Mature Fantasy Power Invasion

Chapter 13

Because she hadn’t slept well the night before, Ye Shiyu took another nap after waking up early in the morning. By the time she got up, it was nearly noon. Yan Huan had already returned.

“Shiyu, you’re up.”

“Hey, Shiyu! Come try this caramel pudding your little brother made. It’s really tasty!”

Just as she came downstairs, Ye Shiyu saw a small piece of golden pudding on the plates in front of Ye Lan and Aunt Chen at the dining table.

The pudding’s surface was smooth, its caramel color just right, and a hint of vanilla essence lingered in the air. It looked refined and top-notch.

Aunt Chen waved her over to try some, while Ye Lan was busy taking a photo of the pudding with her phone.

Ye Shiyu looked toward the kitchen and saw Yan Huan removing his apron and hanging it on a hook.

Then he walked out carrying another plate of pudding and smiled warmly.

“Shiyu-sis, this one’s for you. Since we had molds and ingredients at home, I thought I’d make some for everyone to try.”

[At home]

Hearing him speak as if this place was already his home, Ye Shiyu glanced at his hands and noticed he was holding a black ceramic bowl with her name on it.

A chill crept across her brow, but before it could settle, Ye Lan's voice called out from behind her.

“Shiyu?”

“...Thank you.”

The chill didn’t disappear—it merely retreated into her eyes.

Her expression returned to normal as she nodded and accepted the pudding Yan Huan handed her.

After sitting down, Ye Lan, who had finished taking her photo, took a bite of pudding. The sweetness was perfectly balanced, and she let out a satisfied sound.

She turned to Yan Huan and asked,

“Hmm, this tastes really good. Xiaohuan, you actually know how to make desserts?”

“No, I learned it at the place I work. It’s a bar, but they sell snacks too—things like fries and pudding. Nothing complicated.”

“A bar? Isn’t that kind of a messy environment?”

Ye Lan frowned slightly, clearly harboring some prejudice against such places. But Yan Huan quickly smiled and explained,

“It’s just a small pub with live music. No shady people go there. My coworkers are really supportive, and the pay is actually pretty decent.”

“I see. You’ve really worked hard, Xiaohuan.”

Ye Lan’s expression softened upon hearing about the pay.

‘Yeah, for a high schooler, what other options does he have for tuition and living expenses? If he can find part-time work, who cares about the environment or how tough it is?’

Ye Lan assumed Yan Huan was forced to work for money. But actually, it was a bit of a misunderstanding—Sister Tong’s pub was quite proper.

As her mother and Yan Huan chatted, Ye Shiyu quietly held her spoon, her expression growing darker by the second.

The more attentive Yan Huan became, the more revulsion she felt toward him.

She took a symbolic bite of pudding. Though it was undeniably delicious, it now tasted like bitter herbs and metal needles in her mouth.

Her gaze subtly swept over Yan Huan and Ye Lan, who were chatting and laughing. Even her mask-like expression couldn’t quite conceal the gloom in her eyes.

Yan Huan, stealing a glance at her, was even more sensitive than Ye Lan in noticing her mood—because he knew about the modifier.

Still, he kept chatting with Ye Lan, answering her questions fluently and even managing to make her laugh.

As the conversation continued, he proactively brought up a topic.

“By the way, Shiyu-sis, have you picked your classes in the school system yet?”

“Picked classes?”

Ye Lan glanced at Ye Shiyu, confused.

“You have to pick classes? I thought everyone took the same ones.”

“Ah, that’s how it works in Longguo, but here, aside from five mandatory subjects, we also choose two electives. They’re usually in the afternoon and can be taken with students from other grades and classes.”

(*) Longguo: A fictional or stylized name that closely resembles "China" in pinyin.

“Principal Hermis didn’t tell us about that?”

“You can also go to the school’s academic office later to select courses in person. The teachers there will explain each class in detail, which isn’t available in the online system. So maybe Principal Hermis didn’t mention the online option.”

