Urban Seduction: Housewives Club Chapter 2 The Willful Fiancée

Because it was the opening day of the semester, the school's schedule was far less rigid than usual. Consequently, when Ye Fei and his younger sister arrived near 10 o'clock, a portion of the student body had yet to appear.

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

One after the other, the siblings stepped into the classroom. Most students were already present, and upon their arrival, a chorus of greetings met Ye Yunqi. In contrast, Ye Fei was completely ignored. It was clear that as the eldest sister, Ye Yunqi still possessed significant influence among her peers.

Unbothered by the cold shoulder, Ye Fei walked slowly toward his desk. He beamed at the girl seated beside him and said, "Ling, it has 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, yet she did not welcome Ye Fei warmly. She merely snorted, turning her gaze away while whispering under her breath, "Good-for-nothing!"

A wry smile touched Ye Fei's lips, but he felt no resentment. The special bond between him and Ling was common knowledge; they had been betrothed since they were children. Her father had been a loyal comrade to Ye Fei’s father. Over ten years ago, a devastating fire had claimed both their fathers, leaving behind two families composed of widows and orphans. 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.

Lin Ling was her full name. In their youth, she and Ye Fei were inseparable, and she grew up knowing she would one day 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 attitude shifted. She became distant, replacing "Brother Leaf" with blunt terms like "hey" or "oi."

Despite his high intelligence, Ye Fei couldn't pinpoint the exact reason for her change. He suspected it was his physical frailty. After all, who would desire a sickly fiancé? Though many renowned doctors had been consulted since his childhood, none could provide a cure. According to practitioners of traditional medicine, his Meridians were naturally blocked—a condition that was simply beyond human intervention. In this era of environmental decay, the rare natural treasures required to heal such a state were nearly impossible to find, meaning even his family's vast wealth was useless against his illness.

As Ye Fei brooded over his poor health, Lin Ling suddenly nudged his arm. "Hey, I heard you spent the summer at a military camp. Did it actually do anything?" she asked.

It was only natural that she was aware of his movements. Her mother served as the deputy to Ye Fei’s mother and was the second-largest shareholder in the family business. Given the deep ties between their families, keeping his affairs a secret from her was impossible.

Noticing the faint hint of worry in her expression, Ye Fei gave her a gentle smile. "It helped a bit. I feel slightly more robust than I did before the break. I believe if I persist, I will make good progress. I appreciate your concern, Ling."

For a fleeting second, Lin Ling’s eyes brightened at the news of his improvement, but she quickly snorted again. "Who said I was concerned? With how useless you are, why would I care?" She turned back to her desk immediately, refusing to say another word.

A sudden realization hit Ye Fei. He finally understood the reason behind her coldness and her habit of calling him useless. Despite her stubborn exterior, his fiancée's heart had never actually strayed from him.

In the meantime, Ye Yunqi managed to distance herself from the classmates trying to flatter her and took a seat near Ye Fei. Suddenly, she stood up, leaning toward Lin Ling with a mischievous grin. "Sister-in-law, what are you busy writing?"

Startled by Ye Yunqi’s sudden presence, Lin Ling hurriedly shoved her belongings into her desk. She scolded, "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 little. Even as Lin Ling grew distant from Ye Fei, her bond with Ye Yunqi had remained unshakable. Lin Ling was shocked that a simple remark would provoke such an intense reaction from her friend. She quickly apologized, saying, "Yunqi, it was just a slip of the tongue, I'm sorry." As she spoke, she felt a sense of irony; before the holidays, she hadn't minded when Ye Yunqi teased him, and she had often called him a waste herself.

Much of Ye Yunqi’s internal frustration was actually aimed at her own past behavior. Not wanting to ruin her friendship with Lin Ling, she quickly forced a bright smile. "It's fine, we are sisters after all. But..." She leaned in close to Lin Ling’s ear, whispering softly, "Please don't call him that anymore. He has been fragile since he was a child and he truly cares for you. It really hurts him when you speak like that."

Lin Ling smiled and whispered a response back. The two spent several minutes chatting quietly until Ye Yunqi abruptly pushed Ye Fei out of his seat so she could sit next to Lin Ling and continue their private conversation.

Ye Fei sat nearby, watching the two stunning girls as they whispered. Their expressions shifted between laughter and seriousness. His heart felt full; regardless of their topic, knowing they cared for him was all that mattered.

After a while, Ye Yunqi stood up and looked at Ye Fei. "Hey, useless brother, get back to your own seat. The teacher is coming!"

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