Chapter 426

After finishing the hot pot, Li Yue didn't leave right away.

Instead, just like before, she sat in a row with Pei Wenhui, Fu Yiruo, and Wen Leyu in front of the TV, joined now by the newcomer Yang Yujiao, beginning their "home theater" session.

Yang Yujiao watched in stunned disbelief as Li Ye served the girls peanuts, sunflower seeds, soft drinks, and a variety of fruits.

【Is this the kind of work a man should do? My brother always says this Li Ye has a bad temper—so why do these sisters dare to order him around?】

But just a few minutes later, Yang Yujiao was stunned again by the "sisters."

The reason was that TV commercials had started playing.

After the Jia family had left, Yang Yujiao's TV had finally been turned on again, and over these past few days, she'd memorized several distinctive commercials.

For example, the Fenghua clothing ad, the Pengcheng Red Bull ad, and the Xinxing sewing machine ad—Yang Yujiao loved watching them so much she remembered every line verbatim.

But when the TV commercials began, Yang Yujiao was surprised to hear the girls express their disdain.

"Hey, how did they shoot this season's Fenghua clothing ad? All they show are the actors' faces—you can barely see the clothes. Xiao Yue, you should give the advertising department some feedback; they can't just take money and half-ass it."

"I already gave them feedback. After talking with the film studio, they've started reshooting a new ad—it'll replace this one in a few days."

"This season's Pengcheng Red Bull isn't bad, but it still doesn't match the first season's volleyball player Yang Xiaojuan. Xiao Ruo, what's the reaction like in Pengcheng? You can't sit this out—you've got a stake in this household."

"I asked my mom. She said Pengcheng Red Bull sales rose fifteen percent compared to last season, so it's hard to judge the ad's impact."

"Mainly, they're athletes, not actors—they only gave them a day and a half. Their acting was stiff and impossible to coach, so next season they're planning to hire the Gymnastics Prince—he's said to be more camera-friendly."

"."

When the Xinxing sewing machine ad came on, the girls collectively complained: "How did they shoot this ad so crudely? It's as dry and lifeless as those 'Welcome Letters' ads. Xiao Hui, what's your Da Yong even doing?"

Pei Wenhui replied tearfully: "The script was written by my brother—why blame Da Yong? Besides, we make machinery; it's naturally harder to film than your drinks and clothes."

The three girls turned their gazes sharply toward Li Ye, demanding an explanation.

Li Ye spread his hands, equally innocent: "My first draft wasn't like this—but machinery isn't sold to workers, it's sold to factory managers, so that's how it ended up."

Li Ye explained: his original script featured a female seamstress who, after years of using an old sewing machine, developed multiple occupational illnesses—until she switched to the Xinxing model and instantly felt relief.

But the damn factory managers didn't care whether workers had headaches or tinnitus—they only cared about production efficiency. So Li Ye's script was unusually rejected by Guo Tianyong.

Li Ye didn't get angry; he actually thought Manager Guo was impressive. He wrote a second draft, replacing the story with blunt, straightforward percentage comparisons: energy savings, durability, etc.

"Alright, alright, stop talking about ads—the TV drama's starting."

At Wen Leyu's reminder, the girls immediately dropped the commercials and huddled together, watching the newly imported Li Jiapo TV drama "Waves of the Furious Sea," discussing its plot.

In truth, none of Wen Leyu, Li Yue, Fu Yiruo, or Pei Wenhui were the chatty type—but when gathered, they always found themselves talking about trivial things.

Li Ye understood this was a way to release emotional pressure. Three women, one drama—if they weren't chattering like magpies, that'd be strange. Especially with five girls here today.

Of course, one of the five girls, Yang Yujiao, couldn't insert a single word.

Her mind was full of question marks and shock.

She knew her sister-in-law Li Yue worked at Pengcheng Factory Seven and had ties to Fenghua clothing—but for her to give feedback and have a TV ad reshoot? That exceeded the girl's understanding.

The other two were even more unbelievable.

The girl named Xiao Ruo actually had ties to Pengcheng Red Bull—and she'd mentioned the Gymnastics Prince.

And Xiao Hui's remark was even more startling: "your drinks and clothes"?

Are Pengcheng Red Bull and Fenghua clothing yours? Aren't they state-owned?

Yang Yujiao felt these three sisters had just blown ten times more air than the most boastful boys in her Beijing class.

But looking at Li Yue's expression, Yang Yujiao sensed it wasn't bluffing—after all, in her eyes, Li Yue was a woman who always delivered on her word.

So who exactly were these sisters?

…………

"Vroom-vroom-vroom~"

As the girls enthusiastically debated which girl in the Li Jiapo drama was prettier, a motorcycle sound suddenly erupted on the small street outside the sihe courtyard, then stopped right at Li Ye's gate.

"Duo-duo-duo~"

The door knocker was tapped—someone had come to visit.

Li Ye stood up to open the door; Li Dayong followed closely behind.

"Who could it be at this hour? Someone from Jin Peng?"

"Unlikely—the sound's that of an imported Honda 125."

Jin Peng's team did have motorcycles, but they were all Xingfu 250s—nothing like this quiet, high-pitched 125.

But if not a familiar person, who even knew Li Ye lived here?

When Li Ye opened the gate, he found the visitor was indeed someone he knew—Zhang Rui.

Zhang Rui was the son of Professor Zhang from Beijing Foreign Languages University. Professor Zhang had once sold this sihe courtyard to Li Ye, so Zhang Rui had once been a half-owner of the place.

