"Hmm!"
Upon hearing the melodious yet energetic female voice, the atmosphere at the dining table tensed, and scrutinizing gazes fell upon Ye Ming, who was leisurely sipping his porridge.
He, too, was utterly bewildered, his spoon frozen midway to his mouth.
Ye Ming could swear with all his might that the voice from outside was completely unfamiliar, one he had never heard before.
"Aren't you going to explain?"
Fang Junxue's smile held a chilling edge, making one's back prickle with cold.
After all, they had all heard that the person outside had spoken intentionally.
This piqued their curiosity.
"This... this! Chu Qingyi? I... I don't know her!"
Ye Ming raised his hands, feigning innocence.
"Oh! Is that so?"
Ji Hongying crossed her arms, her peach blossom eyes clearly showing disbelief.
"No... no! Qianyu, help me explain." Seeing this, Ye Ming immediately cast a pleading glance at Nangong Qianyu. "You must know I'm not lying, right!"
After all, there was a special connection between them.
"What? What are you talking about?"
Nangong Qianyu wore a confused expression. "How would I know if you're lying? Stop looking at me like that!"
"You..."
Ye Ming almost spat out a mouthful of blood upon hearing this.
"Fine! You win, I'll settle this with you later! Hmph!"
Ye Ming shot her a fierce glare and reluctantly left.
He was determined to find out who this Chu Qingyi was.
"Hahaha!"
As soon as he left, a string of bell-like laughter erupted from the dining table. Among them, Nangong Qianyu's laughter was the most triumphant.
This made Ye Ming, who was just about to open the door, twitch his lips several times.
However, he held back.
*Creak!*
"Who is it, knocking on the door so early in the morning? Isn't that a bit rude... ly..."
Ye Ming, still fuming, opened the door. He had intended to vent his pent-up frustration, but his words caught in his throat as he was transfixed by the figure outside.
Before him stood a woman in a deep ink-colored long dress. She was beautiful, with a naturally clear face devoid of any makeup, exuding an effortless elegance that perfectly embodied feminine wisdom and gentleness.
A beret adorned her head, adding a touch of girlish charm. The hat obscured her eyes, casting them in a mysterious interplay of light and shadow.
"Young Master Ye, hello!"
Chu Qingyi extended a delicate hand, her demeanor graceful. A slight curve graced her rosy lips.
"The Chu family?"
Ye Ming briefly shook her hand, a fleeting touch, and then with a hint of apology, said, "I'm truly sorry, but I don't recall anyone from the Chu family you mentioned."
While Ye Ming appeared calm on the surface, his heart was in turmoil. The reason for his profound reaction was not her beauty or figure, but rather... her identity and power.
An immortal cultivator!
Yes, the woman before him was a genuine immortal cultivator. Furthermore, her cultivation had reached the Yuanxin Realm.
Under normal circumstances, Ye Ming wouldn't pay much attention to such strength.
However, seeing it in such a young woman demanded serious consideration.
Especially her arrival at this particular time, everything about it pointed to something unusual.
"Hahaha! It's quite normal for Young Master Ye not to remember the Chu family. However..."
Chu Qingyi pursed her lips and smiled, her gaze drifting into the room. She said softly, "I believe Miss Junxue here wouldn't be unfamiliar."
Her voice was light, yet Fang Junxue and the others at the table heard it clearly. It was evident she had spoken intentionally.
"Young Master Ye, aren't you going to invite me in for a seat?"
Chu Qingyi retracted her gaze, her tone laced with a hint of playful teasing.
"Uh! Please, by all means!"
Since she had put it that way, Ye Ming could only gesture for Chu Qingyi to enter.
She didn't stand on ceremony, giving a slight nod before stepping into the hall.
Ye Ming, following behind, scratched his head with a wry smile.
"What... what is this about?"
Ye Ming had no idea about this woman's intentions, his mind quite befuddled.
"Wow! Ah Ming brought back another pretty sister."
As Chu Qingyi entered everyone's view, Xiao Ai Yin, who had been engrossed in her meal, wiped a smudge of rice from her lips and looked at Chu Qingyi curiously, her eyes seemingly shining.
"Hmm?"
Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the room became noticeably awkward. Ye Ming's forehead was instantly etched with several dark lines.
He hurried over, picked up Xiao Ai Yin, and corrected her, "Ai Yin, brother didn't bring her back. She came on her own, understand?"
"Oh!"
Xiao Ai Yin seemed to understand, yet not entirely. "Then why did the big sister come to see Ah Ming? Does she also know Ah Ming cooks well and wants to come for a meal?"
For a meal?
What was all this about?
However, upon hearing her words, Chu Qingyi's gaze genuinely shifted to the dining table. The array of exquisite breakfast items indeed exuded a tempting aroma.
Her throat involuntarily bobbed.
Due to some circumstances, Chu Qingyi hadn't had breakfast yet. Seeing such a lavish spread of delicacies now, it was natural for her to be tempted.
"If Miss Qingyi doesn't mind, you're welcome to dine with us!"
Fang Junxue smiled and extended the invitation.
Her tone suggested she was not entirely unfamiliar with the woman before them.
"Then I accept your kind invitation!"
To everyone's surprise, Chu Qingyi didn't refuse and actually took a seat.
Seeing this, Bai Qiushui placed a pair of chopsticks and a bowl for her.
"This..."
This truly left Ye Ming dumbfounded.
"Hehehe! The big sister indeed knows Ah Ming cooks very well!"
Xiao Ai Yin declared proudly, seemingly pleased with her accurate guess.
"Ahem! Doris, Ai Yin needs to go to school!"
Ye Ming couldn't bear to leave Xiao Ai Yin here any longer; it was best to send her to school first. If she said anything else that could be misinterpreted, it would be too embarrassing.
"Ah... okay!"
Doris stood up and lifted Xiao Ai Yin from Ye Ming's embrace.
However, before leaving, she couldn't help but glance at Chu Qingyi, her eyes brimming with undisguised curiosity.
It seemed she, too, was eager to know the woman's purpose for visiting.
After Doris carried Xiao Ai Yin away, Ye Ming finally breathed a slight sigh of relief. However, the atmosphere in the room was still somewhat overwhelming for him.
He cast a pleading look at Fang Junxue, finding the situation agonizing.
Fang Junxue understood, nodded gently, and then turned to Chu Qingyi, asking with a soft smile, "Miss Qingyi, may I inquire what your capacity is for this visit?"