Yan Huan smiled at Ye Lan.

“But I’m pretty familiar with the school’s courses. I can explain them to Aunt and Shiyu-sis. We can pick them now too.”

“I see. Then Shiyu, go get Mom’s computer so Xiaohuan can help you pick classes. I’m curious how course selection works in high school here.”

Ye Shiyu stopped stabbing her pudding with her spoon like a blade, nodded, stood up, and went upstairs.

As soon as she left, Aunt Chen said she’d go prepare lunch, and Yan Huan immediately offered to help.

“No need. You stay here and help Miss and Shiyu with course selection. Xiaohuan, since your pudding was so good, Aunt Chen will show off a bit too. What dish do you want?”

“Really? Then I want ribs—I just saw some in the fridge.”

“Hey, you noticed that too? Alright, Aunt Chen will make them for you later.”

“Aiya, Xiaohuan, sit down and tell us how your school handles courses.”

(*) Aiya: An exclamation often used in Chinese to express surprise or exasperation.

“Sure, Aunt.”

Listening to their conversation, Ye Shiyu’s steps slowed as she ascended the staircase.

‘Maybe this warm and lively atmosphere is better than what I had at home.’

After all, she rarely talked and usually stayed in her room playing with dolls. The mood at home was always lukewarm.

‘Or maybe... he’s the one who truly belongs to this family. That’s why Mom’s attention is all on him.’

[Silence]

She didn’t know why, but even though it was just a fictional movie, she resonated deeply with the protagonist.

So her original desire to drive him away had started to waver—

'That’s normal, right?'

Clutching her phone, she quietly ascended the spiral staircase to the third floor, eventually disappearing from view.

After lunch, they rested for a while in the afternoon. Yan Huan then helped Ye Shiyu access Yuanyue’s course selection website on the computer.

(*) Yuanyue: A fictional name of the school.

He logged in using the account Principal Hermis had provided to Ye Lan and searched for available classes.

For the most part, it was just Yan Huan and Ye Lan discussing. Though they kept asking Ye Shiyu, she mostly repeated the same phrases.

‘Thinking… nodding… “I don’t mind.”’

It felt more like Yan Huan was the one picking the courses.

In the end, they selected two electives. One of them, “Hands-on Practice,” happened to be a class Yan Huan was also taking.

Ye Lan checked the time—it was around 2 PM. Just as she was about to say something, Aunt Chen poked her head out of the kitchen.

“Miss, we’re running low on groceries, and the nearby market is kind of far. Can you drive me there?”

“I was planning to take these two kids out to see a movie and eat out. I’ll give you the other car key.”

‘So Ye Lan has a car—why did she need a driver yesterday?’

“Ay, never mind. I haven’t gotten my Linmen license yet, and I drive worse than you. If I go out, I’ll probably lose a bunch of points. I’ll just take the bus later. But if you’re not eating at home tonight, what should I do with the ribs?”

(*) Linmen: A fictional or localized name for a city or region.

Saying this, Aunt Chen walked back into the kitchen.

‘So Ye Lan’s one of those people who has a license but doesn’t drive.’

Ye Lan’s face flushed slightly. She glanced awkwardly at Yan Huan and asked,

“Xiaohuan, Shiyu, let’s go watch a movie later, okay? Pick something you’d like to see.”

“...I’m fine with anything.”

That’s what Ye Shiyu said, but in truth, she didn’t want to go.

She rarely watched movies and wasn’t interested. The only reason she watched one yesterday was because she deeply identified with the story.

But if her mother wanted to go, then going was fine too.

Yan Huan glanced at Ye Shiyu and then smilingly suggested,

“Aunt, why don’t we go to the supermarket instead? We can help Aunt Chen buy groceries and eat at home tonight.”

“So thoughtful.”

Ye Lan covered her mouth with a smile and patted his head, then suddenly teased,

“But I think you just want to eat ribs, don’t you?”

