Nyoi-Bo Studio

  Nyoi-Bo Studio

  Ye Qianqian was unwinding the scarf around her neck when she heard what her dad said. She mischievously stuck her tongue out, then asked, “How did you guess?”


  “Hmph! I’m your dad.”


  Although his tone was brusque, he came forward to help her with her things. “Have some tea,” he said. “It was just brewed.”


  He held Ye Qianqian’s hand for a while, then frowned with concern. “Hey, your hands are cold. Why aren’t you wearing more layers?”


  “I’m already wearing so many! Look how round I look.” Ye Qianqian spread her arms wide to prove her point. She was indeed bundled up.

  With his brows furrowed, Ye Zhenhua handed her a cup of tea. “Drink it. It’s warm.”


  Ye Qianqian took it from him and finished it all in one go. “Wow! It’s really good!”


  She turned around to look at Shen Zhilie and picked up another cup. “Have some too!” she told him.

  Shen Zhilie took the cup from her and downed it in one sitting. “It’s good tea!” he exclaimed.

  Ye Qianqian cheerily placed the cups down, but Ye Zhenhua was clearly upset. In a voice tinged with bitterness, he said, “Indeed, the woman is destined to be married off! I’ve never seen you treat your own father this well before!”


  “Come on, Dad. Didn’t you just finish your tea?” Ye Qianqian asked as she pressed Ye Zhenhua down onto the couch. “Have a seat. We’ll eat out today. It’s such a cold day. You don’t have to cook.”


  “Hmph,” Ye Zhenhua snorted as he glanced at Ye Qianqian and then at Shen Zhilie. “When do you intend to get married?” he asked.

  Shen Zhilie rubbed his nose and said, “We’re probably going to wait a little longer. According to the fortune teller, we have to wait until Ye Qianqian turns twenty-eight.”


  Ye Qianqian very rarely communicated with her father. They hadn’t mentioned anything to him about her meeting with Uncle Blind Man, so naturally, he had no idea. However, when Ye Zhenhua heard about it, he wasn’t surprised. He nodded his head and said, “It’s good enough that both of you love each other. It would be a pity to be together for so many years only to never see Ye Qianqian turn twenty-eight.”


  Ye Qianqian was unhappy when she heard this and retorted, “Dad, are you cursing me?”


  Ye Zhenhua got up and looked at the time. “It’s getting late,” he said. “If we’re going to eat out, we’ll have to hurry. If it rains later, it’ll get even colder.”


  Lately, the weather in Yun Town hadn’t been ideal. When the two of them heard Ye Zhenhua’s warning, they picked up their bags and walked out.

  All the dishes that Ye Zhenhua ordered were Ye Qianqian’s favorites. After ordering, he simply waved the menu in front of Shen Zhilie as if to ask for his opinion. Ye Qianqian was about to laugh, but Ye Zhenhua glared at her, and she quickly looked down.

  Ye Zhenhua had a habit of drinking tea after a meal. When they arrived home after dinner, he boiled some water and sat in front of the tea set.

  “Shen, come over here and have a seat.”


  Shen Zhilie wasn’t sure what to do with himself, so when he heard the invitation, he walked over and sat in front of Ye Zhenhua.

  Ye Zhenhua dexterously prepared the tea with experienced hands, and his movements were skilled and elegant. He glanced at Shen Zhilie and asked, “Shen, does your family not like Ye Qianqian very much?”


  Shen Zhilie instinctively looked at Ye Qianqian.

  Ye Qianqian heard her father’s question and grabbed a stool to sit near him and Shen Zhilie.

  Ye Zhenhua looked at his daughter and scoffed. “And what are you doing here?” he asked.

  “I want to have some tea,” Ye Qianqian replied, grabbing onto any random excuse. She picked up a teacup and almost scalded herself.

  “Look how clumsy you are,” Ye Zhenhua admonished, quickly taking the cup from her. “Wait for it to cool before drinking it.”


  With that, he turned back to Shen Zhilie and asked, “Does your grandmother not like Ye Qianqian?”


  Shen Zhilie suddenly began to panic. Why was Ye Zhenhua asking him this? Was he now regretting his decision?