Chapter 200

Chapter 200: Chapter 199 At five o’clock that afternoon, when Ling Yuxun and Xiao Ya stepped out of Longteng University’s gates, they saw Ye Tianchen with a giant ice cream tub in his hands, greedily digging in. He leaned against the big tree by the entrance of Longteng University, completely unconcerned with his image. Even as male and female students passed by, recognizing the well-known figure and whispering among themselves, Ye Tianchen just had a "let me eat and you do your talking" look on his face.

"Don’t tell me you’ve started munching away since our call at four o’clock?" Ling Yuxun exaggeratedly gaped and stared into Ye Tianchen’s eyes, asking.

"I haven’t just started eating; I never stopped. If you didn’t come out soon, I was planning to go buy another ice cream!" Ye Tianchen spoke while continuing to enjoy his treat.

"I... I’m speechless with you!"

Ling Yuxun really didn’t know what to say. Ye Tianchen had been her childhood playmate, and despite having not seen each other for many years, the feeling of closeness never waned. Regardless of how Ye Tianchen felt, she, Ling Yuxun, felt it was just like the old times, with no barriers between them.

Ever since she reunited with Ye Tianchen, the only things he had brought Ling Yuxun, apart from speechlessness and depression, were surprise and delight. She could never have imagined that the Ye Tianchen, once known as the bed-wetting king, had grown to be so manly and powerful. Disinterested in power, he had his principles; if you were unreasonable or unfair, all he had for you was a fist. This kind of man was surely enough to make any woman’s heart flutter.

"Tianchen, Sister Yuxun, I won’t be joining you for dinner tonight. My dad hasn’t returned from work, and I need to look after my mom at the hospital!" Xiao Ya said to Ye Tianchen and Ling Yuxun.

"That’s fine, we can eat outside the hospital. After eating, you can take care of your mom, and we’ll leave," Ye Tianchen offered with a smile.

"Yeah, Yaer, get in the car. Don’t ride on that guy’s motorcycle; it’s not safe!" Ling Yuxun scornfully glanced at Ye Tianchen before speaking.

"Not safe? How could my motorcycle be unsafe? It’s extremely safe!" retorted Ye Tianchen, clearly annoyed.

"No, just go ahead and eat. I’ve got to go!"

For some reason, this time Xiao Ya seemed reluctant to tag along with Ye Tianchen and Ling Yuxun. She quickly left after speaking, intending to take the bus, leaving both Ye Tianchen and Ling Yuxun stunned.

"What’s going on with Yaer?" Ye Tianchen asked, puzzled.

"She has her pride and doesn’t want to accept too much help from us. She wants to be independent and self-reliant," Ling Yuxun stated, watching Xiao Ya’s retreating figure.

The reason why Ling Yuxun and Xiao Ya quickly became friends was not only because they were both beautiful and kind-hearted but also because of Ling Yuxun’s admiration for Xiao Ya. She respected Xiao Ya for maintaining her innocence in such a corrupted society—both physically and spiritually, something no amount of money or power could buy. Finding a girl like Xiao Ya in this world had become very rare.

"Damn, I still have Yaer’s notebook, and the tutor is going to check it tomorrow..." Ling Yuxun muttered while looking at the notebook in her hands.

"I’ll deliver it to her. Wait here for me!"

Grabbing the notebook from Ling Yuxun’s hand, Ye Tianchen sprinted in the direction Xiao Ya had gone. Watching Ye Tianchen’s retreating back, Ling Yuxun suddenly felt a tinge of loneliness. For some reason, the sensation made her heart sour, as it seemed Ye Tianchen felt nothing beyond friendship with her, just the bond of childhood buddies.

"Yaer is beautiful, kind, and pure. Maybe she and Ye Tianchen are the perfect match," Ling Yuxun murmured with a wry smile on her lips.

In fact, Ling Yuxun herself was surprised. Ever since she’d reconnected with Ye Tianchen, she couldn’t help but reminisce about the happy moments they’d shared as children. It was something she thought no one would believe—how could one remember their childhood so vividly after growing up? And if they did, how could it affect them so deeply? Yet Ling Yuxun found herself unable to control the constant presence of Ye Tianchen in her thoughts.

Moreover, Ye Tianchen, the former bed-wetting king, had truly grown into a charismatic man, skilled and handsome. It’s just that his roguish personality could sometimes bring one to tears.

In the moment that Ling Yuxun was lost in her thoughts, an elderly woman appeared suddenly by her side, an unexpected presence that Ling Yuxun hadn’t noticed until then.

"Miss, was that person just now Ye Tianchen?" the old woman asked as she looked at Ling Yuxun.

"Old Lady Ku, how, how did you get here?" Ling Yuxun asked in surprise.

"It seems that was indeed Ye Tianchen just now. Miss, the master sent me to tell you not to get too close to Ye Tianchen. He has caused big trouble, and his life won’t be long!" said the old woman expressionlessly.

