44 Cousin
Su Lingfei, dressed in black riding attire, rode a pure white horse galloping from afar. When she got close, she gracefully pulled on the reins and stopped.
He tossed the riding whip into the arms of Su Lingyun, who was following behind him, and his younger brother caught it helplessly.
"What's wrong? Why are you so worried?" She looked at Jiang Cheng, who was frowning and holding the phone, took off his riding gloves and helmet, and shook his slightly sweaty hair. "Why do you seem to be suffering more when you're out having fun than when you're at home?"
"Don't even mention it. Jiang Anna ran away back to China, and when she heard we were here, she came over too." Jiang Cheng irritably ran his fingers through his hair.
"How pathetic!" Su Lingyun took a sip of her water and scoffed, "Come on then, your place is big enough to accommodate her, isn't it?"
"You think I'm afraid of her? Ye Qinglan is with us too," Jiang Cheng said irritably. "Isn't this just asking for trouble?"
"Good luck to them." Su Lingfei raised an eyebrow, looked at the family of three happily riding horses, and gave him a knowing smile, as if she were enjoying the show.
"My dear cousin! It's been so long!! Do you miss me?"
As soon as the two finished speaking, a clear female voice rang out. Jiang Cheng turned around abruptly and saw a tall, mixed-race beauty with deep red hair and green eyes getting off the car with a suitcase. She threw the suitcase aside and ran over, crashing into his arms like a cannonball.
"Ouch," Jiang Cheng stumbled from the impact, gritting his teeth as he replied, "I missed you so much..."
Behind her, a young man with black hair and green eyes walked slowly, pulling a suitcase. His handsome face was tinged with melancholy, and his black hair made his skin appear even paler. Even his casual clothes could not hide his classical and elegant temperament.
Zhao Nanqiao, who had just come out of the restroom, was stunned for a moment and murmured, "Didn't they say they didn't hire any young models? Who's more handsome than this guy?"
"What nonsense are you spouting? That's Anna's cousin, Ye Qinglan," Zhao Beichen, who was half a step behind, slapped him on the back of the head. After saying that, he was also puzzled, "Why did he suddenly come back?"
"Surname Ye? The same Ye as Zhenzhen?" Zhao Nanqiao covered her head, then looked up sharply upon hearing the character "Ye".
"Two characters of the character 'Ye' cannot be written in one stroke. Uncle Ye is from a collateral branch of the Ye family, but his mother is from the direct line of the Ye family," Liu Xinyi explained to her in a low voice. "Ye Qinglan's mother married into the Swire family of Y country and became sisters-in-law with Anna's mother."
"The world really is a village. How come the Ye family and the Jiang family are related? How come I didn't know?"
“There’s a lot you don’t know,” Zhao Beichen said irritably. “Uncle Ye and the eldest son have a very strained relationship, so you should stay away from them.”
He was being rather subtle in saying "strained."
The Ye family hasn't produced any notable figures in recent generations; they've been living off their past achievements. They finally produced Ye Fengxing, who in his early years bullied and looked down on others. When his aunt fell seriously ill, he caused trouble again, turning the two sides into practically enemies.
Zhao Nanqiao rolled her eyes. "Do you need to tell me?!"
She had even heard of those arrogant fools from the Ye family's direct lineage.
Looking at Ye Qinglan now, he's still handsome, but if he dares to mess with my sister, don't blame me for being impolite!
She followed behind her brother and sister-in-law, introduced herself to them, and then listened to their mutual flattery with a professional smile.
Since meeting Hongyun and Taxue, Ye Zhenzhen and Gu Sinan have spent almost all their time at the horse farm these past few days, either riding horses or grooming and feeding them hay.
Black Panther went wild, chasing several horses across the grassland, revealing his true nature as a sheepdog.
When Gu Tingshen forcibly dragged the two people and the dog away to have lunch, they were reluctant to leave, turning back every few steps.
When she arrived at the pool villa, she sensed that the atmosphere was a bit strange.
Today's plan is to have an outdoor barbecue on the grass by the pool.
