Chapter 5: She’s Here to Exchange Contacts

Chapter 5: She’s Here to Exchange Contacts

Aunt Chen brought out a delightful array of dishes from the kitchen, and just the wafting aroma was enough to make one’s mouth water instinctively.

He scanned the plates of food and turned to the side to find Ye Lan, now changed into a cozy cotton short shirt, her long hair cascading down while cradling her chin with a smile directed at him.

“Are you hungry, little greedy cat? Once Aunt Chen brings the bowls and chopsticks, and Shiyu arrives, we can start eating.”

The playful glint in her eyes and the affectionate nickname made Yan Huan feel a tinge of shyness he hadn’t felt in a long time. He avoided Ye Lan’s gaze and stood up, ready to help Aunt Chen get the utensils.

“I’ll go help Aunt Chen bring them over.”

“No need, Little Huan. Just sit tight; I’ve already brought them.”

As she spoke, Aunt Chen appeared from the kitchen, setting the bowls and chopsticks in front of Ye Lan, Yan Huan, and the spot next to him.

Only three bowls and three pairs of chopsticks?

Just as Yan Huan thought Aunt Chen wasn’t joining them, she turned back to the kitchen and came back with a set of all-black porcelain bowls and stainless steel chopsticks, placing them opposite Yan Huan.

He was taken aback and noticed that the black bowl, unlike theirs, was inscribed with neat white characters:

“Ye Shiyu”

On each of the stainless steel chopsticks, the same name was engraved.

Confused, he looked to Ye Lan, who merely smiled helplessly in response. It was Aunt Chen, sitting cheerfully beside Yan Huan, who explained,

“This is a special set of dishware that Shiyu commissioned from the porcelain capital in the Dragon Kingdom, and she had it brought back. But she only likes to use black ones while her mom and I think black isn’t that pretty, so we use regular bowls.”

“What about the stainless steel chopsticks, were they specially made too?”

“Oh, those were just bought. It’s just that Shiyu has this habit of writing her name on everything she owns. Every time she goes shopping, it takes her ages to label each item.”

Aunt Chen served rice and poured drinks while continuing,

“And she won’t throw anything away as long as it’s hers. She’s very reluctant to part with her things; if she misplaces something, she’ll search endlessly until she finds it again.”

What a strange habit!

Yan Huan blinked, thinking to himself.

Ye Lan looked increasingly helpless, yet she didn’t belittle her daughter’s stubbornness, cheerfully saying,

“She’s gotten much better since high school! If it’s not something incredibly precious and she can’t find it, she will eventually let it go, which just shows how much Shiyu cherishes everything she has. I think that’s a good quality.”

“If I had an older sister with that habit, I wouldn’t have been called scatterbrained by my middle school teachers.”

Yan Huan chimed in, prompting a light laugh from Ye Lan.

At that moment, soft footsteps echoed from the staircase. Ye Shiyu was already coming down. She waved her hand and smiled,

“Shiyu, come and eat!”

“Mm.”

Ye Shiyu nodded, her face emotionless—not overly warm nor cold—as she sat opposite Yan Huan and gently held a glass.

The next second, just as she anticipated, Ye Lan cheerfully raised her glass to Yan Huan and said,

“Let’s start dinner! Here’s to welcoming Little Huan to our home. Cheers!”

“Thank you, Auntie.”

“No need for that, just sit back and enjoy.”

Ye Shiyu also lifted her glass, gently clinking it with Ye Lan, Aunt Chen, and finally, with Yan Huan.

She merely took a tiny sip, then lightly licked her lips with her little tongue.

This was the signal that dinner had officially begun.

Holding the black bowl in her left hand, Ye Shiyu’s delicate fingers traced her name engraved on it while watching her mother serve food fervently to Yan Huan and herself.

In the Ye family, it wasn’t customary to eat in silence, and the topics at home dinners were generally simple. Aunt Chen often chimed in with little questions like, whether the vegetables in the supermarket were fresh.

Thanks to Ye Lan’s prompt, Yan Huan learned that Lingmen was by the sea, with no farmland, hence all vegetables were imported from abroad.

Ye Shiyu was savoring her food elegantly, remaining silent throughout the meal.

As for Ye Lan, she engaged Yan Huan with warmth, inquiring about things he hadn’t mentioned on the way over, steering the conversation towards subjects that would interest teenagers.

“Do you take the school bus to and from school?”

“Yeah, Auntie. Each district has its route, and Jinghe has one too, but it seems a bit far from here. The students living in nearby neighborhoods probably don’t need to take the school bus.”

