"I can't see clearly who is you," he said.
He scoffed and turned back towards the sofa, his eyes heavy with fatigue. "I'm going to sleep first."
Ye San stood before the sofa, his usually impassive face showing a rare flicker of hesitation. He called out to him, "Don't sleep yet."
Ye Yi had already pulled the blanket on the sofa over himself, covering himself completely.
"I have something to tell you."
It would be known sooner or later, and this couldn't be hidden anyway.
After a moment of hesitation, Ye San made up his mind. He thought about his words and said, "Something has happened."
Silence.
He repeated himself, believing he had emphasized the words, "Something has really happened."
Ye Yi still didn't move.
He pulled the blanket off Ye Yi, his brows knitted tightly.
Heaven knew how much he was angered by Ye Yi's indifferent attitude.
But in the deepest part of his heart, there was a faint ache of concern.
No one understood Ye Yi better than he did; he had been there with him every step of the way.
He knew Ye Yi wasn't asleep. He spoke to himself, "Your identity has been exposed."
Ye Yi's eyelashes fluttered, and then his eyes opened, holding a child-like clarity and innocence. "Hmm?"
Ye San opened his mouth, unsure how to explain. He decided to pull up the Weibo page for him to see.
He covered the comments at the bottom and asked, "Finished reading?"
Ye Yi sat cross-legged on the sofa, his face expressionless, even a slight smile playing on his lips.
After reading every word, he nodded. "Finished reading."
His calmness was far beyond Ye San's expectations.
For the first time, Ye Yi saw such obvious worry on Ye San's poker face.
As he felt like laughing, his heart also felt a warmth.
Ye San frowned. "I've already arranged for people to remove the trending topic."
Ye Yi, no longer sleepy, leaned back against the sofa and turned on the TV. He took out a jelly drink from the coffee table drawer and began to suck on it.
As he tore it open, he said casually, "It's useless. These things are clearly well-prepared. No matter who you find, it won't help. The other side has people too."
They both knew this without saying it.
There was nothing to respond to.
In these gossip rags, everything was fake. But there was one thing that was true: Ye Yi's illegitimate son identity.
Therefore, all Ye San could think of was to spend money to remove the trending topic at all costs and quell the matter.
"You..." Ye San hesitated.
He wanted to say, "Are you okay? It's not your fault you're an illegitimate son. Your birth isn't something you can control."
But he was not good with words and couldn't say comforting things.
Ye Yi glanced at him, seeing through his thoughts at a glance. "Don't worry, I'm fine."
From the time he could remember, Ye Yi had known that he was an illegitimate son.
He just hadn't expected it to be exposed now.
He had been back in the country for so long, and he had only seen the Ji family from afar.
"Stop frowning, sit down," he said, appearing even more calm than Ye San.
Ye San sat down with him. "Ji Corporation's stock price has plummeted, and public opinion online is very unfavorable to you. How about you... come abroad with me?"
After all, abroad was their home.
Ye Yi laughed. "What are you afraid of? I haven't done anything wrong, why should I go abroad?"
"It's hard to guarantee that Ji Corporation won't hold you responsible for this, or even think that you leaked this information. The internet is saying you're back to fight for the Ji family's inheritance with Ji Zhi Xiu," he stated the facts matter-of-factly.
"But I have no interest in the Ji family," he leaned back, his tone lazy and casual.
He had never considered himself a member of the Ji family, so he had no interest in anything belonging to the Ji family.
"Besides, I don't care."
"What about Jiang Mian?"
Ye Yi froze. "What does she have to do with it?"
"If you approach her, what will Ji Zhi Xiu think? And what will Jiang Mian think when she finds out your identity? She'll think you approached her intentionally, and that all your kindness towards her was for some ulterior motive, aimed at the Ji family."
His sharp words fell into Ye Yi's ears.
Thinking of this possibility, Ye Yi's heart inevitably ached.
He had to admit that Ye San was speaking the truth.
Then, he tugged at the corner of his mouth, a hint of inexpressible loss on his face. "It doesn't matter."
He didn't care.
Yet, even he didn't believe the words he spoke.
Ye San paused, knowing he was putting on a brave face, and didn't continue the topic.
"As you wish, but don't go to the company for now. Stay at home, and tell me if you need anything."
"Alright, then I'll leave the company to you." Ye Yi was happy to be relieved of the burden.
He accurately threw the empty packaging into the trash can in front of the TV and whistled. "Perfect."
Ye San was helpless against him and changed the subject. "This matter needs to be investigated thoroughly."
"Of course, I want to see which little bastard dared to mess with me."
Ye Yi rubbed his chin, lost in thought, and reminded him, "Investigate Luo Fei."
"Luo Fei?" Ye San's brows furrowed. "Weren't you two getting along well last time?"
"I was just saying what people wanted to hear. Luo Fei is a bit foolish, but not stupid. He lost face to me last time and must still remember it. This matter definitely has something to do with him."
Seeing his certainty, Ye San nodded. "Then I'll go investigate."
"Bye."
As Ye San was about to leave, he looked at him. "If you're unhappy with what's online, don't look at it."
"Got it, got it," he yawned and stretched. "Hurry up and go, I'm going to sleep."
...
Jing Yi Yi saw the news while she was in her office, looking up information.
A pop-up window automatically appeared in the bottom right corner of the computer, showing Weibo's real-time hot topics.
