Urban Seduction: Housewives Club Chapter 2 The Willful Fiancée

The school’s schedule wasn't particularly rigid on the first day of the new term. Consequently, when Ye Fei and his sister arrived around 10 o'clock, several students had yet to make an appearance.

Ye Fei waited at the entrance of the corridor to catch his breath, slowly feeling his strength return. He offered a smile to his sister, who stood patiently by his side. It struck him that she had changed since the summer vacation began; previously, she never would have waited for him. It appeared that during their two months apart, she had matured and developed a sense of care for others.

One after the other, the siblings stepped into the classroom. Most of their peers were already present. As they entered, the room filled with greetings for Ye Yunqi, yet Ye Fei was met with total silence. It was clear that the influence of the eldest sister, Ye Yunqi, remained quite formidable.

Unbothered by the cold shoulder, Ye Fei eased into his chair. He looked at the girl in the neighboring seat and said with a smile, "Ling, it's been a long time. How did you spend your summer?"

Ling was a beauty who rivaled Ye Yunqi, perhaps even surpassing her in terms of her figure, but she did not welcome Ye Fei warmly. She merely let out a cold snort and looked away, whispering under her breath, "Good-for-nothing!"

A bitter smile touched Ye Fei’s lips, though he felt no resentment. Everyone knew about the unique bond between him and Ling: they had been betrothed since they were children. Her father had been a loyal comrade to Ye Fei’s father. Tragically, both men died in a massive fire over ten years ago, leaving two families of widows and orphans behind. Ling’s circumstances were even more difficult than the Ye family’s; while the Ye household had five children, Ling’s family consisted only of herself and her mother.

Her full name was Lin Ling. In their youth, she and Ye Fei were inseparable, and she grew up knowing she was destined to be his wife. She used to call him "Brother Leaf" with great affection, symbolizing that they were as connected as leaves in a forest. However, at some point, Lin Ling’s heart grew cold toward him. She stopped calling him "Brother Leaf," replacing the term with dismissive words like "hey" or "oi."

Despite his high intelligence, Ye Fei couldn't pinpoint exactly why she had changed. He suspected it was his physical frailty. After all, who would desire a sickly fiancé? He had seen countless renowned doctors since childhood, but none could provide a cure. According to the principles of traditional medicine, his Meridians were naturally blocked—a condition that was essentially incurable. Unless he could find legendary natural treasures to cleanse his body—which were nearly extinct in this age of industrial decay—not even his family’s massive fortune could restore his health.

While Ye Fei was lost in these gloomy thoughts about his body, Lin Ling suddenly brushed against his arm. "Hey," she asked, "I heard you stayed at a military camp over the summer. Did it actually do anything?"

It wasn't surprising that she was aware of his movements. Her mother served as the deputy to Ye Fei’s mother and held the position of the company's second-largest shareholder. Given the intertwined history of their families, his life was an open book to her.

Noticing the faint trace of worry in her eyes, Ye Fei smiled warmly. "It helped a bit. I feel slightly more robust than I did before the break. I believe if I persist, I’ll see real progress. Thank you for your concern, Ling."

Lin Ling’s eyes flickered with a brief spark of hope upon hearing he was stronger, but she quickly masked it with another snort. "Who’s concerned about you? Why would a useless person like you be worth my time?" She turned back to her desk, ignoring him once more.

A sudden realization hit Ye Fei. He finally understood the reason behind her coldness and why she constantly labeled him useless. Despite her stubborn attitude, his fiancée’s heart hadn't changed at all.

In the meantime, Ye Yunqi finally finished dealing with the classmates trying to flatter her and sat down by Ye Fei. She suddenly stood up, leaning over toward Lin Ling with a mischievous grin. "Sister-in-law, what are you busy writing?"

Lin Ling hadn't noticed Ye Yunqi’s approach. Startled by the title, she scrambled to hide her papers in her desk and snapped, "Yunqi, how many times must I tell you not to use that title? I have no intention of ever marrying this waste of space!"

"You shouldn't talk about my brother that way!" Ye Yunqi’s expression soured, her heart aching for him. "He isn't a waste! If you keep insulting him, I’ll stop speaking to you!"

The two girls had been best friends since they were toddlers. Even as Lin Ling grew distant from Ye Fei, her bond with Ye Yunqi remained as tight as ever. Lin Ling was stunned that a single comment would trigger such a fierce defense from Ye Yunqi. She quickly apologized, "Yunqi, it was just a slip of the tongue. I’m sorry." As she spoke, she felt a sense of confusion; before the summer break, Ye Yunqi hadn't minded the "sister-in-law" jokes and had even joined in calling Ye Fei a waste.

Most of Ye Yunqi’s anger had actually been directed at herself. Not wanting to ruin her friendship with Lin Ling, she quickly forced a bright smile. "It's fine, we’re still best friends. But..." She leaned in close to Lin Ling’s ear, whispering softly, "Please don't talk about 'brother' like that anymore. He’s had a hard life being so weak since he was little, and he truly cares for you. If you keep calling him that, it will break his heart."

Lin Ling smiled and whispered a response back. The two girls shared a private conversation for a few minutes before Ye Yunqi stood up, pushed Ye Fei out of his seat, and took his place next to Lin Ling to continue their chat.

Ye Fei sat off to the side, watching the two beautiful girls as they whispered together. Their expressions shifted between laughter and serious concern. He felt a surge of warmth in his chest. It didn't matter what they were discussing; knowing that they cared for him was more than enough.

After a while, Ye Yunqi stood up and called out to him, "Hey, useless brother, get back to your seat! The teacher is coming!"

Ye Fei was stunned for a moment. Why was his sister so angry at Lin Ling for using that word earlier, only to use it herself now? However, the realization quickly dawned on him, confirming his earlier suspicions about their true feelings.