147: New emotional tactics

Watching Ye Cheng enter the master bedroom, Su Ning blinked and gently tugged on Jiang Ye's sleeve:

"Bro... Won't Sister be unhappy that we're here?"

Jiang Ye: "..."

He couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth: "Miss Su, actually Ye Cheng is a year younger than you."

Su Ning had already guessed she might be younger than herself when she heard them mention "going back to school."

But so what?

A year or two difference—whoever looks younger is the little sister!

She immediately put on a surprised expression, slightly opening her mouth: "Ah? Really? I can't tell at all! Sister looks so mature and elegant!"

"Well, she practices boxing at sports school. You can say that to her face later."

"...Ahem, Bro, don't joke around..."

Lin Wanxing looked at the closed door of the master bedroom and hesitated before speaking:

"Mr. Jiang, maybe... Xiao Su and I should go back first? With Miss Ye here, it's not very convenient for us to stay. We can come back tomorrow..."

"It's perfectly convenient. Just treat this place as your own home. Look around and get familiar with it first."

Jiang Ye waved his hand with a smile: "If there's anything missing in the common areas, let me know, and I'll get it. Make a note of your personal items, and we'll buy them all together later. Once the takeout arrives, we'll have a meal together before you leave."

As he spoke, he pointed toward the master bedroom: "I'll go check on the room first. Make yourselves at home."

——————

In the master bedroom, Ye Cheng had already taken off her down jacket and outer pants, wearing only a close-fitting beige sweater and leggings. With her hands behind her back, she was leisurely inspecting the master bedroom's attached bathroom and walk-in closet.

Seeing Jiang Ye push the door open and enter, she immediately raised a finger, emphasizing preemptively:

"Let me make this clear! Tonight is just about spending New Year's Eve with you—no touching, lingering, or back-and-forth! Got it?"

Jiang Ye looked at her defensive posture, both amused and exasperated: "Your description of the process is quite accurate... Hey, wait, weren't you just saying you wanted to go back to school? Why aren't you leaving now?"

Ye Cheng snorted lightly, her tone sour: "What? Am I interrupting your sweet New Year's Eve with your second wife and third wife? No wonder there was no movement all night—you already had 'arrangements'!"

Jiang Ye spread his hands, looking innocent: "You're really blaming me unfairly. Here's what happened..."

He briefly explained the incident with Zhang Wenhai showing up with a knife.

Ye Cheng listened, her frown deepening, and the playful expression on her face faded.

She walked over to Jiang Ye, carefully looking him over: "Are you okay? Not hurt? Did he touch you?"

As she spoke, she unconsciously reached out to touch his arm.

"I'm fine..."

Jiang Ye felt her concern, warmth spreading in his heart, and took her hand: "That guy probably went crazy with obsession. He only had eyes for Lin Wanxing and didn't even notice me. I was wandering around nearby the whole time without any trouble."

Seeing he was indeed unhurt, Ye Cheng relaxed slightly, then scolded with lingering fear:

"See, I warned Lin Wanxing to be careful of that guy long ago, but she didn't take it seriously! Last time at the gym entrance, I already thought Zhang Wenhai wasn't quite right in the head..."

As she was still talking, Jiang Ye, up close, watched her slightly furrowed brows from worry, smelled the faint fragrance from her, and remembered their intimacy on Christmas Eve. His heart, starved for days after tasting the sweetness, suddenly itched.

He reached out and gently pulled Ye Cheng into his arms.

Ye Cheng's heart skipped a beat, her body tensing instantly, instinctively trying to push him away: "Hey! What are you..."

Her refusal had just begun when the man's deep voice sounded in her ear:

"Cheng Cheng, I missed you so much."

These six simple, straightforward words dropped like a small stone into the pond of Ye Cheng's heart, rippling outward.

Ye Cheng's heart softened. She reached out to hug him back, her cheek pressed against his chest, her voice gentle:

"What's there to miss... We video chat and call every day. Once my finals are over, I..."

Before she could finish, she suddenly felt a warm, large hand silently sliding to a place it shouldn't be.

Ye Cheng stiffened all over: "Hey! Where's your hand..."

"Cheng Cheng..."

Just as she was about to struggle, the man's low murmur sounded in her ear again, even more affectionate than before: "Let's be together forever, okay? Never part."

Ye Cheng's heart trembled violently, touched by the emotion in his words, and she nodded instinctively.

She was about to utter an "mm" from her throat when she suddenly noticed another mischievous hand had deftly slipped into her sweater, quietly exploring upward.

"You...!"

Startled, Ye Cheng quickly reached to grab the offending hand, trying to push him away.

But just then, that familiar, The Old Jiang Family heirloom bubble voice drifted softly in her ear again:

"Cheng Cheng... Take your hand in mine, and with you..."

Ye Cheng: "..."

Black lines filled her head. She struggled free from the man's embrace, yanking out the hand that had already reached her bra clasp. Glaring at this guy who had successfully taken advantage of her with new emotional tactics, she gritted her teeth:

"Say it! Go on! I love hearing it!"

"Tsk... Look at you, no sense of romance at all..."

Jiang Ye, with both his attempted mischief hands caught by her, clicked his tongue helplessly:

"My love was just overflowing, and you ruined it all. Fine, fine, I'll go check where the takeout is. I'm starving."

He turned and took two steps, then suddenly stopped and looked back, asking:

"By the way, what do you need for washing up? What style of pajamas do you like? I'll buy them now; they'll be delivered soon."

Ye Cheng snorted, crossing her arms and leaning against the wardrobe: "I told you, I'm not staying here! I'll leave after spending New Year's Eve with you."

"Mm-hmm, right, right, leave right after New Year's Eve, definitely won't keep you..."

Jiang Ye nodded repeatedly: "Then what kind of underwear do you like? What size? I'll buy them together."

Ye Cheng was so infuriated by his seamless, shameless question she almost laughed, turning her head away: "...I said I'm leaving soon!"

"Really won't say? Then I'll buy what I like!"

Seeing her refusal to cooperate, Jiang Ye spread his hands helplessly:

"Don't complain later if they're too big or too small... Why are you glaring at me? If you run around naked, it'll seriously affect my health. Is it wrong for me to take precautions?!"

Ye Cheng: "..."