“It’s mainly to avoid waste, Aunt. It has absolutely nothing to do with the ribs, really.”

“Hahaha.”

Ye Lan laughed again and looked at Ye Shiyu.

“What do you think, Shiyu? Want to watch a movie?”

“I’m fine with anything.”

Ye Shiyu looked at Yan Huan again, her expression blank.

Feeling her lifeless gaze, as if she were staring at an object, Yan Huan pretended not to notice. The smile on his face only grew brighter.

‘Locking the door definitely won’t work anymore—’

That’s what he thought.

Ye Lan also changed her mind and called out toward the kitchen,

“Aunt Chen, what groceries do you need? We’ll go get them for you later.”

“Not watching the movie anymore?”

“Haha, Xiaohuan loves your ribs.”

“Aiya, seems like Linmen really has no good food. The kid’s starving.”

“Hahaha, come on, tell me quickly what we need to buy. We’ll head out soon.”

After Aunt Chen finished reporting the grocery list, Ye Lan grabbed the car keys and led Yan Huan and Ye Shiyu out to the garage.

The garage door slowly opened, revealing a tiny, extremely cheap-looking electric mini car.

It was only slightly bigger than a chopped chili fish head.

(*) Note for line 103: "Chopped chili fish head" is a famous spicy Chinese dish featuring a large fish head, often used metaphorically to describe size or appearance.

Yan Huan glanced at the tiny, budget car, then at Ye Lan, who stood beside him looking quite excited.

"You're the super-rich CEO of Linmen... and this is what you drive?"

Still stunned, Yan Huan followed Ye Shiyu into the car and climbed into the back seat. As soon as he got in, Ye Shiyu calmly fastened her seatbelt.

Just as Yan Huan was still trying to process everything, the electric car roared to life.

"We're setting off!" Ye Lan called out cheerfully.

Suddenly, the car jerked backward and crashed head-on into the garage wall with a sharp *thud*.

*Thud!*

Yan Huan lurched forward from the impact, then collapsed back into his seat, dazed.

But Ye Shiyu, seated beside him, remained steady as a rock—clearly used to this kind of thing.

.

At that moment, Yan Huan finally understood why President Ye drove such a cheap car.

Turning around with an apologetic look, Ye Lan said to him,

"Sorry! Wrong gear. It's fine now—let’s head out."

"Okay, Aunt," Yan Huan replied, buckling his seatbelt with a forced smile.

His grin was stiff, trying to hide the fear still lingering in his heart.

"Hahaha! Miss, you nearly scared Xiaohuan to death!" Aunt Chen laughed later at the dinner table as she poured drinks.

Yan Huan still wore a haunted expression at the memory.

Ye Lan pouted, as if slightly wronged. "I'm already so much better than before! I just hit reverse by mistake. Everything else went fine."

Well—if you ignored all the drifting, sudden lane changes, erratic acceleration, and near-death street racing.

It just made you feel... a little carsick.

Especially with the electric car’s jerky acceleration and braking—it somehow managed to make Yan Huan, who had never been carsick before, feel queasy.

Despite his pale face, he still mustered a smile to comfort Ye Lan.

"No worries, Aunt."

Aunt Chen, watching his barely-there smile, couldn’t hold back her laughter.

"Hahahahaha!"

"Here, have some ribs and stop talking," Ye Lan said, placing a rib on Yan Huan’s plate, then passing one to Ye Shiyu.

The warm aroma of food filled the dining room with a joyful, homely atmosphere.

Only Ye Shiyu remained silent, so Yan Huan took the initiative to speak.

"Compared to me, Shiyu-sis is amazing. You weren’t scared at all."

.

Seeing no response, Ye Lan quickly chimed in with a smile.

"Older Sister is the most considerate to me—unlike you, Xiaohuan."

"Shiyu’s just used to it. She used to get dizzy too."

.

Still no reply. The meal continued in this slightly awkward, on-and-off rhythm.