Later, Zhang Rui went abroad to study. When Li Ye first returned from Hong Kong, he'd even met him on a long-distance bus at the airport.

Seeing Li Ye open the door, Zhang Rui beamed: "Brother, you're really home! I came by these past two days, but no one was here. I asked the neighbors and learned you rarely come—only occasionally at night."

Li Ye smiled slightly: "It's not only at night. I come on Sundays, and sometimes relatives stay here when they visit."

Zhang Rui's eyes brightened: "Yes, owning a house in Beijing is certainly convenient."

Seeing Zhang Rui wasn't just passing by, Li Ye couldn't keep him standing at the gate forever—he said coolly: "Brother Zhang, come in?"

"I'll sit a while. I've been abroad for two years—I've dreamed of this courtyard several times. I really miss this home."

Zhang Rui nodded with a smile and stepped into the courtyard.

Li Dayong glared coldly at Zhang Rui and exchanged a glance with his brother Li Ye.

Snowy night, showing up out of nowhere—are you here to fulfill a dream?

But Zhang Rui didn't notice Li Dayong's look. Once inside, he said casually: "This used to be my room—Brother Li Ye, did you renovate it?"

Li Ye replied coolly: "Yes. Turned it into a bathroom and boiler room. Northern winters are too cold—we had to install central heating. Otherwise, our elders wouldn't be comfortable staying."

"Oh~"

Zhang Rui sighed: "Brother, you're thorough—think of everything. Unlike me, who rushed to sell the house and now carries regret."

"."

Li Ye stared at Zhang Rui, expressionless, silent.

Zhang Rui, sensing Li Ye wouldn't respond, felt awkward: "Brother, do you remember the osmanthus tree here?"

Li Ye nodded—he remembered.

When Professor Zhang moved out, some students from the Agricultural Academy had claimed to be experts and transplanted the osmanthus tree from the courtyard corner.

"The osmanthus tree died," Zhang Rui sighed again. "So some old sayings are right and wrong: 'A tree dies when moved, a person thrives when moved.' But really, if you don't move them, both people and trees can live, can't they?"

"Oh~"

Li Ye gave a light reply but didn't take the bait.

You expecting me to play along? I'll let you choke.

As Zhang Rui grew increasingly awkward, Li Yue appeared on the steps of the main house and called out: "Xiao Ye, it's freezing out there—don't keep the guest standing in the courtyard. Invite him inside!"

Li Ye smiled and asked: "Brother Zhang, come in and sit?"

Zhang Rui hesitated a second, then nodded with a smile: "I'll come in. I have something to discuss with you, brother."

Wen Leyu and Fu Yiruo had already moved into the eastern room of the main house, leaving space for Li Ye and Zhang Rui.

Li Ye, Zhang Rui, and Li Dayong entered the main room's sitting area and sat down. Zhang Rui glanced around the furniture, his expression shifting again.

"Seeing these pieces reminds me of childhood—my grandfather was still alive then. He'd often tell me their histories, but I was too young to care."

Zhang Rui caressed the armrest of a chair, his face filled with a look of deep nostalgia—whether for the furniture or his grandfather, it was unclear.

Li Ye let out a quiet hum and smiled faintly: "Brother, you want to buy these pieces back?"

"."

"Hahaha~"

Zhang Rui's face stiffened for several seconds, then burst into laughter.

"Brother, you're sharp—I can't hide anything from you. I'm embarrassed."

Zhang Rui shook his head, smiling: "I did think of it. We sold this ancestral home to fund my studies abroad. According to our traditions, selling ancestral property is unfilial."

"So I wanted to ask you—could you sell the house and furniture back to me? I'll pay you a good price."

Li Ye looked at Zhang Rui coolly and said two words: "Not for sale."

"."

Li Ye didn't even entertain negotiation. How much could Zhang Rui offer? A few thousand w?

"Hahahaha~"

"Brother, you're as crisp as a carrot with liquor! Let's drop that for now—talk about something else."

Zhang Rui smiled briefly, then looked at Li Ye: "Brother, do you know Lu Jingyao?"

"."

Li Ye narrowed his eyes, then said after a few seconds: "I know her."

Zhang Rui's smile deepened: "Do you know how she's doing now?"

Li Ye replied bluntly: "I don't care."

But Zhang Rui shook his head: "Brother, let me tell you—Lu Jingyao is completely different now."

"She's the personal housekeeper for the famous British writer Jonina Walls, earning over a thousand pounds a month."

"Oh, by the way, do you know Jonina Walls? She wrote the legendary 'A Song of Ice and Fire'—it's been one of the best-selling English-language books in recent years."

"."

Zhang Rui kept talking nonstop about Lu Jingyao, but suddenly noticed Li Ye's face had turned icy—colder than he'd ever seen.

"I already told you—I don't want to know. Are you deaf?"

Li Ye really wanted to punch Zhang Rui in the face right now.

Wen Leyu is right next door in the eastern room! You tell me about Lu Jingyao, and even worse—you drag Lu Jingyao into Game of Thrones? What the hell?

Fuck, how the hell am I supposed to explain this?

I didn't do anything!

Yesterday, I mistook the ally donation from a reader for a coin donation; Old Feng here apologizes.

Another entry has been added to Old Feng's debt ledger; he feels ashamed.

Actually, Old Feng has been wanting to add extra chapters these past few days, but his lower back pain flared up—he still hurts badly even with the back brace—so he can only delay the extra chapters for a few more days; sorry, brothers.

Also, thank you to the readers for your donations.

(End of chapter)