NOVPUBThere was a light smile splayed across Yue Yu's lips, and he only nodded his head a little too indifferently as a response to Ning Ying's greeting.
Ning Ying could only hide her resentment at Yue Yu's disparate treatment of Yue Ran and herself!
She was praised everywhere she went, so why couldn't she get the same treatment when it came to Yue Yu?
"You're going to join us?" Yue Ran frowned.
"Yes, if Cousin Yue Yu doesn't mind," Ning Ying answered a little shyly.
Without waiting for Yue Yu's answer, Yue Ran spoke up again.
"She's going to join us?" Yue Ran pointed to Ning Ying as if pointing at a disgusting bug.
Yue Yu hummed helplessly.
It wasn't like he could do anything about it.
An "Oh" was Yue Ran's reply.
Ning Ying's eyebrow twitched at Yue Ran's answer.
What does Yue Ran mean by an "oh" with such a look of repugnance crossing her features?
"Let's eat then," Yue Ran said.
At Yue Ran's words, Yue Yu nodded to the servant by the side before maidservants entered, bringing rich and flavorful dishes and placing three sets of utensils for the three occupants in the room.
The meal was a silent one, other than the chattering Ning Ying, who filled the silent space with her particularly obnoxious voice.
Yue Yu could only smile politely at her words, also trying to bring Yue Ran into the conversation, much to Yue Ran's indignation.
She could only hum and give one-word answers as a response.
Every time this happened, Ning Ying could only grit her teeth while shooting fire with her eyes at Yue Ran. She was then forced to smile while reluctantly asking Yue Ran a few questions that Yue Ran had flat out ignored, making Ning Ying's face turn red with anger.
Come on, why would Yue Ran ever bother talking to unimportant people unless they were somewhat or somehow useful in her plans?
Someone has to be worth something to actually catch her interest.
The fight with Ning Ying before was only due to her boredom. And now, Yue Ran only planned to piss the girl off, much to her amusement.
It was pretty fun looking at the steaming face of the original body's cousin, who looked as if she would explode anytime soon. There was also this forced smile on her face, which only looked super twisted and ugly, much to Yue Ran's delight.
Yue Ran was pretty sure that Yue Yu knew exactly what she was doing since he had that twinkle of interest in his eyes.
When everyone had finished their lunch, Ning Ying excused herself in a rather obvious and hesitant way.
She was hoping that Yue Yu would stop her from leaving the room. But she didn't hear a word even as she stepped out of the door, much to the girl's disappointment.
In Yue Ran's point of view, Ning Ying was not at all subtle in trying to attract Yue Yu's attention.
Ning Ying was as subtle as a carriage that has gone wild with a maddened horse driving it.
Yue Ran was very sure that Yue Yu knew that Ning Ying was interested in him.
But if he knew, he didn't show it at all.
Now that Yue Ran and Yue Yu were alone, Yue Ran also excused herself.
Her goal has now been achieved, so why stay any longer?
"Then I'll leave too."
Yue Ran stood up from her seat only to be stopped by Yue Yu, who blocked her way.
"What is the meaning of this?" Yue Ran stepped back to distance herself from the male protagonist. "Why did Brother Yu stop me from leaving?"
She glared at the man in front of her.
"Does Sister Ran hate me so much?" Yue Yu spoke softly, his lips arching upward as he spoke.
"So what if I do hate you, and what if I don't? Can't I just be angry that you are blocking me from going out of the room?" Yue Ran frowned impatiently. "I have no time to play in Brother Yu's games."
Yue Yu only smiled in response.
As if not hearing her hostility, he instantly changed the subject to one that Yue Ran was interested in.
"Sister Ran likes Ming Chen, right?" After saying so, Yue Yu continued his words since it was a rhetorical question that did not require Yue Ran's response. "Brother Yu has a way to help Sister Ran get his attention; does Sister Ran want to know about it?"
Yue Ran looked suspiciously at Yue Yu before returning to her seat.
Seeing that Yue Ran was now staying and no longer wanted to leave, Yue Yu also returned to his.
"Would Brother Yu ever be so kind to help me?"
Yue Yu chuckled. "Sister Ran is also my sister in name. So if you do like Ming Chen, as a big brother, how could I not help you with this?" 𝓷ℴ𝓋𝓅𝓊𝒷.𝒸𝓸𝓶
Yue Ran ignored Yue Yu's gaze on her and drank the cup of tea in front of her with a thoughtful expression on her face.
Her every move is exquisite: the delicate white hand, the gentle and graceful movement of holding the teacup—the sight was reminiscent of a classical ink painting.
She is extremely beautiful, especially those eyes, like a cage of mist hiding endless spring.
Yue Ran really is a rare beauty.
Yue Yu felt as if his heart was being tugged by something, but he tactfully ignored that strange, unknown feeling.
He only stopped Yue Ran from leaving because he needed a pawn to get in touch with the current crown prince, Ming Chen, and know his every move. He had thought that Yue Ran was very suitable for this role, especially after her confrontation with Ning Ying.
Although Ning Ying may seem to be the most suitable of the two for the job, the ambition in Ning Ying's eyes was just too obvious. The crown prince would easily spot such a thing.
Ming Chen is a good person, but he is not blind to the tricks and ambitions of others.
Only Mother Yue would be blind to such an obvious thing.
