Chapter 333: Sudden Competitive Spirit
After Ning Xiyue left Chen Yechu’s kitchen, the two inside began their private interaction.
Yu Zhiyu walked over and stood firmly in front of Chen Yechu. His eyebrows relaxed, his eyes glimmered with a flowing light, deep and tender, yet intensely serious as he gazed at her. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he finally spoke words he had long held in his heart:
“Yechu, I ask to be in a formal relationship with you. I will treat you well for a lifetime, always listen to you. Whatever you ask me to do, I will do. I will never oppose you. Is that okay?”
Even though Chen Yechu had already expressed that she wanted to be in a relationship with him, he still wanted to formally speak this declaration. Every step of the process mattered.
The ritual made it feel sincere and respectful, which moved Chen Yechu deeply.
“Let me think… Considering your sincerity, I agree to your request. But if you don’t perform well, you might fail anytime.”
Chen Yechu reached out and hugged Yu Zhiyu, her mood radiant and happy.
Yu Zhiyu’s face flushed again, smiling brilliantly.
“Hmm, I’ll pass every single day.”
Meanwhile, Ning Xiyue, humming happily, walked to the vegetable patch. Ning Qingyuan had already finished sowing the seeds and watering, and he was now carrying an empty bucket back using a yoke.
“Hey, why are you back again? I’ve already finished here. Let’s go—shall we fry the eels first? They won’t stay fresh if we leave them too long.”
Ning Qingyuan lifted the buckets and walked over, taking Ning Xiyue along with him.
On the way, seeing his sister humming with a smile, he asked curiously, “Why are you so happy? Did something good happen?”
Finally, Ning Xiyue got the question she had been waiting for. She had been holding back all along just to get her brother’s attention, and it had been tough to keep quiet. She could barely resist now and eagerly shared the news.
“It’s something big, something only I know besides the people involved. Want to hear it?”
“What big thing? Tell me—I really want to hear it.” Ning Qingyuan nodded cooperatively, putting on a serious listening stance.
“Just now, while I was away, Chen Yechu and Yu Zhiyu got together—they’re officially in a relationship.” Ning Xiyue exaggerated her expression as if revealing a world-shaking secret, emphasizing the last few words.
“They’re in a relationship?” Ning Qingyuan was genuinely surprised and delighted by the news.
He had witnessed Chen Yechu’s drunken confession to Yu Zhiyu before, and had cared about this matter. Hearing now that they were officially together left him both astonished and happy, though he regretted not being there to witness it in person.
“Little sister, next time, include your brother in these things! It’s a pity I didn’t see this crucial moment today.”
“It’s okay, it’s okay. Today was a bit complicated. It wouldn’t have been appropriate to bring you along. Next time, definitely.”
Ning Xiyue waved her hand. She hadn’t anticipated this ending when the events started, but it turned out perfectly.
“The rest isn’t important. The key is that they’re together. We can look forward to the wedding candy. You can wait to see their wedding—it’ll be even more special.” She patted her brother’s shoulder, proudly tilting her head back: “If they get married, I’ll sit at the main table—the same one as the bride and groom’s parents.”
Hearing the first part, Ning Qingyuan nodded in agreement: “Yes, yes, yes. You’re right—we can watch the wedding.”
Then, hearing the second part, he was confused: “Huh? You’ll sit at the main table?”
“I’m the matchmaker—the one personally recognized by the couple. I’ll get a big red envelope too.” Ning Xiyue smugly showed off, pinching her thumb and index finger together, mimicking counting money.
“If you’re the matchmaker, then I count as one too. I’ll sit at the main table.”
Hearing his sister brag, Ning Qingyuan couldn’t resist:
“You don’t know, Yu Zhiyu asks me every day how to pursue a girl and how to do better. I’m single, never been in a relationship, yet I have to analyze girls’ minds for him, give advice, and help him. Half of their success in being together is thanks to me.”
