Yu He turned around and saw Cheng Lizhu with her brows furrowed, realizing her tone had been a bit harsh.
She softened her voice and said, "Really, I don't. Please don't overthink it. We're just..." She paused, choosing her words carefully, "friends."
Cheng Lizhu stared at her, surprised that her daughter would offer an explanation so readily. The next moment, a hint of joy appeared in her eyes.
"You said before you were staying at a friend's place. Is that friend the one?"
"...Yes," Yu He replied.
Cheng Lizhu nodded, her face conveying understanding. "Did you have a fight about something?"
Her line of questioning surprised Yu He. "Aren't you surprised?"
Wouldn't it be more logical to be surprised? When she had asked Ye Qichen to get a gift from Tianyu, and he found out she was staying with Qin Beiting, he had been very surprised, even resistant.
So, even after she was willing to return to the Ye family, she hadn't told anyone else.
Cheng Lizhu nodded. "Very surprised. The first time I met Seventh Master Qin at our house, I never expected you to know him. And this morning, when he said he was coming to pick you up, I was also surprised. He actually came to pick you up in person."
Yu He: "..."
She had a feeling her mother was more surprised by the person than the situation.
But then again, Ye Zisu had gotten engaged to Gu Ze very early on. They should be used to the idea of young relationships by now.
No, she wasn't in a relationship!
"Your father and I also got together secretly in high school," Cheng Lizhu said shyly. "Emotions were purer back then. But after the family became wealthy, his temper changed..."
If she had a choice, she wouldn't want her daughter to marry into a wealthy family, especially a large one. She knew firsthand how difficult it was to be a daughter-in-law in a prominent family. A mismatch in social standing would always create a sense of disparity.
But if her daughter liked him, she wouldn't stop her. She would respect her choice.
"It's okay. If you truly love him, Mom supports you," Cheng Lizhu advised.
"When two people are together, there will always be friction. One person always has to compromise for the other. You both need to be more accommodating to each other for the relationship to last."
Listening to her advice, Yu He felt something was off.
*I'm still a minor, what are you thinking about?!*
"Mom, you've misunderstood. We're not in the kind of relationship you're thinking of," she interrupted Cheng Lizhu.
"You're not?" Cheng Lizhu sounded doubtful. "But Seventh Master Qin treats you very differently..."
Qin Beiting's inherent noble demeanor, even when he deliberately lowered himself, always gave off an aura of being unapproachable and not to be offended.
But when he looked at Yu He, he became unconsciously gentle. That was a tenderness exclusively for Yu He.
If this wasn't love, what was it?
Furthermore, she had noticed that ever since Qin Beiting arrived, her daughter's mood had clearly changed for the better.
"No, you're thinking too much. Instead of worrying about me, you should worry about my brother," Yu He said.
Before she had heard about Qin Beiting's sexual orientation, she had also thought he treated her differently. But after hearing about his orientation, she no longer believed it.
Qin Beiting's unusual behavior towards her might just be because they lived together when they were younger, and she knew about his undisclosed illness, and had promised to help him recover.
"What happened to your brother? He doesn't have a girlfriend yet," Cheng Lizhu asked, confused.
Yu He: "That's even more reason to worry."
With a man and a woman alone in a room, she didn't know if that scoundrel Qin Beiting would do anything out of line.
Cheng Lizhu: ???
---
In another room.
The room contained only a large bed, six feet wide, and a small sofa.
After entering, Qin Beiting sat on the sofa, his legs casually crossed, looking at his phone.
Ye Qichen stood behind the door, watching the man at ease on the sofa, his molars itching.
He had thought the challenge would drive Qin Beiting away, but he had ended up trapping himself.
It was absolutely impossible for him to sleep in the same bed as Qin Beiting!
He believed Qin Beiting would never accept it either!
Therefore, this was a battle of wills between two men, to see who could outlast the other and stay in this room.
If he lost, wouldn't this scoundrel become even more audacious in the future!
For his sister's sake, he had to hold his ground, had to stay in this room, and make Qin Beiting leave!
Qin Beiting had already seen through Ye Qichen's little trick. Trying to drive him away?
That would mean underestimating his patience.
This was originally his and the young lady's room. If anyone were to leave, it would be Ye Qichen.
Qin Beiting's gaze flickered to Ye Qichen, who was still standing. He parted his thin lips and said, "You can sleep in the bed."
Ye Qichen was a little surprised. Was he being so generous?
"Seventh Master Qin, are you trying to win me over?" he teased.
Heh, he wouldn't be so easily appeased. The bed would definitely be his to sleep in, and Qin Beiting must leave this villa.
Qin Beiting looked up at him. With a serious expression, he spoke three words in a persuasive tone: "I respect elders."
Ye Qichen: Elder?!
"If I'm old at 25, then Seventh Master Qin, at 24, can't be considered young either!" he said through gritted teeth.
Qin Beiting pushed his glasses up and, with a gentle expression and a resonant voice, said:
"Rounding up, at 25, you're not far from 30. Young Master Ye, don't be afraid of getting old."
Go to hell with 30!
I'm 25, in the prime of my youth!
How could I possibly admit to being old just like that!
"I... am... not... convinced!" he said, word by word.
"Fine, then you can sleep on the sofa tonight," Qin Beiting suddenly stood up and said.
Ye Qichen: ???
Ye Qichen: !!!
Damn it, he had fallen into a trap! He had been provoked!
Having lost two rounds in a row, Ye Qichen felt like he was having a bad start today and had encountered a formidable opponent.
He needed to find a new approach.
"Ding dong." At that moment, the doorbell rang.
Ye Qichen turned and opened the door. Yu He, wearing a loosely tied bathrobe, stood at the entrance.
The robe's opening was loose, revealing her slender swan-like neck and sexy collarbones. Below that was her voluptuous figure, not fully contained by the swimsuit.
Although she was still a minor, her figure had already developed, showing the curves of a woman.
Ye Qichen, afraid Qin Beiting might see, quickly stepped out and closed the door.
"Are you alright?" Yu He calmly assessed Ye Qichen.
Ye Qichen was deeply touched. Was his sister here specifically to check on him?
Despite suffering two defeats, he still smiled and said, "I'm fine."
"Mm," Yu He replied. After a moment's thought, she added, "Stay away from him."
Ye Qichen's smile stiffened. "Huh?"
This sounded a bit strange.
Could it be that his sister also liked Qin Beiting?!
"Baby, did you come to find me for a hot spring soak?" At that moment, the slightly ajar door was opened from the inside, and Qin Beiting emerged, asking.