Chapter 148 Chop It Up Fiercely

The following day, the group prepared to depart. Lin Yan returned to Country G, while Ye Hai headed back to Country Y.

Before leaving, Ye Hai gave Shangguan Ranran a stern reminder, "Make sure you tell your grandfather in advance if anything happens next time. If something were to happen to you, I wouldn't have the face to see your grandmother when I die."

Shangguan Ranran gave Ye Hai a gentle and affectionate hug, her voice soft and docile, "Don't worry, Grandpa. I'll take good care of myself. You need to take care of your health too, and stop arguing with Grandpa Ye."

"Got it, you cheeky girl."

Ye Xi chimed in, "Dad, why don't you move in with us? I really worry about you living all alone."

Ye Hai let out a cold snort. "What is there to worry about? I enjoy the freedom of living by myself."

"Alright, alright. Butler, please take good care of Dad. We'll be heading out now."

"I will, Madam. Please take good care of your health as well."

Reluctant to part, Shangguan Ranran said, "Grandpa, we're leaving now."

"Alright, off you go. Wait, hold on a second. What's wrong with your eyes?"

Only then did Ye Hai notice that her pupils were blue instead of black. Age was catching up with him, making him miss even this detail.

"Grandpa, that potion was developed by Di Jiuzuo. I certainly don't want to use something made by someone who tried to take my life."

"Right, right, you shouldn't use it. Grandpa will have someone else develop a new one for you."

"There's no need, Grandpa. We must go now. Please take care of your health."

Shangguan Ranran, along with Ye Xi and the others, boarded the private jet and departed shortly after.

Gong Yi, Ouyang Mufeng, and their entourage also bid farewell to Ye Hai and boarded their respective aircraft.

Huangfu Shenqing stepped forward and said, "Elder Ye, you needn't worry about Ranran's eyes. I will handle it properly."

"Good, very good! Hahaha! I knew you were a capable man. I'm leaving Ranran in your care. If she runs into any trouble again next time, I won't let you off the hook."

Huangfu Shenqing replied, "Understood."

Soon, a dozen aircraft took off, and Ye Hai left with the butler. Peace and quiet finally returned to the Coalition headquarters.

To express her gratitude to Huangfu Shenqing and out of sympathy for all the exhaustion and turbulence he had endured—especially after surviving such a brush with death—Ye Xi specially invited him to the Shangguan villa for a casual meal, which also served as an official introduction to the family.

Huangfu Shenqing happily accepted the invitation.

He had prepared five large carloads of gifts: fine teas, ceramics, silk fabrics, high-end jewelry for the matriarch, top-quality aged wine for the patriarch, as well as nutritional supplements like bird's nest, ejiao, American ginseng, wild mountain ginseng, red ginseng, white fungus, and angelica root. Indeed, they piled up to fill the entire living room.

More than a dozen servants of the Shangguan family had to run back and forth over ten times just to bring everything inside.

This left Ye Xi rather embarrassed that she had invited him for merely a casual meal.

"Why bring so many gifts just for a visit? If you do this next time, I won't dare invite you over for dinner anymore."

Seated on the sofa, Huangfu Shenqing murmured softly, "Yes, I'll remember that."

Ye Xi smiled warmly. "That's more like it. Ranran, take Huangfu to sit for a while. Mother is going to go cook."

Huangfu Shenqing immediately stood up. "Let me help you, Auntie."

Shangguan Xing, who had been a step slower, wore a dark expression and mentally scoffed.

"No need. I'll have Shangguan Xing help me prep. You've finally come over, so let Ranran show you around. I'll be done in no time."

Huangfu Shenqing also longed to spend some alone time with the young lady, so he politely replied, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Auntie."

The more Ye Xi looked at him, the more satisfied she became, her eyes crinkling with smiles at the corners. "It's no trouble at all. Think of this as your own home, and make yourself comfortable."

She then turned a stern look toward Shangguan Xing. "You, come with me to the kitchen."

