Chapter 120: Beyond Sibling Affection

“Lawyer Lu, I notice your words today are edged with barbs. Do you have some grudge against me?” Ye Hua lifted his chin, glaring at Lu Yao with a hint of rebuke, trying to assert dominance over her aggressive stance, unwilling to lose composure so easily.

Lu Yao maintained a faint smile and gently shook her head.

Yang Lan, already irritated, growled in frustration upon hearing Ye Hua constantly picking fights with Lu Yao, “Xiao Hua, will you ever stop? Can you just keep quiet? Lawyer Lu is already busy enough with your younger brother’s affairs. Can’t you just say less?”

Ye Hua rolled his eyes irritably, not even bothering to pretend, and snapped, “Mom, is it that in your heart only my third brother’s matters truly matter? I’m your flesh and blood too. When will I ever be your priority?”

Yang Lan frowned, looking up at Ye Hua with confusion, wondering what madness had possessed him to throw a tantrum at such a time.

“I’ve always told you since you were young, the elder must yield to the younger. Now that your third brother is in trouble, you don’t help, and instead, you make things worse. I think Lawyer Lu was right to say you’re feeling guilty,” she said, unable to contain her emotions, shouting at Ye Hua in a venting fury.

Ye Hua’s expression stiffened.

“You’re utterly unreasonable!” he roared, then stormed off in a huff.

Yang Lan, in no mood to soothe the sulking Ye Hua, exhaustedly turned to Lu Yao and said, “Lawyer Lu, we’re counting on good news from you.”

Lu Yao exhaled softly, inwardly relieved that the farce was finally over, and nodded gently at Yang Lan.

---

Yang Lan tugged at the corner of her mouth and went back inside to rest.

Night had deepened.

As Lu Yao stepped out of the old residence, a luxury car pulled up beside her. The passenger window slowly rolled down.

A handsome face appeared, his tone calm and steady: “It’s late. I’ll take you home.”

Lu Yao didn’t refuse. As soon as she buckled her seatbelt, Ye Zehong handed her a thick file folder.

“Here’s the paper data. It might not be very useful to you—just all the trivial accounts of Ye Hua over the past decade or so.”

“Thank you, I’ll take a look.”

Lu Yao felt a flicker of emotion as she opened the folder and carefully examined each sheet.

Indeed, as Ye Zehong had said, the data was mundane and revealed nothing remarkable.

She looked up, stealing a glance at Ye Zehong, captivated by the way his jaw tightened in concentration as he drove.

She realized she had never noticed before just how perfect the contours of his face were when he was serious.

Like the plaster busts from art class long ago—features sharp, deep, and captivating.

“Not looking at the data, just staring at me. Do I have the truth you’re searching for written on my face?” he teased.

---

Ye Zehong spoke as he suddenly braked sharply, his handsome face moving close to Lu Yao’s.

The heat of his breath brushed against her nose, making her breath catch.

“What are you doing?”

Startled, Lu Yao instinctively leaned back, trying to avoid the warm air.

Her small movement did not escape Ye Zehong’s notice; it caused his heart to sink again.

His voice took on a cold edge: “Lu Yao, you might not realize it yourself, but ever since Zhou Luoxi showed up, every time I come near you, you instinctively pull away. Are you avoiding me because of Zhou Luoxi?”

Lu Yao pressed her lips together, a tightness growing in her chest.

Ye Zehong lowered his gaze to the corner of her eye, a cold smile playing on his lips. “Lu Yao, we’re all adults here. Be honest—do you have feelings for Zhou Luoxi that go beyond sibling affection?”

(End of chapter)