Chapter 24: Cast Out of the House

Looking at the hotel room card in his hand, Ye Fei let out a helpless sigh. He had never expected his luck with women to be this strong.

“Do I really look like a kept man?”
“Or maybe I’m just too handsome.”
“Sigh.”
“It’s a pity, though. I already have a charming little senior sister at home, so I can’t keep you company.”

With that, Ye Fei tossed the room card over his shoulder and into the nearby trash can without a backward glance.

Upon returning to the villa, he glanced around the living room and happened to catch sight of his Ninth Senior Sister, Zhou Danzhuang, who had changed into a cute set of pajamas. She was holding a plate of steak in one hand and a glass of milk in the other, enjoying her meal with an expression of pure contentment.

“Hey?”
“You’re back so late, little junior!”
“I forgot to make you dinner. Did you eat yet?” Zhou Danzhuang greeted him with genuine warmth.

Indeed, Ninth Senior Sister was always herself—nothing like the aloof and cold Second Senior Sister.

Ye Fei grinned and approached, rubbing his stomach as he clicked his tongue. “My wonderful senior sister, did you make this yourself? It smells amazing—I’m practically drooling over here.”

“Want a bite?”
“Call me Mommy first.”

Zhou Danzhuang’s phoenix eyes narrowed in a playful smile as she licked the milk from her lips and teased him.

“Get lost.”
“You want to take advantage of your junior, too?” Ye Fei refused to give in, stretching and glancing at the bloodstains on his clothes. He decided a hot shower was in order.

“Stop right there!” Zhou Danzhuang suddenly called out.
“Where did those bloodstains come from?” Her tone had turned serious.

Ye Fei scratched his head, unsure how to explain. He understood perfectly well why his Ninth Senior Sister would react so strongly to bloodstains—after all, she was a police inspector.

Fortunately, at that moment, Second Senior Sister Lin Qiqing entered, her arrival dispelling the awkward tension. She glanced at Ye Fei’s embarrassed face and Zhou Danzhuang’s stern expression, immediately understanding the situation. Slipping off her high heels, she said coolly, “Don’t ask. There was a minor conflict, but it’s been handled.”

Apparently, Second Senior Sister’s word carried weight; Zhou Danzhuang merely looked puzzled but asked no further questions.

“How was your dinner engagement, Senior Sister?” Ye Fei inquired with concern, noting the scent of alcohol as he approached.

But Lin Qiqing ignored him, grabbed a random can of cola from the fridge, and headed barefoot upstairs.

“Best not to bother your Second Senior Sister,” Zhou Danzhuang advised cheerfully. “When she drinks cola, it means she’s in a bad mood.”

“Oh?” Ye Fei was surprised. “She has such a habit?”

“What do you mean, ‘habit?’” Zhou Danzhuang huffed. “Your Second Senior Sister works herself to the bone every day. Now the company’s run into major trouble—she’s out at all hours, leaving me alone in this empty house. It’s terribly lonely.”

“Major trouble?” Ye Fei ignored her teasing, frowning. “What kind of trouble?”

Zhou Danzhuang hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should say more. But after some thought, she decided it wasn’t much of a secret; even if her little junior knew, it wouldn’t hurt.

She began to explain.
“Your Second Senior Sister’s Everlasting Group is in real estate, right? She’s pretty much monopolized the property market in Hang City. Recently, she tried to expand into the neighboring city, spent a fortune acquiring several plots for development. But because she didn’t grease the right palms ahead of time, she offended a local business association. It was just a small misunderstanding, but someone stirred the pot. The conflict escalated, and a lot of people ended up dead.

“Your Second Senior Sister isn’t exactly mild-tempered, so she went head-to-head with them. But it turns out that side has a serious background. They didn’t bother with words—they just seized all her newly acquired properties and swallowed up every last cent.

“That sudden blow broke Everlasting Group’s capital chain. With no other options, your Second Senior Sister has to look for new investors. She hates socializing, you know!”

Zhou Danzhuang sighed as she tidied her dishes, her face full of worry. “I told her not to expand so quickly. Now look—no one can help her, and she has to clean up this mess alone.

“But you mustn’t spread this around! If the competition finds out, your Second Senior Sister will be finished in no time!”

Ye Fei nodded, signaling his understanding, but he kept a careful note in his heart. No wonder Second Senior Sister was willing to strike up drinking sessions with people like Zhang Tianfeng, even risking herself for investment. A broken cash flow was no small matter.

“Sigh. If only I hadn’t done what I did. Second Senior Sister probably hates me now.”

He recalled the harsh words Zhang Tianfeng spat before leaving, and guilt gnawed at him. Though he had saved his senior sister, he had also ruined her plans in the process. How could he fix this?

For the moment, Ye Fei was at a loss. It seemed unlikely Second Senior Sister would speak to him anytime soon.

“Oh, right. Junior—about that matter you asked me to investigate, there’s been some progress,” Zhou Danzhuang suddenly said, snapping Ye Fei out of his thoughts.

He tensed, asking urgently, “What did you find?”

“Don’t rush. You’ll have to wait. My colleague hasn’t confirmed the information yet. Just be patient.”

With that, Zhou Danzhuang, right in front of Ye Fei, stripped off her jacket and tossed it into the