Shangguan Xing happily stood up, put his arm around Ye Xi, and escorted her into the kitchen.

Shangguan Ranran's eyes danced with amusement, looking very much like a cat that had stolen the cream.

Seeing that everyone had retreated, Huangfu Shenqing leaned closer to the young lady, tapped her nose lightly, and asked, "What are you smiling at?"

Shangguan Ranran looped her arm through his and confessed frankly, "Don't you think Father is hilarious? He puts on a stern, solemn face in front of us juniors, but in front of Mother, he's as docile as a lamb without a single shred of temper."

"I don't have a temper in front of you either."

Shangguan Ranran looked at him and gave a soft huff through her nose. "Nonsense. The number of times you've lost your temper in front of me is too many to count on both hands, alright?"

Her huffing expression was utterly adorable, softening Huangfu Shenqing's heart by half, though his tone remained unyielding. "That's only because you were the one who provoked me."

Shangguan Ranran dropped his arm, determined to argue the matter to the end. "When did I ever provoke you? You're the one who gets angry for no reason."

Her coquettish demeanor melted the other half of Huangfu Shenqing's heart. He took one of her hands in his, stared down at her palm, and said gently, "Alright, it's my fault. I shouldn't have gotten angry. But you promised—next time, you won't provoke me, and you'll listen to me in everything."

She widened her blue eyes and yanked her hand back. "What did you say? When did I ever promise that?"

Huangfu Shenqing's eyes overflowed with amusement. "What? Don't tell me you forgot just after saying it? Who was it that said she wouldn't make me angry anymore and would marry me?"

Shangguan Ranran finally remembered those words she had spoken when he woke up. Her face burned, the heat spreading from the back of her neck all the way to her ears, her stuttering voice coming in fragments. "Th-that... anyway... that wasn't... me. You... definitely... heard wrong."

"And... and moreover, that second half was yours."

"It is mine, but you agreed to it. You can't go back on your word now."

Shangguan Ranran turned her face away, refusing to look at him. "I... I am not... going back on it."

Huangfu Shenqing pinched her chin, gently turning her face back toward him, his dark brown eyes holding a seriousness unlike before. "Then I'll take that as a promise."

Shangguan Ranran awkwardly averted her gaze. "Remember it if you must... Ah!"

"What are you doing?"

Suddenly lifted into mid-air, Shangguan Ranran instinctively threw her arms around his neck in a panic.

Huangfu Shenqing scooped her up bridal-style and walked steadily toward the stairs step by step. "I want to go take a look at your room."

The young lady kicked her two slender, fair legs in the air. "Put me down then! What if someone sees us?"

Huangfu Shenqing brought his flawless face close to hers. "Don't move, or I'll kiss you. Don't worry, no one will notice."

Shangguan Ranran didn't dare move anymore. She could now clearly count the very eyelashes on Mr. Huangfu's eyelids, their bridge of noses were practically touching, and her heartbeat accelerated uncontrollably of its own accord.

True to his word, the man lowered his head and planted a dragonfly-like kiss upon her lips.

Shyly, the young lady buried her face in his chest, not daring to look up.

In the side kitchen downstairs, having witnessed the interaction in the living room and by the staircase, Shangguan Xing almost rushed out spatula in hand, only to be yanked back firmly by Ye Xi.

The scene was undeniably comical, and Ye Xi, along with a nearby maid, lowered their heads and chuckled softly.

This slightly embarrassed Shangguan Xing, who usually prided himself on his composure. He fumed in indignation, "Wife, why are you holding me back? I must teach that little brat a lesson! If he dares to act like this right inside our house, then outside, won't our daughter..."

"Oh, stop it! Your daughter is more than willing! This is a matter between young lovers, what business do you have barging in?"

With a disgruntled huff, Shangguan Xing returned to the kitchen to chop bones, glaring at them as if each one were Huangfu Shenqing, hacking away with fierce vengeance.