“Exactly, picking Shiyu up and dropping her off would be quicker and save commuting time. The only issue is that I’m quite busy during the week, so I have to schedule a car just for Shiyu.”

Was it just his imagination, or did Yan Huan feel like Ye Lan was laying the groundwork for something she hadn’t said yet?

As she chatted away, Ye Lan seemed to suddenly recall something, putting down her chopsticks with a bright expression and suggesting to Yan Huan,

“By the way, Little Huan, how about you stay at Auntie’s place?”

“Ah?”

“You’re schoolmates and of similar ages. That way, you can commute to school together without the hassle of public buses. Aunt Chen can take care of breakfast and dinner, plus prepare snacks for you to take to school. What do you say, Little Huan?”

Yan Huan paused mid-bite, glancing at Ye Lan with a mix of hope and understanding. Waves of realization crashed over him: she hadn’t just come to reminisce or talk about his deceased mother; she was here to adopt him.

Was Ye Lan harboring ulterior motives?

No, not at all.

If there was any ulterior motive, it was merely her hope for him to look after her quirky daughter, and that was that.

Moreover, she was the head of Ye International in Lingmen, while Yan Huan was just a high school student. No matter his position as Student Council President or an exemplary student, she wouldn’t have any other motives.

Her sole reason for doing this was basic human compassion, caring for the child of her deceased close friend as if he were family.

More realistically, based on what he saw, it was evident that Ye Lan was quite wealthy. Someone like him should be on his knees, grateful to be “strong in the Lingmen division” under her.

But what was the cost, Gul’dan?

Internal unease quickened Yan Huan’s heartbeat as he glanced toward the calmly dining Ye Shiyu.

Wary, he asked,

“Auntie, isn’t this a bit sudden?”

“Is that a bad thing, Little Huan? Do you find me hard to get along with?”

Sensing the hesitation in his words, Ye Lan’s eyes sparkled with a hint of disappointment, her smile drooping like it had an additional weight.

“Don’t make that face, Auntie Ye!”

Yan Huan bit back the impulse to look at Ye Lan, determined to remain rational and considerate.

“…You’re so kind, Auntie. How could I think that way? I just feel it might be a bit inappropriate… You see, I’m just a boy, and…”

Before he could finish his reasoning, Ye Lan interjected,

“You’re not an outsider, Little Huan. Plus, there’s nothing to worry about. Aunt Chen is on the first floor, and my sister and I are on the third. You can stay on the second floor. Each room has an en-suite bathroom, great soundproofing, and we always knock before entering, so we won’t intrude on your privacy.”

Alright, alright, so this was a game of smart spending, huh?

But honestly, it was true. This spacious garden villa had no constraints; the living room was large enough for a basketball game, not to mention the second and third floors with their rooftop terrace.

He had no choice but to probe deeper. He looked toward Ye Shiyu, whose eating pace had slowed, and continued,

“And we have to consider what Sister Shiyu thinks. Some things might seem trivial to you, but…”

Before he could finish, Ye Lan couldn’t wait to turn to Ye Shiyu,

“Shiyu, what do you think?”

Ye Shiyu held her bowl, a little clump of rice still stuck to her chopsticks.

Upon hearing the question, she slowly placed the rice into her mouth without chewing, meeting her mother’s gaze.

Seeing her mother’s slight pout and the hopeful look in her eyes, she nodded softly and said,

“I have no objections.”

Her voice was pleasant—as if it occupied a space both soft and clear.

“Wonderful! Don’t let her quietness fool you; she’s actually a very kind-hearted child. Don’t worry, Little Huan, both my sister and I welcome you.”

Kind-hearted, huh?

Yan Huan glanced at the now re-engaged Ye Shiyu, who kept her gaze steady on him throughout.

Their direct eye contact eased some of his initial worries, and he pondered for a moment but didn’t immediately agree.

After some contemplation, Yan Huan decided to employ the ability he had only just acquired today to adjust his expressions.

“I know Auntie and Sister are both great people, but can you give me some time to think about it?”

Ye Lan bit her lip, seeing the emotion on the boy’s face, yet more so hesitating.

She had just made this mistake earlier this afternoon; why was she rushing now?

She probably just needed to cool down a little.

With that thought, Ye Lan lowered her tone and proposed gently,

“Then, Little Huan, since today is Friday and it’s dark outside, plus it’s quite far to the South District where you live, how about you stay here for the weekend? I can take you and your sister around nearby and let you have some fun. How does that sound?”

As long as she didn’t make it a point to insist that Yan Huan move in, her goal would be achieved.

After all, she just wanted to obliterate that uneasy feeling in her heart, one way or another.

