A few days after Yang Ling's clash with Chen Fan, Chen Fan had disappeared from Yang Ling's sight. Even at the Liu family's residence, where Liu Wan lived, there was no sign of him. He must have gone to heal his injuries. During these days, Yang Ling enjoyed a rare period of leisure. Apart from handling company affairs daily, he spent his time chatting with Liu Wan on the phone, living quite comfortably.
"Ding dong." The notification sound broke the silence in the car. Yang Ling's phone screen displayed a message from Liu Wan: "Don't forget about tonight's date, or else (playful emoji)."
Seeing this message, Yang Ling felt a headache coming on. Initially, Liu Wan was somewhat reserved when chatting with him, but after a few days, her style had become more relaxed and bold. She even flirted with him a few times, making Yang Ling, who had never had a girlfriend, feel overwhelmed.
"I thought only Yu Yao would do this, but it turns out Liu Wan is also quite the expert." Yang Ling thought to himself as he quickly replied to Liu Wan's message. Putting down his phone, Yang Ling sat in the passenger seat of the luxury car. Yu Yao's voice came from the driver's seat. As she drove, she talked to Yang Ling about Chen Fan's whereabouts, while Yang Ling turned to look at the scenery outside the window.
The skyscrapers shimmered in the twilight glow, and the city's hustle and bustle made Yang Ling feel enchanted. Everything here evoked a sense of longing in him and reminded him of home. Not just the Zhou family, but also... He gazed at the approaching dusk sky, watching the yellow clouds, lost in thought.
Yu Yao noticed Yang Ling's silence and understood he was thinking about home. She spoke gently to comfort him, "Young Master, if you miss home, you should go back and see it."
Yang Ling's eyes remained on the sky as he subconsciously replied, "I want to go back, but I can't right now."
Yu Yao didn't know which home Yang Ling was referring to. She looked at her young master with a complex feeling. Yang Ling, despite his young age, could have lived a life of luxury and indulgence like other wealthy heirs. The influence of the Zhou family was far greater than those rich kids, but Yang Ling chose a different path. This made Yu Yao feel a pang of sadness for him, thinking that he had never truly enjoyed life.
"It's okay, you still have me, Young Master." Yu Yao's alluring voice sounded in Yang Ling's ear. He turned to see Yu Yao staring at him with a face full of seduction and gentleness. His face instantly flushed, and he quickly changed the topic.
The atmosphere inside the car grew thick with tension, making Yang Ling feel uncomfortable. He looked out the window, trying to calm himself with the passing scenery. Just as he was about to speak, his phone rang.
Yang Ling's phone suddenly rang. He picked it up, glanced at the caller ID, and pressed the answer button: "Hello, Dad."
From the other end came the deep voice of Zhou Guoshan: "Yang Ling, the bodyguard I found for you has arrived. She's at my villa now. Go take a look. If you're not satisfied, we can send her back."
Yang Ling was about to decline, but knowing his father's temper, he realized that Zhou Guoshan would insist on assigning him a bodyguard regardless. He reluctantly agreed, "Alright, I'll go there right away."
After hanging up, Yang Ling sighed. The car slowly returned to his luxurious villa. Under the night, the villa appeared particularly serene and imposing.
Soon, Yang Ling arrived home. As he got out of the car, he saw a tall, beautiful woman standing at the villa's entrance, her eyes fixed on the door, motionless. Her figure stood out strikingly in the dim light.
Yang Ling's gaze fell upon her, immediately captivated by her appearance. She had a very beautiful face with delicate and well-defined features, as if sculpted to perfection. Her deep-set eyes always seemed to exude a cold aura, making people hesitant to approach. Her thin, tightly pressed lips seemed never to show a smile.
Her long, jet-black hair, which reached her waist, was simply tied back, adding a touch of elegance. She wore a simple long-sleeved shirt and tight pants, but Yang Ling quickly recognized it as a combat suit, accentuating her slender yet powerful figure.
When Yu Yao saw her, a look of uncontainable joy appeared on her face. She quickly parked the car and asked Yang Ling for permission: "Young Master, may I go over?"
Yang Ling smiled and nodded, signaling that she could go. Receiving his approval, Yu Yao immediately ran to where the woman stood. Upon seeing Yu Yao, the woman's cold gaze also softened, revealing a rare smile.