The surrounding tall trees blocked out the midday sun, and various seasonings, fresh meats, seafood, fruits and other ingredients, as well as a variety of desserts and drinks were neatly arranged on the central food preparation table.
In addition to professional chefs grilling food on-site to ensure that every dish tastes the best, small barbecue grills were also prepared for these young masters and ladies who rarely cook and never lift a finger to cook, so that everyone could grill for fun.
As everyone arrived, Jiang Cheng stood next to two unfamiliar faces, one youthful and beautiful, the other elegant and handsome, both with obvious mixed-race features, which were quite eye-catching.
"Hello, my name is Jiang Anna, and my English name is also Anna. I'm Jiang Cheng's cousin." The red-haired, green-eyed girl spoke first. She looked at the three people walking towards her, then extended her hand to Ye Zhenzhen and said with a smile, "You must be Zhenzhen, right? We met when we were little, do you remember?"
Her Mandarin was very standard, with a slight accent from City A if you listened closely. Ignoring her green eyes and features that were noticeably more pronounced than those of an Asian, she was practically a typical Chinese person.
Ye Zhenzhen shook hands with her and responded with a polite smile, while recalling the two somewhat familiar faces in her mind.
“This is my cousin Ye Qinglan, his English name is William.” Jiang Anna then pulled over the tall young man next to her and said to Ye Zhenzhen, “Zhenzhen, you two are relatives, actually.”
The young man nodded politely, his green eyes fixed on Ye Zhenzhen since earlier, his gaze complex. When he saw her peach blossom eyes turn to him, he couldn't help but take a step forward.
But before he could speak, he saw the tall man beside her put his arm around the girl's slender waist and block his way.
“Gu Tingshen, Zhenzhen’s husband.” The man extended his hand, a polite smile on his face, but his voice was cold. “I’ve heard my father mention you. Has Aunt Yunshan returned to the country this time as well? We should visit her another day.”
Ye Yunshan is Ye Qinglan's mother, and Ye Qinglan's Chinese name follows her mother's surname.
Ye Zhenzhen finally remembered that her Aunt Yunshan had lived abroad for many years. She was a beautiful and proud woman who did not have a good relationship with Ye's father.
She and this distant cousin were in the same city when they were studying in Country Y. They saw each other often during their freshman year, but after her mother became seriously ill during her sophomore year, she was busy going between the hospital and the school, and she hardly saw him anymore.
“Mother didn’t come back,” Ye Qinglan narrowed her eyes slightly, grasped his hand without backing down, and raised her chin slightly, “It’s a pity I couldn’t attend your wedding. I was abroad following up on a project at the time, and the news of your marriage came as a surprise.”
“Compared to a distant relative’s wedding, the family business is of course more important,” Gu Tingshen’s smile remained unchanged. “Neither Zhenzhen nor I have taken it to heart.”
Ye Zhenzhen glanced at Gu Tingshen's fake smile, then at Ye Qinglan across from her with her lips pursed. A certain intuition made her silently shut her mouth and remain silent.
I felt like the way those two were looking at each other wasn't very friendly...
Seeing that the atmosphere was becoming increasingly tense, Jiang Cheng quickly gestured for everyone to move over, indicating that the chef had prepared everything and everyone could begin their meal.
Let's end this suffocating meeting quickly!
Driven by a desire to share a common enemy with her best friend, Zhao Nanqiao kept a close eye on Ye Qinglan's every move and gradually began to notice something amiss.
Ye Qinglan's big green eyes blinked, looking both affectionate and melancholic, making him look like the male lead in a tragic drama.
But why does this kid keep glancing at Zhenzhen?
And Jiang Anna, her eyes kept glancing at Gu Tingshen, her gaze full of determination!
? ? ?
She searched the room for Jiang Cheng, the organizer of the gathering, with a head full of questions.
Brother Cheng, what are you doing?
Jiang Cheng, holding back the eager Anna, used a bush for cover and asked his headstrong cousin, "What exactly do you want to do this time? Huh?"