He looked at Ye Lan, still apprehensive, but in the end, her gentleness seemed to overwhelm his doubts. He smiled and nodded,

“Okay, Auntie.”

Ye Lan sighed in relief and turned to Ye Shiyu, asking the same,

“And you, Shiyu?”

“Mm, I have no objections.”

Just like before, the same response.

“Wonderful! It’s settled then. Aunt Chen, later can you please tidy the room on the second floor?”

Ye Lan clapped her hands, signaling that dinner was nearly finished.

Aunt Chen, who had been listening throughout without chiming in, finally stood up, busily gathering the bowls and chopsticks while saying to Yan Huan,

“All right, I’ll take Little Huan over in a bit.”

Ye Lan was now lost in the joy of “pre-adopting” Yan Huan, not forgetting to turn back to Ye Shiyu and say,

“Shiyu, don’t forget to exchange contact information! If you have any issues at your new school, you can ask your brother. He’s grown up in Lingmen and he’s the Student Council President, so don’t hesitate to ask for help.”

Ye Shiyu stood up, wiping her lips with a tissue. She glanced at Yan Huan and said,

“Okay, I didn’t bring my phone. I’ll get it and then we can add each other.”

“Mm, later I’ll ask Aunt Chen to bring you some milk.”

“Sure.”

There was a response from the staircase as Ye Shiyu turned to go upstairs, quickly disappearing from sight.

Yan Huan prepared to stand up, saying, “I’ll go check and see if I can help Aunt Chen with something, Auntie.”

“No need, just stay here and keep me company for a bit longer. All right, Little Huan?”

However, Ye Lan shook her head, cradling her chin and gazing at Yan Huan, studying his face intently.

She enjoyed watching him, particularly his eyes, as if she sought to uncover everything about him or perhaps trying to catch a glimpse of her lost friend’s features reflected in his face.

Feeling her gaze, Yan Huan slowly sat back down.

“All right then.”

Ye Lan continued to look at him, and after a brief silence, she broke into a warm smile,

“Little Huan, it’s been tough on you all these years.”

Her voice was tender, causing Yan Huan to blink in surprise.

The rhythmic thudding of his heart gradually slowed down, leaving him with a sense of emptiness, struggling to form words.

Just when he was about to say something, Ye Lan stretched, standing up,

“All right, Auntie’s a bit tired. I’ll head upstairs to rest for now. Aunt Chen will take you to your room later, sleep early, okay~”

“…You too, Auntie Ye.”

Watching her walk away, Yan Huan paused for a moment before responding.

Ye Lan returned to her room on the third floor to rest. As Aunt Chen mentioned, she had been busy since early morning, and visiting Far Moon Academy to meet Yan Huan was her final stop for the day.

After Aunt Chen finished cleaning up the kitchen, Yan Huan followed her to prepare his room, which was merely placing bedding, taking pillows and pillowcases, not too complicated.

The room on the second floor turned out to be incredibly spacious; it was hard to believe this single bedroom was even larger than the one-bedroom apartment he rented in the South District.

Not only did it come with an en-suite bathroom, but it even included a separate area for a sofa, table, and bookshelf, and at the end of this area was the bedroom leading to a private balcony.

After closing the door behind him, Yan Huan stood alone in the tidied up room, raising an eyebrow as he placed his school bag down and took off his uniform jacket.

“This is… a bit excessive, isn’t it?”

He squeezed the genuine leather sofa placed in the room and then walked over to the door of the bedroom, assessing the balcony that was exposed to the night view due to the unclosed curtains.

And soon, this reborn boy from the celestial realm would be asking his lavish new boss for a leave of absence.

Hmm, he decided that when requesting leave, he would omit a period at the end to sound more assertive.

Having gazed for quite some time at the darkness outside, Yan Huan finally drew the curtains, turned on the bright lamp on the bedside table, and lay back onto the soft bed.

“Meow~”

Just then, a sweet cat meow echoed from the bedroom again.

Sitting up slightly, Yan Huan turned to the edge of the bed and saw a chubby black cat emerging from under the bed.

If it weren’t for the light being on, it would have blended perfectly with the deep red wooden floor.

The black cat turned around to reveal its bright green eyes: it was Meow-chan.

“You’re here, Meow-chan!”

“Meow!”

Yan Huan lay back down, while Meow-chan jumped up beside him, first rubbing against him, then standing on his stomach, transmitting a voice into his mind,

“I thought you’d be too freaked out by the Modifier thing to approach any girls for a while. Who knew that you’ve already moved closer voluntarily, not even a day after?”

“…It’s something you can figure out with some rational thought, right?”

