Inside Ye Lingling's boudoir.
Ye Qiu and the two others were eating at the small table in the middle.
Ye Qinshui enthusiastically entertained Ye Qiu.
She occasionally added food to his bowl.
"Xiao Qiu, how does it taste?"
"It's delicious."
Ye Qiu nodded truthfully.
It was indeed very fragrant; some meat dishes seemed to have a few herbs, giving them a special aroma.
"As long as you find it delicious, it's worth it for Lingling to have meticulously told Aunt Ye everything you like to eat."
"Now it seems... Aunt Ye's cooking should not have disappointed Lingling."
Ye Qinshui chuckled.
Her gaze towards Ye Lingling was a bit teasing.
Ye Qiu also turned his face to glance at Ye Lingling beside him.
Ye Lingling gritted her teeth, her head lowered tightly.
Why did she say something that would cause misunderstandings? It was so embarrassing!
"Haha... Alright, Aunt Ye, I'm almost full. I still need to oversee the renovations in the dining hall. You two take your time eating."
"Xiao Qiu, since it's delicious, you must eat more! These are all small plates; I'll be back to check later!"
Ye Qinshui chuckled, putting down her bowl and chopsticks.
She gracefully stood up and walked out the door.
Looking at her back, Ye Qiu's mouth twitched. They had just started eating, and she was already full?
And if she was leaving, why did she take the chair she was sitting on?! And close the door?!
Click.
The door was tightly shut.
Ye Qiu and Ye Lingling sat together, a lone man and woman.
Neither of them spoke.
Ye Qiu had a guess about this room; it was clearly Ye Lingling's boudoir.
This Aunt Ye...
She really had a strong personality.
She was completely opposite to Ye Lingling.
After a long silence.
Ye Qiu remembered that he had things to do later, so he continued to pick up food.
"Lingling, let's eat quickly."
"Mm."
Ye Lingling nodded slightly.
She lowered her head, moving gently, chewing slowly and carefully.
After thinking for a long time, Ye Lingling finally explained softly: "Ye... Ye Qiu, Yan Zi told me all of this."
"Mm, I already guessed that."
Ye Qiu nodded calmly.
He already knew that Dugu Yan wanted to set him up with Ye Lingling.
"Today's events were all my mom's doing on her own initiative. I... I didn't know."
When Ye Lingling spoke, she still felt a bit ashamed.
Didn't her mom know how much emotional damage she caused her daughter when doing these things?
"I... I could tell that too."
Ye Qiu chuckled dryly.
Ye Qinshui's intentions were so obvious that even if Ye Qiu was still the 'wooden' person he used to be, he would have noticed.
"Lingling, you don't need to worry too much. Just eat well... Aunt Ye's cooking is indeed impeccable."
Ye Qiu chuckled slightly.
He extended his chopsticks and picked up some food for Ye Lingling.
"Mm."
The redness on Ye Lingling's face gradually faded.
She didn't know whether to feel disappointed or happy.
After a while longer.
Both of their moods had calmed down.
Ye Lingling looked at Ye Qiu sitting beside her; the fragrance emanating from him was so reassuring.
Her flushed cheeks had returned to normal.
As she watched, Ye Lingling forgot that she was still eating; she just stared blankly at Ye Qiu.
Just as she told Dugu Yan, she knew from the very beginning that she had a good impression of Ye Qiu upon their first meeting.
The passage of time had not diluted that good impression in the slightest; instead, it had grown stronger with various interactions.
"Ye Qiu..."
As if by a ghost's prompting.
Ye Lingling softly called out.
"Hm?"
Facing Ye Qiu's gaze, Ye Lingling's heart skipped a beat, her face flushed, and she almost forgot what she wanted to say.
She stammered:
"Ye Qiu, do... do you have the confidence to resolve the Nine Heart Seatang's curse?"
Ye Qiu was stunned for a moment.
"Lingling, why are you suddenly asking me this question? Before, I..."
