Chapter 54 - 31: Has Our Ye Family Bullied You?
In these past few days, Ye Bingtong had been acting extremely well-behaved, seemingly having reverted to the obedient girl she once was.
Whenever Ye Xiao mocked her, she would simply bow her head in silence, as if she didn’t dare to compete with Ye Xiao.
Ye Bingtong’s behavior didn’t really matter to Ye Xiao; after all, she was just a wicked supporting character, meant to be as cruel, mocking, and commanding as necessary.
If Ye Bingtong wished to pretend, Ye Xiao was certainly willing to play along.
Early morning.
When Ye Xiao came downstairs, she found that Ye Bingtong was already busy in the kitchen.
The other members of the Ye Family were also present, their expressions all looking a bit strange.
Busy Ye Bingtong turned around, caught sight of Ye Xiao, and hurriedly said, “Xiaoxiao, you’re up. I’ve been working hard these days to learn how to make some breakfast dishes. Could you try them and see if they taste good?”
Ye Bingtong’s eyes smiled sweetly, as if the previous unpleasantness had never happened.
“Heh,” Ye Xiao scoffed openly, “Are the things you make going to be as delicious as what the chef makes? You needn’t bother with mine; I want to eat the breakfast Chef Zhang makes.”
“Xiaoxiao…” Ye Bingtong immediately showed a slightly aggrieved look, involuntarily glancing at the Ye Family members.
Ye Xiao also remembered this particular scene; preoccupied with her character’s story, she had almost forgotten about this part of Ye Bingtong.
In the plot, Ye Bingtong insisted on cooking breakfast for the whole family. As the evil supporting character, Ye Xiao was of course obliged to give Ye Bingtong a hard time.
In the end, with a smile on her face, Ye Bingtong turned around and went to wipe away tears, making sure that the Ye Family saw the burns on her arm from practicing cooking.
Seeing this, the Ye Family’s attitude inevitably softened a bit.
It was unclear whether the Ye Family had deep affection for Ye Bingtong or if they were simply unable to resist the heroine’s halo; in any case, the Ye Family’s attitude towards Ye Bingtong did improve somewhat under her forbearance.
Ye Xiao had no interest in playing this whitewashing game with Ye Bingtong.
[What, I can’t refuse? If I did eat, wouldn’t your burnt arm be my responsibility? After all, it’s an injury you suffered while making food for me; I couldn’t be ungrateful even if I wanted to!]
Ye Xiao berated herself, her face showing no kindness to Ye Bingtong, “So what, I have to eat just because you made it? Putting on a teary face for who to see! Cry cry cry, all you know is to cry. The good fortune of our Ye Family will be cried away by you.”
Ye Xiao turned her head and complained, “Our Ye Family is in business, and those in business despise such weepy people the most! With you crying like this, do you wish ill for our Ye Family?”
Ye Bingtong was stunned; she said somewhat frantically, “I didn’t, I just…”
“You didn’t? You just? You’re just pretending to be pitiful on purpose,” Ye Xiao taunted, “Enough, stop putting on an act in front of me. So early in the morning, you’ve soured my stomach.”
Ye Bingtong clenched her teeth, struggling to hold back, and then looked at the Ye Family members with some expectancy.
They should at least say something in her defense.
Du Yaru indeed spoke up.
Under Ye Bingtong’s hopeful gaze, Du Yaru said with a caring face, “Xiaoxiao, are you not feeling well this morning? I was worried you might not be accustomed to Bingtong’s cooking, so I particularly asked Chef Zhang to make you a pot of seafood congee in the small kitchen. I’ll have him bring it out now.”
Du Yaru called a servant and instructed her to serve the congee.
Ye Bingtong: “…”
So after Ye Xiao mocked her so much, Du Yaru was only concerned about whether her appetite was good?
Ye Bingtong’s fists clenched slightly.
She would endure!
After all, who had her do the wrong things before?
The matters involving Pei Yue and Chen Yueyue, and her elder brother’s issues, had made the family quite critical of her.
