The Art of Teasing - Chapter 46
Chapter 46
Wen Zhengyu called the restaurant to reserve a private room, sent the address to Ye Ling and Ye Zhan, then returned to her office to tidy up briefly, called for Wen Jing, and headed to the restaurant. She rode in her own car, with Wen Jing driving.
Ye Ling got into Ye Zhan's car; it looked as if she had something to say.
Ye Ling's assistant, bodyguards, plus Ye Zhan's retinue, formed a small motorcade, following at a moderate distance, protecting the siblings' vehicles in the center. The vehicles and personnel were all quite understated, purposely inconspicuous.
Wen Zhengyu sat in the car, gazing at the scenery outside the window, her mood somewhat heavy.
She knew that Ye Zhan wouldn't have made this trip without reason. Given her family background, she and Ye Ling were not well-matched in social status. She could not offer any help to Ye Ling or Ye Zhan. In fact, Ye Ling's feelings for her were likely to have a significant negative impact on them.
Would Ye Zhan agree to let Ye Ling continue like this? Would he interfere? How far would he go? What would he do? All of this was hard to say.
Ye Ling was not someone who easily compromised or gave up. Whether she would clash with Ye Zhan over this was also hard to say.
Wen Zhengyu hoped that Ye Zhan could smoothly persuade Ye Ling and take her back, peacefully resolving the matter. That she and Ye Ling would then go their separate ways, bridges and roads apart, with no trouble between them, that would be best.
The atmosphere at dinner was surprisingly pleasant, beyond Wen Zhengyu's expectations.
Ye Ling was in a very good mood. Ye Zhan didn't show any dissatisfaction either, appearing quite amiable. Their conversation during the meal was all small talk; in fact, most of the time they discussed the dishes. On the surface, it looked just like a simple visit from an older brother to his sister, sharing an ordinary meal together.
Wen Zhengyu keenly noted that Ye Zhan didn't inquire a single word about her or her family's circumstances.
Even the nosiest auntie, upon learning that some relative had fallen for someone, would ask what sort of person they were, how many houses and cars the family had, and some would even ask about the other party's three generations.
Yet Ye Zhan didn't ask a single question.
Not asking could mean he didn't care or mind. But the fact that Ye Zhan came in person indicated that he was very concerned about this matter. Therefore, the most likely scenario was that he had already investigated and understood beforehand, knew what she and her family were like, and thus had no need to ask.
Asking a few questions upon meeting, versus having conducted a detailed investigation before meeting and still making a special trip to come, the implications were completely different.
Wen Zhengyu couldn't help but wonder whether Ye Ling's feelings for her had such a significant impact on Ye Zhan that it prompted him to take this much notice.
However, these were all her speculations, and besides, she had no initiative at all in this matter.
After dinner, she said goodbye to Ye Ling and Ye Zhan at the restaurant entrance and headed straight home.
By the time she got home, it was after eight at night. Sun Yuan had already left work, and both Old Master Wen and Zhan Cheng were not home. She returned to her room, washed up, took out her laptop from her bag, sat at the desk, and planned to review some materials to recharge.
On the desk were the ugly little dough figurines that Ye Ling had personally molded. The two little figurines stood side by side, hand in hand. The one with slightly curly long hair had a large, bright smiling face that took up half its head, looking particularly cheerful.
That smile reminded her of Ye Ling's smile.
She didn't know whether Ye Ling was under enormous pressure in pursuing her, nor did she know how much impact Ye Ling's feelings for her might have on Ye Ling.
All she knew was that Ye Ling was persistent and resolute; once she set her mind on something, it was very hard to change.
In her mind's eye surfaced Ye Ling's words: "Zhengyu, understand me."
She recalled Ye Ling's commentary on the painting Phoenix Battles the Heavens.
She didn't want Ye Ling to take the path of the Phoenix Bird.
Behind the grandeur lay a blood-drenched tragedy. After the blazing, dazzling flames, only ashes remained.
Wen Zhengyu realized she was thinking a bit too much about Ye Ling's matters. She didn't want Ye Ling to like her, didn't want her to do this; whatever consequences might arise, Ye Ling had brought them upon herself. Yet she was not unfeeling like grass or wood. Ye Ling liked her, treated her with sincerity; she wasn't unaware, incapable of remaining indifferent.
In the morning, when Wen Zhengyu arrived at the art studio, she didn't see Ye Ling.
Ye Ling didn't come in the morning.
At lunchtime, Sun Yuan only delivered a meal for Wen Zhengyu alone.
Wen Zhengyu didn't know if it was because Ye Ling was busy with work, or because Ye Zhan had come.
In the afternoon, a little past three, nearing four, she received a call from Ye Ling, inviting her out for tea.
Wen Zhengyu agreed without a second thought. It was only after hanging up that she belatedly realized she had been worried because Ye Ling hadn't come to the studio.
The place Ye Ling had chosen was a casual tea house not far from the studio.
The tea house was built on a small hill by the lake.
The spot she had chosen was a small pavilion outside the tea house, set under the shade of trees, with grass curtains hanging all around, creating a secluded little world. The lush green trees blocked the scorching sun; looking down at the shimmering lake and mountain scenery below, feeling the gentle mountain breeze, with a pot of fine tea, it was quite pleasant.
However, today, Wen Zhengyu wasn't in much of a mood for tea and scenery.
Ye Ling was also not the type to have the leisure to come out for tea and idle chat.
When she arrived, Ye Ling was already in the pavilion.
What was rare was that Ye Ling was actually wearing casual clothes today: a loose casual top paired with cropped pants, which tempered her usual sharp, cutting edge with a touch of elegance and gentleness.