"That's because some time ago... Xue Beng and my mom said that Evil Blood Douluo could help us. As long as our Ye family pledged loyalty to him, it would be possible."
Ye Lingling said softly.
She didn't know why she brought this up, but her mom had already set the atmosphere to this point...
She just felt it was a very good opportunity.
If she didn't say it now...
She didn't know how long she would have to wait for another such opportunity.
Even if she couldn't speak directly, a slight hint would satisfy her.
"Lingling, you agreed to them?"
Ye Qiu was startled.
He hadn't expected Xue Beng and his group to have ideas about the Ye family as well.
Although he asked this, Ye Qiu felt that it was highly probable that the mother and daughter had agreed.
Such a temptation.
For the Ye family, who had been plagued by the Nine Heart Sea棠's curse, it would certainly be hard to refuse.
But cooperating with Xue Beng and his group was like asking a tiger for its skin.
Ye Qiu couldn't help but feel a little worried.
Although she didn't know why Ye Qiu was so surprised, the slight worry in his eyes still made her feel very pleased.
Ye Lingling also felt much more relaxed.
She gently shook her head.
"No, I didn't agree..."
"?"
Ye Qiu was stunned.
Hearing the answer he had hoped for, Ye Qiu felt a bit strange.
"Lingling, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, why would you...?"
"Because..."
Ye Lingling pondered for a moment, then turned her head to meet Ye Qiu's gaze. Her small, exquisite face was flushed with an inviting peach color.
"Because... compared to them, I trust you more! I believe you can definitely help me... I firmly believe it!"
Ye Lingling's gaze was firm.
She had already witnessed too many things on Ye Qiu that could be called miracles.
This feeling of being trusted was very good.
However, Ye Qiu felt a heavy weight in his heart.
He had nothing to say now, he could only give Ye Lingling an assurance, a promise.
"Lingling, thank you for your trust. Don't worry, I will definitely not disappoint you!"
"Mm, I trust you..."
Ye Lingling's face broke into a brilliant smile.
It made Ye Qiu stare for a moment, not because of her beauty, but because since he had known Ye Lingling.
He had never seen Ye Lingling display such an innocent and carefree smile before; her previous coldness and stillness had vanished without a trace.
Not only was Ye Qiu staring blankly.
Outside Ye Lingling's boudoir.
In a pavilion some distance from the window, Ye Qinshui also stared blankly at her daughter's smiling face.
Her eyes reddened, crying tears of joy.
She knew her daughter Ye Lingling's pain more than anyone.
Ever since she awakened her Spirit, she hadn't smiled much.
No matter how much she, as a mother, tried to tease Ye Lingling, trying different ways, her once smiling, well-behaved daughter had never returned.
Looking at her daughter's radiant smile inside the room.
At this moment, Ye Qinshui felt incredibly happy and joyful.
This level of emotion could probably only be matched when the Spirit curse was broken.
Looking into the room, at Ye Lingling, who was actively giving a kiss.
Ye Qinshui smiled again, wiping away the tears from her face.
"My sweet daughter, I told you you'd thank me..."
Inside the room.
Ye Qiu, who was eating, suddenly felt a fleeting silhouette in his peripheral vision, and then a wet sensation on his cheek.
"Lingling, you..."
He looked at Ye Lingling in surprise.
Ye Lingling's face was crimson, and her whole body trembled slightly. Holding her bowl, she said in a trembling voice:
"I... I've thought it through."
"I... I'm not rushing you for an answer. Tell me when you've thought it over... I'll wait for you."
Having said that.
Ye Lingling could no longer bear it. She quickly put down her bowl and chopsticks, put on her veil.
"You eat slowly..."
Leaving a single sentence, she scurried away.
She even used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, pulled open the door, and darted out.
Ye Qiu wanted to say something.
But he didn't get a chance to speak.
In short, it seemed Dugu Yan's plan had succeeded?
Wishing everyone a pleasant life!
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