Chapter 24: Ye Ye's Provocation (1)

Ye Ye glanced at Lin Yan with a look that was half-smile, half-mockery, then fell silent and returned to peeling an apple. This time, however, she applied too much pressure; the peel snapped and fell to the floor.

The two remained silent for a while. Once Ye Ye finished peeling the apple, she sliced it and placed the pieces on a plate. Lin Yan sipped her porridge slowly, the atmosphere growing awkward.

Ye Ye reached for the remote and turned on the television. It was tuned to a national channel, not the one that had been playing the drama "Wood" when Leng Mohan was around. Lin Yan recalled that "Wood" aired on Hunan Satellite TV, but now, the screen displayed national news. To her surprise, Ye Ye seemed to be watching with genuine interest. Lin Yan had never cared for current affairs or politics; she was a simple woman who preferred romance dramas.

After finishing her porridge, Lin Yan, unwilling to sit with Ye Ye any longer, stood up to take her bowl to the kitchen. Ye Ye stared at her back, her eyes cold. When Lin Yan returned, she intended to excuse herself and head upstairs, but before she could speak, Ye Ye beat her to it.

"Sister Lin Yan," Ye Ye said, "I honestly thought you were a pampered young lady who had never lifted a finger in her life. Who knew you could wash dishes too?"

In truth, washing dishes was second nature to Lin Yan. She had started doing them when she was quite young. Though she had tried learning to cook, she had never managed to master the complexities of the culinary arts.

Lin Yan glanced at her own hands. Compared to Ye Ye’s, they were a bit rougher, though the shape was quite elegant—long and slender, the hands of a skilled craftsperson.

"I have never been a pampered heiress. My family is quite ordinary," Lin Yan replied with a faint, light smile. "I’ll head upstairs now; I still have some work to finish."

"What do you do for a living, Sister Lin Yan?" Ye Ye asked, tilting her head with feigned curiosity.

"I’m a freelancer," Lin Yan answered truthfully.

Just as she turned to leave, another question came from Ye Ye. "Sister Lin Yan, I have something I’d like to ask you. Please don’t be offended; I’m just curious."

Realizing she wouldn't be getting upstairs anytime soon, Lin Yan sat back down to hear what she had to say.

Ye Ye stared at Lin Yan for a long moment before asking, "Given a family background like Brother Mohan’s, one would assume he’d marry someone of equal social standing. If what you say is true and you come from an ordinary family, I imagine his mother wouldn't have been very pleased, would she?"

Lin Yan froze at the question, instantly recalling the circumstances of her marriage to Leng Mohan. It was true—had it not been for that specific incident, she would likely not be Mrs. Leng, and her sister might never have gone abroad.

"My mother-in-law is not a woman who dwells on status," Lin Yan replied artfully. It was a tactful response that avoided a direct answer while paying a compliment to her mother-in-law. Ye Ye had no choice but to offer a sheepish smile. "Of course, his mother has always been a kind soul."

Silence fell between them again. Ye Ye clicked aimlessly through the channels until the screen suddenly shifted. It showed Leng Mohan raising a hand to block a camera lens, his other arm protectively around a woman. "Ziyan will not be accepting any interviews today," he said coldly.

The two appeared remarkably intimate. A female reporter pushed forward, ignoring the fact that her feet were being trampled, and asked sharply, "President Leng, what is your relationship with Ziyan? Why have you been appearing in her social circle so frequently? It is rumored that you are already married—does this not affect your marital life?"