The room was dark, and Bai Yanfei could only see Ling Zeyu's face by the moonlight. Ling Zeyu was obviously drunk, pouring out his longing for Bai Yanfei while making unwanted advances towards her.
Bai Yanfei was captivated by Ling Zeyu's gentleness; he had always been powerless against Ling Zeyu in this state.
When Bai Yanfei woke up the next day, it was already noon, and the person beside him was gone. Bai Yanfei was already used to waking up alone the next day. After washing up, he went downstairs and saw Ling Zeyu sitting on the sofa scrolling through his phone.
"Brother Yu!" Bai Yanfei ran downstairs; he hadn't seen Ling Zeyu for a week.
"Is there anything you'd like to eat? I'll make it for you."
"I'm full. Pack your things and come home with me tonight to see my parents."
"Meet...meet my parents?" Bai Yanfei was a little nervous. He stood awkwardly to the side. Meeting one's parents was much more formal than a banquet. "What should I wear?"
Ling Zeyu put down his phone and looked at Bai Yanfei.
He was wearing sportswear again today, looking very sunny and youthful. At twenty years old, he was indeed full of vigor and ambition.
"That's fine, my mom likes it."
...
In the evening, the two arrived at the Ling family mansion on time.
After Ling Zeyu got out of the car, he bent his arm and Bai Yanfei understood, and took Ling Zeyu's arm and walked inside.
Three elders were sitting in the hall: Ling Zeyu's grandfather and parents. Bai Yanfei was a little nervous.
"Make yourself at home," a well-dressed woman said. She was Ling Zeyu's mother, and because she was well-maintained, she looked to be in her early thirties.
Rong Xuanke looked Bai Yanfei up and down. Bai Yanfei was smiling, but his hand was restlessly grabbing Ling Zeyu's sleeve.
"Why are you so nervous? We in the Ling family are very casual. Xiao Yan, right? Come here, Auntie has a gift for you."
Bai Yanfei subconsciously looked at Ling Zeyu.
Why are you looking at him?
"Just go over when I call you." Ling Zeyu smiled, and Bai Yanfei obediently went over.
"Hello, Auntie." Bai Yanfei sat down next to Rong Xuanke, who then took out a necklace and handed it to him.
“This is Anning’s latest jewelry collection!” Bai Yanfei recognized at a glance that the necklace was designed by Anning herself. He took the necklace and said, “Thank you, Auntie. I like it very much.”
"I didn't know Xiaoyan knew about jewelry?"
"I only know a little bit."
Bai Yanfei was already chatting with Rong Xuanke, while the three men over there were also discussing their own topics.
“Let’s go for a walk in the backyard and show you around the mansion.” Rong Xuan stood up, and Bai Yanfei quickly followed behind.
Led by Rong Xuanke, Bai Yanfei toured the entire mansion and finally stopped in front of Ling Zeyu's room.
“This is Zeyu’s room. He hasn’t come back often since he grew up, and I’m not home often either.” Rong Xuan took out a key from her pocket. “Here’s the key. Take it. Come and visit Grandpa for Zeyu when you have time. Old people like a lively atmosphere.”
"Is Auntie not coming back because she's busy?" Bai Yanfei didn't dare take the keys, afraid that Ling Zeyu would be unhappy.
“I’m busy traveling. I was trapped in the grave of marriage when I was young, and now I want to climb out and have some fun.” Rong Xuan handed the key to Bai Yanfei. “Zeyu has a bad temper, so please be patient with him.”
Bai Yanfei shook his head: "Brother Yu has a good temper."
"Only you spoil him." Rong Xuanke led Bai Yanfei back to the hall, just in time for dinner.
"Why did it take you so long?"
"I'm showing my future daughter-in-law around the house. You three old men are talking about company matters, and I can't get a word in edgewise."
Bai Yanfei always felt that there was some distance between Ling Zeyu's parents, but since he was just an outsider, he couldn't say much.
"Is Zeyu staying at the old house tonight?"
Ling Zeyu nodded: "Mm."
After dinner, Rong Xuan called Ling Zeyu out, while Bai Yanfei stayed in the hall.
"I'm getting a divorce from your father," Rong Xuanke said.
Ling Zeyu remained silent.
"Why aren't you saying anything? You and your son are truly cut from the same cloth."
Did Dad agree?
"No, I haven't told him yet." Rong Xuan pinched Ling Zeyu's cheek. "Don't always have that sour face. You're not like this in front of the camera."
"My parents are getting a divorce and I can still laugh?" Ling Zeyu was a little angry. He ignored Rong Xuanke and turned back to the hall.
Rong Xuan sighed helplessly.
Bai Yanfei became much more reserved in the serious atmosphere. He was looking forward to Rong Xuanke and Ling Zeyu's return while answering the old man's questions.
"grandfather!"
Bai Yanfei turned around and saw Su Yang.
"Grandpa, I've come to see you." Su Yang jogged a few steps and sat down on the sofa. "I heard Brother Ling is back?"
"He's outside."
"Brother Xiaofei is here too." Su Yang winked. "I want to make a fruit salad for Grandpa. Brother Xiaofei, come and help me."
