Chapter 13: with translation of chapter title

You like him, you also like her, beautiful woman… that's your mother.

In his mind, the Tiger Demon King Aunt's words surfaced again.

What he likes…

Beautiful woman…

Three conditions, two have already been met!

I just don't know what the last condition is…

He eagerly asked, "Beautiful sister, you… do you like me?"

But halfway through the question, Mo Xiaohu chickened out for the first time.

He endured countless hardships and finally met a beautiful sister he liked; if she doesn't like him, his hope will be dashed.

He is so reluctant.

"Hmm? What do you want to ask me?" Ye Qingran raised her eyebrows, smiling as she asked him.

"No, nothing…" Mo Xiaohu shook his head gloomily.

How could Ye Qingran not notice Mo Xiaohu's oddness? But she mistakenly thought he missed his parents.

"Don't worry, I'll help you find them."

Mo Xiaohu lifted his handsome little face, looking at Ye Qingran, feeling that the beautiful sister's smile was really gentle.

They were merely strangers passing by, yet the beautiful sister drew her sword to help when she saw injustice—truly a kind beautiful sister.

Thinking of something, Mo Xiaohu shook his head, his voice desolate: "Xiao Hu has no parents, always searching for them. Beautiful sister, is it because Xiao Hu is disobedient that they don't want him?"

When in Mo Yuan, whenever he saw the little demon beasts there with their parents doting on them, he would show an envious look, then sneak off to a place with no one, alone imagining what his parents would be like.

Although those people in Mo Yuan treated him very well, he still wanted his own birth parents.

Most of the time he firmly believed he had been separated from his parents. But sometimes he would doubt whether he wasn't good enough, causing them to reject him.

Mo Xiaohu is a sensible child; to avoid worrying others, he always hides his unhappiness deep inside.

But at this moment, facing such a gentle and kind beautiful sister, for the first time in his life he showed a vulnerable side.

That youthful face was shrouded in a faint sorrow.

Ye Qingran felt her heart about to break.

She thought of her own child, then looked at the adorable little fox before her.

Unable to hold back, she hugged Mo Xiaohu tightly, pursed her lips: "Xiao Hu, be good, you're so adorable; your parents definitely don't reject you—they just have their own helplessness, they're surely also searching hard for you; you must believe that as long as you don't give up, someday you'll be reunited."

How could these words not also be meant for herself to hear?

Her child, could it also be like Xiao Hu, alone in some corner of the world searching for her?

Just thinking about it makes Ye Qingran feel suffocated.

The only thing she could do was hold Xiao Hu tightly, warming each other; doing so seemed to bring a little comfort.

"Beautiful sister, I'm Mo Xiaohu; before I find my parents, can I follow you?" Mo Xiaohu asked timidly, fearing Ye Qingran would reject him.

How could Ye Qingran refuse?

Mo Xiaohu and her child are both wanderers lost in the world; this kindness, she will certainly act on it.

She only hopes her child out there will also encounter kind people.

"Of course you can, Xiao Hu is willing to trust sister; sister is very happy."

Qin Ge, the most renowned wine house in Xiliang City, after opening three years ago, attracted countless customers with its rich flavors, unique service, and exquisite décor, booming business.

Outside Qin Ge, before Ye Qingran even entered, a sharp voice came from behind.

"What are you doing at Qin Ge?"

Ye Qingran turned to see Ye Sisi and Dongfang Xuan walking side by side, their gazes at her filled with contempt.

"What else could one do at Qin Ge? Naturally to eat." Ye Qingran laughed.

Upon hearing that, Ye Sisi smirked: "As expected, staying in the village too long, you actually didn't know eating at Qin Ge requires a reservation."

"Not hitting you for a day, your skin's itchy again?"

"You!"

Ye Sisi was furious. The slap Ye Qingran gave her yesterday, even after using precious medicinal pills, still left a burning pain.

"Brother Xuan, seeing she just returned from the village, let's pity her and bring her in."

Dongfang Xuan narrowed his eyes, thinking of yesterday's humiliation of kneeling, and flared with anger.

"This probably won't work; eating with her, I'd lose my appetite!"

Ye Sisi smiled satisfactorily, shrugged: "Although I know you want to go in, the Seventh Prince doesn't agree, and I can't do anything."

"Seventh Prince, let's go in."

Ye Sisi linked arms with Dongfang Xuan, the two walking shoulder to shoulder inside; reaching the door, she didn't forget to turn back and shout at Ye Qingran: "After I finish eating, I'll tell you the taste. Also, someone like you belongs at the slop stall on the corner."

As everyone knows, slop is for feeding pigs.

Passersby hearing this wondered how such a beauty could have offended Ye Sisi and the Seventh Prince.

Ye Sisi and Dongfang Xuan exchanged smiles, feeling especially relieved; as soon as they stepped into Qin Ge, a voice came from inside.