Ye Ling smiled as she came to the edge of the pavilion to welcome Wen Zhengyu inside.
Wen Zhengyu's gaze swept over Ye Ling's face. She saw that Ye Ling looked rather well, not as if she had argued with her brother at home. She thought, "Peacefully resolved?"
She sat down by the tea table, took the tea Ye Ling handed her, and said, "Thank you." She noticed there was also a small stool beside the tea table, the seat meant for the tea-serving attendant, but it was empty. Seeing Ye Ling personally brewing the tea, she knew that Ye Ling hadn't let the attendant serve.
Ye Ling had invited her out, so it must be about something. But since Ye Ling didn't say, Wen Zhengyu didn't ask, just quietly drank her tea. She could roughly guess why Ye Ling had invited her; seven or eight out of ten it was related to Ye Zhan's visit yesterday.
They drank tea in silence for half an hour.
Wen Zhengyu went to the restroom and came back.
Ye Ling smiled and sighed, "You really can keep your composure."
Wen Zhengyu gave Ye Ling a puzzled look and said, "I'm not quite sure what you mean by that, CEO Ye."
Ye Ling grinned and glanced at Wen Zhengyu, saying, "Pretend, go ahead and pretend!" She leaned forward, moving close to Wen Zhengyu, and said, "That Zhengyu is worried about me makes me quite happy."
Wen Zhengyu said expressionlessly, in a flat tone, "I wonder which eye CEO Ye used to see that I'm worried about you?"
Ye Ling chuckled softly and poured Wen Zhengyu a cup of tea. The smile on her lips faded slightly as she said, "My brother coming was unexpected, but within reason."
Wen Zhengyu thought, "What does your brother coming have to do with me." She really wanted to say that to Ye Ling, but she did genuinely want to know why Ye Zhan had come.
Ye Ling paused there, her smile completely fading, her expression somewhat grave.
Wen Zhengyu quietly looked at Ye Ling. She didn't know if this reaction meant the facts were not good.
Ye Ling thought for a moment and asked, "Are you interested in hearing about my affairs?"
Wen Zhengyu very much wanted to shake her head, but clearly, this wasn't the time. If she shook her head now, she would be racking her brains later. She nodded lightly, and didn't say those deliberately distant and polite words.
Ye Ling's voice was slightly heavy as she said, "My parents passed away early. An accident; both were killed in a car crash. I was only thirteen that year; my brother was eight years older than me."
"My grandfather had five sons and two daughters. There are over twenty grandchildren. My father was the eldest son, my brother the eldest grandson. My current grandmother is not my biological grandmother. She's the one my grandfather married after he pursued a free marriage; she bore him four sons."
Wen Zhengyu: "…"
Ye Ling said, "I have two aunts. The eldest aunt died very early; she hanged herself. My father and my younger aunt always felt that my eldest aunt's hanging was connected to my current grandmother, but there was no evidence. My younger aunt married far away and didn't have a very good life; she passed away from illness a few years ago."
"My grandfather's preference for sons over daughters is quite strong."
From these few words, Wen Zhengyu could roughly imagine Ye Ling's situation at home.
With a grandfather who favored sons and had many children and grandchildren, he probably didn't even see Ye Ling. The grandmother was a step-grandmother with four sons of her own, and Ye Ling's father and brother held the positions of eldest son and eldest grandson, which put them at the front of the line for inheritance. Not being her biological children, and with conflicting interests, the relationship couldn't possibly be good.
No wonder Ye Ling's family fought so fiercely; with such complicated familial relations, peaceful coexistence was nearly impossible.
In such a family, with Ye Ling's parents gone, the only one who could protect her was her brother. Ye Zhan's own situation at home was essentially one of a lone, clapping hand. The only one who would wholeheartedly stand by his side was his sister Ye Ling. As for the grandfather, even if he was a biological grandson, with the step-grandmother whispering in his ear, and four uncles and many male cousins around, it was very hard for him to rely on the grandfather. However, being the eldest grandson, Old Master Ye would likely still look out for him a bit, so he wouldn't be as utterly without status as Ye Ling.
Wen Zhengyu said, "It must have been hard?"
Ye Ling nodded, saying, "Very hard." After that, there was a long silence.
Wen Zhengyu didn't know how to comfort Ye Ling.
Ye Ling turned to look at Wen Zhengyu and said, "I especially envy you for having a good grandfather, who makes everything so clear and dotes on you so much." She smiled and asked, "Do you mind sharing half of your grandfather with me?"
Wen Zhengyu was choked up by Ye Ling's words. She immediately felt her earlier sympathy had been wasted. She said, "You have a good brother."
Ye Ling nodded, her brow arched slightly, saying, "True. My brother and I depend on each other for survival, and we have a revolutionary friendship forged in the trenches. That bond is certainly strong, but having a brother doesn't prevent me from lacking a grandfather who dotes on me."
Wen Zhengyu thought Ye Ling was being a bit too wishful. If Old Master Wen could beat her, he'd probably have rolled up his sleeves and charged at her already. Dote on her? More like doting with a beating! She asked, "Did your brother agree to you…" Unable to say it directly, she took a detour: "…staying at the studio long-term?"
Ye Ling couldn't help but laugh, saying, "You can work anywhere; it doesn't delay work. He has no reason to interfere with where I set up my office."
Wen Zhengyu sighed inwardly, lifted her teacup and slowly drank, ignoring Ye Ling.
Ye Ling's smile faded as she said, "All these years, my brother and I have fought and striven with everything we have, for status, for money, all to be less bullied and to take charge of our own lives. If I can't even choose my own life partner according to my heart, then all our struggles lose their meaning."
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