"I came to visit you, why are you so nervous?" Jiang Anna tossed her hair, her face full of interest. "Gu Tingshen is really handsome. He's even a little taller than William, which is enough to handle my mom!"
"If you don't want to get married, just talk to your mother properly! Why do you have to use a married man as a shield?" Jiang Cheng was about to vomit blood from her. "You even brought Ye Qinglan back? Are you trying to cause trouble?!"
“I didn’t bring him. We just bumped into each other on the plane back home.” Anna patted his shoulder and said boldly, “William was just worried that Zhenzhen wasn’t doing well, so he came back to check on her. What are you afraid of?!”
What am I afraid of? I heard about how this kid went crazy in Y country when he heard that Gu Tingshen was going to marry Ye Zhenzhen!
Damn it, why did he have to come back when I was organizing this party?!
You little brat, don't drag me down with you!
"How is it? Is it delicious?" Gu Tingshen placed the Argentine red shrimp he had just grilled on Ye Zhenzhen's plate.
The deep red shrimp are coated with a garlic butter sauce, giving them a firm texture and a sweet and savory flavor with hints of milk and garlic.
"Delicious!" Ye Zhenzhen squinted her eyes as she ate. "You should eat too, don't grill any more yet."
"My hands are dirty, we'll eat later." Gu Tingshen indicated that his hands had just touched raw seafood.
"It won't taste good if it gets cold." Ye Zhenzhen thought for a moment, then used a knife and fork to separate the shrimp meat from the shell and held it to his mouth. "Take a bite first, then go wash your hands."
The man lowered his head and took a bite of shrimp, meeting her pure, joyful gaze, and a captivating smile curved his lips.
Not far from them, Su Lingfei raised her champagne glass, rolled her eyes at the sky, and thought, "If you want someone to feed you, just say so. This tea-grooming is unbearable to watch, truly unbearable to watch!"
Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Ye Qinglan, a man with black hair and green eyes in the distance. His pale, handsome face was expressionless as he stared intently at the affectionate young couple.
Tsk tsk tsk, this kid looks like he's about to vomit blood from anger at Gu Tingshen.
That's really interesting.
"Don't just look, eat!" Jiang Cheng took a bite of the tender and juicy steak and earnestly advised Ye Qinglan, "That young couple has a great relationship, they're so sweet together. Ting Shen even put aside his work to accompany her to record a variety show. Just look at how lovey-dovey they are on the show, and you'll know. You, as their older brother, can rest assured that Zhenzhen will marry him!"
Ye Qinglan didn't say anything, but picked up a glass of red wine and drank it all in one gulp.
Ye Zhenzhen was completely oblivious to the undercurrents on the field. Her eyes were filled with the tempting colors of the food, and her nose was filled with the aroma of oil, spices, and various ingredients bursting open over charcoal.
As a foodie with a sensitive palate who loves delicious food, she felt incredibly happy.
Gu Tingshen's cooking skills were superb, and he controlled the heat perfectly. From the moment she and Gu Sinan sat down, their plates were never empty.
Of course, she couldn't bear to see the hardworking Chef Gu serving them all the time. Considering the man's fastidiousness, she took it upon herself to feed him, occasionally feeding him a few bites.
She felt she was returning the favor, never forgetting the chef's kindness while eating.
The audience was amazed by Gu Tingshen's attentiveness and thoughtfulness, and the deep affection between the young couple.
"Look at President Gu!" Zhao Nanqiao picked up the charred mutton his brother had roasted and mocked, "If it weren't for the chef today, my sister-in-law and I would have starved to death."
"Even food can't shut you up." Zhao Beichen picked up a grape and stuffed it into her mouth. "If you're so capable, find a husband as competent as Ting Shen and have him cook for you!"
Liu Xinyi watched the siblings bickering with a smile, feeling a pang of emotion. No matter how strong one's resolve, it will melt into tenderness in front of a lover.
After lunch, everyone went back to rest.
Ye Zhenzhen felt refreshed after taking a shower at the horse farm after working up a sweat in the morning.
"Zhenzhen?" Gu Tingshen finished drying her hair and slowly combed it with a comb. Suddenly, he asked, "I don't think we met Aunt Yunshan when we got married."
