“Please sit. You’ve grown so much? It seems we’re really getting old…” Auntie Dragon Three looked Ye Ye up and down. “So beautiful, inheriting the best traits of your parents…”
Her eyes were filled with sentiment, as if hiding some deeper meaning…
Ye Ye sat in the chair opposite Auntie Dragon Three. “How could you be old? You look no more than thirty.” Ye Ye spoke the truth; Auntie Dragon Three indeed looked very young.
“With such a big son by my side, even if I don’t admit to getting old, no one would believe it!” She patted Long Yu, who was leaning on her chair, and laughed.
Ye Ye also laughed, but honestly, if one said Auntie Dragon Three was Long Yu’s younger sister, it wouldn’t be surprising…
“Ye Ye, here are your things.” Auntie Dragon Three gestured to the male assistant beside her.
The man turned to a cabinet, retrieved a black briefcase, placed it on the desk, and opened it. Inside was a finely crafted silver pistol, a matching mini thunder palm, a black belt with a special soft sword, several spray bottles, and some other mysterious equipment. Ye Ye happily took the box: “Thank you, Third Aunt!” This was her treasure… The weapons and equipment inside were all restricted items and could not be exported through normal procedures, so Ye Ye’s father had them sent to Italy through Third Aunt Long’s channels. “You’re welcome. It’s rare for me to meet you for the first time; stay for dinner,” said Third Aunt Long. “Yes, let’s eat together, beauty!” Long Yu said with a roguish smile. Ye Ye felt that although it was her first meeting with this Third Aunt, she seemed like a very nice elder. Moreover, her father chose to send the items to Aohua Building instead of Qian Ye Men’s branch, perhaps wanting her to meet this Third Aunt. Besides, since the elder had spoken, it would be impolite to refuse. So, Ye Ye gladly agreed, “Alright, then I’ll intrude!”
Third Aunt smiled with satisfaction and said to the man and woman behind her, “Si Yan, Si Miao, tell them downstairs to prepare Aohua Building’s signature dishes… And later, you two join us as well!” Si Yan and Si Miao stepped forward and said in unison, “Yes, Godmother!” [From Paris to Rome: Chapter 22, The Wild Long Shao]
Ye Ye followed Third Aunt Long, Long Shao, Si Yan, and Si Miao to the VIP room in Aohua Building. The decor was equally classical and luxurious, with servers dressed in elegant cheongsams and Tang suits, making one feel as if they were in an ancient palace… Ye Ye sat to the right of Third Aunt, while Long Shao, with a wild grin, unceremoniously plopped down beside her. Si Yan and Si Miao sat to the left of Third Aunt in turn.
Third Aunt was a wise woman, full of knowledge and eloquence. During the meal, she conversed happily with Ye Ye, attentively adding food to her plate, contrasting with her usual image of a formidable woman, more like a warm mother, which deeply touched Ye Ye, who had lacked maternal love since childhood. “So, Third Aunt, you are my father’s junior sister?” Ye Ye asked after hearing Third Aunt’s story. “Yes, my father was your father’s firearms instructor, and your mother was his childhood sweetheart…” When mentioning Ye Ye’s mother, Third Aunt’s eyes dimmed momentarily…
Ye Ye didn’t pay much attention, took a bite of the dish, and looked at Long Yu, who was always sporting a mischievous smile beside her, and asked, “Third Aunt, does your son always smile like this?” Ye Ye was puzzled; why did Long Yu keep looking at her with such a meaningful smirk? Third Aunt paused, then laughed, “Yu might like you, hehe, usually, he doesn’t even smile at me, his own mother…”
Hearing this, Ye Ye rolled her eyes: “Long Shao, are you smitten with me at first sight?” Ye Ye thought Third Aunt was teasing her and joined in the playful banter. Across from her, Si Yan gave her a shallow smile, as if to say — you’ve hit the nail on the head…
Ye Ye regretted her words and tried to cover up by lowering her head to eat, making clicking sounds to divert attention… “Yes, it’s love at first sight. I — like — you!” Long Yu enunciated each word. Being straightforward, as befits a child of the martial world, he knew no shyness or pretense. Ye Ye dropped her chopsticks in shock, looked up, and awkwardly smiled at the others, “Hehe, an illusion —”
“It’s not an illusion, it’s real. I, Long Yu, declare that you, Ye Ye, are mine!” Long Yu’s wild, handsome face was firm and domineering as he grabbed Ye Ye’s hair, forcing her to face him. Not gentle, but not painful either. Then, looking at the dumbfounded Ye Ye, his gaze shifted to Third Aunt behind her: “Mommy, your unfulfilled dream, perhaps your son can help you achieve!”
Third Aunt smiled, with a hint of anticipation mixed with bitterness, “Fate is something you can’t seek; everything is up to you. As elders, we only hope for your happiness… Of course, if Ye Ye could be my daughter-in-law, I would be very pleased…”
“Mis-misunderstanding!” Ye Ye waved her little hands, struggling to break free from Long Yu’s grip on her hair. When did this turn into a drama? She had known these people for less than two hours…
“Ye Ye, don’t be nervous; Long Shao is actually quite nice…” Si Yan said with a gentle, radiant smile, but to Ye Ye, he seemed like a salesman with an ulterior motive! Si Miao remained silent, her beautiful eyes glancing at Long Shao before lowering her head…
“Eat up!” Long Shao suddenly said to Ye Ye. “Why?” Ye Ye asked angrily, this troublemaker with his nonsensical words, had ruined her appetite! “Because after eating, we’ll go on a date!” he declared like a celebrity, not asking, but stating. Ye Ye’s star-like eyes seemed to blaze as she glared at Long Shao’s face: “Did I agree to anything? Why are you so presumptuous to arrange my schedule?”
“No, but once I’ve decided, your agreement is irrelevant!” Long Shao crossed his arms, leaning back in his chair, completely at ease, ignoring Ye Ye’s anger. “Then I’ll tell you, I’m not going!” “And I’ll tell you, you have to go whether you want to or not!”
“You—” Ye Ye stood up, her eyes wide with shock, encountering someone even more domineering than herself! Completely disregarding her appearance, Ye Ye pointed at Long Shao’s nose and then shouted, “Third Aunt, your son is bullying me!” Third Aunt chuckled, “You can go out with him and find an opportunity to bully him back!”
This caused Si Yan to burst into laughter and Si Miao to look up. Oh my, Long Shao’s domineering nature was definitely inherited! They were truly the most cunning mother and son! Ye Ye exclaimed…
Long Shao, with a look of — see, no one’s going to help you — stood up, grabbed Ye Ye’s finger pointing at his nose, pulled it to wrap around her waist, and with a roguish grin said, “Looks like you’re full. Come, your brother Long will take you on a night tour of Rome!” Reluctant but forced by the disparity in strength, Ye Ye followed Long Yu, unwilling yet resentful, saying, “No way! Long Yu, let’s have a one-on-one fight! Otherwise, I’ll feel suffocated!”
Bullied like this, Ye Ye felt so wronged! “Sure, but do you think you can win?” he said, twisting her wrist to show her that she couldn’t even break free, so how could she win in a fight? — That’s victory!
Third Aunt watched the playful pair leave, put down her chopsticks, and murmured, “Brother Xing, perhaps they will be our continuation…”
Si Yan and Si Miao exchanged glances with the door and then with Third Aunt, each lost in thought…
