TNIBFT -Chapter 245 The Tigress Weeps

Old Yang sat on the steps at the doorway, his head leaning against the door frame, his expression blank. “I also want to know… when Ye Tian will return.”

After saying this, his eyes darted around. He immediately straightened up and turned to Ye Yunting, who was reading, and Ye Shuangxue, who was lying over the table. “Last night, all the able-bodied men in the city went to guard the city gates.”

“I think this probably has something to do with your father.”

“Closing the city gates at this hour… it could mean something serious is happening.”

Old Yang stood up, worry etched across his dark face. “Our young master is no stronger than a kitten. I don’t think he can handle it!”

Ye Yunting continued reading, ignoring him completely.

Ye Shuangxue was decidedly unfriendly, rolling her eyes at Old Yang.

Undeterred, Old Yang took a few more steps forward, pulled out a chair next to Ye Shuangxue, and sat down. “Let’s see how things go. If something serious happens, the three of us will run. Out in the world, wandering from place to place… as long as you have a bite to eat, Old Yang will make sure you have soup too.”

Old Yang pounded his chest with loyalty and determination.

“You’re talking nonsense!”

Ye Shuangxue ignored him. She slid off the chair and glared at Old Yang fiercely. “Who wants to wander the world with you? My father promised me—he will come back.”

“He said, as long as I behave, he will never abandon me.”

“He promised! He clearly said it… sob sob sob…”

Ye Shuangxue rubbed her small hands over her eyes, unable to hold back her hurt tears.

She liked Ye Tian.

Finally, she had a father who cared… and now Ye Tian was gone.

Ye Tian had promised her. And now, with the city in a state of panic and the people anxious, even though she was young, Ye Shuangxue could sense something serious was happening. More than worrying that Ye Tian might abandon her, she feared he might not return safely.

Ye Tian could be in danger.

“You… you’re not… why are you crying?”

Old Yang was flustered.

He worried not only about Ye Tian not returning, but that Ye Tian’s troubles might drag him along. He had even packed a bag last night just in case they had to run. Yet no matter what, he would take these two children with him. Ye Shuangxue was stubborn as ever, and he had never seen her cry.

That was why he dared to speak so frankly in front of the children.

“I was wrong… please don’t cry, okay?”

“How about I take you to get some candied hawthorn sticks?”

Old Yang scratched his head anxiously.

Seeing his sister so upset, Ye Yunting immediately put down his book and stood behind Ye Shuangxue. He didn’t know how to comfort her; his brows furrowed as he kept repeating, “Don’t cry…”

“I won’t cry!”

Ye Shuangxue ignored him. After crying for a while, she wiped her tears, her eyes red, and looked toward the street outside. She couldn’t cry. She couldn’t be defeated.

If Ye Tian truly didn’t return, she would still avenge him!

“Huh?”

Could that be Ye Tian?

Was her vision playing tricks on her?

Ye Shuangxue rubbed her eyes in disbelief. Outside on the street, Ye Tian held the reins in one hand while turning his head to speak with Uncle Fang. Whatever they were talking about, Ye Tian was smiling brightly, and Uncle Fang lowered his head with a gentle smile.

“It’s Ye Tian!”

“Ye Tian has really come back… sob sob sob!” Ye Shuangxue was overwhelmed with surprise and joy. Her small brows twitched, and she couldn’t help but cry again.

Ye Yunting’s dark eyes went wide. Forgetting about his sister, he dashed straight for the door.

“It really is our young master!”

“My goodness, the young master actually came back?”

Old Yang patted his thighs, his grin stretching to his ears, and happily ran toward the door.

The hall was instantly empty.

“Stinky Ye Tian!”

“Damn you, Ye Tian! I’m never talking to you again, never!” Ye Shuangxue wiped her tears messily with her hand, and the next moment, she bolted out the door with her short little legs.

“Dad!”
“Dad!”

Hearing the familiar, soft voice, Ye Tian smiled and looked up. He saw his eldest child’s little face light up in delight as he ran to the shop entrance, joy written all over him.

Ye Tian nodded with a smile.

Father and son gazed at each other.

Warm and comforting.

The eldest had always been steady and serious, rarely showing such emotion. Today’s reaction clearly showed that his child was genuinely happy to see him back.

Ye Tian casually tossed the reins to someone nearby and strode toward his son.

“Master!”

“You scared me to death! I thought you wouldn’t come back! I didn’t even eat properly all day, Master…” Old Yang rushed over, standing in front of Ye Tian, looking up at him with complete admiration.

Ye Tian was speechless. He placed a large hand on Old Yang’s face and gently pushed him aside.

Then he bent down and scooped up Ye Yunting. “Let me see, have you been eating properly these past two days?”

“Wow, you’re light?”

Ye Tian laughed heartily. Ye Yunting wrapped his arms around Ye Tian’s neck, his ears turning red with embarrassment.

Those following Ye Tian looked on with joy at the father-son reunion. Snow drifted down from the sky, pedestrians hurried along the street, and Ye Tian, with dozens of people in tow, stood at the shop entrance, drawing the attention of passersby.

“So this is the little heir?”

Liao Fanjun and Zhu Heyu exchanged glances. “Wow…” Dozens of them lifted their robes and dropped to one knee before Ye Yunting.

Ye Yunting looked at Ye Tian in surprise.

Ye Tian looked at everyone and said, “Get up!”

“You just got back, many of you are still hurt—there’s no need to bow.”

“Up, up!”

At Ye Tian’s command, everyone happily stood.

“The little heir looks so bright and clever. The General’s legacy is in good hands!”

“Yeah, I heard from Brother Fang that the little heir is a prodigy—never forgets what he reads, speaks eloquently…”

“The General’s spirit in heaven would be proud…”

Ye family guards murmured emotionally, and many wiped their eyes secretly. This was the General’s own grandson. If the General were still alive, seeing such a smart, adorable grandson—how happy would he be?

“And your little sister?”

Ye Tian raised an eyebrow and looked inside the hotpot shop. It was quiet inside, with no sign of anyone.

Ye Yunting’s little face turned awkward. His eyes darted downward, and Ye Tian, blinking, didn’t understand, so he followed his son’s gaze.

At that moment, Ye Shuangxue tilted her little face up, looking pitifully at Ye Tian.

Her little tuft of hair was lifted by the cold wind. Seeing that Ye Tian was only now noticing her, Ye Shuangxue’s face went expressionless, eyes fixed on him, her little chubby face scrunched into a tight frown.

Clang!

Something was not right!

Ye Tian’s heart skipped a beat. He looked at his eldest for a moment of silent understanding, and the two had perfect unspoken coordination. Ye Yunting quickly got down from Ye Tian’s arms.

“Hmph!”

Ye Shuangxue raised her little eyebrows, snorted coldly, her soft voice trembling with tears. “You didn’t even see me! I ran the fastest, I’ve been standing right here next to you for so long…”

“I don’t like you anymore!”

The little one felt wronged, eyes red, tilting her little face stubbornly, refusing to let the tears fall.

Ye Tian chuckled.

He waved his large hand and picked up his daughter. Just as he was about to say a few sweet words to cheer her up, Ye Shuangxue nestled in his arms, reaching her little arms around his neck. Her voice, tinged with a nasal tone, said, “I know you wouldn’t lie to me. I know you would definitely come back.”

“Because you said it yourself—you’re the best dad in the world. You wouldn’t lie, right?”