What a character.
"Is this how you act as an older sister? You're even egging me on." Xu Ran chuckled, and although he had already planned it, the fact that Yao Ye initiated the proposal had thrilled him even more. An Eldest Princess, a Young Princess—hehe... Treated as the Crown Prince, the future Empress, and the other a Genius Alchemist. Xu Ran was quite fond of this combination.
"What do you mean egging you on? If Yue'er wasn't into you, I wouldn't do this at all. You big bully, I wouldn't let you get away with being indifferent to Yue'er," Yao Ye felt a bit embarrassed too, and pinched the soft flesh around Xu Ran's waist gently before lying her head on his chest to listen to his heartbeat.
Of course, besides thinking of Yao Yue, she had some selfish motives too.
Being alone with Xu Ran, facing the unknown future, there was always a sense of wandering anxiety. Having a sister by her side to discuss matters with would be comforting. So, this was a win-win situation, no, a win-win-win situation.
Buy one get one free, even if Xu Ran wasn't interested in Yao Yue, he probably wouldn't refuse it.
"So at that time, does that mean sisters..."
"Taking advantage once you've gotten the benefit, huh? How can you be so shameless? There... you previously told Yue'er you knew nothing. The mouths of men are indeed the most deceitful," Yao Ye pouted. She had been through it, so she knew clearly that Xu Ran was far from pure, and even understood many profound things.
"Either way, you can't escape from the palm of my hand." Xu Ran cleared his throat, "Since Princess Yao Ye has said so, I, the commoner, must obediently obey."
"Pfft." Yao Ye laughed charmingly, the young girl who was new to the world's smile blossoming beautifully, "Stop teasing me. What am I as a princess from a small country? Where can I command you?"
Yao Ye hugged Xu Ran's waist, as if wanting to tightly grasp him.
"Princess naturally can't command me, but my wife can." Xu Ran was someone who doted on his wife a lot, provided the wife was well-behaved and obedient.
"Princess, have you heard of the 'Three Obediences and Four Virtues' for men?" Xu Ran suddenly remembered a joke from his past life.
"Three Obediences and Four Virtues? Aren't those meant for girls?" Yao Ye was also required to follow all sorts of etiquette in the palace.
"The 'Three Obediences' refer to obeying your wife when going out, complying with your wife's commands, and blindly following your wife when she says the wrong thing. The 'Four Virtues' mean waiting when your wife is putting on makeup, being generous with money when your wife spends, having patience when your wife is angry, and remembering your wife's birthday."
"Pfft." Yao Ye giggled at Xu Ran's words, nearly laughing so hard she choked. At the same time, she fell for Xu Ran even more. In her eyes, being able to say such a statement proved that Xu Ran was different from other men. At least those men definitely couldn't say such things. Even if they could, it would mostly be to please girls, certainly not sincere thoughts.
...
Xu Ran and Yao Ye walked hand in hand out of the room, the two in the throes of deep love, with Yao Ye clinging to Xu Ran, wishing that they could always stay together every moment.
However, they hadn't even left the yard when they encountered Yao Yue, her face twisted with grinding teeth.
Yao Yue was wearing a light purple dress, her delicate, youthful face puffed up in anger.
Having run off in embarrassment the day before, Yao Yue had not seen Yao Ye since and, sensing that something might happen, naturally went looking for Yao Ye everywhere. Later, she ended up eavesdropping outside the room for the whole night.
She, still somewhat naive about such matters, was immediately deeply affected.
Her own elder sister had actually been with Xu Ran, which filled her with jealousy and a deep sense of sorrow.
In her eyes, it must have been because her elder sister was more charming that she managed to win Xu Ran's affection. At the same time, she even felt a trace of resentment towards Yao Ye. She had always thought that Yao Ye was uninterested in Xu Ran, which was why she kept talking to Yao Ye about him. But now, it turned out that this sister she trusted had gotten together with Xu Ran first.
"You've been watching my farce all along, haven't you? I really misjudged you!" Yao Yue said to Yao Ye angrily. She was very upset, having been on the verge of bursting in the night before, but ultimately restrained herself.
Having stood watch outside all night, her heart was filled with grief and a sense of betrayal by someone close, so much so that the more she thought about it, the angrier she got, and the angrier she got, the more she thought about it. Seeing Xu Ran and Yao Ye come out hand in hand in their perfect couple appearance, she was already seething with rage.
It was like having a crush on someone, constantly praising that person to one's best friend, ready to confess, only to discover that the best friend is already with that person. This made her feel like a clown.
"Yue'er, listen to me, it's not what you think," Yao Ye tried to explain.
Yao Ye was startled by Yao Yue's reaction. Knowing Yao Yue's personality well, Yao Ye quickly concluded what had happened, and her head began to ache.
If this matter wasn't resolved well, the relationship between the sisters might develop a crack.
She did indeed have a liking for Xu Ran in the past. Any normal woman would admire a heroic figure like Xu Ran. And before, it was nothing more than admiration and curiosity on her part, without aspiring for more. Even now, she wouldn't think she could stay with Xu Ran forever.
She was much more mature than little Yao Yue, naturally lacking such girlish sentiments and even doubting she had a chance for a deep connection with a legendary figure like Xu Ran. But once she had the opportunity to be with Xu Ran? She would quickly fall.
Yao Ye had intended to slowly explain things once Yao Yue and Xu Ran were together.
But now… she couldn't help feeling like she had stolen her little sister's beloved. She might already be seen as a despicable person in Yue'er's eyes.
"Explain? Explain what? If I had known you were like this, I wouldn't have shared so much with you… I hate you both." Yao Yue, like a defeated dog, couldn't help the tears that surged forth as she spoke.
Seeing Xu Ran's and Yao Yue's hands intertwined, her heart felt like it was shattering.
Was she really not the type Xu Ran liked?
"Sigh."
Yao Ye was silent, watching as Yao Yue gradually ran further away, feeling very uneasy in her heart.
"Xu Ran, please go comfort Yue'er. I'm worried she might get into trouble out there by herself." Yao Ye looked at Xu Ran with hope, knowing that if she went to find Yao Yue now, it would only ignite the girl's fury. Yao Yue in her rage wouldn't listen to anyone, except of course Xu Ran.
"Don't worry, leave it to me." Xu Ran pinched Yao Ye's slender waist and chased after her.