Ye Zhenzhen, who was looking down at her phone, was confused for a few seconds before she remembered who "Aunt Yunshan" was. She casually said, "None of the main family members came. The old man doesn't get along with them and doesn't like me having too much contact with the Ye family."
The original owner had very limited contact with the Ye family from a young age. He only knew that Ye's father had a very bad relationship with them. He hadn't heard Ye's father mention the grudges of the older generation much, but the old man often used the absurd things of the younger generation to make fun of them.
She was quite surprised that Gu Tingshen knew who Ye Qinglan's mother was; she had searched her memory for a long time.
How do you know Aunt Yunshan?
“Dad mentioned it when I went back to the old house last time.” Gu Tingshen lowered his head and gently stroked her silky black hair, his tone relaxed and casual.
Ye Zhenzhen didn't suspect anything and didn't ask any more questions. She looked down at her phone and let the man comb her hair with a massage comb.
Gu Tingshen wasn't lying; Ye's father had indeed mentioned the Ye family to him, mainly to warn him to be careful of their troubles.
The old man's attitude was full of disdain. "That family is a bunch of good-for-nothings. They are all short-sighted and opportunistic. The second son of the Ye family even wanted his wife's nephew to marry Zhenzhen, saying it would strengthen family ties. Do they think I don't know their little schemes? Bah! The only one in the Ye family who married out is Ye Yunshan, who has some brains. She has raised her son quite well, but unfortunately, he only cares about his husband's family's ancestral property. The family is fighting amongst themselves like chickens."
The reason he paid special attention to Ye Qinglan was because he had seen a photo in an album in Ye Zhenzhen's room.
Wearing a British school uniform, Ye Zhenzhen stood in front of the library with a sweet smile, while in the corner of the photo, a boy with black hair and green eyes looked intently at her back with a tender and doting expression.
Seeing Ye Qinglan today only confirmed my suspicions that his intentions were impure. That gaze, filled with such deep affection, was definitely not the look a brother would give his sister.
However, looking at Ye Zhenzhen's bewildered expression, seemingly oblivious to Ye Qinglan's feelings, Gu Tingshen couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle, gaining a deeper understanding of her obtuseness.
Yesterday, Gu Tingshen took Ye Zhenzhen to experience firearms shooting. Although Ye Zhenzhen is relatively weak, she has good focus and stability, and her accuracy is not bad.
This afternoon they went to the archery range together. Little Gu Sinan used a children's compound bow, and under the coach's guidance, she quickly became quite skilled.
At Gu Tingshen's suggestion, Ye Zhenzhen took a 20-pound recurve bow.
"Open your feet shoulder-width apart, and distribute your weight evenly on both feet," Gu Tingshen said after putting on her protective gear, then stood behind her and adjusted her posture. "Don't tense your knees, bend them a little."
"Use your back muscles, yes, lower your shoulders, and straighten your arms."
The man stood behind her, his tanned, muscular arms pressed against her fair forearms. He gently held her hands, guiding her to pull the arrow back. His deep, magnetic voice reminded her, "Don't shrug, stay steady, and watch the sights ahead."
"Are you ready?"
The man patiently corrected her movements, and after receiving her affirmative answer, he gently reminded her to relax her fingers.
The bowstring was released, and an arrow was shot out. Ye Zhenzhen looked ahead expectantly and exclaimed in surprise, "Hit!"
"I told you your aim was great," Gu Tingshen encouraged gently. "Again?"
"Um!"
The man's movements were very measured; though they were close, he left her ample room to move. Ye Zhenzhen was focused on the target in front of her, completely unaware that she was almost entirely enveloped in his arms.
Ye Qinglan and Jiang Anna saw this scene as they entered the venue.
The tall man held the petite girl in his arms, whispering something in her ear. His domineering and possessive manner made Ye Qinglan narrow her eyes and clench her fists.
[Author's Note]
[Peeking through face] Happy New Year everyone~~ Thank you to all the lovely people who commented and sent nutrient solution, I will try my best to update!
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