Chapter 261: Long Time No See [Part 4]
Lady Yu arrived fashionably late, immediately fussing over Qiao Ni's condition.
"What happened?"
"Mother, I was so scared!" Qiao Ni whined, instantly playing up the situation. Lady Yu shot Ye Wenxin a glare, suspecting her of finally showing her true colors.
Ye Wenxin looked innocent, as Qiao Ni continued, "There was a huge rat! If it weren't for Sister Wenxin, I would have cried my eyes out."
Despite Qiao Ni's dramatic performance, Lady Yu seemed skeptical, scrutinizing Ye Wenxin to determine if Qiao Ni was lying to cover for her.
"Really, Madam, the rat was right by you..." Ye Wenxin added, nodding seriously. At the mention of a rat, Lady Yu paled, instinctively stepping back, her movements unsteady.
Qiao Ni tried to steady her mother but wasn't strong enough. As they wobbled, Ye Wenxin rushed to help.
Unlike the last time, which had an air of awkwardness, Ye Wenxin's actions were genuinely urgent. She didn't even realize where she was grabbing until Lady Yu's face flushed with embarrassment.
"Is your mother really married? She gets embarrassed so easily," Ye Wenxin mused, baffled by Lady Yu's reactions. Weren't married women supposed to be more open? Yet, Lady Yu reacted to Ye Wenxin's touch as if she were a bug.
"Does 'married' mean someone who's had a wedding?" Qiao Ni tilted her head, piecing together Ye Wenxin's implication. Ye Wenxin nodded, feeling a rare sense of camaraderie with Qiao Ni.
Qiao Ni pondered and added, "Maybe because my mom hasn't shared a room with my dad for a long time."
Ye Wenxin's lips twitched at Qiao Ni's precociousness but couldn't resist digging deeper, "You know about that?"
"My mom mentioned it yesterday, but don't think you can take advantage of that," Qiao Ni warned, seizing the moment while Lady Yu was preoccupied with her fears, allowing Ye Wenxin and Qiao Ni to engage in their mischievous banter.
Though discussing different topics, their conversation oddly aligned.
Lady Yu finally calmed down but remained wary of the rat, choosing to stand by the door. She appeared lost in thought, as if reminiscing about something tied to this place.
Noticing Lady Yu's nostalgia, Ye Wenxin joked, "Thank you, Madam, for the comfortable sleep I had here."
The compliment was partly genuine, though the setting had given her nightmares. Yet, for some reason, the place felt oddly familiar.
"I'm glad you slept well," Lady Yu responded, regaining her composure, still clad in her favored purple. Today, she dressed for practicality.
Qiao Ni glanced between Ye Wenxin and Lady Yu, sensing tension. She quickly tugged at Ye Wenxin, suggesting, "Sister Wenxin, let's go on a spring outing today."
Ye Wenxin immediately withdrew her hand, feigning a retreat to her room. However, not wanting to appear rude, she explained, "You two go ahead. I'm not one for sightseeing."