But now, she had cut ties with both Pei Yue and Chen Yueyue.
As long as she put in the effort, persistence would pay off. One day, she would be able to warm the hearts of the Ye Family again.
The more they ignored her now, the more regretful they would be after being moved by her in the future, and the more benefits she would gain.
She just didn’t believe it.
They’re coddling that useless Ye Xiao so much now, but isn’t it largely because they’re feeling guilty about losing their daughter?
Once that guilt fades away, their enthusiasm for Ye Xiao will naturally wane, and by then, the sweet and adorable me will still be their most cherished daughter.
Ye Bingtong suppressed her indignation and said, “It’s my fault, I overlooked Xiaoxiao’s taste preferences. Xiaoxiao, you like seafood porridge, so I’ll learn to make it for you, okay?”
Ye Bingtong stared at Ye Xiao with eager eyes, desperately seeking her approval.
Ye Xiao sneered, “I wouldn’t dare drink the porridge you make. Who knows, you might have spat into it.”
“How could I?” Ye Bingtong looked shocked, then somewhat helplessly said, “Xiaoxiao, your misunderstanding of me is just too great.”
While they were talking, a servant brought over the seafood porridge and was about to place it in front of Ye Xiao.
“I’ll do it.” Ye Bingtong insisted on taking it, then personally brought it over to Ye Xiao.
She liked to put on an act, and Ye Xiao just watched with a cold eye.
[Here it comes, probably looking for an opportunity to expose the burn on her arm.]
Ye Xiao waited idly for the plot to unfold.
Sure enough.
As she placed the porridge down, Ye Bingtong seemed to have gotten burned and couldn’t help but cry out. The porridge spilled out, and she hurriedly wiped it with a tissue.
During this, her arm moved and the loose sleeve slid up revealing, just fittingly, the burn on her arm.
This angle allowed the Ye family to see it clearly.
Seeing the burn,
The Ye family didn’t know how to react.
Moved?
Not really. After all, Xiaoxiao had forewarned them.
Rather, it was a feeling of being at a loss whether to laugh or cry.
“Oh, did you hurt your arm?” Ye Xiao raised an eyebrow and said sarcastically, “It wouldn’t happen to be a burn from trying to cook, would it?”
As if just noticing, Ye Bingtong hastily pulled her sleeve down and said, “I accidentally burned myself while practicing last night, it’s not a big deal.”
“With all this fuss, you make it seem like the Ye family has mistreated you. We’ve raised you all these years, and never once had a meal cooked by you. Now you start this charade—are you trying to elicit pity, to make everyone think that the Ye family is bullying you?” Ye Xiao said in a sharp and scornful tone.
[Heh, with such a minor burn, wait until she accidentally lets her classmates see it at school.]
So Ye Bingtong is unable to make it with the goddess routine, and plans to play the sympathy card instead.
Unfortunately, under the halo of the female protagonist, there are indeed those who fall for it.
Ye Xiao could only mockingly give a few ‘666’s.
She’ll ‘accidentally’ let her classmates see it, too?
Originally the Ye family only found it amusing, but now, their expressions inevitably turned cold.
Ye Bolin said indifferently, “In the Ye family, we have specialized chefs for cooking; you don’t have to outdo them. You should focus on your studies instead.”
Ye Bingtong’s face ended up showing a slight change, “Big brother, Xiaoxiao misunderstood me, I didn’t mean that.”
“Misunderstood or not, there is no need for you in the kitchen,” Du Yaru also said with a smile: “Such wounds, if seen by your classmates and teachers, could lead them to speculate about the Ye family, which is inappropriate.”
Ye Xiao suddenly looked at Du Yaru with some admiration.
[Wow, Mom even thought of this. She’s like a female Zhuge Liang.]
Instantly, Du Yaru puffed up her chest, a mysterious smile playing on her lips.
Yes, my precious daughter, that’s the right way to think of me, no mistake!