Chapter 1321: Chapter 1310: Siblings
Even someone as slow as Lee Shishi could sense something was wrong at this point. She was at a loss, caught between her boyfriend’s sister and her best friend. Why had the atmosphere suddenly grown tense?
"I’m sorry, did I say something wrong?" Ye Qiu broke the silence first with a smile, looking at Cheng Zhizhi, "I didn’t mean anything else, really, just that less stress and more rest lead to better skin. You didn’t misunderstand, did you?"
"No, no, what could I misunderstand?" Cheng Zhizhi followed suit, but she wasn’t as simple-minded as Lee Shishi. She instinctively felt that Ye Qiu didn’t like her, which annoyed her, especially since she was speaking for Ye Qiu. Did Ye Qiu not appreciate it? And on top of that, had to make things difficult.
However, it was clearly not a good idea to counter Ye Qiu at this time, after all, Ye Qiu was someone Ye Cheng valued as a sister!
"Oh, is Ye Cheng not coming today? You’re really okay with just letting you two women sign up, huh? And not coming to do any heavy lifting? I remember when you moved dorms back in the day, Ye Cheng was the one doing all the heavy work for you." Cheng Zhizhi said deliberately, not seeing a certain figure around.
"I don’t have any luggage, why should my brother have to come?" Ye Qiu retorted again without any pleasantries. If she still didn’t see through Cheng Zhizhi’s intentions, she’d be a fool. How could her sister-in-law be so tolerant?
Lee Shishi wasn’t unaware that something was off today; it was just that she and Cheng Zhizhi had such a deep bond. They grew up together, and she never thought Cheng Zhizhi would be interested in Ye Cheng, much less try to subtly drive a wedge between her and Ye Qiu.
Her face fell slightly, and she pulled Cheng Zhizhi aside: "Stop talking." Then she turned to Ye Qiu with a smile, "Let’s go inside quickly, before everyone else goes to eat and we’re the only ones left behind."
Cheng Zhizhi’s expression was anything but pleasant as she eyed Ye Qiu with hostility, upset that Lee Shishi, despite their years of friendship, didn’t speak up for her. Unable to face them any longer, she left in a huff.
"I’m sorry." Lee Shishi apologized to Ye Qiu, watching Cheng Zhizhi’s departing figure with mixed emotions.
"Why apologize to me, sis? It’s not your fault. If anything, I should be the one apologizing for clashing with your friend right from the get-go."
"I know you meant well for me, but she never showed any such interest before," Lee Shishi sighed, feeling deflated.
"Of course she wouldn’t openly display her intentions earlier; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to see us or speak badly of you in front of us. All because my brother is too outstanding. I’ve got to give him a stern talking-to when I go back, tell him to stop attracting other women willy-nilly." Ye Qiu chuckled.
"It’s not your brother’s fault; it was my negligence," Lee Shishi felt constricted inside. She honestly hadn’t anticipated Cheng Zhizhi trying to edge her out. Today, after Ye Qiu’s insight, it suddenly clicked, making her wonder if Cheng Zhizhi’s suggestion for her to act like the rightful girlfriend when meeting Ye Qiu was calculated from the start?
The mere thought was chilling and thanks to Ye Qiu’s directness today, how much longer would she have been deceived by Cheng Zhizhi? Did their years of friendship mean absolutely nothing?
No wonder Cheng Zhizhi claimed she was too slow in the morning; it was all to tarnish her image before Ye Qiu. Mentioning Ye Cheng’s assistance during her dorm move while he was absent today was deliberate provocation, wasn’t it?
On her way back, Lee Shishi found Cheng Zhizhi waiting at the entrance to the complex. Taking a deep breath, she approached, intent on having a proper discussion. Despite everything, childhood bonds shouldn’t be abandoned so lightly. If Cheng Zhizhi apologized, she’d consider giving her a chance.
"Shishi, you’ve changed. You ignored me for an outsider today. I was trying to be helpful by coming so early." Cheng Zhizhi complained, playing the victim first.
"Zhizhi, were you really helping today?" Lee Shishi asked, her voice heavy with meaning.
"Why wouldn’t I be helping you? Do you think enduring the heat was fun for me? I just said a couple of things, who knew your future sister-in-law would be so aggressive? Has she bullied you before?" Cheng Zhizhi feigned concern.
"Promise me you don’t have any other intentions?"
"You think I’m interested in Ye Cheng?" Cheng Zhizhi’s eyes widened, "Do you really not trust my character? We’re best friends; I’d never do such a thing!"
Lee Shishi kept silent. Even though the conflict was minor, she couldn’t completely misunderstand the situation alongside Ye Qiu. Her heart pained as she realized a rift had formed between her and Cheng Zhizhi.
"You know my financial situation, Shishi. Why would I care about Ye Cheng? Not that he isn’t desirable, but he’s an orphan, and my parents wouldn’t approve even if I did like him. I didn’t expect my words today to cause such misunderstandings between you two. And I certainly shouldn’t have stormed off angrily, leaving the situation so unresolved. Can we just make up? It’s just a man; is he truly worth more than our years of friendship?"
The last sentence struck a chord with Lee Shishi. Though she loved Ye Cheng, her long-standing friendship with Cheng Zhizhi held undeniable weight. Such a strong connection couldn’t be dismissed over a single incident.
"Alright, it was my oversight today; how about I treat you to hotpot?" Lee Shishi said with a smile, sticking close to Cheng Zhizhi’s side.
Cheng Zhizhi returned the smile, neither of them mentioning the events of the day again.
Meanwhile, the "Four Siblings Cake Shop" Ye Qiu founded was making waves in A City. Despite its high prices, the exceptional taste had made it a trending hotspot, especially after private banquet photos of Ye Qiu went viral, only adding to the craze.
The blogger’s photos were breathtaking, with works of culinary art that could rival those of a master sculptor, accompanied by poetic descriptions that turned the dishes into divine feasts.
"It’s so beautiful? In my experience, dishes that look this good usually don’t taste that great. I have to say, the pastries there are incredible, but I won’t make claims about the banquet."
"Forget taste, just being able to take photos of these dishes satisfies me!"
"Got it, this is not just food, it’s about maintaining an aesthetic standard."
The small-time blogger didn’t expect their post to explode in popularity and, brimming with enthusiasm, replied: "Those who haven’t tried it have no right to judge. I can only say it’s the best feast I’ve ever tasted. If not for the price, I’d eat there every day. Note, this spot only takes reservations, and you have to wait your turn. It’s not a place you can just walk into."
This was just the beginning until a client shared "Fairy Forest," a particular dish, and the buzz online truly erupted.
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