The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 571: Chapter 569: Don’t Want to Waste Feelings

Ye Zheng smiled proudly. "It’s all the same. Now, which of my old friends doesn’t envy me?"

Ye Feng was exasperated. "Oh, come on. You used to say you couldn’t hold your head up high in front of your friends, and now you get to show off?"

Ye Zheng nodded. "Of course. The past is the past, and things are different now. Your career is doing great, Ye Ling and Ye Chen are at the top of their classes, so I don’t have to worry about them one bit. Whether it’s their studies or their careers, they’ll have bright futures."

Ye Feng had been a rebel in his youth. As for his younger brothers, Ye Ling and Ye Chen, they never had a chance to rebel with a formidable figure like Ye Feng keeping them in line.

Not only were they obedient, but they were also exceptionally sensible.

Now, whenever he met with friends or made small talk with the neighbors, a sense of pride would swell within him.

"Now that Ye Ling’s identity isn’t a secret anymore, did the organization have anything to say back when you and Aunt Wang first got together?"

Ye Zheng chuckled. "That was over a decade ago. Besides, back in those days, a lot of things were beyond our control. She was a victim too. To protect me, your Aunt Wang told her superiors that she had deliberately hidden the pregnancy and that I had nothing to do with it."

Hearing this, Ye Feng nodded. "Then it really wasn’t a big issue."

"Right. I just needed to explain the situation to the organization," Ye Zheng replied. "I was worried Ye Ling might get the wrong idea, so I made a special trip back to reassure him."

Ye Feng nodded. "Same here. He’s still young and tends to get fixated on things. I brought Xiao Rui and the kids over to show Ye Ling that he’ll always be my brother."

Ye Zheng smiled. "That’s why I’m not worried anymore. Ye Ling is a smart kid. After receiving so much support, he should be able to move on."

"If he still can’t get past it, then it just means he’s too narrow-minded to ever achieve anything great," Ye Feng commented bluntly.

When the housekeeper saw Han Xiaorui and Ye Feng arrive with the children, she immediately started preparing more dishes until the table was full.

She nearly emptied the entire refrigerator, but she managed to get it all done in the end.

Wang Liwen was very pleased with the housekeeper’s work and decided she would give her a bonus later.

Everyone chatted as they ate.

After dinner, Ye Feng took Ye Ling out for a walk.

"How are your studies going?" Ye Feng asked.

Ye Ling replied, "Big Brother, my studies are going very well. I’ve been working hard, so I should be able to get a scholarship."

"That’s great." Ye Feng nodded. "Have you met a girlfriend in college? Someone you connect with?"

Ye Ling shook his head. "Not yet, but I’m open to it. A lot of people are starting to think about studying abroad, and I don’t want to date someone for a few years just to have them leave the country after graduation."

Ye Feng was taken aback. "You little rascal, thinking so far ahead already."

Ye Ling nodded. "Of course. There’s no point in dating if you don’t see it leading to marriage; anything else is just playing games. I don’t want to waste my emotions on a relationship with no future."

Ye Feng glanced at Ye Ling. "Don’t you want to study abroad? Whether it’s the United States or Europe, I can make all the arrangements for you."

Ye Ling shook his head. "I’m a humanities major. What would I even research abroad? I’m not interested in their so-called political or economic theories. With that time, I’d rather work at the grassroots level here and figure out how to help ordinary people prosper."

"Three years is enough time to work in one place for a full year. Plus, I can pursue a part-time master’s degree without it interfering with anything. Big Brother, you’ve asked me so many questions, but what you really want to know is whether I’m upset that the truth about Dad not being my biological father has gotten out, isn’t it?"

Ye Feng nodded. "Yes."

Ye Ling shook his head. "It would be a lie to say I’m not upset, but the many years we’ve spent together feel more real. In my heart, I only have one father. Since Dad can accept me and isn’t afraid of what people will say, why shouldn’t I be able to face it head-on?"

"If it were a bad habit, I could probably change it, but I can’t change what’s in my blood. That being the case, there’s no point in agonizing over it. I have lofty goals, and the Wu family won’t be an obstacle for me. They aren’t worthy of being one."

Hearing Ye Ling say this, Ye Feng smiled. "That’s good. I’m glad you’ve come to terms with everything. When you get to be my age, you’ll understand what’s truly important. So, it’s great that you’re able to take our advice to heart."

The two brothers’ conversation flowed easily. Ye Ling truly hadn’t been negatively affected, and Ye Feng could finally relax.

Wang Liwen was delighted that Ye Feng and Han Xiaorui had come to visit with their children.

It gave her more confidence to face what was to come.

Han Xiaorui and Ye Feng stayed for two days before taking the children back home.

After all, they had their jobs to get back to, and the children had school.

Meanwhile, Liu Yun left in a daze. After returning home, she sat in the living room, not saying a word for a long time.

When Old Master Wu saw his daughter-in-law return looking so distraught, he asked, "What did Wang Liwen say?"

Liu Yun seemed to snap out of her stupor. Lowering her head, she said between sobs, "Wang Liwen has lost her mind. She said that if you keep harassing Ye Ling, Xingjia will never get out."

Hearing this, Old Master Wu was stunned. His face turned livid with rage. "Does she really think she and Ye Zheng can do whatever they want in Hua Country? The Wu family has connections here too! If we really decide to fight to the bitter end, they won’t get off easy either."

Liu Yun shook her head. "Father, perhaps you don’t understand. Wang Liwen, Ye Zheng, and even Ye Zheng’s eldest son, Ye Feng, and his wife, Han Xiaorui—they are all incredibly formidable people."

"If we clash with them head-on, even if we manage to get Xingjia back, our families will become bitter enemies. We can forget about ever acknowledging Ye Ling as one of us. Father, we should have a backup plan."

Old Master Wu frowned. "If I had a better solution, I wouldn’t have come in person. Go on, I’m listening."

Liu Yun suggested, "If all else fails, we could adopt a child."

"No!" Old Master Wu rejected the idea outright. "I won’t agree to anyone who doesn’t have the Wu family bloodline."

Liu Yun complained inwardly, ’The old master is so stubborn. Is bloodline really that important?’

"Father, of course I know. We can adopt the child from the fourth branch of the family!"

Old Master Wu was taken aback. "You and Xingjia were against it before. You’ve changed your mind now?"

Liu Yun gave a bitter smile. "Before, Xingjia thought we could get Ye Ling to come back. But now that Ye Ling doesn’t want to return to the Wu family, we can’t just sit back and do nothing. We’re still young enough to raise a child from infancy."

"I know Wuyang has a mistress who recently gave birth to a son. Wuyang has other women on the side, and that mistress is always causing a scene. A child growing up in that kind of environment won’t amount to anything."

"In that case, we might as well bring him here for me to raise. After all, time is slipping away. If we don’t adapt, we could truly end up without an heir."

Hearing this, Old Master Wu nodded. "Alright. I’ll have someone take care of it."

Liu Yun’s eyes reddened. "Father, harmony brings wealth. We came back here to do business. Just because Ye Ling won’t acknowledge us now doesn’t mean he never will. We should be trying to build a good relationship with them, not making them our enemies."

Old Master Wu pondered for a moment, then sighed. "Sigh... I suppose that’s the only way. First, let’s get Xingjia out."