"You still don't remember who I am, do you?" The woman's voice on the other end of the phone was filled with resentment.
"I think I should know who you are, um, didn't you go back to your home? How have I been ignoring you?" Ye Hao said with a bit of helplessness. This woman was none other than the one he spent a day and night with in Tokyo: Luo Yingxue.
"Who told you I went home? I've been living at the mansion for over half a month, and there's not a peep from you. You heartless thing, I thought you were a good person; turns out you're just inhumane, got a girlfriend and don't need friends, huh?" Luo Yingxue derided Ye Hao over the phone.
"I'm not, it's just that I'm busy! I went abroad for a while after that trip, and now that I'm back in Peng City, I've come to Yanjing. Didn't you say you were going to study at Peking University?" Ye Hao asked.
"Hmph! Why would I go to Peking University? Someone has no conscience, I'm afraid seeing you would be an eyesore!" Luo Yingxue continued her grumbling against Ye Hao, feeling he was too heartless by not contacting her after she rescued him from Tokyo and returned to the country.
"Well, it's genuinely not what I intended, it's just been overwhelmingly busy!" Ye Hao explained, considering that no matter what, Luo Yingxue was his rescuer.
"Busy, busy, busy! All you know is being busy. You have a girlfriend and don't need friends anymore; you forget friends for the sake of romance. I'm not fond of you anymore." Luo Yingxue huffed on the other end of the line.
At that moment, a richly dressed, brightly clothed woman entered the room outside Luo Yingxue's, resembling Luo Yingxue quite a bit; however, Luo Yingxue possessed a softer gentleness, while the woman was indifferent and appeared apathetic to everything.
Yet, in truth, although the woman's gaze seemed cold, she cherished Luo Yingxue deeply. No one could dare bully her daughter, and she wouldn't hesitate to discipline others even if the person bullying her daughter was younger.
"Yingxue, it's all my fault, I was too careless. Can you not be angry, please?" Ye Hao apologized awkwardly.
"Hmph, just saying it's your fault is enough?" Luo Yingxue persisted, unwilling to relent.
Behind Luo Yingxue was Luo Piaoxue. Yes, she was the famous "Stepping on Snow Without Traces" from the older generation. Although she looked only thirty-something, her actual age was close to a hundred.
Of course! Women, regardless of age, liked to keep their age under wraps, so masters like her with Innate Internal Breath typically sustained their youthful appearance through it.
Luo Piaoxue asked, "Xue'Er, what's wrong?"
"Ah! Mom..." Luo Yingxue, hearing her mother's voice, hastily turned around without hanging up the phone in her rush.
"Who's this man?" Luo Piaoxue frowned and asked.
"Umm..." Luo Yingxue shook her head, using her hand to block the phone from revealing the number to her mother.
Though her mother loved her dearly, she also restricted her from casually befriending men.
"Speak." Luo Piaoxue frowned and let out a grunt.
"I... I don't know." Luo Yingxue spoke nervously, fearing her mother would discover Ye Hao was the man she rescued from Tokyo.
"You won't say?" Seeing the phone wasn't hung up, Luo Piaoxue approached Luo Yingxue and pushed her away.
Luo Yingxue shook her head, not daring to speak.
Quickly, Luo Piaoxue snatched the phone, prompting Luo Yingxue to say hurriedly, "Mom, he's my friend, a very ordinary... very ordinary friend..."
"Go cool off on the side." Luo Piaoxue snorted and shot Luo Yingxue a stern glance.
"Oh..." Luo Yingxue, also afraid of her mother, obediently went to stand to the side upon her mother's command.
"Who are you?" Luo Piaoxue picked up the phone and directly asked.
"Um, greetings senior..." Ye Hao was startled, initially unaware of Luo Yingxue's background, but following a subtle reminder from Fang Zhongtian, he learned that Luo Yingxue's mother, Luo Piaoxue, belonged to the same era as his mentor and was among the twelve renowned masters specializing in Lightweight Skill. Encountering her warranted utmost humility...
"Speak, who are you." Not interested in idle chat, Luo Piaoxue asked directly.
Ye Hao felt immense pressure on his end of the line; indeed, Luo Piaoxue's words were so cold it felt as though she was confronting him directly.
"I'm Ye Hao." Ye Hao quickly reported his name.
"Ye Hao?" Luo Piaoxue repeated, seemingly recalling something, and her mouth curved into a smile, yet she coldly said to Ye Hao, "My daughter saved you and has been wronged, kid, how do you plan to compensate my daughter?"
"Senior, what do you propose?" Ye Hao assumed a compliant stance.
"What I propose? Don't you plan on compensating my daughter? She returned to the country from studying in Tokyo because of you, and she hasn't even decided what school to attend yet; shouldn't you be considering that?" Luo Piaoxue prompted Ye Hao.
"Well, uh, what's she planning..."
"Now I'm asking you." Luo Piaoxue grunted.
"Yes, yes, yes! Let me think. How about this, senior, would you consider letting Yingxue study at Peking University, so there's someone to look after her?"
"Then let's proceed as you suggested!" Luo Piaoxue agreed without a second thought.
This gave Ye Hao the impression that Luo Piaoxue had intended this all along, merely waiting for Ye Hao to articulate it.
It was akin to Luo Piaoxue having set a trap for Ye Hao, into which he willingly stumbled.
"Okay, I'll start arranging for Yingxue to study here." Ye Hao said apprehensively.
"Hmm! Nonetheless, if my daughter comes to stay with you, don't let her be wronged; otherwise, I won't spare you." Finished speaking, Luo Piaoxue hung up, leaving Ye Hao without a chance to negotiate.
"Hello! Hello! Senior, hello!" Ye Hao called desperately into the phone.
He was contemplating that if Luo Yingxue were to move in, future troubles would surely arise since the house was full of Ye Hao's people, and a stranger moving in would indeed feel unnatural.
"Hello!" Ye Hao called once more, but finding the phone disconnected, he could only dejectedly put down the phone.
Ye Hao entered the living room dispiritedly. Seeing him, several women including Fang Ni asked, "Hao, what's wrong? You lost your spirit after a phone call?"
"Ran into some trouble..." Ye Hao helplessly sat down on the sofa.
Lin Ruyu pinched Ye Hao's cheek, knowing this wasn't Ye Hao's expression when facing major events, she wasn't particularly worried.
"What trouble did you encounter?" Lin Ruyu inquired with a smile.
"Sigh! Our household might have another person moving in soon..." (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users are welcomed at m.qidian.com to read.)