"Aunt Chen, let me help you," Yan Huan offered after the meal.

He was the first to stand and help clear the table, while Ye Lan rested her chin on her hand, smiling as she watched him.

After a moment, she turned and walked to a cabinet in the living room, rummaging around inside.

The cabinet was packed with old photo albums.

Seeing this, Ye Shiyu instantly understood what was happening.

The moment was coming—it was finally time.

Those albums were filled with old pictures, including many of Yan Huan’s parents.

Yan Huan had said on Friday that he’d stay through the weekend. The atmosphere today had been good, and he was almost fully integrated into the family.

All her mother needed now was to talk about the past—and Yan Huan would have every reason to stay.

"Mom, I’m going upstairs to make clothes," Ye Shiyu said flatly, getting up.

"Okay, go ahead."

Ye Lan continued flipping through the albums, while Ye Shiyu turned and walked upstairs, her figure casting a long shadow.

"Found it!"

Ye Lan finally pulled out one album, then returned to the living room sofa and sat down.

Yan Huan, who had been busy in the kitchen, came out after washing his hands, carrying two bowls of double-layered milk custard.

Seeing only Ye Lan in the living room, he asked,

"Aunt, where’s Shiyu-sis? I made dessert for you both."

"She went upstairs to make clothes," Ye Lan replied with a smile, then waved him over.

"Come here, Xiaohuan. I want to show you something."

"Okay, Aunt."

Yan Huan set the bowls on the coffee table and sat beside Ye Lan, watching as she opened the thick album.

Photo after photo appeared as she slowly turned the pages.

Her fingers paused on one image: two young women standing side by side.

One was a short-haired Ye Lan, smiling awkwardly. Beside her stood a beautiful woman with long, flowing hair, flashing a peace sign and a radiant smile.

Just seeing the girl beside Ye Lan made Yan Huan’s eyes narrow slightly.

Her eyebrows and eyes were strikingly similar to his own—especially when she smiled.

And just like that, he knew who she was.

"Look, Xiaohuan. This is your mom—Wang Yulu. She was my college classmate."

Ye Lan’s voice softened as her fingers gently moved across the photo.

"When I first got to college, my family's business was in trouble, and we were barely scraping by. Don’t be fooled by how glamorous I look now—twenty-some years ago, your Aunt could barely afford to eat."

In the photos, some of Ye Lan’s clothes were clearly ill-fitting and oversized.

"But young people can’t just study all day. We want to have fun, go out, make friends."

"I couldn’t afford proper clothes, so I wore my older sister’s hand-me-downs that were a size too big. I was embarrassed—even I couldn’t stand looking at myself."

"And if my clothes were like that, forget makeup, snacks, electronics—I had none of it."

In every photo, the girl beside Ye Lan—Wang Yulu—smiled brightly, sometimes making silly faces or hand gestures.

Even through the photos, her cheerful, sunny nature was obvious.

"Back then, your mom was my roommate."

"When she saw I had no clothes to wear out, she lent me hers. When I had interviews or dates but no makeup, she let me borrow hers."

"She taught me skincare, took me out to exercise, studied with me, introduced me to more friends."

"That's when your dad and mom met. Look—this is your dad. They were the model couple of the Literature Department."

In one photo, Ye Lan, Wang Yulu, and a handsome man wearing glasses sat at a dinner table, other classmates gathered around them.

"Your mom was so kind, so genuine. Without her, those six years of university and grad school might’ve broken me."

"She was my best, best friend. After graduation, she and your dad moved to Linmen to build their careers. They traveled frequently, often out of contact."

"Meanwhile, I had a failed marriage and a family business to manage. I was always overwhelmed."

"I’d send them texts now and then, but never got a reply. I thought they were just busy... Who knew..."

Ye Lan’s eyes turned red. She flipped another page but didn’t dare look—afraid she’d cry if she saw Wang Yulu’s face again.

