Chapter 16: Schemes

"Tch, it's just you and me right now, what's there to be afraid of!" Compared to Ye Shen's caution, Li Zhaohui seemed much more casual. "Are you saying that even when we're talking in our own home, we have to be all secretive and hushed!"

"No matter what, it's better to be safe than sorry." Ye Shen's expression was deeply wary. "You should know very well that if Ye Leng'an senses anything, everything we currently possess could vanish in an instant."

"Is it really that serious?" Li Zhaohui said with an air of indifference. "Besides, it's been so long since you've been in contact with that side, why are you still afraid? And everything we have now is the result of our own hard work over all these years; it has nothing to do with anyone else."

"Enough, stop talking," Ye Shen snapped. "Don't mention that side ever again. Especially in front of Ye Leng'an—don't say things you shouldn't."

"I get it." Although reluctant, Li Zhaohui didn't dare defy Ye Shen. However, she followed up with a look of confusion, "I thought you didn't want to get too close to Ye Leng'an! Why the sudden change of heart to keep seeing her, and even wanting to take Pingping to visit her?"

"Didn't you hear what she said just now?" Ye Shen looked at Li Zhaohui, a calculating look on his face. "She has a small apartment under her name! She was with the Ye family for so many years, after all. The Ye family is a wealthy clan, and they won't want us having anything. Ye Leng'an was the eldest young lady of the Ye family for so many years; even though she's left now, she must have taken quite a few things with her. Even setting everything else aside, that apartment alone must be worth a fortune!"

One had to realize that this was Kyoto; even a small apartment would certainly not be cheap. Not to mention, Ye Leng'an surely had other valuable items on her.

"You mean—" Li Zhaohui immediately understood Ye Shen's scheme. "She's still a minor. As her biological parents, it's only natural for us to help her look after them."

At this thought, she couldn't help but feel excited.

"Exactly, but we can't be too hasty right now," Ye Shen cautioned. "We can't let her become wary of us, otherwise, we'll end up with nothing."

"Why?" Li Zhaohui felt it was too much trouble. "We are her parents. How could a minor girl like her possibly protect such precious things on her own?"

"I'm not worried about her; I'm worried about the Ye family." Ye Shen frowned at Li Zhaohui's short-sightedness. "She was raised in the Ye family for over a decade. Even though she has left them, are you certain the Ye family has completely cut her off? If we trigger her rebellious side and she runs to the Ye family for help, we'll end up losing everything we've gained."

"But she's not a daughter of the Ye family anymore," Li Zhaohui said with a hint of hesitation. "The Ye family shouldn't care about her anymore, right? Besides, Xiyuan is with the Ye family now; shouldn't the Ye couple be focusing on properly compensating Xiyuan instead?"

"If they truly didn't care about Ye Leng'an at all, how do you think she got those things in the first place?" Ye Shen spoke irritably. "You really are short-sighted!"

"Ye Leng'an has only just left the Ye family. In such a short time, that couple surely still has feelings for her. However, for us, this is an opportunity. Now that she has left the Ye family, she must be longing for familial affection. Therefore, we must provide her with care so that she'll proactively hand those things over to us."

(End of Chapter)