"What? Old Lady Ku, I know Tianchen has offended the Xuanyuan family and the Ouyang family, but it’s not too big of a problem. Can’t father intervene to help him out?" Ling Yuxun pleaded with Old Lady Ku, using imploring eyes.

Old Lady Ku did not look at Ling Yuxun. She had been with the Ling family for many years, serving them since Ling Yuxun’s grandfather’s time. Unmarried throughout her life and utterly loyal to the Ling family, not only did she watch over Ling Yuxun, but she had also cared for Ling Yuxun’s father as he grew up. Therefore, even though Old Lady Ku was a servant of the Ling family, she held a significant position. Once rumored to have been deeply in love with Ling Yuxun’s grandfather, she never married, dedicating her life to the Ling family—a tale so moving it touched the hearts of all who heard it.

Thus, Ling Yuxun felt for Old Lady Ku as she would her own grandmother, with deep affection and a touch of reverence, a respect for an elder that never allowed her to treat Old Lady Ku as an inferior.

"It’s impossible. This time, not only will Ye Tianchen lose his life, but it’s also very likely that the Ye family will be annihilated, because the person he has offended is the scion of Longteng, who not only has great influence but is also a master himself, a top-notch expert with unfathomable strength..." Old Lady Ku furrowed her brows as she mentioned the scion of Longteng.

"This..."

Hearing Old Lady Ku’s words, Ling Yuxun was stunned. The Ling family was not a small power, especially in the business community where they held a significant position. So, Ling Yuxun had some exposure to experts from Ancient Martial Sects with strong combat abilities from a young age. Take Old Lady Ku, for example; she was a renowned figure in the martial arts world, known as the Goddess of the Flying Knife, extremely formidable. It was Ling Yuxun’s first time seeing Old Lady Ku discuss someone else’s strength with such a serious expression. It seemed that this scion of Longteng was indeed very powerful.

"Stop thinking about it, let’s go. There’s no saving Ye Tianchen now!" Old Lady Ku said sternly.

"No... Old Lady Ku, our Ling family and the Ye family have always had a good relationship. We can’t just stand by and watch him die now. Ye Tianchen isn’t a bad person, let’s help him!" Ling Yuxun implored.

"That was in the past. The Ye family and our Ling family are no longer on the same level, and the Ye family has declined so much that it’s a mess. Ye Yuanshan’s three sons are all disappointments, unable to hold up the Ye family’s affairs. As for Ye Tianchen, indeed, he has some courage and boldness, but what a pity, without a powerful backer, he is simply seeking death!" Old Lady Ku shook her head and said.

Indeed, the Ling family and the Ye family were not major families in the Capital City, but both showed signs of rising. Eventually, the Ling family became powerful enough to shake the nation’s economy, while the Ye family headed towards decline, degenerating to the point of no return.

After Ye Tianchen returned to the Capital City, every action he took was shocking. People had high hopes for the Ye family, thinking it might rise again because of Ye Tianchen’s return. However, Old Lady Ku’s words filled Ling Yuxun with worry. The Ye family truly had no strong backing at the moment, and without support amid troubles, it would be flattened easily, rising swiftly. Without support, there was only one route: a dead end.

"But..." Ling Yuxun grew more and more anxious as she thought about it and couldn’t help but worry for Ye Tianchen and the Ye family.

"Let’s go, Miss. This matter is not something you can intervene in... Don’t bring trouble upon the Ling family, or you will become the sinner of our family!" Old Lady Ku said as she took hold of Ling Yuxun’s hand and walked toward the sedan parked nearby.

"No... I can’t just watch him die; I..." Ling Yuxun suddenly envisaged a scene where Ye Tianchen was killed. She couldn’t bear it—even if she hadn’t truly fallen in love with Ye Tianchen, the pleasant feelings from their childhood made it impossible for her to watch idly.

At that moment, while Ling Yuxun and Old Lady Ku were arguing, Ye Tianchen had already caught up with Xiao Ya. The two of them moved slowly forward, with Ye Tianchen walking Xiao Ya to the bus stop. Knowing Xiao Ya’s strong pride and that she was a good girl, he didn’t say much, as forcefully offering help would only make her feel worse.

"Yaer, we’re friends after all, and it’s only right to help each other," Ye Tianchen gently counseled Xiao Ya with a smile.

Xiao Ya glanced at Ye Tianchen. Ever since they had shared a life-and-death experience in the broad and narrow alleys, the relationship and feelings between the two had subtly changed, drawing much closer.

"Tianchen, I know both you and Sister Yuxun are good people, truly wanting to help me. But I need to learn to work hard on my own. I can’t rely on others for everything. Besides, I want you to know that Sister Yuxun likes you. You shouldn’t treat her that way anymore. I’m giving you two a chance to spend time alone," Xiao Ya said with a clever smile to Ye Tianchen.

(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)