Chapter 50: Are You a Woman or Not?

“Ye Zifei, you’re here—perfect timing. There’s something I’d like your help with.” Hearing Xuan Ye shift all the blame for breaking off the engagement onto Ye Zifei, Ou Xinlai couldn’t help but admire Xuan Ye’s audacity.

Ye Zifei nodded. He understood well enough that Ou Xinlai was in trouble now; otherwise, he wouldn’t have appeared. He looked at Xuan Ye and shook his head. Though he’d never considered Xuan Ye to be a particularly responsible person, he hadn’t expected Xuan Ye’s sense of responsibility to be this feeble.

Ye Zifei glanced at Xuan Ye, then at Ou Xinlai, his eyes flickering as if to say: I’ll help you get rid of Xuan Ye, so remember this favor—you owe me one.

“Ye Zifei, this is between Lai’er and me. It has nothing to do with you, so stay out of it!” Xuan Ye had clearly heard Ye Zifei address Ou Xinlai. For the first time, Xuan Ye tried calling her Lai’er, and though he felt awkward at first, after saying it, he realized he was genuinely pleased.

But that pleasure was shattered by Ye Zifei’s familiar “Lai’er.”

He was Ou Xinlai’s fiancé; calling her by her childhood name was perfectly reasonable. But Ye Zifei and Ou Xinlai had no such relationship—what right did he have to address her as “Lai’er”?

“Xuan Ye, since when did you become so clingy?” Ye Zifei frowned at Xuan Ye, only now realizing what a graceless man Xuan Ye was. Ou Xinlai’s attitude was already perfectly clear.

If Ou Xinlai were as ambiguous as Xuan Ye had been in the past, and Xuan Ye kept pestering her, Ye Zifei would have nothing more to say. But that wasn’t the case.

Unlike the old Xuan Ye, who had never liked Ou Xinlai and treated her coldly but never openly spoke of breaking off their engagement, most people had found Ou Xinlai’s persistence toward Xuan Ye somewhat laughable, and many had pitied her for it.

But now Xuan Ye was different. The Ou family had already submitted a petition to end the engagement, yet Xuan Ye still refused to let go. It was an ugly display.

The Ou family and Ou Xinlai had left Xuan Ye no room for misunderstanding. Ye Zifei thought that if, back then, Xuan Ye had plainly told Ou Xinlai he had no interest in her and that the engagement would end sooner or later, Ou Xinlai’s persistent pursuit might never have happened.

Previously, Ye Zifei and Ou Xinlai were merely acquaintances; he knew, but never thought much of it. Now, everything had changed—his feelings had shifted, and so had his stance.

Whenever he thought of Xuan Ye’s history with Ou Xinlai, Ye Zifei felt uneasy and stifled. Looking at Xuan Ye, Ye Zifei knew clearly that his feelings toward him were anything but favorable.

“Damn it, what’s with all this nonsense? Ye Zifei, are you a woman or what—why bother talking to him? Just throw him out for me!” Perhaps Ou Xinlai possessed some grace, but her patience and composure depended entirely on the person she faced.

Toward someone like Xuan Ye, dense and self-absorbed, Ou Xinlai had not a shred of patience.

So, seeing Ye Zifei acting like an old woman, sitting with Xuan Ye as if having a heart-to-heart, Ou Xinlai snapped. Picking up a pillow, she threw it at Ye Zifei, caring little that he was helping her.

Ye Zifei hurriedly caught the pillow and, from it, caught a whiff of lemongrass—Ou Xinlai’s scent, fresh and natural.

Ye Zifei smiled. “Prince Xuan, you heard Lai’er’s words. So, forgive me.”

Before Ye Zifei finished speaking, Xuan Ye barely had time to react. He felt his body suddenly lighten, as if lifted by some invisible force. In the blink of an eye, the scene before him changed. When Xuan Ye focused his gaze, he found himself outside the room—he, the dignified Prince Xuan, had been thrown out!

As Xuan Ye picked himself up from the ground, intent on returning to the classroom and measuring himself against Ye Zifei, the voice of Elder Xuan reached his ears: “Don’t embarrass yourself any further—you’re no match for Ye Zifei.”

Hearing Elder Xuan’s words, Xuan Ye wanted to retort loudly. Ye Zifei had caught him off guard—it wasn’t fair. Yet, as if his mouth had been glued shut, he couldn’t get the words out.

Because Xuan Ye understood one thing: if he truly surpassed Ye Zifei in skill, even a sneak attack wouldn’t have caused him to lose—and lose so badly. The incident proved only one thing: he wasn’t strong enough, or perhaps weaker than Ye Zifei.

Thinking this, Xuan Ye’s face darkened, his eyes flashing with defiance.

He was the foremost scion of Xuanwu Kingdom—his reputation for being first aside, Ou Xinlai would certainly be his!

With Elder Xuan present, no matter how unwilling, Xuan Ye couldn’t risk making a fool of himself before him. He took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, dusted off his white robe, bowed respectfully to the air in deference to Elder Xuan, then left without changing his expression.

Elder Xuan nodded. Xuan Ye’s talent in the supernatural arts might not match Ye Zifei’s, but his scheming was deep. Faced with such humiliation, Xuan Ye was able to suppress his embarrassment and depart with composure—a true member of the Xuan family, brother to the current emperor.

Ou Jinju glared fiercely at Elder Xuan, his eyes flashing as if cursing him. He had just finished vomiting when he saw Xuan Ye enter the classroom to confront Ou Xinlai. He wanted to help, but Elder Xuan restrained him. Then, Ou Jinju watched helplessly as Ye Zifei entered as well.

Ou Jinju was furious—one Xuan Ye was trouble enough, and now, with Ye Zifei involved, things were even more complicated. Ou Xinlai glared at Elder Xuan, thinking: so you want to make Ou Xinlai your granddaughter—but are you helping her, or hurting her? Despite knowing Ou Jinju’s complaints, Elder Xuan ignored him completely, refusing even to meet his gaze.

People are courting each other—what business does a little brat have meddling in their affairs!