“Whoa! So you’re the mastermind behind Yu Zhiyu? Didn’t see that coming,” Ning Xiyue said in surprise. She truly hadn’t realized her brother was secretly helping, making their romance a four-person affair.
“Anyway, I’m already the officially recognized matchmaker. You’re just wild, self-proclaimed.”
Ning Xiyue bragged and teased her brother, then ran off.
“Hey, I’m not wild! Wait—I’ll soon be a proper, officially recognized matchmaker.”
Ning Qingyuan retorted indignantly, shouldering the water buckets and chasing after her.
Back at the kitchen, Ning Qingyuan saw the two people who had caused the previous sibling “conflict” outside: one by the ditch, killing the grass carp they had planned to eat after a few days, and the other still washing clothes outside the kitchen.
Chen Yechu looked up when Ning Xiyue returned and called out: “Xiyue, you and your brother come over tonight to eat fish. I’ll ask Zhiyu to get a few more dishes from the cafeteria. Let’s have a lively meal together.”
“Sure!” Ning Xiyue replied eagerly. This meal at the moment when the couple had just gotten together was obviously going to be a celebration.
Ning Qingyuan set down the buckets, walked up to Yu Zhiyu, who was cleaning the fish, and whispered: “Hey, bro, my sister said you succeeded. Congrats!”
Yu Zhiyu looked up, smiling: “Thanks! I owe a lot to your help, good brother. Your sister is Yechu’s close friend; she knows things that Yechu tells her. Later, if needed, there’ll be plenty of times I need you to help analyze things for me.”
“No problem, no problem. When you get married, can I sit at the main table as your matchmaker?”
This question was crucial for Ning Qingyuan, a matter of his competitive spirit compared to his sister.
Yu Zhiyu nodded without hesitation: “Of course! I’ll give you a big red envelope. You’re a brother I’ll be grateful to my whole life.”
“That’s enough for me to feel satisfied. Don’t worry, anytime you need help, I’ll analyze things for you. If I can’t, I’ll find my sister to help. I’ll always be your best brother.”
Ning Qingyuan patted his chest seriously, giving his full promise.
“Good brother,” Yu Zhiyu said, moved, lightly bumping Ning Qingyuan’s elbow as a fist bump since his hands were messy with fish, and invited: “Come over tonight to eat at Yechu’s place.”
“Sure.”
Ning Qingyuan, happy and proud, walked back, swaggering to the table where Ning Xiyue was reading her winemaking notes, sat down, and tossed his hair back triumphantly: “Haha, little sister, my place is at the main table.”
Seeing his brother so smug, Ning Xiyue burst out laughing: “Fine, fine, you have a spot. But this round is only a tie—we’re equal, neither winning nor losing, same status.”
“That’s fine, a tie works.”
Ning Qingyuan’s sudden competitive urge was satisfied, and his rivalry with his sister finally settled.
Feeling pleased, he picked up the book on the table and flipped through it, asking: “Sis, this book is for me?”
“Yes, I rescued it from the scrap station. You like mechanical things, right? I thought of you when I saw it and got it for you. How is it?”
She had even made a replica of the old pages using a simulator to mimic the original worn book.
“It’s perfect, really perfect! So much detailed knowledge—probably more than you’d learn from an apprenticeship. I love it! Thanks, little sister, you never forget to get a book for me from the scrap station.”
Ning Qingyuan couldn’t put the book down. Looking up with teary eyes, he gratefully said to his sister.
“As long as you like it. Next time I see a book about mechanics, I’ll get it for you. And don’t argue with me about the first matchmaker spot, haha—you agreed when you blinked, that’s it, happily decided.”
Ning Xiyue laughed at his dramatics.
Ning Qingyuan’s dramatic mood vanished immediately, leaving only firm resistance: “Nope, each thing has its place. I won’t back down on this.”
“Then I don’t care. You blinked and agreed. Once agreed, no backing out.”
Ning Xiyue shook her little head, teasing and laughing. Her brother’s voice dominated, and for a moment, the two of them argued so loudly it felt like they might lift the roof.
