IMMFBCG Chapter 79

Chapter Seventy-Nine: The Shameless One

After the movie ended, Yu Qi and Ye Xue returned to the Yu family’s mansion.

Yu Qi went to his study first, while Assistant Zhou handed over some documents for him to review before quickly leaving.

Butler Liu brought over a tray of hot tea and noticed Yu Qi looking out the window.

The garden outside was illuminated, with lights both inside the mansion and outside making the quiet night appear almost like daylight.

Ye Xue was squatting beside a flower bed, checking if the seeds she had planted earlier had sprouted.

The gardeners were nearby, giving Ye Xue some tips, and even Uncle Wang, the driver, joined in, adding to the lively scene.

Most of the staff at the mansion were familiar with Ye Xue and understood her place in Yu Qi’s life, knowing that she would eventually be another master of the Yu family. At first, they thought Yu Qi would end up alone, but now, they were surprised to see him bringing a girl home.

Assistant Zhou also came over, exchanged a few words with Ye Xue, and then left.

Butler Liu placed the cup on the table, observing Yu Qi’s focused expression. He smiled gently, deciding not to disturb him.

Yu Qi had only returned to take care of some minor matters but was still thinking about what Bao Wenxuan had said earlier. He picked up his teacup and then put it down again.

Yu Qi suddenly spoke, “Butler Liu, do you remember the Yu family’s history?”

The old man was momentarily taken aback but then understood that Yu Qi wasn’t asking about business matters.

Not everyone living in the mansion was familiar with each other; it was a high-value location where only the wealthy could afford to live. Relations with the neighbors were usually just polite nods and pleasantries, limited to surface-level interactions.

Butler Liu had worked for the Yu family for many years and knew more about the neighbors than Yu Qi. He didn’t hesitate and shared what he knew with Yu Qi.

Yu Qi nodded lightly, noting that this matched what Ye Xue had heard earlier.

Butler Liu sighed softly. “As for the conflicts within the Yu family, I’m sure you’ve heard about them. Yu patriarch has always been clever, but in his old age, he has become somewhat senile, favoring his younger son too much. If he had simply favored the elder son, it wouldn’t have been an issue. But by entrusting the Yu family’s responsibilities to the elder son and letting the younger one compete for them, the rift between the two brothers has only deepened.”

Yu Qi listened but didn’t react much. He simply said, “Business is business, and even family ties are tested when money is involved.”

Butler Liu looked at Yu Qi, knowing that he was recalling his aunt, Yu Zhu. He decided not to mention it again.

Yu Qi’s expression remained calm. “Is there anything else worth noting?”

Butler Liu shook his head in confusion.

A while later, Butler Liu seemed to remember something and spoke with a sense of nostalgia. “Speaking of which, young master, you used to enjoy playing in the park nearby when you were younger.”

Yu Qi was momentarily taken aback and frowned as he thought back.

Yu Qi’s childhood was different from other children’s. He was often haunted by various ghosts and had a frail body, so he couldn’t stray too far from home.

The farthest place Yu Qi went was the park near the mansion.

He often brought obscure and difficult-to-understand books to read there. Perhaps he met some people during that time, but Yu Qi couldn’t quite recall.

If Butler Liu hadn’t mentioned it, Yu Qi would have forgotten those memories long ago. Now, with Butler Liu bringing up the past, Yu Qi slowly remembered some faded memories.

Later, Yu Qi’s master and parents passed away, and he became an orphan.

Yu Zhu moved in, and Yu Qi coldly watched as she replaced the mansion’s servants and gardeners with her people.

He knew they were all just waiting for him to die so they could inherit the Yu family’s wealth, but he refused to comply.

As Yu Qi thought about this, his brow furrowed, but when he glanced outside at the scene, the frost on his brow seemed to melt under the sunlight.

His expression gradually relaxed.

Suddenly, Yu Qi remembered something.

The Yu family’s residence seemed to be in the same park area where Ye Xue had met Mrs. Yu while she was taking a stroll.

Yu Qi asked, “Butler Liu, did I ever meet anyone in the park back then?”

The question seemed to stump Butler Liu, who furrowed his brows and patiently thought for a long time before slowly shaking his head. “Maybe it’s just my old age, but I can’t remember things from twenty years ago.”

Yu Qi nodded in understanding.

Indeed, those memories were already fading for him too.

Meanwhile, Ye Xue had finished examining the newly sprouted shoots in the garden. She washed her hands and walked back to the mansion.

Yu Qi spotted her figure through the window and glanced at the clock—time was getting late.

He stood up and said, “Butler Liu, Ye Xue, and I are heading back.”

Butler Liu was momentarily taken aback. “It’s so late; won’t you and Miss Ye stay to rest?”

Yu Qi smiled and shook his head. “Maybe another time.”

Butler Liu was puzzled for a moment, then it clicked when he understood Yu Qi’s earlier comment—both of them had already left.

The old man chuckled. “Young master has certainly matured.”

Uncle Wang, the driver, was getting the car ready in the parking lot.

Ye Xue and Yu Qi walked along the path outside.

Yu Qi spoke, “I asked Butler Liu about the Yu family.”