Yan Huan quietly pulled out a tissue and handed it to her.

Then, a photo caught his eye—his mother leaning over a crib, smiling brightly.

Inside the crib, baby Ye Shiyu clutched Wang Yulu’s pinky, looking up at her in wonder.

Below the photo was a caption:

"Shiyu and her godmother's first meeting."

Yan Huan’s pupils contracted slightly as he read it. Ye Lan, smiling through her tears, looked at him.

"Your mom and I agreed to be each other’s child’s godmother. I’ve always told Shiyu that."

"So, Xiaohuan, I hope you can understand your Aunt. When I first met you, I was so emotional—maybe a bit too eager, too affectionate. It might’ve felt unnatural."

"But I just... Just hearing your name made me cry. She always said that if she had a child, she'd name them that—because she loved to laugh and believed her child would, too."

Yan Huan pulled out another tissue and handed it to her, but Ye Lan didn’t even notice.

So, somewhat awkwardly, he reached over and gently wiped her tears himself.

"Aunt Ye..."

But Ye Lan held his hand softly and looked at him with gentle eyes.

"So, Xiaohuan—will you stay? Just live here at Aunt’s house. I’ll treat you like my own child, and take care of you in your mom’s place. Okay?"

.

Looking into Ye Lan’s tear-filled, hopeful eyes, Yan Huan opened his mouth, overwhelmed by a surge of emotion. After two days, everything felt so natural—so seamless—that refusing felt impossible.

Maybe Yan Huan had already thought it through—being the CEO of Ye International Linmen was clearly a valuable opportunity.

A benefactor falling from the sky like this—even the most naive person could understand the worth of such an easily offered "yes."

But everything Ye Lan had said came purely from an emotional place.

There was no melodramatic love triangle, no tangled web of love and hatred.

Just support during difficult times, and long days and nights spent together.

And now, after recalling everything and exposing the depth of their bond to Yan Huan, even if he was an orphaned transmigrator, he would surely be touched.

(*) "Transmigrator" refers to a common trope in Chinese web novels where a character is reborn or transported into another world or timeline.

It was precisely Ye Lan's sincerity that left him wavering in uncertainty.

Sensing Yan Huan's hesitation, Ye Lan, with tears brimming at the corners of her eyes, couldn't help but let her lips fall once more.

That expression, full of emotion directed at Yan Huan, made it feel as if refusing her would be an unforgivable sin.

"Aunt..."

But Yan Huan slowly lowered his gaze, avoiding her face.

After a moment of silence, he spoke with a bitter smile.

"I can't stay."

Ye Lan blinked in disbelief and quickly asked, "Why? Is it that Aunt is hard to get along with?"

"Of course not."

"Then is it your Older Sister? She just isn't used to being around others. She's not a bad person. I believe if Xiaohuan were here, she'd gradually cheer up too."

"It's not because of Older Sister either, Aunt. I've never thought that way."

"Then why? Aunt has plenty of money—she can help solve many of your problems. If there's anything you're unhappy with, just say it."

Ye Lan's expression grew more confused, her face overflowing with sorrow and grievance.

She looked directly into Yan Huan's eyes, chasing his evasive gaze until he could hide no more.

'As expected—'

'There’s no escaping escape itself, Yan Huan.'

'Blame it on those damn modifiers, Aunt Ye, for making me act like this.'

(*) "Modifiers" here may refer to external influences or character traits imposed on Yan Huan, possibly by forces beyond his control—common in fantasy or transmigration stories.

Smiling faintly, Yan Huan finally lifted his eyes and met Ye Lan's gaze head-on.

There was no trace of rejection in his expression, only firm determination.

It was 7:30 PM on a Sunday evening, in Ye Lan’s mansion located in Jinghe District.

Looking at Ye Lan in front of him, Yan Huan spoke sincerely.

"I'm sorry, Aunt Ye."

"I can’t stay here. I have to return to the southern district."

[End of chapter]