Bai Yanfei had no chance to refuse before Su Yang pulled him into the kitchen.
However, facing Su Yang was much easier than facing the two men outside.
"Go cut the fruit, Grandpa is waiting."
Su Yang kept rambling on and on while Bai Yanfei was cutting fruit.
"When are you going to start drawing? I want to change my wallpaper. Brother Ling has been very busy lately and doesn't have time to manage his Weibo or post selfies."
"I'm not free either."
Ling Zeyu has been very busy with his career lately, and he even made himself a trending topic, which distracted him from his time. It seems he has done something wrong again. He should probably stick to using his fan account to post in the future.
"So, are you going to draw it or not?" Su Yang glared at Bai Yanfei. "It's been a week, and you haven't drawn a single picture. Did you hire a ghostwriter?"
"You've seen the picture, and I've sent you the original. Where's the ghostwriter?"
Su Yang was speechless, choked up, and said, "You're not going to draw, huh?"
When Bai Yanfei saw Su Yang take a step forward, he subconsciously took a step back. Behind him were two bowls and chopsticks, which bumped into his waist and fell to the ground.
"ah--"
When Ling Zeyu arrived, Bai Yanfei was holding a knife, and Su Yang was sitting on the ground, holding a shard of porcelain in his hand, blood seeping from his palm.
"Bai Yanfei, what are you doing?!"
Chapter 11 You're nothing more than a substitute for Xiaofei
"I...I didn't do anything." Bai Yanfei put down the knife, and Su Yang sobbed and threw herself into Ling Zeyu's arms.
"Brother Ling, look at him!"
The housekeeper brought gauze and alcohol to disinfect Su Yang's wound. The wound was small, just a shallow scar.
Bai Yanfei stood there, stunned and at a loss.
The elders of the Ling family also came upon hearing the commotion, and upon seeing the scene before them, they all fell silent.
"Go back to your room first." Ling Zeyu picked up the sobbing Su Yang, and Bai Yanfei obediently went back to his room after hearing Ling Zeyu's words.
Rong Xuan looked down at the broken pieces on the ground, lost in thought.
“I only talked to him for a few words, and he got upset and then pushed me.”
Before going upstairs, Bai Yanfei overheard Su Yang's accusations against him. He wanted to go over and explain, but seeing everyone's concern for Su Yang, he felt that anything he did at that moment would be useless.
Bai Yanfei waited in the room for half an hour before Ling Zeyu opened the door and came in.
“I don’t care what your problem is with Xiao Yang, but what you did was wrong.” Ling Zeyu looked down at Bai Yanfei. “Have dinner with Xiao Yang tomorrow and apologize to him.”
"Does this mean you won't believe anything I say?"
The Ling family has surveillance cameras. Bai Yanfei bit her lip and looked up at Ling Zeyu pitifully.
The grievances he suffered at home for more than ten years were nothing compared to the injustice he felt at this moment from the person he liked.
"Xiao Yang wouldn't lie to me."
Just a few words were enough to break Bai Yanfei's defenses. Undeterred, he continued, "There are security cameras at home, right? Go and take a look and you'll see who did the wrong thing."
“There’s no need for that.” Ling Zeyu turned away, ignoring Bai Yanfei. “I don’t know what you said to my mother, but I hope you won’t do this kind of useless work again. Just do your job properly.”
"I didn't do anything to her." Bai Yanfei didn't understand what Ling Zeyu meant. Was he saying that he was trying to please his aunt? Isn't it normal to please elders? Why doesn't Ling Zeyu like it?
“I treat Xiaoyang like a younger brother. You are just a substitute for Xiaofei. I have already given you a chance. If you don’t want to break off the engagement, then behave yourself.”
"Didn't you ever like me even a little bit?" Bai Yanfei asked humbly.
"I used to have some feelings for you, but now... don't make me hate you."
"I see."
If he had feelings for him before, could he try harder and still develop feelings for him? Bai Yanfei watched Ling Zeyu enter the bathroom and looked in the mirror.
His face didn't resemble Bai Yifei's particularly, but at first glance, there were some similarities; their smiles were quite alike. He smiled at himself in the mirror, trying to recall Bai Yifei's smile.
Bai Yifei's eyes are indifferent when he smiles, while Bai Yanfei's eyes squint when he smiles, making him look particularly infectious.
He tried to imitate Bai Yifei's feeling, smiling at himself in the mirror again and again until his face was stiff before Bai Yanfei finally put the mirror down.
If he smiles like that, Ling Zeyu won't dislike him anymore, right?
Bai Yanfei and Bai Yifei grew up together. Bai Yanfei was very familiar with what Bai Yifei liked, his usual style of dress, and his way of speaking. He never expected that this familiarity would one day become a tool for him to use.
Ling Zeyu walked out, drying his wet hair. Bai Yanfei smiled and saw Ling Zeyu pause for a moment. He knew that his goal had been achieved.
"I'm going to take a shower." Bai Yanfei turned and went into the bathroom.
Ling Zeyu, fresh from his shower, looked too alluring; he was afraid he wouldn't be able to resist.
When you like someone, your world revolves around them.
Bai Yanfei had already grasped this meaning after she started to like Ling Zeyu.