Chapter 12: Unraveling Zi Yanran’s Intentions

Zi Ye’s gaze once again settled upon Bai Mengqi across the table, his eyes holding a hint of inquiry. He was the first to break the somewhat delicate silence.

“Young lady,” he began, “I hear you’re from Lantian County. Our family’s hometown is also there; we moved to Jiangcheng a few years ago for work. Do you not have any brothers? Like paternal or maternal cousins?”

His voice was steady and calm, yet it subtly carried an undeniable aura of authority.

For any ordinary person, it would be impossible to conceive that Zi Yanran and Bai Mengqi were connected through a metaphysical birth.

Bai Mengqi’s heart fluttered slightly. She didn’t understand why Zi Ye had suddenly asked this, but she feigned confusion and countered, “Of course I do. But if I may ask, why are you curious about that?”

She tried her best to keep her tone natural, yet a flicker of panic involuntarily crossed her eyes.

This was a typical sign of an immature mindset.

Zi Ye didn’t answer directly, instead pressing on, “Oh, then do you have any brothers who look particularly like you?”

His gaze was fixed intently on Bai Mengqi, as if he sought to capture the slightest shift in her expression.

Just as Bai Mengqi was about to respond, Zi Yanran, who was seated nearby, abruptly interrupted their conversation.

“Dad, stop prying,” Zi Yanran said. “Let’s eat first.”

Zi Yanran’s tone held a hint of playful reproach. With that, she proactively stood up, took Bai Mengqi’s bowl, and enthusiastically served her rice and dishes. Her movements were remarkably skilled and natural, as if they had been close friends for years.

This sudden display of warmth left Bai Mengqi somewhat flustered. She quickly waved her hand, saying, “No, please, I can do it myself.”

She truly wasn’t accustomed to such overly intimate gestures. After all, she had only recently met the Zi family, and it felt rather awkward to her.

However, Zi Yanran made no effort to hide her enthusiasm, still smiling brightly as she said, “Alright, help yourself then. Don’t be shy; just treat this place as your own home.”

Her tone was relaxed and natural, her expression suggesting she already regarded Bai Mengqi as one of their own, devoid of any pretense.

This scene, witnessed by Zi Ye and Su Xiaoshi, only deepened their confusion.

The couple couldn’t help but exchange a glance. Their eyes seemed to silently ask each other: ‘What’s gotten into our girl today? Why is she so exceptionally warm towards another young woman, and why is she stopping us from asking questions? Is there something amiss here?’

Since his daughter had forbidden further questions, Zi Ye no longer clung to the previous topic. Instead, he approached learning about Bai Mengqi from a different angle.

He cleared his throat and spoke again, “Young lady, how old are you this year? You look like you’ve just graduated. Although I mostly don’t manage company affairs anymore, I am still the chairman of the group.”

Though his words carried a faint hint of modesty, the chairman’s inherent authority subtly permeated the air.

Bai Mengqi politely replied, “I’m almost 23, and I just graduated from Jiangdu University. I’d been looking for a job for a while, and I was fortunate enough to be noticed by President Zi—”

Before she could finish, however, she felt a dangerous gaze instantly dart towards her—a look that came directly from Zi Yanran.

Alarmed, she instantly realized her mistake. She quickly corrected herself, “Oh, I was fortunate enough to be chosen by Sister Yanran to become her dedicated secretary.”

After speaking, she stealthily glanced at Zi Yanran, who then offered a slight nod, her expression softening somewhat.

Zi Ye listened, then nodded, a benevolent smile appearing on his face. “Work hard, young lady,” he advised. “You have a high starting point. Learn from Yanran, and once you gain experience, you can transfer to a department and take on a management role.”

His words were filled with expectations for a junior, as, in his eyes, Bai Mengqi was someone his daughter valued, and he naturally hoped she would achieve something significant within the company.

However, he was actually contemplating Bai Mengqi’s age.

Before Bai Mengqi could respond, Zi Yanran interjected once more.

She tilted her head slightly and declared, “There’s no need for that. She’ll stay by my side as my dedicated secretary. Once you officially retire, Dad, I’ll directly take over your position, and she’ll be my chairman’s secretary.”

Her tone left no room for doubt, as if her entire future had already been meticulously planned.

Bai Mengqi offered a helpless smile. She knew she seemed to have little say in this matter, so she quietly lowered her head and continued eating, her mind pondering how truly inscrutable Zi Yanran’s intentions were.

