Su Mo was dragged into attending an event, unable to escape even if he wanted to. He didn’t want to embarrass Yin Xiaowan, especially since she had gone out of her way to invite him.
Following the event’s procedure, he took a few flattering photos before finally being allowed to leave.
Throughout the event, several people asked for his social media handles, but he politely declined every time—no explanations given.
Glancing at the time, he realized he had already wasted over ten minutes and quickly picked up his pace. But just as he turned a corner, he nearly collided with Ye Qingyi, who was heading downstairs to take out the trash.
Neither of them had been paying attention to their surroundings, and they almost crashed into each other.
The moment she saw Su Mo, Ye Qingyi suddenly let out a sigh of relief. “You’re finally here.”
Her expression was strange—a mix of joy and unease, which only grew more pronounced after seeing him.
“What’s going on…?” Su Mo couldn’t figure out what had her so flustered.
“My sister is here.”
“What?!” Su Mo’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Since when? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
“I didn’t get the chance! She spotted me the second she walked in. If I hadn’t reacted quickly and known her well enough, I might’ve gotten smacked.” Ye Qingyi pouted, looking aggrieved. “I was actually happy to see her at first, but now I can’t even hug her.”
Su Mo patted her shoulder reassuringly. “Don’t worry, I’ll do it for you.”
“Thanks—Wait, you dare?!”
Ye Qingyi’s sudden outburst startled Su Mo, who quickly covered her mouth. “Do you want her to hear you?”
Taking a deep breath, Su Mo handed the groceries he’d bought to Ye Qingyi and gave her a reassuring look. “Watch me handle this.”
“Wait.” Just as Su Mo was about to head upstairs, Ye Qingyi spoke up again, her voice growing quieter. “To deal with my sister… I might’ve told her we’re dating…”
Her words trailed off into a mumble.
“Got it.” Su Mo nodded solemnly and ascended the stairs.
As he neared the door, he suddenly quickened his pace, his face lighting up with excitement—his eyes even glistening with unshed tears.
Ye Qingyi, following behind, couldn’t see his expression and had no idea why he’d suddenly sped up.
“Sis!” The moment the door opened, Su Mo rushed forward eagerly, stopping just short of embracing Ye Qingyu. With a conflicted expression, he said, “Qingyi has grown up. She can’t just rely on her sister forever—she has to learn to be independent.”
He even mimicked Ye Qingyi’s usual mannerisms, pressing his lips together in feigned determination.
Ye Qingyu pulled him into a light hug, both amused and exasperated. “What nonsense are you spouting?”
The “sisters” sat on the couch, chatting warmly, while the real Ye Qingyi—now an “outsider”—stood awkwardly at the door, unsure whether to enter or leave.
Noticing her discomfort, Su Mo huffed, “Why are you just standing there? My sister doesn’t bite.”
Ye Qingyi forced an awkward smile and sat across from Ye Qingyu at the coffee table, looking like she was preparing for an interrogation.
A flicker of displeasure crossed Ye Qingyu’s eyes.
Su Mo, sitting close by, caught the subtle shift in her expression and realized Ye Qingyi’s overly timid act was irritating her.
“Sis, let me introduce—”
Ye Qingyu raised a hand, cutting him off. “I know. He’s your boyfriend.”
As the founder of the Qingyu Society, her commanding presence was undeniable.
But Ye Qingyi seemed unfazed, continuing to play the role of the meek and obedient boy.
Little did she know that in this situation, acting submissive was the last thing a guy should do…
“Tell me, how did you two get together?” The moment those words left Ye Qingyu’s mouth, her aura shifted into full parental mode—even giving off slight “future mother-in-law” vibes as she scrutinized Ye Qingyi.
Ye Qingyi glanced at Su Mo, her mind racing. “It was a clear night… We met on the sports field. I was playing soccer, and she was cheering from the stands…”
Ugh…
Su Mo cringed so hard he wanted to dig a hole and disappear.
What kind of cheesy romance drama nonsense is this?! Couldn’t you come up with something more believable?