"Little Director Jing, Director Jing asked you to find a copy of the last contract."
A female employee knocked on her office door and said.
Jing Yi Yi quickly snapped back to attention. She found the document in the bottom drawer and handed it to her. "Could you please deliver this to Director Jing for me?"
"Yes, yes, Little Director Jing, are you alright?" the female employee asked, taking the document blankly.
It was the first time she had seen Little Director Jing looking like this.
Although Little Director Jing was Director Jing's daughter, she was always hardworking at work.
She would even stay late and work overtime with them.
Why, this early in the morning, was she...
She paused and said, "Little Director Jing, did something happen? If you say it, we can share the burden."
"It's nothing, it's nothing," Jing Yi Yi said, lowering her head and tidying up the documents on her desk.
"Then why are your eyes red...?" she asked, puzzled.
Jing Yi Yi paused. "My... eyes are red?"
"Yes, they look like you're about to cry."
Jing Yi Yi forced a smile. "I just saw a very touching short video. I'm really fine."
"Alright then, I'll be leaving now, Little Director Jing. Call me if you need anything."
The office fell silent again.
Jing Yi Yi reopened Weibo. Three trending topics had already exploded.
After the initial shock of hearing the news, a faint sense of heartache welled up in Jing Yi Yi's heart.
Ye Yi... how could he be related to Ji Zhi Xiu?
And the illegitimate son of the Ji family.
No wonder she had always seen him with only Ye San by his side.
How sad he must be seeing these trending topics; being mocked by everyone was not a pleasant feeling.
Jing Yi Yi reached for her phone, intending to call him, but suddenly remembered she didn't have Ye Yi's number.
She pressed the company intercom to call her assistant. "A Lin, please ask Director Jing for leave for me. I need to go out."
"Ah? Little Director Jing... Director Jing still needs you to present this month's report at the meeting later?"
Jing Yi Yi stood up and took off her work ID. "Just tell him I have something to do."
...
The villa's surveillance system chimed again.
Annoyed by the noise, Ye Yi angrily threw the throw pillow from his face. It hit the TV and rolled to the floor.
He gritted his teeth and kicked off his slippers to open the door. "Ye San, you better..."
"Ye Yi!"
His words were interrupted. Ye Yi saw who it was and frowned, looking surprised. "Jing Yi Yi, how did you get here?"
Jing Yi Yi saw that he didn't look too sad and assumed he hadn't seen the trending topics yet.
She breathed a sigh of relief. "Let me in first."
Ye Yi glanced at the sweat on her forehead and, without a word, stepped aside to let her in.
This was Jing Yi Yi's first time at his home.
His home was simply furnished, even stark.
Besides the essential furniture, there was nothing else. The overall color scheme was blue and white, very fresh.
The frosted leather down sofa was covered in fluffy throw pillows and toys.
Jing Yi Yi couldn't help but smile. She liked these things too.
It seemed they had similar tastes.
Ye Yi, with a scowl, followed behind her. "How did you find my place?"
Jing Yi Yi nestled into the sofa and turned her head at his question. "I went to Fan Hua and found Ye San. He told me."
Ye Yi's eyes narrowed. He decided he needed to have a word with Ye San about giving out personal information to just anyone.
He sat on the single sofa to his right, his tone displeased. "Did you come here for something?"
Jing Yi Yi pursed her lips and asked cautiously, "Are you okay?"
He sneered. "Do I look like I'm doing well?"
Having his sleep interrupted several times, his tone was incredibly harsh.
Jing Yi Yi belatedly realized, "Did I... disturb your rest?"
She noticed he was still wearing slippers.
"Yes," he said directly.
"Then... I'm sorry." She apologized.
Admitting her mistakes and correcting them was her consistent style.
"I didn't say it was okay." Ye Yi snorted. "If you have something to say, just say it."
Jing Yi Yi carefully observed his expression. "I... saw the trending topics."
"You... actually..."
Jing Yi Yi stumbled over her words, unsure how to comfort him.
"Actually... you're very good." She said earnestly.
"Isn't that stating the obvious? Of course, I'm very good," he grinned.
He didn't understand why Jing Yi Yi had come all this way just to talk nonsense.
"Have you seen the trending topics yet?" she asked hesitantly.
"Mmm," Ye Yi replied expressionlessly.
The atmosphere grew silent.
Ye Yi didn't feel like talking, and Jing Yi Yi didn't know what to say.
"Oh! Ye Yi! Stop pretending! If you're sad, just say it! It's okay! You can't choose your birth, and it doesn't represent anything. I believe you're not that kind of person. You looking like this now, I'm scared!"
Jing Yi Yi couldn't stand the silence anymore, so she bravely blurted out everything she wanted to say.
After she finished, she lowered her head, afraid to look at Ye Yi.
"No, no, I don't mean you're pretending. I mean, don't force yourself. I know you're very sad," she suddenly raised her head again and explained flusteredly.
"Who told you I'm sad right now?" Ye Yi narrowed his eyes, his expression unreadable.
Rarely, his usual smile was absent from his face.
Jing Yi Yi suddenly felt a sense of unease, like she was on shaky ground.
"You... aren't sad?" she asked blankly.
"Why would I be sad?"
"Because... they all say you're an illegitimate son, they curse you for having ulterior motives, say you're back to fight for Ji Zhi Xiu's inheritance, say you had a terrible time abroad, all because of the Ji family..." As she spoke, her voice lowered.