C9 In the Early Stages of the Welcoming Banquet

After Director Qi brought the car around, he promptly left. Ye Feng, taking the wheel, drove Susan back home.

Susan's assignment hadn't initially involved returning home with Ye Feng, but in light of the incident that had occurred, Ye Yimei wouldn't allow Ye Feng to remain outside any longer.

Throughout the drive, Ye Feng's thoughts were preoccupied with the woman from earlier. He couldn't place who she was or recall any moment he might have crossed her.

The recent recognition by the Ye family was the only significant event that came to mind.

Climbing into the car, Ye Feng's immediate impression was how much more comfortable it was compared to his old clunker.

"Director Ye mentioned that we should head straight home," Susan informed him. "The task we discussed earlier is on hold for now."

"Is this change because of the incident on the road?" Ye Feng inquired.

Susan confirmed with a nod. Indeed, it was.

Given the altercation on the road, Ye Yimei wouldn't risk Ye Feng staying out. The Ye family would be understandably concerned if anything else were to happen.

Ye Feng acknowledged this silently with a nod. When the eldest sister of the Ye family gave an order, he knew to follow it.

Upon arriving home, Ye Feng exchanged greetings with Ye Yimei.

"Big Sister."

"Are you okay? I heard about your roadside trouble. That person didn't harm you, did they?"

Ye Feng shook his head. "He wouldn't dare. Plus, I'm not one to be pushed around. If he had tried anything, I would've headed straight back. You were about to come down anyway, right?"

Ye Yimei nodded, visibly relieved. "I was so worried. It's good to see you're fine."

"I am, really. Don't worry."

"That's a relief. Why don't you head to your room, rest up, and take a shower? Come back downstairs when you're ready."

With that, Ye Yimei led Ye Feng upstairs to his room.

"The house has many rooms, each with its own name, so there's no fear of getting lost. And this room," she gestured, "you can decorate it any way you like from now on."

The sheer size of the room astonished Ye Feng. He had never lived in such a large space while with his foster mother. Now, not only did he have this expansive room, but he also had the support of a wonderful sister.

After Ye Yimei escorted Ye Feng to his room, she meticulously went over the various items within before descending the stairs.

Ye Yimei had been thorough in her introduction, and Ye Feng had paid close attention. As he turned on the shower, his thoughts lingered on the woman from earlier.

Clearly, she had come for him, yet her identity remained a mystery.

He had considered inquiring about her with Ye Yimei or the other members of the Ye family, but he doubted his ability to describe her in a way that would jog anyone's memory.

Besides, Ye Feng had refrained from informing the eldest sister of the Ye family about the incident to spare her any worry.

As strange as the situation was, he was certain it was somehow connected to his return to the Ye family.

The sudden braking of the car ahead had been deliberate. He had caught a glimpse of the woman preparing to exit her vehicle, but the appearance of the Gold Chain had delayed her. It wasn't until Director Qi, dispatched by Ye Yimei, arrived that the woman hesitated, likely deeming him a formidable presence or preferring to keep her presence unknown to the Ye family.

It was only when he and Susan were left alone that the woman finally approached him.

She must have been aware of Susan's identity, emboldening her to step out. Otherwise, she would have exited her vehicle when Director Qi appeared.

Despite racking his brain, Ye Feng couldn't deduce the woman's identity. After a long shower filled with contemplation, he lay in bed, the mystery still unsolved.

Then, a knock at the door broke his reverie.

Curious about who could be visiting at this hour, Ye Feng rose and opened the door.

"Big Sister? Second Sister?"

"Are you okay? I heard you were in a car accident?"

"...Second Sister, it wasn't really an accident, just a fender bender."

"A collision is still an accident! What would you consider a real accident then?"

"We hadn't even left the underground garage, and I wasn't driving fast. It only happened because the car behind failed to brake in time. Had they braked, there wouldn't have been an incident at all."

"But I heard that guy looked like trouble. He beelined for your car as soon as he got out of his. Susan mentioned he seemed like he might be mixed up with the underworld."

"Don't worry, I'm really okay. Susan was there too. If you're not convinced, feel free to ask her."

Ye Yimei and Ye Xialan had, of course, already questioned Susan before heading upstairs. Despite getting their answers, their concern lingered, prompting all their questions.

"Got everything? Let's head downstairs."

Ye Feng nodded and followed his sisters down.

"The welcome event is tomorrow. Today, we'll go over some etiquette and proper conduct. It's a wonder how you've managed all these years."

The eldest Ye sister was itching to tease him, but she understood that her brother hadn't lived with the Ye family for many years, so it was unrealistic to expect him to be like them.

This thought made Ye Yimei's heart ache. If they hadn't sent him away, Ye Feng might have been a young master by now.

So, Ye Feng was about to endure a grueling crash course in etiquette, with his five sisters taking turns teaching him.

"When speaking to someone, it's best to focus on the center of their eyebrows, not directly into their eyes, and certainly not anywhere else."

"At banquets, you barely eat, so have something substantial beforehand to avoid getting a stomachache from hunger."

"Also, when shaking hands, if a woman doesn't offer her hand, don't extend yours. If she does, you're only supposed to hold half of her palm. With men, it doesn't matter, but this is a must-know."

Though the instruction was piecemeal, Ye Feng genuinely learned a lot—these were all things he had never been exposed to before.

Ye Feng knew that to rejoin the Ye family, he needed to master these skills, and he found the learning process quite enjoyable.

His sisters took turns teaching him in a playful manner, which kept him from feeling overwhelmed. This made Ye Feng genuinely excited for what the next day would bring.