From Passion to Ashes: Chapter Fifty-Five, The Personality of a Wildcat 1 Ye Ye was nestled in a villa in Longyu, feeling uninterested in anything she did, watched, or ate. She was restless. Whenever she paused what she was doing, a pair of cold, lake-blue eyes would automatically surface in her mind… Just as Ye Ye was feeling anxious and depressed, her phone rang. Checking it, she saw it was Qiu Yu. Ye Ye muttered to herself, thinking that SKY and Longyu must have gone to Dubai, and this heartless woman only remembered her now! “Hello—didn’t you go to Dubai with your dear?” Ye Ye teased sarcastically, but she was genuinely bitter about why others could be so sweet while she had been so cruelly ousted after deciding to be a third party for four months! “Do you really have to mock me like this?” Qiu Yu laughed awkwardly. “Hmph! You forgot your friends for love!” “I thought you wouldn’t need me with Longyu by your side…” Qiu Yu mumbled. “So, what’s up?” Ye Ye decided not to hold it against her; after all, it was just a jest. “I just got back to the apartment and saw no one was there, so I wanted to ask where you went?” “I’m at Longyu’s place. Isn’t Miao Miao around?” “No, Miao Miao messaged me saying she’s off to Venice for a sketching trip with her department. And I just got a notice from my department; I need to go to Milan for an economic forum for about 15 days.” Qiu Yu explained. Ye Ye felt another wave of loneliness, somewhat regretting her choice of studying languages. Look at others; Miao Miao, studying design, gets to go sketching, and Qiu Yu, studying economics, gets to attend conferences. Meanwhile, she was stuck here writing her thesis. “Oh, you guys go then, take care!” Ye Ye said weakly, already anticipating the loneliness of the next few days… Why is it either everyone is around or suddenly everyone has something to do and leaves? Ye Ye wondered if they were deliberately leaving her alone in Rome to feel sad?! “Ye Ye, are you okay? You sound so weak?” Qiu Yu noticed Ye Ye’s low spirits and asked with concern. After all, they were friends, and she could immediately sense Ye Ye’s unusual behavior. Ye Ye felt a bit comforted; at least someone cared. “I’m fine, just scared of being alone!” “Then, shall I not go? I can stay and keep you company?” Qiu Yu offered without hesitation. “No need, don’t worry, I was just kidding. Go ahead, I’m here with Longyu; you think I won’t have anyone to hang out with?” Ye Ye quickly pretended to be fine upon hearing her friend’s offer. “Alright then. But if anything happens, you must tell me right away, and I’ll come back to be with you immediately!” Qiu Yu said earnestly. “Got it, what could possibly happen to me? I need to hang up now; I’ve got plans to go shopping with Aunt Xiong. Be careful when you’re out!” Ye Ye didn’t want to get too sentimental, fearing she might cry. A heartbroken woman is fragile; anything sentimental could trigger her sensitive emotions… “Okay, bye.” —————————————————— After hanging up, Ye Ye changed her clothes; she couldn’t stand staying in this quiet villa for another moment. She needed to go out; she needed the presence of people to affirm her existence! Arriving at the street where she was to meet Aunt Xiong, Ye Ye was early. She parked her car on the roadside and wandered aimlessly, killing time while waiting for Aunt Xiong. She walked into an antique shop, casually browsing through the old items, thinking perhaps she could find something suitable as a birthday gift for Uncle Xiong… The sixty-something owner, seeing this beautiful Eastern girl like a sprite, was interested in every item in his shop, approached with a smile, speaking in fluent English: “Miss, can I help you?” Ye Ye looked up, meeting the eyes of this refined, gentle old gentleman, and smiled slightly: “Yes, I want to buy something for my uncle’s birthday!” “Ah, please have a look at this.” The owner led Ye Ye back to the counter, then went into the back room, returning with a brocade box. Putting on white gloves, he opened the box and pushed it towards Ye Ye. She leaned in to see a medieval antique pocket watch with a silver-white body, adorned with intricate Renaissance engravings, and a circle of small rubies on the side. The mechanical movement inside was still tirelessly ticking. It was very well-preserved. Ye Ye, also wearing gloves, carefully picked it up. The silver watch reflected a dazzling light under the lamp, as if narrating its ancient story… “Are you satisfied, miss?” the owner asked with a smile. “It’s nice, but I don’t know much about antiques.” Ye Ye admitted honestly. “No worries, they say finding an antique is all about fate. Since you like it, it’s a good choice, so you shouldn’t let go. Right?” the owner said. “Shouldn’t let go of good things?” Ye Ye asked curiously, thinking about people too. “Yes, if it’s within reach, why let go?” the owner smiled. “But in the end, I’m giving it away; it won’t be mine.” Ye Ye said with a hidden meaning. The owner didn’t catch the nuance but said profoundly, “But before you decide to give it away, it’s yours, isn’t it?” Hearing this, Ye Ye laughed. Indeed, as long as she, Ye Ye, didn’t let go, it could be hers! Because she was Ye Ye, the fearless Ye Ye! Her heart suddenly felt lighter, “I’ll take this one. Thank you!” she said, handing over her gold card. After packing the watch and placing it in her handbag, Ye Ye checked the time; Aunt Xiong should have arrived. She headed towards the nearby mall. Sure enough, Aunt Xiong was already there, waiting in the mall’s lobby with her bodyguards. “Aunt Xiong!” Ye Ye greeted her cheerfully. “Miss!” The four bodyguards Aunt Xiong brought immediately bowed to Ye Ye. Ye Ye smiled back and linked arms with Aunt Xiong: “Let’s go, I’ll accompany you to buy a gift for Uncle Xiong!” “Great!” Aunt Xiong smiled as she walked ahead with Ye Ye, followed at a distance by the bodyguards. After browsing for a while, Aunt Xiong finally bought a platinum necklace with diamonds for Uncle Xiong, featuring a large platinum plate with his zodiac sign, a galloping horse. [From Passion to Ardor: Fifty-Six, The Wildcat’s Personality 2] The two then went to a well-known restaurant in the commercial center, ordered dinner, and sat down to chat while eating — “This year is Ah Xiong’s zodiac year, so I bought him a pendant for good luck.” Aunt Xiong sighed: “Although we’ve been cleaning up our act both inside and outside the gang, once a gangster, always a gangster!”
“Even if I wanted to retire, others would force me back into it… Sigh, my husband and I don’t expect to completely clear our names in this lifetime, we just hope to live in peace. And for our children, we hope they won’t have to live a life on the edge!” Ye Ye held Auntie Xiong’s hand: “Don’t worry, you will both live long and healthy lives, and one day, the Thousand Night Gate will be completely cleansed. The younger siblings will grow up safe and happy!”
“Yes, if my kids could be as smart and capable as Ye Ye and your brothers, I would feel relieved!”
“They will be, aren’t the younger siblings doing well? They are all at boarding schools in Switzerland, and Uncle Xiong often says they have excellent grades, especially Shao Yi, who at just 17, is already a remarkable talent!”
“Yes, Shao Yi is a good child. But… sigh,” Auntie Xiong sighed softly.
“Are you worried about Shao Gang?” Ye Ye knew that Uncle Xiong had an illegitimate son, the eldest, named Xiong Shao Gang. He was born before Uncle Xiong married Auntie Xiong, by a woman who had always followed Uncle Xiong, now 20 years old, yet he could never forgive his father because his mother had died for Uncle Xiong.
“Yes, this child has suffered too. Sigh, it’s a pity he refuses to forgive his father, and he’s always cold to me… He’s stubborn and rebellious…”