Upon hearing his daughter’s words, Zi Ye couldn’t help but frown. He looked at Zi Yanran and asked, “What’s with you today, girl? You’re acting so strangely.”

He truly couldn’t fathom the purpose behind his daughter’s actions and words today.

Zi Yanran, however, had no intention of revealing too much. She merely stated nonchalantly, “I’ve been lonely for a long time. Is it so wrong to want to be best friends with a girl I find agreeable?”

A flicker of subtle cunning crossed her eyes, yet her words sounded utterly reasonable.

Zi Ye was momentarily speechless. He wanted to say more, but then he felt that his daughter’s words held some truth, though the lingering sense of doubt in his heart refused to dissipate.

Just then, Zi Yanran suddenly dropped another bombshell, leaving everyone stunned once more.

“Oh, and Dad, Mom,” she announced, “I’ve decided to move out.”

Her voice was calm yet firm, as if this decision had been brewing in her mind for a long time.

“What? Move out? What about Ziyi and Zixuan?” Su Xiaoshi immediately asked, her voice filled with urgency.

As a mother, her primary concern was naturally the well-being and care of her grandchildren.

Zi Yanran, however, replied casually, “You two don’t have anything else to do at home anyway, so just help look after them, right? Besides, it’s not like I’m never coming back.”

She didn’t seem to view the matter with much gravity. In her opinion, she was an adult and had the right to pursue her desired lifestyle.

As for the children, they were old enough to run and jump, and would soon be starting school; there was no need to worry too much.

Upon hearing their daughter’s response, the couple grew even more bewildered.

They couldn’t possibly understand why their daughter, who was perfectly fine, would want to move out. Moreover, she was so easily pushing the responsibility of childcare onto them.

Zi Ye tentatively asked, “Have you chosen a place yet?”

He thought to himself that perhaps he could glean some clues from his daughter’s chosen residence.

Zi Yanran glanced at Bai Mengqi, then replied, “Yes, I have. But don’t ask about the exact location; it’s not yet time to tell you. Oh, and in the future, if I’m busy or unavailable, I’ll have Mengqi relay messages on my behalf.”

Her words made the couple’s expressions incredibly complex.

They vaguely sensed that their daughter’s attitude towards Bai Mengqi eerily resembled a wife’s doting affection for her husband. This was utterly bizarre.

“Ziyi, Zixuan, do you two have any objections?”

Su Xiaoshi quickly turned to her grandchildren, thinking she might get different answers from them.

The two children looked at Bai Mengqi and answered in unison, “No objections! We really like Aunt Mengqi, and Mommy doesn’t spend much time with us anyway.”

The children’s simple and direct response left the couple with no further reason to object. After all, their daughter was already 28 years old, and independent living was her right, especially since their home genuinely struggled to provide true privacy.

“What about safety?” Zi Ye asked again.

As a father, his greatest concern was his daughter’s safety.

Zi Yanran, this time, did not conceal anything. She offered a mysterious smile.

“Don’t worry,” she assured them, “Sister Mengqi is also a powerful ability user. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have made her my dedicated secretary.”

Her words carried a hint of pride, as if Bai Mengqi’s prowess could also reflect favorably upon her.

The couple’s expressions shifted once more.

“Young lady, you’re an ability user?” Zi Ye asked in astonishment.

He truly hadn’t expected this seemingly young and innocent girl to possess such extraordinary abilities.

Bai Mengqi nodded, speaking softly, “You could say I’m a sorcerer.”

With that, she subtly raised her eyes and concentrated her mental power. Before everyone’s astonished gaze, a plate on the table slowly began to float, gently spinning in the air. This miraculous sight caused everyone to hold their breath, their eyes fixed unblinkingly on the levitating plate.

A moment later, Bai Mengqi gently waved her hand, and the plate settled smoothly back onto the table. The entire process was clean and precise, without the slightest hesitation.

Seeing this, Zi Yanran couldn’t help but smile. “See?” she said. “Having a sorcerer by your side is much safer than having a martial artist for protection.”

Her eyes were filled with trust and admiration for Bai Mengqi’s abilities.

After witnessing Bai Mengqi’s capabilities, Zi Ye and his wife were once again left speechless.

Yet, at the same time, Bai Mengqi’s supernatural ability sparked another kind of reasonable suspicion within them.