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墨書 Inktalez
Silence lingered for a while before Jayce spoke up. "I think Cui Ming makes a good point. I understand that Ding Ze doesn't want to join the family, but regarding Ding Ze and Ye Shi, he's still young. In a moment of excitement, he might have said too much. Let young people handle their own affairs. By the way, where is Ye Shi? I haven't seen her around these days."
Ye Wentian replied, "Shi Shi went to the Dawn Empire. The eldest son of the Ding Family just had a baby boy, so I asked her to deliver my congratulations."
Cui Ming smiled at Jayce, who touched his own face and self-deprecatingly remarked, "Not fair enough." He engaged in conversation with Ye Wentian, who outwardly agreed to let their children communicate privately and respected their wishes. However, upon learning that Ding Ze was about to visit the Ye Family, he sent Ye Shi to the Ding Family instead. Clearly, he had considered that Ding Ze might not want to join the Ye Family.
At this point, the atmosphere became awkward; continuing the conversation seemed pointless. Ding Ze stood up and said, "If Grandfather agrees, I would like to personally lay my mother's ashes to rest."
"Alright," Ye Wentian replied. "Ye Xin, take them there."
A few people stood up to bid farewell while Ye Wentian continued sipping his tea and asked, "Yellen, if you have something on your mind, just say it."
Yellen responded, "I don't want to overthink things; keeping it simple isn't a bad thing."
"Then tell me what simple observations you've made."
Yellen said, "Li Qing's level is very high."
"Anything else?"
"Too much talk leads to mistakes," Yellen replied.
"You are no less capable than Ye Wen, yet you show no interest in certain matters."
Yellen replied, "I long for the days when my predecessors fought against enemies on the battlefield; I have no interest in political matters."
Ye Wentian nodded. "If I die, as your elder brother, how will you handle Ding Ze and your sister's affairs?"
Yellen answered, "If my sister likes him, I'll bring him here. If she doesn't like him, I won't pay him any mind. If she hates him, I'll kill him."
"Is it really that simple?"
"It's complicated only in your mind, Father. I'm going to see my sister laid to rest." Yellen nodded and strode toward the cemetery.
...
Many years had passed since her death, and there was no sadness at the burial. Instead, Yellen personally scooped a handful of earth to cover her. Yellen's mother had passed away early, and there was a ten-year age difference between Ding Ze's mother and Yellen. Ding Ze's mother had taken on a maternal role for him. When Ding Ze was six, his mother remarried, and the one she missed most was Yellen. However, that was many years ago, and Yellen's memories had faded. Ding Ze's mother had been married into the Ding Family for fifteen years and had only returned to her family three times. Each time, Yellen was not at the Ye Family.
Although Ye Xin stated that the head of the family had arranged a banquet to entertain them, everyone bid farewell at the cemetery. Ye Xin and Yellen walked with them to the bridge where security had prepared vehicles to take them down the mountain.
As Yellen watched them leave, he suddenly said, "Isn't Ding Ze more suitable than Ye Wen?"
"You think too much, Young Master. Ding Ze has no blood ties to the Ye Family," Ye Xin replied. "In fact, the master doesn't want Ye Wen to take over either, but the elders support him. Ye Wen possesses a commanding presence that hasn't been seen in generations—he is imposing and charismatic. The only one who can rival him is you. According to Ye Family tradition, the head of the family is usually not succeeded by the biological son of the previous head."
Yellen smiled. "I forgot you are Ye Wen's teacher and his best friend."
"You think too much, Young Master," Ye Xin said. "Friendship is personal; the Ye Family is about greater principles. Times have changed; now the Ye Family doesn't need a general charging into battle. Even generals in Twilight City are scholars at heart. The master opposes Ye Wen taking over precisely because he is too straightforward."
"But Ye Wen isn't foolish."
"Heh heh, Young Master. Being head of the family isn't about finding someone smart; it's about finding someone who can endure and knows when to advance or retreat," Ye Xin explained. "Ye Wen is like a bright moon in winter—radiant yet cold. Not only do enemies feel that chill, but our own people do as well. But a bright moon can be lonely; while you may appear fierce on the outside, you treat others with courtesy and respect. I dare say their impression of the Ye Family may not be good, but they certainly won't have a poor impression of you."
"With you here, what schemes should we fear?" Yellen turned around as the two walked back, asking, "Are we going this year?"
"Yes, to observe the stars. This year is a gathering of heroes. Even if it's not for the assessment, it would be good to witness it."
"Stars?"
"Heh, just a way to fool people. I got my hands on the list; the Ding Family has produced quite a few notable individuals this time. We can't fall behind in momentum. Young Master, you..."
"Yes, since that's the case, I definitely want to take a look." Yellen said, "Let's bring my sister along as well."
...
At the bus stop at the foot of the mountain, a few people were discussing the Ye Family, with most comments directed at Yellen and Ye Xin. Ding Ze didn't know much about them. No one asked Ding Ze what he thought about his childhood friend. Such matters were too personal; Cui Ming felt that Beiyue was right—there was no need to make decisions for Ding Ze. Ding Ze had his own thoughts and choices; simply letting him know what was happening was already fulfilling the role of a friend. To interfere or influence his decisions further would be inappropriate. Not everyone is like oneself; those who don't take advantage of opportunities are fools.
