CHAPTER 478: CHAPTER 287: ANNOYANCE

"Your elder sister’s child is five years old this year, so it really does count as five generations living together," Ye Xuan said with a light chuckle. "When I have time, I’ll fill you in on the details of our family members, so that if one day there’s an unexpected fight, at least we’ll know we’re family after patching things up."

"Am I really that aggressive and quarrelsome in your eyes?" Luo Ye gave him a glance. "Get to the main point straight away, don’t shift the topic."

"How could I dare shift the topic? It was you who asked about it..." Ye Xuan organized his thoughts and continued, "At that time, the Yu Family came to the Ye Family to propose marriage, but it happened that Great Grandpa was seriously ill, and the elders at home were in no mood to deal with them, so they said they would discuss it later. Mr. Yu thought the Ye Family looked down on him, and immediately threw out some harsh words.

The Yu Family is indeed a prestigious and reputable big family. Even if the Ye Family is powerful, they did not want to make an enemy without reason. Considering the pros and cons, Grandpa told him the truth. Mr. Yu felt embarrassed, apologized, and after visiting Great Grandpa, he left.

Somehow, this incident got out, and the story morphed into the Yu Family coming to propose and being rejected by the Ye Family. Someone even specifically asked Grandpa about it. Only after Grandpa explained did they believe that the rumor was false.

For such matters, those who were not directly involved usually found it inappropriate to ask in front of the heads of the household. Hence, apart from Grandpa clarifying it once, no one else had the chance to mention it.

Strangely enough, the Yu Family didn’t clarify the rumor, so the story just spread and became regarded as truth. As for why the Yu Family never came again, that remains unclear."

"Your Great Grandpa..." Luo Ye hesitated and looked at Ye Xuan, not continuing.

"Great Grandpa is 96 this year, and his health is still quite robust, but his memory has faded somewhat, and his temperament has become like a child’s. The only ones he still recognizes are Grandpa and me..." Ye Xuan’s eyes flickered with a hint of sadness. "Every time I go back, he gets as excited as a child, insisting on personally moving a small stool for me to sit on.

He likes to tell me what he thinks are interesting stories. If I laugh, he grins happily; if I don’t, he looks at me anxiously. Sometimes I deliberately tease him by keeping a straight face, and he would desperately switch topics until I smiled, then he’d feel relieved...

Ye’er, if possible, I want you to meet him sooner rather than later. After all, no one dares say how much longer an elderly person can last."

"I can." Luo Ye answered with a choked voice, tears shimmering in her eyes. "Whenever I have a vacation, I’ll visit him with you. I don’t care about anything else, just to meet him."

"Ye’er..." Ye Xuan’s eyes filled with emotion. Generally, girls are quite reserved about these matters. He was fully prepared for her to refuse him, to say wait until both families have set a date.

He never expected that she would agree so readily; after all, girls aren’t the same as boys. For a moment, words stuck in his throat, unable to come out, as it seemed anything he said would sound pretentious and unworthy of her...

"Don’t look at me like that," Luo Ye, feeling uncomfortable under his gaze, her cheeks ever more delicately pink, reproached. "Staring at someone like this is very impolite."

Ye Xuan gently embraced her. "I feel so fortunate that I took this step early. Do you remember, when we first met, how much I enjoyed bantering with you?"

Luo Ye nodded. "Yeah, back then you were so annoying, and I really wanted to annoy you too."

"I can’t believe myself that I actually acted like that, completely unaware of my own abnormal behavior at the time. After returning to Beijing, Captain Jiang always joked with me, saying I definitely fell for his niece, otherwise why would I act so out of character?

I thought it over carefully. Throughout my life, I’ve never been so verbally careless in front of anyone else. Since then, I’ve spoken a lot less around you.

Thinking about it now, I was really quite immature, being six years older than you. Sometimes, I feel like you’re freer than I am."

"Why add a ’sometimes’ and ’seem’? It’s clear that I’m more carefree than you, you scaredy-cat!" Luo Ye pinched his nose teasingly. "So, that means it was love at first sight for you?"

"Ye’er, next time we have a break, don’t forget to invite me to your Grandpa’s house with you," Ye Xuan suspiciously shifted the topic.

"Got it," Luo Ye rolled her eyes playfully. "Scaredy-cat who dares not admit it, not carefree at all, hmph!"

Unbeknownst to them, she had already half lied down in his arms, blooming beautifully like a flower, radiating enchanting fragrance. The slanted evening sun recklessly sneaked in, casting an alluring glow over the delicate figure of her.