"Swoosh... swoosh..."

Friday night, Ye Mansion.

Ye Lan, with her makeup off, raised her head and looked at herself in the mirror wearing pajamas.

Droplets of water flowed down her mature cheeks, reflecting different shades of light on her fair skin under the bathroom lamp.

Just looking at herself in the mirror, Ye Lan couldn't help but cup her cheeks and mutter in comparison to her memories,

"It's true, with age comes worse skin, so much worse than before..."

"It's just that mom has been too busy lately and hasn't been resting well."

Beside her, Ye Shiyu's rare comforting words came, making Ye Lan smile and turn her head to look,

"Yes, the company's matters have indeed been a bit busy lately..."

She saw her daughter lying expressionlessly on her side in bed, holding the pillow she brought tightly in her arms, only revealing half her head to look at her.

Actually, Ye Shiyu didn't bring a pillow because she was particular, nor because there were no extra pillows in Ye Lan's room. It was just that every night Ye Shiyu needed to hold a pillow in her arms to fall asleep.

The one she was holding now was the one she found most comfortable.

Ye Lan quickly applied some skincare products, then turned off the bathroom light and returned to the bedroom.

After getting into bed from the other side, she combed her hair and asked Ye Shiyu,

"Do you want to talk about why you suddenly wanted to sleep with me tonight?"

"..."

Ye Shiyu turned her head, looked at her mother for a long time, hugged her pillow tighter, and whispered,

"I just felt like it..."

Actually, it was because of what Mori Yana said, plus Ye Lan being busy with work recently and rarely spending time with her.

Adding these up, even though Ye Shiyu knew it was unlikely for Ye Lan to fall in love again due to her experiences, she still felt insecure.

So that's why...

"..."

No one knows a daughter better than her mother. Ye Lan saw through her little thoughts but didn't expose them. She just reached out and ruffled her hair,

"I see..."

Enjoying Ye Lan's touch, Ye Shiyu squinted her eyes comfortably, instinctively pressing the pillow in her arms.

"Alright, let's turn off the lights and go to sleep. If I remember correctly, you have extra classes on Saturday, and I have to go to the office early..."

"Hmm."

Feeling her mother's hand withdrawing, Ye Shiyu opened her eyes expressionlessly and watched Ye Lan's back turn to turn off the light.

"Click~"

As the room light went off, Ye Lan turned to get into bed.

"Rustle... rustle..."

However, just after she turned around, Ye Shiyu, holding her pillow, scooted over from the other side until she was in front of Ye Lan.

Ye Shiyu then glanced at Ye Lan expressionlessly and gently stretched out her hand and foot onto Ye Lan.

Ye Lan knew this was Ye Shiyu's way of acting spoiled.

She chuckled and extended her arms to hug Ye Shiyu too.

Once this was done, Ye Shiyu snuggled comfortably in Ye Lan's arms, burying her head in her mother's chest with the pillow in between, and closed her eyes.

Ye Lan patted her back and chuckled softly,

"You're so grown up, but you still sleep like when you were little. If you get married, won't your husband tease you for it..."

Upon hearing this, Ye Shiyu, who had been curling up with her head down, suddenly raised her head.

In the darkness, her eager eyes looked on, voice filled with confusion,

"Mom, will Xiao Huan mind?"

The mention of Yan Huan's name made Ye Lan's previously gentle smile freeze slightly.

Oh no, she shouldn't have brought that up...

Now she inadvertently triggered her daughter's keyword.

"...Who knows."

"..."

Seeing her daughter's thoughtful, slightly pensive expression, Ye Lan couldn't help but hold her forehead and sigh.

Since it was already mentioned and she hadn't had the chance to ask about her and Xiao Huan due to work, it might be a good idea to ask more and check on her current situation.

"Speaking of which, you've been back for a few days, and I haven't had a chance to ask, how was your time in Ying Country with Xiao Huan?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Shiyu raised her eyes and recalled.

But what came to mind were the hollow eyes of An Le, the tentacles flying all over the sky, and...

The very uncomfortable expression of Xiao Huan after being hypnotized, yet her body was very honest.

"..."

Thinking of this scene, she swallowed a mouthful of saliva and quickly shook her head, trying to dispel such vivid images from her mind.

She had already turned over a new leaf, couldn't think of such things anymore, and had to be self-disciplined.

"...It was okay."

Ye Lan gave Ye Shiyu a skeptical look, frowning slightly as she asked,

"Did you do anything to Xiao Huan during the trip?"

"..."

"Hmm? Speak up."

"No."

"Really?"

"Hmm..."

After that, Ye Shiyu buried her head back into her mother's chest, trying to evade further questioning in this sneaky way.

In hindsight, she indeed hadn't succeeded in doing anything...

Plus, she'd now decided not to disappoint Xiao Huan anymore...

So, if she rounded it off, it was as if she really hadn't done anything?

"...So, what's your situation with Xiao Huan now?"

"Very good... Xiao Huan cares a lot about me and is always trying to help me make friends... I'm also working hard, not to disappoint Xiao Huan, and trying to learn how to interact normally with people..."

Ye Shiyu raised her head and told her mother about how Yan Huan had been trying to get her and Mori Yana to get along during this period.

Yet hearing about Yan Huan's sincere efforts for Ye Shiyu, Ye Lan showed no joy but sighed even heavier,