Somehow, Ye Qingyu seemed to buy it, listening intently.
“To be honest, I don’t like you.” Ye Qingyu’s tone was blunt. “I’d prefer someone bold and ambitious for Qingyi.”
In other words: You’re not good enough.
Su Mo shot Ye Qingyi a pointed look, urging her to act more manly.
Realizing her sister disliked this type, Ye Qingyi steeled herself and met Ye Qingyu’s gaze head-on. “How do you know I’m not bold and ambitious?”
Her sudden shift in demeanor caught Ye Qingyu off guard, but it didn’t change her opinion of “Su Mo.”
“Anyone can talk big. How do you prove you’re worthy of our Qingyi?”
“Sis, Su Mo is actually really capable—” Su Mo chimed in, playing the supportive role.
“Qingyi, you don’t need to defend me.” Ye Qingyi was getting into character now. She took Su Mo’s “small hand” in hers and declared firmly, “Don’t worry.”
At that moment, she truly looked like a dependable man, standing her ground against Ye Qingyu.
“We’re both students at Jingjiang University, so I’ll call you ‘senior’ for now.” Ye Qingyi now had the height advantage, staring down at her sister without backing down.
“First, I believe people should treat each other with basic respect. My earlier politeness wasn’t a sign of weakness—it was out of consideration for Qingyi. She said you’re the person she loves and respects most, so I wanted to show you the same courtesy. But you’ve been nothing but hostile.”
Her impassioned speech almost made it seem like she was genuinely angry—even Su Mo had to silently applaud her performance.
“Second, even if I’m not good enough for Qingyi now, that doesn’t mean I never will be. Life is full of changes. Who knows what the future holds?” She then turned to gaze “deeply” into Su Mo’s eyes.
Damn, that was smooth.
Su Mo “shyly” lowered his lashes, resting his head on Ye Qingyi’s shoulder and giving her a light punch.
Ye Qingyu watched their interaction, her earlier anger fading into amusement. “Alright, alright, flaunting your love right in front of me, huh? Should I just leave?”
The tension dissolved into laughter.
To Ye Qingyu’s surprise, this “Su Mo” kid was actually quite sociable—chatting with her effortlessly, a stark contrast to his earlier nervousness.
So he was just pretending earlier…
She earnestly advised them to focus on their cultivation, emphasizing that the future would belong to the strong. Only those with real power would thrive.
Just then, her phone rang.
She glanced at the screen, reluctance flashing in her eyes. “Qingyi, I really have to go now. Take care of yourself, okay?”
Ye Qingyi stiffened, wanting to say something but unable to speak.
“At least stay for dinner,” Su Mo offered, standing up.
Ye Qingyu shook her head with a wry smile. “Next time. There are people waiting for me.”
A heavy silence fell over the three of them.
“Qingyi, come outside with me. There are some family matters I need to discuss.” Ye Qingyu stepped out first, and after exchanging a glance, Su Mo and Ye Qingyi followed.
Once in the hallway, Su Mo frowned. “Su Mo isn’t an outsider. You can say whatever you need to in front of him.”
Ye Qingyu’s expression turned stern. “Su Mo this, Su Mo that. You’re so obsessed with your boyfriend you’ve forgotten about your sister.”
Though she said it jokingly, the comment was still awkward to hear.
Su Mo laughed it off. “How could I ever forget you, sis?”
“That’s more like it.” Ye Qingyu smiled in satisfaction.
Her gaze then fell on the white jade ring on his finger, her eyes narrowing slightly. “That’s a spatial artifact, isn’t it? And a high-quality one at that.”
“Yeah, I found it by chance in the Jing Mountain ruins.” Su Mo answered truthfully, omitting most of the details.
“No wonder.” Ye Qingyu nodded in understanding.
Her phone rang again—she really had to go.
“Qingyi, I’m leaving now.” Before departing, she pressed a metal token into Su Mo’s hand. “If you’re ever in trouble, look for Shen Hong. And if things get really bad… go to him. After all, he is our father.”