"Enough!"
Adam's cold voice cut through the air, abruptly interrupting her pitiful act.
She still didn't understand why they had kept their distance from her all these years. Her so-called clever tricks seemed laughable to them, and she foolishly believed she had hidden her true intentions well.
Feng Yunyao was genuinely frightened by Adam's outburst, her face drained of color, too scared to even breathe.
Adam looked at her with icy disdain. "Zuri is my sister, and nothing can change that. No matter what kind of person she is, she will always be my sister."
"The Feng family has treated you well. If you ever dare harm her, not even Grandma's protection will save you. I will see to it that you're cast out of the Feng family. I hope today's incident is the last."
As Adam walked away, Feng Yunyao collapsed onto a nearby bench, covering her face with her hands and bursting into tears.
Wu Sao, noticing the second young master's displeased departure, hurried upstairs. As she approached the door, she saw Feng Yunyao sobbing uncontrollably.
"Oh dear, my poor young miss, what happened to you?" Wu Sao's heart ached for her. "If the old lady sees you like this, she'll be heartbroken."
Feng Yunyao looked up, her tear-streaked face full of sorrow. "Wu Sao, my brothers don't like me. No matter what I do, they never like me. Is it just because I'm not a true member of the Feng family?"
"Why does that woman get their affection without lifting a finger? I'm the one who grew up with them."
Her tears fell freely, her voice full of grief and sadness.
Wu Sao comforted her, "Young Miss, they're only treating her well out of guilt. Give it time, and things will get better."
"Really?" Feng Yunyao looked at her with tear-filled eyes, hopeful.
Seeing her innocent expression, Wu Sao felt even more pity for her.
What a poor child.
Orphaned and living under someone else's roof, yet her three brothers didn't act like brothers, and her parents were absent-minded at best. If it weren't for the old lady's support, who knows what might have become of this child.
"Of course it's true. When have I ever lied to you? Now, quickly wipe away those tears. If the old lady sees you like this, she'll be heartbroken."
Feng Yunyao seemed pacified by her words, obediently wiping away her tears. "Wu Sao, will my eyes be swollen? What should I do? If Grandma sees this and feels sad, I'll be so unfilial."
"Don't worry, I'll get two eggs to roll over your eyes, and it'll be fine."
"Mm-hmm."
Once Wu Sao left, the innocent and pitiful expression on Feng Yunyao's face vanished, replaced by a dark and terrifying look.
As the school bell rang, countless young men and women streamed out of the academic building, chatting in small groups.
Suddenly, some of them noticed a tall figure standing in the shadow of a tree.
"Who is that man?" one girl whispered. "He's so handsome!"
"He's so stylish."
"Oh my god, he's looking this way."
They soon realized that the man under the tree was walking toward the academic building with long strides.
"Sis, do you think he's coming over to me?"
"Oh my god, he really is. Do you think he's going to ask for my number?!"
As the girl blushed, her heart fluttering with anticipation as the man approached, she watched him come closer, step by step, until they were just a few feet apart...
But then, he walked right past her, stopping a few steps away. His voice was deep and gentle, "Zuri."
"Uncle!" Zuri greeted him with a smile.
Uncle?!
(´Д`)
There was no escaping that title!
Seeing his embarrassed expression, Zuri laughed, her eyes curved into crescents. "Brother Leo!"
Leo looked at her with a mixture of helplessness and indulgence. "My little Zuri has learned to tease her Brother Leo."
The two walked side by side down the tree-lined path, drawing curious glances from passersby.
"I should give Azura a call. She's been talking about you ever since you left for overseas. Now that you're back, she'll be thrilled." Zuri pulled out her phone, but before she could dial, a large hand gently covered hers.
"No need. I already called her before I came. She has a club activity today and can't get away."
Zuri frowned. "A club activity? But she asked me to go shopping with her this afternoon."
Leo remained calm, his face betraying nothing. "It must have been a last-minute thing."
Zuri didn't suspect anything, nodding in agreement.
"How have you been?"
"Not bad."
"I heard that Adam has been spending a lot of time with you at school lately."
"Mm. He's not too busy these days."
Leo's gaze fell on the watch peeking out from under her sleeve, and his eyes darkened when he recognized it.
"That watch on your wrist looks familiar. Isn't it one of Nolan's custom pieces? I remember he was very fond of it when he first got it."
Zuri was taken aback.
Feng Yunyao had been very concerned about this watch, and now Leo was mentioning it too.
She touched the watch on her wrist.
"If I'm not mistaken, Nolan bought that watch with his first earnings from Wall Street to commemorate the occasion," Leo said casually, as if it were just idle conversation.
"I didn't know the watch had such significance." Zuri looked at the watch on her wrist, suddenly finding it heavy and scorching.
If she had known how much the watch meant to her eldest brother, she would never have accepted it.
Zuri took off the watch. "Brother Leo, when you go back to Oceanic, could you return this watch to him for me?"
"He gave it to you, so you should keep it," Leo said with a smile.
Zuri shook her head. "Please, Brother Leo."
Leo reluctantly accepted the watch and placed it in his pocket.
At the Cloud Restaurant, the atmosphere was unusually quiet tonight. Only two or three tables were occupied, and no more customers were being seated. Many who came had to leave disappointed.
As the elevator doors opened, the manager greeted them with a smile.
"Good evening, Mr. Ye, Miss Zuri."
The manager personally escorted them to a table by the window, the best seat in the restaurant.
The food was exquisite, but the portions were tiny, leaving Zuri feeling unsatisfied.
Leo beckoned the manager over and whispered something in his ear.
When the next course arrived, the portions were generous.
Zuri looked at the dish in front of her, then at Leo, understanding his gesture.
Leo signaled his assistant, who stepped forward and handed him a beautifully wrapped gift box. Leo took out the box and pushed it towards Zuri.
"Open it."
Zuri wiped her mouth, puzzled, and opened the box to reveal a women's watch adorned with sparkling diamonds.
"This is…"
"I couldn't let you go without a watch. I just had my assistant buy this downstairs. It's not expensive, so don't worry about it."
The assistant nodded in agreement, though inwardly he was rolling his eyes.
This watch had been custom-made for Mr. Ye, and he had just received it yesterday. Yet here he was, giving it away so casually.
A one-of-a-kind watch, and he was passing it off as if it were a cheap trinket from a street vendor.