Yu Qi wouldn’t casually bring up others if he didn’t have a reason. Ye Xue was a bit surprised and asked, “You suspect…”

She shook her head as she dismissed the idea. “But, Mr. Yu told me that his parents only have him as their child, so it’s strange that Mrs. Yu keeps mentioning a non-existent daughter.”

Yu Qi looked at her. “That’s what I find odd too. Why does Mrs. Yu keep mentioning a daughter if there’s only one child, Yu Minghe?”

Ye Xue was momentarily stunned.

The two continued walking.

Ye Xue said, “There’s a method that might answer our questions.”

Yu Qi brushed a few loose strands of hair that had been tousled by the breeze, his fingers feeling slightly cool against Ye Xue’s forehead as he asked, “A paternity test?”

It was the simplest and most scientific way, though they weren’t sure how to convince the Yu family members.

After all, this was just a small guess of theirs.

As they talked, they walked slowly.

Ye Xue lagged a few steps behind, suddenly looking ahead.

Yu Qi followed her gaze and saw Yu Huaruang helping his wife walk slowly along the shaded path.

Mrs. Yu seemed a bit distracted, walking in a haze, and when she saw someone up ahead, she first looked surprised, then showed a gentle smile.

Ye Xue nodded at her and returned a small smile.

Uncle Wang had already pulled the car up to the entrance, signaling for them to approach.

Yu Huaruang noticed his wife hadn’t moved and asked with concern, “What’s wrong?”

Mrs. Yu responded sluggishly, whispering, “I just saw a girl I’m quite familiar with.”

Yu Huaruang looked ahead but saw nothing.

He asked a few more questions gently, and Mrs. Yu shook her head absently.

…

By the time they returned to the Taoist temple, it was almost midnight.

Everyone else at the temple had already retired to their rooms.

Yu Qi didn’t linger long either; he didn’t say much to Ye Xue before escorting her back to her room and then heading to his own.

Ye Xue stayed in her room for a bit, grabbed some clothes, and went to the bathroom to take a shower.

After she washed her hair and took a bath, she returned from the bathroom and passed by Bai Liu’s room, noticing that the door was slightly ajar. She couldn’t help but walk over.

Inside, there was the sound of Wei Xing Teng angrily berating Bai Liu. “Bai family boy, what are you doing? You didn’t show up all day! I came in the afternoon and found an empty room. What were you doing anyway? Are you still playing games? Give it here!”

Ye Xue stood at the doorway, watching the one person and the ghost inside. She saw Wei Xing Teng trying to snatch Bai Liu’s game console and couldn’t help but twitch her lips.

This guy is still playing games late at night.

Bai Liu quickly dodged Wei Xing Teng’s attempt, shouting, “What do you mean? I have important things to do! I was with Ye Xue Shi Shu at Yun Jiang Mountain—”

Wei Xing Teng was so angry he nearly stuck out his tongue, shouting, “Don’t try to fool me with that! You’re not getting away with using Ye Dao Zhang as an excuse!”

Bai Liu squirmed like an eel, turning to see Ye Xue’s slender figure at the doorway, and immediately called out, “Shi Shu!!”

Wei Xing Teng gave a cold laugh and also turned to face Ye Xue. “Shi what Shi Shu, even if the King of Hell came, it wouldn’t…”

Before he could finish, he saw Ye Xue outside the door.

Her hair wasn’t dry yet, and her face was expressionless as she watched them. Water droplets still clung to her hair, sliding off as the wind blew.

Wei Xing Teng’s words halted, and he quickly plastered a smile on his face, floating toward the girl outside. He cooed, “Oh, isn’t this Ye Dao Zhang? What brings you here? Oh, your hair is wet. Let me help you dry it?”

Wei Xing Teng’s deathly pale face was almost in her face, and as he spoke, his tongue that hadn’t retracted flopped down further.

Being this close was almost enough to frighten Ye Xue half to death.

She tightened her fists and coldly warned, “I’ll count to three. If you don’t retract your tongue, three, two…”

Although Ye Xue wasn’t carrying a sword, the icy aura she emitted was enough to make Wei Xing Teng back away repeatedly.

The wandering ghost frantically tried to shove the tongue back in, and just as the countdown ended, it finally all went back inside.

Wei Xing Teng sighed heavily in relief.

Ye Xue’s angry expression was just too intimidating.

Bai Liu was secretly delighted to see Wei Xing Teng so flustered that he even forgot how to retract his tongue. He tried to force it back into his mouth and almost burst out laughing.

Ye Xue walked in, sitting down calmly and asking with a smile, “What were you guys talking about? Mind sharing?”

Bai Liu waved his hand. “Nothing much, just me playing…”

Ye Xue smiled as she looked at him.

Bai Liu’s voice faltered as if he felt something and glanced at the clock. It was already midnight!

He quickly handed the game console to Ye Xue, and then dove under the covers. “Shi Shu, I wasn’t playing! It’s Wei Xing Teng who was trying to take my stuff!”

“…” Wei Xing Teng looked at Bai Liu in shock. “You brat?!”

Bai Liu had already pulled the covers over his head, pretending to be asleep. “Sleeping, don’t know anything!”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Bai Liu’s snoring filled the room.

Wei Xing Teng: “…”

Shameless brat!