"Sister!" Yu Yao cheered, running into the woman's arms. The woman, who turned out to be Yu Yao's sister, Yu Shuang, warmly embraced her.
"Sister, did the Zhou family send you to protect the Young Master?" Yu Yao, being shorter by a head, looked up at Yu Shuang from her embrace, appearing small and dependent.
Yu Shuang didn't say much, only nodded, then turned her gaze to Yang Ling. Her eyes, previously cold, instantly softened with a warmth that was only meant for him.
Since childhood, Yu Shuang and Yu Yao's lives were filled with hardship and misfortune. Their father was addicted to gambling, and their mother was seriously ill. After their father lost all his money, he vented his anger on the two sisters. Yu Shuang, being two years older than Yu Yao, always stood up to protect her younger sister. However, their mother's death only made their situation worse. Their father decided to sell them to clear his gambling debts. Yu Shuang and Yu Yao knew that being sold would mean a life of suffering, so they ran away when their father wasn't paying attention.
Their days on the run were full of hunger and cold, nearly starving on the streets. Just when they were about to lose hope, the young master of an ancient martial arts family found them. Attracted by their delicate faces, he brought them back with ill intentions. Not long after, this martial arts family was exterminated by the Zhou family, and the sisters were taken back to the Zhou household. They thought their fate would improve, but it did not. Although the Zhou family wasn't known for bullying the weak, the sisters' talents remained hidden, and they continued to do menial labor every day. Yu Shuang, who had no spiritual power, was especially subjected to bullying and ridicule.
One day, Yang Ling saw them being bullied and took them in as maids, expelling their tormentors from the Zhou family. Initially, Yu Yao and Yu Shuang thought Yang Ling was after the same reasons as others, but over time, they realized he had no such intentions. Instead, Yang Ling treated them with respect and care, even helping them discover their talents. Yu Yao exhibited extraordinary talent in cultivating spiritual power, while Yu Shuang's prowess in physical techniques was gradually revealed under Yang Ling's guidance.
Gradually, Yu Shuang and Yu Yao developed deep gratitude towards Yang Ling. In their eyes, he was like a beacon of light saving them from darkness, bringing hope and new life. Back then, Yang Ling was only eleven years old, and they were eleven and thirteen. Over time, they grew dependent, admiring, and trusting him unconditionally, right up to this day.
Yu Shuang regained her composure and gently moved Yu Yao aside, then knelt on one knee. "Young Master."
"Get up. How have things been in the Zhou family all these years?"
"Thanks to you, Young Master, everything has been well." Yu Shuang stood up, her eyes never leaving Yang Ling. Yu Yao, noticing this, pouted slightly, gently tugging her sister's arm to express her dissatisfaction at being ignored.
Yu Shuang whispered to Yu Yao, "Alright, Yao Yao, let the Young Master rest first. We have plenty of time to talk."
Yang Ling smiled slightly and nodded, "Let's go inside."
"Yu Shuang, let's spar a bit later."
"Young Master, I..." Yu Shuang began, but Yu Yao quickly covered her mouth with her hand, a mischievous smile on her face. She leaned close to Yu Shuang's ear and whispered a few words. Yu Shuang raised her eyebrows and looked at Yang Ling. "The Young Master knows martial arts?" She pondered over Yu Yao's words, recalling their days together in the Zhou household. Back then, Yang Ling had no spiritual power at all, even less than Yu Shuang, making him seem like an ordinary person. Yu Shuang had always thought Yang Ling was just scholarly, but now it seemed there was more to him.
Yu Yao watched Yu Shuang's expression and couldn't help feeling a bit annoyed. When she first discovered Yang Ling knew martial arts, she was incredibly surprised, but her sister remained so calm. Even though Yu Yao knew that Yu Shuang's cold demeanor wasn't natural but a result of the neglect and rejection she had faced, she still loved to tease her, hoping to see a smile on her usually stoic face. "Let's see how the Young Master deals with you later," Yu Yao thought, even though she believed Yang Ling was just starting to learn martial arts and wasn't very skilled yet. Yu Shuang's reaction still made her a little displeased. Maybe this was what people called a "love-hate sisterhood."