If Cui Ming were in Ding Ze's position, he might choose not to join the clan, but he would still have to deal with the Force Stone. However, Cui Ming was not Ding Ze, and Ding Ze would not become Cui Ming.
By the time everything was settled, it was already late March. When everyone returned to Dawn City, it was mid-April. They began preparing for the Assessment Match.
Upon returning to Dawn City and contacting the professor, Cui Ming initially planned to extract some information but was surprised when the professor brought up some news first. The head of the Classical Exploration Company and his father had been murdered by someone claiming to be a prophet—this person had once been a top-class wanted criminal by the alliance... Cui Ming already knew all this; now it was confirmed that the prophet had not deceived him. He had deceived the prophet instead—so what? He had lied. Whether it was bad or good, once done, he wouldn't regret it. Rather than dwell on the past, it was better to look toward the future. Many people viewed Cui Ming as timid and fearful of death because a true man can bend and stretch. But when one has lost everything and has no way out, Cui Ming's courage would not be any less than anyone else's.
Beiyue currently wasn't worried about Cui Ming but rather concerned about Mi Xiaonan, who seemed to be heading down a destructive path. Her addiction to television dramas had worsened since her meeting with Mi Xiaobo in Twilight City; Mi Xiaonan now watched dramas all night long. She binge-watched hundreds of episodes and even wrote letters every day to discuss plotlines.
Cui Ming informed Beiyue that Mi Xiaonan was cramming in all the dramas she missed during her eight years apart from Mi Xiaobo because during their chat, Mi Xiaobo happened to mention a classic drama that Mi Xiaonan had only seen half an episode of. However, she pretended to understand and discussed it with him, making quite a fool of herself. That night, Mi Xiaonan spent the entire night in her hotel room watching that drama.
Ding Ze offered advice: "Mi Xiaonan, you could just read the script."
"Is that possible?"
"Ding Ze said, 'You're writing a letter, so just follow the script, jot down the main points, and add your own thoughts. When it comes to girls, don't be too rigid.'
'Isn't that deceiving her?'
Ding Ze thought for a moment and replied, 'Yes, if you can't deceive women, you'll end up being the honest guy, and honest guys only have the fate of being backups. Many women who played around in their youth turn back to consider marriage or are dumped by their boyfriends. When they face marriage, they only have one thought: to find an honest man to marry. In matters of love, honest people are the ultimate victims. Do you want to be the honest person who gets bullied or the bad man who bullies others?'
'Well...' Mi Xiaonan shook her head. 'I don't know how.'
Ding Ze smiled. 'I'll help you pick out an outfit and take you out to see the world tonight.'
Ding Ze then took Mi Xiaonan away. When Beiyue found out, he was furious and took it out on Cui Ming, scolding him, 'Look at you all, acting like brothers, taking her to casinos and places of ill repute. Li Qing, don’t laugh; you go back to the city with Mi Xiaonan every night for late-night snacks. Eating, drinking, gambling—plus Zhao Wei teaching him how to drink—now Mi Xiaonan is a complete mess. Go get her back for me.'
'Huh?'
'Should I go?'
'We'll go.' Li Qing and Cui Ming crossed the sea back to the city. They initially planned to head straight for their target but Li Qing got hungry and recommended a restaurant, so they went for a meal first. When they arrived at the nightclub, they saw Mi Xiaonan chatting happily at the bar with two beautiful girls. Ding Ze was playing rock-paper-scissors with a stunning woman nearby; two little bees buzzing around in a flower garden.
Li Qing sighed. 'We're heading to Nordo City in three days; why is there no sense of urgency at all?'
'Do you feel it?'
'I'm just curious why I don't feel any tension either,' Li Qing sighed again.
'I’ll go grab Mi Xiaonan; those two girls are just taking advantage of her.' Li Qing casually found a seat while Cui Ming approached and exclaimed, 'Mi Xiaonan, did you find your partner?'
'Partner?' The two girls exchanged glances and turned to leave."
"Brother is straight..."
Cui Ming grabbed Mi Xiaonan and said, "Mi Xiaonan, your current level is 0, while those two girls just now are at max level."
"What does max level mean?"
Cui Ming thought for a moment and replied, "To put it elegantly, they are like a touch of red lips with the grace of a thousand people, and a pair of jade arms that could serve as pillows for ten thousand." He led Mi Xiaonan to her spot, where Li Qing, wearing sunglasses, had already ordered a pot of tea.
Cui Ming used a more vivid analogy: "For example, this tea. The first brew is a bit bitter, but the second and third brews are the best. After several brews, it loses its flavor. Mi Xiaonan, you are currently the first brew. Sooner or later, you'll reach the second and third brews. Why exhaust yourself to the fifth brew right now?"
Mi Xiaonan scratched her head. "Cui Ming, what do you mean?"
Cui Ming fell silent and walked over to Ding Ze, whispering a few words to him. Ding Ze looked at Cui Ming and said, "That's too twisted, isn't it?"
"He doesn't even know basic common sense. Now there are two paths: either you take him to observe or maintain a pure heart and return to the island."
"Fine, whether it's early ruin or late ruin, it will all end in ruin."
PS: A person's life and energy are limited; investing that limited life and energy into the infinite task of parenting truly reflects the old saying: if you don't do it, you won't die.
PS2: Just my personal opinion here—never have two children. (To be continued.)
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