Looking at the black cat standing on his belly, Yan Huan couldn’t resist reaching out to rub its warm ears and stroke its furry back,

“You didn’t tell me who besides Bai Yi had a Modifier, nor what effects the other Modifiers have. That means you don’t know, do you?”

“…Correct, my knowledge about these invasion powers is limited to knowing they exist and some common traits, but specifics…”

“Then that solves our problem!”

Yan Huan shrugged, his gaze calm,

“The current goal is to resolve the Modifier, and the first step is to find them and their hosts, then understand their properties so we can think of ways to tackle them.”

Assuming both Ye Lan and Ye Shiyu might have Modifiers, even if he’d turned down Ye Lan’s request to adopt him today, it didn’t change the fact that Ye Shiyu would still have to attend Far Moon Academy.

What was meant to come would still come unless he stayed away from all females, or went so far as to drop out, cut ties with everything he had built over the past decade, and even disfigure his face to hide away.

Screaming “I’m done with humanity!” might have some effect in a doomsday scenario, but…

“I need to solve the Modifiers because the aim is to restore the World Line to normal, allowing my life to continue smoothly. I can’t lose sight of the goal, nor can I overthink it. Besides, while Shiyu’s character seems a bit peculiar, it doesn’t necessarily mean she’s the host of a Modifier.”

As he spoke, Yan Huan’s gaze seemed to drift away, and he placed his left arm over his forehead, unknowingly reflecting on something deeply, softly murmuring,

“And after all, Aunt Ye is a very kind person.”

Meow-chan watched Yan Huan, feeling his gentle strokes without responding, instead sitting up slightly and starting to rhythmically tap down on his strong chest with its soft pink pads.

One tap, then the other, one tap, then the other…

“Grrr~”

Yan Huan paused, looking down at the purring Meow-chan and asking,

“What are you doing?”

Meow-chan continued its actions while looking at him with an expression that said,

“I’m a cat, what else can I possibly do besides knead?”

Yan Huan inhaled deeply, reaching out to grab the back of the chubby cat’s neck, but suddenly, knocking noises came from the door.

“Bang, bang, bang~”

Yan Huan exchanged glances with Meow-chan before propping himself up and asking,

“Who is it?”

“…”

There was no reply.

Yet Yan Huan seemed to already have an answer. He gently set Meow-chan down and whispered,

“Hide, don’t let anyone see you.”

“Meow~”

It nodded, quickly burrowing under the bed, seeming to vanish entirely.

Yan Huan straightened his white shirt and put on slippers, stepping toward the door.

“Coming!”

“Click.”

As he cracked the door open, the corridor was illuminated by a lamp, while the living room remained dim since Ye Lan had returned to her room.

In the shadows stood a tall, black-haired girl at his door.

It was Ye Shiyu.

She was draped in black from head to toe, save for her snow-white skin.

Her features were exquisite, a flawless product of genetics.

Seeing the silent girl in the doorway, Yan Huan froze for a moment, then smiled, opening the door wider.

The bright light from the room spilled out, landing right at her slippers and creating a stark contrast between light and dark.

“Sister Shiyu, what’s up?”

His voice prompted Ye Shiyu to move. She pulled out her phone and softly said to Yan Huan,

“Mom asked us to exchange contact information.”

So, she was here to add him as a friend.

Indeed, the other party didn’t necessarily have to be the host of a Modifier; she might just be a bit introverted.

Yan Huan sighed in relief and pulled out his phone from his pocket,

“Ah, right! I almost forgot. One moment, Sister Shiyu. Should I scan you or will you scan me?”

“You scan me.”

“Okay.”

Ye Shiyu took out her phone, and in the light of the room, Yan Huan clearly saw her name still inscribed on the back of her phone case.

Without overthinking it, he opened the scanning interface of the app, while she unlocked her phone and presented it to him.

“…”

Pointing the camera at the screen, what she displayed wasn’t a QR code for adding friends but a swirling, purple vortex flashing invitingly—a screen that seemed to belong to some shady APP.

The vortex rotated faster and faster…

Huh? What’s this?

Yan Huan froze for a second but quickly pieced together the implications, his pupils dilating as he realized the danger.

No, this is—

In the next instant, as the vortex spun, Ye Shiyu’s eyes darkened a thousand times, blending into the shadows of the corridor, dragging Yan Huan’s consciousness toward an abyss,

“Beep!”

The APP in her hand gave a sound indicating activation while Yan Huan also heard an ethereal voice emanating from her,

【APP Activated】

【Effect: Individual Hypnosis】

【Duration: 15 minutes】

【Timing, start.】