Side Story 2: Ji Shuohan & Ye Zhile
The second floor of the Leader’s Mansion was about six or seven meters high. Ji Zhile stood below and watched for a moment; seeing no one, he directly flipped over and jumped down. After landing, he tilted his chin up with considerable pride; however, the sound of a plate clattering to the ground came from behind him.
Ji Zhile shouted that things were bad and turned around with a look of terror.
Ye Zhile had just come out of the kitchen with breakfast; just as he was about to set it on the table, a person suddenly jumped down in front of him, scaring him so much he dropped the breakfast.
Ji Zhile dropped to his knees with a thud, wanting to cry but having no tears. “Mama, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you…”
Wuwuwu… save me. I clearly saw no one before jumping, but Mama was right behind me.
Ye Zhile looked at the upper floor, still feeling the lingering fear. “You dared to jump from such a high place? What if you broke your leg?”
“Hehe, E-rank mental power! Just as high as Papa’s!” Ji Zhile was quite proud, but then a serious voice came from above. “Ji Zhile.”
Ji Zhile looked up and saw his father standing at the top of the stairs. He immediately begged for mercy, “I didn’t do it on purpose! I thought Mama was sleeping! I didn’t mean to scare him!”
With that, Ji Zhile scrambled to his feet and bolted like there was a monster behind him.
“Where are you going?” Ye Zhile asked him.
“To find my brother!”
Ye Zhile looked up and scolded, “Why were you so harsh?”
“How was I harsh? I only called his name.” Ji Shuohan came downstairs; after the servants cleaned up the broken bowl, he and Ye Zhile went back into the kitchen to make another portion.
On the road outside the mansion, there were two figures, one tall and one short. Ji Zhile was running backward, looking at his brother who was a head taller than him—the Enigma gene pool was truly impressive; his brother was top-tier in every way, while his own height was still a little bit short.
“Ge,” Ji Zhile called out.
Ye Yunchu looked down with clear, gentle eyes. “What is it?”
“We have a parent-teacher meeting on Monday. Can you go for me~” Ji Zhile blinked, trying to pass through with cuteness.
Ye Yunchu stopped, a smile appearing on his handsome face and asked, “Did you get into trouble and are afraid to tell Mom and Dad?”
“No!” Ji Zhile acted as if his defenses had been breached and weakly argued, “I—I just… Aiya! Anyway, you just go for me!”
“I can’t. I have classes on Monday.” Ye Yunchu refused him.
“Ah? Then I’m doomed! If no one goes, the teacher will call Papa! I’ll die a miserable death!” Ji Zhile hugged Ye Yunchu’s arm, looking piteous.
“Can’t you just have Mom go?” Ye Yunchu suggested.
But Ji Zhile shook his head and said, “No. If the teacher tells on me, Mama will be the one losing face, and he’s so thin-skinned.”
Ye Yunchu was nearly driven to laughter by his anger and said, “And I don’t lose face? My skin is thick?”
“Hahahaha!” Ji Zhile laughed loudly. “Aiya, just go for me.”
“I really can’t. I truly have classes on Monday.” Ye Yunchu stroked his head helplessly. “Have Mom go. Be good.”
“Fine…” Ji Zhile muttered.
Just then, Ye Yunchu’s phone rang. “Hello? Okay.”
“What’s wrong?” Ji Zhile asked him.
“Auntie Xiao Ru told us to go back for breakfast. Let’s go.”
When they got home, breakfast was all ready; the plate of crystal shrimp dumplings that had been broken when Ji Zhile scared his mother had been remade.
“Morning, Mom and Dad.” Ye Yunchu gave a greeting.
“Morning.”
“Good morning~” Ye Zhile brought the porridge to his two sons. “I made this. Try it.”
Ye Yunchu’s hand reaching for his chopsticks paused; he looked at his father, who looked like a hero prepared for execution. Ye Yunchu knew that the porridge was likely impossible to swallow and immediately reached for the shrimp dumplings instead.
Ji Shuohan started to speak but then thought better of it; after all, his wife had worked hard on it—forget it, he’d eaten it more than once anyway.
Only after eating did Ye Yunchu realize what that look from his father meant; his mouth was instantly filled with a strange, inexplicable taste, along with a sharp, fishy spicy flavor. Ye Yunchu’s face looked ashen. “Mom… did you put ginger in this too?”
“Ah? Is it not allowed?” Ye Zhile asked cautiously. “I saw that ginger and garlic are used in stir-fries, so I thought they should be used here too… is it that bad?”
“It’s just… ginger doesn’t taste good in here,” Ye Yunchu said tactfully.
Ji Zhile, who hadn’t tried it, could imagine how bad it tasted; he bared his teeth, feeling relieved he hadn’t eaten any.
“Then I won’t put it in next time,” Ye Zhile said sadly. “I’m sorry… I thought since you were on break, I’d make breakfast for you, but I didn’t do a good job. I’ll have Auntie remake it for you.”
Even after all these years, Ye Zhile still had his simple and romantic personality, which had been nurtured by pampering; whether it was his parents or his children, everyone gave in to him. The only bitterness in his life was the period when Ji Shuohan had amnesia, but that time remained a knot in Ji Shuohan’s heart, making him even more unable to bear seeing Ye Zhile suffer even a minor grievance.
“It was made very well.” Ji Shuohan took one and put it in his mouth, enduring the sharp taste of the ginger. “The shapes are very cute, not bad at all. And for your first time making this, you did great.”
“Exactly, Mama! The shape of these dumplings is really cute! And they’re so small, one per bite!” Ji Zhile also hurried to comfort him, and Ye Yunchu quickly nodded in agreement.
With the three of them chiming in, they finally coaxed Ye Zhile into a better mood; he smiled. “Fine, I guess I have no talent for cooking. I’ll make snacks for you next time.”
“Great!” Ji Zhile leaned against Ye Zhile. “Mama’s snacks are the best.”
Ye Zhile smiled and stroked his head, and Ji Zhile hurriedly spoke his real goal, “Mama, I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?” Ye Zhile’s appearance hadn’t changed much, but there was more gentleness in his eyes, especially toward Ye Yunchu and Ji Zhile.
“We have a parent-teacher meeting on Monday. Can you go for me?” Ji Zhile looked at him expectantly.
“Sure.” Ye Zhile agreed immediately. “I happen to have time tomorrow.”
“Hehe~ Mama is the best.” Ji Zhile acted spoiled.
“Why didn’t you ask me?” Ji Shuohan asked, giving him a dangerous look. “Did you get into trouble and are afraid to let me know?”
“I didn’t…” Ji Zhile said in a small voice.
Of the two brothers, the one who caused the most worry from childhood until now was always Ji Zhile; no one knew who he inherited it from—his father and mother weren’t like that. He was at the bottom in exams but at the top in fighting; he used to notify them timidly when he fought, but now he was so practiced that he skipped them entirely and went to his uncles, making them keep it a secret. It was truly a mystery.
Ye Zhile smiled and said, “You shouldn’t fight randomly, Zhile. You’re an Omega. What if someone uses their pheromones to suppress you?”
Ji Zhile tilted his chin up arrogantly. “Except for Brother and Papa, who could possibly suppress me with pheromones?”
Hmph, I don’t care at all. The Alphas at school are all weaklings!
Ye Zhile had no way to deal with him and said, “Still, you shouldn’t fight. If someone bullies you, tell your father. Your father is a big shot in society—he’s incredibly powerful! Hahahaha…”
“Hahahaha!” Ji Zhile was amused by his mother.
Ji Shuohan was both annoyed and amused, tolerating them with helplessness.
Recommended Reads
