Chapter 6 — My Best Friend's Older Brother Took Responsibility for Me

Ye Zhiyi rolled over and stared at the ceiling. "Whatever—a guy acting like him is either a big CEO or a top-tier scammer. Didn't he say he's coming back tomorrow? When he does, find a chance to snap a secret photo and send it to me—I'll help you search his face across the net." "Okay." Before leaving, she added another reminder, "My parents plan to arrange a meeting between Eldest Brother and Miss Wen in the next two days, so he'll be back then too. If you run into him at home, don't be scared—he looks fierce, but he doesn't bite." "When is your eldest brother coming back?" "Who knows? Said in a day or two. His movements are unpredictable—sometimes he sneaks back at midnight, sometimes he's gone before dawn."

"That sounds exhausting." "Exhausting? He enjoys it," Ye Zhiyi pouted. "Work is his life, more important than life itself. That's why my mom is anxious to find him a partner—wants a woman to tie him down at home." Saying so, she left.

I lay in bed, tossing and turning. My mind alternated between the unfamiliar yet perfect, cool husband and the rumor-bound eldest young master of the Ye family who was fierce, strict, and unreasoning. Two men, two completely different styles. One made me want to get closer, while the other made me want to stay far away.

In the middle of the night, a downpour broke out. Half-asleep, I faintly heard noises downstairs—a car door closing, followed by the main door opening. Someone stepped inside. The footsteps were light, crossing the hallway, coming upstairs to the room next door, opening the door, then closing it. No second sound followed. It seemed to be just one person. I turned over, drowsily thinking: Ye Zhiyi said her eldest brother stayed next door. Could he be back? Whatever, figure it out tomorrow.

The next morning, I was woken by rhythmic running footsteps. Someone was jogging past the balcony outside. The pace was steady, breathing even—clearly he had been running for a while. I didn't open my eyes, remembering Ye Zhiyi's words: *He jogs at six every morning.* Truly a freak. Once the footsteps stopped completely, I slowly got up to brush my teeth. Passing the balcony, my eye caught a dark grey trench coat draped over the railing next door. It looked familiar. No—it smelled familiar. As the wind blew, a faint white tea fragrance drifted over, identical to the scent in the G63 the other day.

My brain took half a beat to process: Someone else used the same white tea fragrance on their trench coat as the car air freshener in her eldest brother's car? What a coincidence. I changed clothes and went downstairs; Aunt Wang was making breakfast in the kitchen while Ye Zhiyi was still snoring on the living room sofa.

"Good morning, Aunt Wang." "Good morning Miss Lin, sit down—we're having wontons today." "Did someone return last night?" "Yes, the Young Master returned at midnight, woke up early to jog, and is changing upstairs now."

Young Master—that meant the eldest young master of the Ye family. I bit into a wonton, pricking up my ears. Footsteps sounded on the stairs—steady, neither fast nor slow. I looked up toward the staircase: A pair of long legs stepped down first, followed by a straight waistline, and then...

My phone rang—it was Xiao He. She said a client booked an early appointment with me today and asked me to come early. "Okay, I'll be right there." Hanging up, I gulped down the remaining wonton, grabbed my bag, and rushed out. Passing the foot of the stairs, the person had just reached the last two steps. I sidestepped to give way, not seeing his face clearly—only that he was very tall, with broad shoulders, and carried that faint white tea fragrance.

Arriving at the company, Xiao He was already waiting at the entrance. "Sister Wan, hurry! Miss Wen is here again—she said the previous photos got great feedback and her blind date loved them, so she wants another set of detailed styled shots! She specifically named you!"

I paused. "Which Miss Wen?" "The beauty in the cheongsam you casually shot last time!" What a coincidence—her again. I put on my uniform and stepped into the studio; Wen Ruyue was already seated at the vanity. Today she wore a light grey fitted dress with a low ponytail, looking pure and gentle. Seeing me enter, she smiled. "Hello Miss Lin, the feedback on the last photos was great—he wants to meet soon. I'd like another formal set, is that okay?" "Of course." I adjusted her earrings and makeup, swapping her long earrings for minimalist pearl studs and changing her lipstick from rose pink to milk-tea nude. Her overall aura elevated instantly. Wen Ruyue checked the mirror left and right, nodding in satisfaction. "Truly professional."