"Miss Ye, our boss said today you don't need a reservation and can enjoy a free lunch."

The voice was not small, mixed with spiritual power; everyone around heard it clearly.

A figure walked out of Qin Ge, somewhat stout, with sharp eyes.

It was Qin Ge's manager, Zhu Laifu.

Ye Sisi's face showed an expression of being flattered and startled.

The boss of Qin Ge, whose enterprises span the entire Central Region, is a most mysterious figure, said to be on friendly terms with the Valley Master of Medicine King Valley.

How did she catch the eye of Qin Ge's boss?

Is it because of her beauty?

In an instant, Ye Sisi's mind swirled with countless thoughts.

Finally, she concluded that it was her own beauty that won over the owner of Qin Ge.

So she gently bit her lip, brushed the hair at the side of her face, lifted her head and straightened her chest, feigning coyness as she said, "Having been so generously favored by the owner of Qin Ge, I, Sisi, would be ungracious to decline…"

One gaze after another fell on Ye Sisi, and they subconsciously thought the "Miss Ye" mentioned by Zhu Laifu referred to Ye Sisi. Hearing Ye Sisi speak thus, they couldn't help feeling envious.

Zhu Laifu's steps halted.

His gaze had actually been fixed on Ye Qingran standing outside the door all along.

Because he was too excited, he hadn't noticed Ye Sisi at all.

Upon hearing Ye Sisi say that, he turned his head and, rather bluntly, said, "Miss Ye Sisi, are you misunderstanding something? The guest who doesn't need a reservation today is this Miss Ye!"

Zhu Laifu extended his hand, palm up, his five fingers pointing toward Ye Qingran.

The smug expression on Ye Sisi's face froze there.

"Shopkeeper Zhu, are you mistaken?" Ye Sisi persisted.

A look of displeasure appeared on Zhu Laifu's face.

That hateful Ye Sisi even dared to doubt his ability in front of his boss!

"How could I, Zhu Laifu, possibly misinterpret the boss's meaning?"

After Zhu Laifu's reply, the onlookers looked at Ye Sisi's expression, some finding it hard to put into words.

They all felt embarrassed for Ye Sisi!

Besides the embarrassment, they were also curious about Ye Qingran's identity…

"On what grounds? Qin Ge has always required reservations. How can she come and go at will?"

Ye Sisi said unwillingly.

Zhu Laifu smiled and complimented generously, "Just by Miss Ye's looks, as beautiful as a celestial maiden, she is the Xi Liang Cheng First Beauty."

Ye Sisi was instantly choked, speechless.

Five years ago, Ye Qingran was already recognized as the Xi Liang Cheng First Beauty because of her outstanding looks.

Five years later, she was even more beautiful; Lin Xueyan was no longer present, and her title as the First Beauty was well deserved.

The gazes that examined Ye Qingran were filled with amazement, and the crowd, upon hearing, nodded repeatedly.

With such looks, calling her the First Beauty of Xi Liang is an understatement; she could easily be the First Beauty of Donglin Country as well!

Ye Sisi was so angry her teeth ached, embarrassed to the point of wishing she could burrow into the ground.

That damned Ye Qingran, she must find a chance to scar her face!

Ye Qingran shot a glance at Zhu Laifu and rolled her White Eye.

Dongfang Xuan clenched his fist, his face showing displeasure, "Shopkeeper Zhu, Qin Ge has always required reservations at least a month in advance; how can you break the rules?"

When Ye Sisi heard that, her eyes lit up and she agreed, "The Seventh Prince is right; if Qin Ge breaks the rules because of this person, who will dine at Qin Ge in the future?"

Zhu Laifu remained unmoved, bowing to Dongfang Xuan, "The Seventh Prince is right." Then his tone changed, "However, the rules are set by our Qin Ge boss; does our boss need to consider others' opinions to decide who may eat?"

Having said that, Zhu Laifu looked at Ye Sisi, "As for whether anyone will still dine at Qin Ge, that seems unrelated to Miss Ye Sisi!"

Ye Sisi was so angry her features twisted.

What kind of rotten luck does this Ye Qingran have, that the Qin Ge boss actually took a liking to her?!

"Ha, serving people based on looks will never last!" Dongfang Xuan said coldly.

Serving people based on looks?

Yeah!

Aside from her looks, Ye Qingran has no other merit; to receive such honor, the Qin Ge boss must have taken a liking to her! Rumor has it the Qin Ge boss is a middle‑aged greasy man, and only a woman like Ye Qingran, with no background, would submit to him!

Sure enough, she's a lowly trash from the village!

Thinking that, she loudly shouted, "Ye Qingran, I said a waste like you—how could the Qin Ge boss take a liking to you? Turns out you're his mistress!"

She had deliberately done so; the words rang clearly into everyone's ears.

Ye Qingran?

Is this woman the Ye Family's missing miss of five years ago, Ye Qingran?