out and digest. I really ate too much," Ye Zi said, linking her arm with Li Minyu's.
"Look at your unpromising self. Don't leave when you come back, become my mom's goddaughter. I guarantee you good food and drink every day."
"I'd better pass. If I eat that much and am unwilling to work, Auntie will kick me out in less than three days."
"How could that be? We don't have much fancy food here, but we can provide enough home-style meals," Xu Yifan said.
"Auntie, I can recognize you as my godmother, as long as you don't dislike me. I'm even more mischievous than Xiao Xi."
"It's okay. These two girls have never given me a moment's peace. Having one more won't bother me."
"Godmother." Ye Zi suddenly knelt down on the ground and called out.
"You child, why such a formal bow?" Xu Yifan quickly reached out to help Ye Zi up.
"Godmother, this is only right." Ye Zi's words were sweet.
"This is our first meeting, and I don't have anything particularly worthy to give. Please accept this as a meeting gift." Xu Yifan said, taking off the imperial green jadeite bangle from her wrist and slipping it onto Ye Zi's.
At this moment, Ye Zi felt a sense of breaking free from shackles, her ties to another world seeming to weaken. The feeling was incredibly peculiar, like the bond of blood, or more so, like being cherished by a mother. From now on, she had something to care about, a connection.
"Mom, you're showing favoritism, you didn't give me anything," Li Minyu said from the side.
"I'll give you that necklace when it comes back, so you won't complain."
"I was just joking with you. Now that I have another sister, I'm happy enough."
"Godmother, I can't accept this bracelet from you. This was a gift from Xiao Xi to you, I really can't take it."
"If she gave it to you, then take it. It's just a small token of our mother's affection," Li Minxi said from the side.
"Anyway, you have more good things than our mom. Can't you find a few good ones for our mom when you get back?"
"It's only right to show filial piety to my godmother, but I really can't take this bracelet. Godmother, like Xiao Xi, I also have these bracelets. I really can't take this." Ye Zi refused.
"Yours are your own. This is just a small token of your godmother's affection, you must accept it. Otherwise, what will others think of me?"
"Ye Zi, accept it." Li Minyu also said from the side.
"Alright then, when I get back, I'll find a purple one for Mom to wear."
"Your kind intentions are enough. I don't want your things."
"Godmother, you are too good to me."
"Isn't this how it should be? I'm happy to have another daughter."
"I've worked so hard, and now I have to find someone else. Ye Zi can't be my bridesmaid anymore," Li Minxi said from the side.
"Let Ye Zi and Sister come with me to the provincial capital tomorrow."
"I'm not going, I have things to do," Li Minyu said.
"What things? We can deal with them after we return from the provincial capital," Li Minxi said, unwilling.
"With my condition, I'll only be an embarrassment if I go. I'm not going," Li Minyu stated firmly.
"If you trust me, come with me to the provincial capital. Let Yang Zi help you with your condition; your morning sickness should basically be resolved. It was after Yang Zi helped me that I got better."
"Really? Then I'll go. Ye Zi and I will accompany you. Who are you planning to ask to be your bridesmaid?"
"Lin Ziyang, Su Ran, and others you might not know, all are sisters I play with."
"Mmm. Ye Zi and I will go for a walk first. You all come out after you finish eating. Call us later." Li Minyu said, pulling Ye Zi's hand and walking out.
"Big Sister, why are you walking so fast?"
"What are your intentions in getting close to Xiao Xi?"
"What are you talking about? I haven't gotten close to Xiao Xi at all. We've been living in the same courtyard, haven't we?"
"I don't know your background, but I know you are not from this world. I'm not asking your intentions for getting close to Xiao Xi, but I hope you don't do anything to harm her. Otherwise, I will never let you go."
"Don't talk about people like you. Even if Guo Xuyang and Lü Liang came, I wouldn't be afraid. But don't overthink it. I'm here this time because Yang Zi asked me to protect Xiao Xi. I didn't expect to accidentally recognize a godmother."
"This is your destiny, but I don't want Xiao Xi to be harmed in the slightest."
"You're really overthinking it. With Yang Zi in the middle, we are sisters. Of course, you are included."
"What do you mean, 'I am included'?"
"You are like us, you are Yang Zi's woman."
"What nonsense are you talking about? How could I be Yang Zi's woman?"
"Touch the child in your womb, and you'll know."
"Are you saying this child is Guo Xuyang's? What evidence do you have to prove this child is Guo Xuyang's?"
"Don't be surprised. I guessed this by overhearing your conversation with Xiao Xi. However, you can do a paternity test, that would be accurate."
"How is this possible? I've never been alone with Guo Xuyang."
"That's what you think. But the reality might not be like that."
"Are you saying..."
"I'm not saying anything. Of course, you can choose not to believe it."
Li Minyu certainly didn't believe it. She couldn't believe Guo Xuyang could have had relations with her without her knowing. But Ye Zi spoke so confidently, which made her heart pound. She found Guo Xuyang's number and dialed it directly.
"Where are you?"
"I'm in the provincial capital. Is something wrong?" Guo Xuyang asked, having just finished his meal and arrived in his room when he received Li Minyu's call.
"The child in my womb is yours?"
"Who are you? What child in your womb is mine?" Guo Xuyang feigned ignorance.
[Author's Aside]: This book will have three updates today. Please continue to follow along, esteemed readers. Cast your free silver tickets, let's all get hyped.