Even as a "normie," I'm completely oblivious to it.

Seemingly sensing what Yu Zhe was thinking, Zi Xiao chuckled softly twice.

She left the lychee behind, quickly walked forward to stand next to Yu Zhe, and then grabbed his arm, pressing her body against him. (Monthly fee group 694936135)

She turned her head, and in the afterglow of the setting sun, Zixiao's smile seemed to be the most beautiful thing in the sunset.

"If you feel bad about it, brother... well, let me make this clear, I won't complain, but if you don't buy me a gift, I can ask for other rewards, right? Just walking home arm in arm like this will make me happy."

"You're too easily satisfied." Yu Zhe changed his position to make it easier for her to hold on. "Okay, but next time I still hope you can choose something. Seriously, you can't just not want anything."

"Well, what's wrong with that? That's all I want."

Zixiao gripped Yuzhe's arm even tighter, as if by doing so, she had already obtained everything in her world.

Moreover! This way, we'll leave Little Lychee far behind!

But Xiao Lizhi wasn't the type to be jealous or competitive; she was just a stubborn fool.

Watching Zixiao and Yuzhe walking side by side ahead, she could only sigh.

Wow~ That's amazing! Zixiao can be really bold sometimes. Is this the explosion that comes from silence?

However, this has little to do with Xiao Lizhi. She only hopes that she can have the courage to properly communicate with Brother Yuzhe in the future. Right now, this silly girl is still immersed in the joy of receiving the crystal ball~

.................. ..

Evening, at the dining table.

Little Lychee changed the battery in the crystal ball and then took it back to her room to put it away.

Regarding this, Yu Zhe could only say that it was quite a coincidence. As far as he knew, some of the young ladies he had encountered during family gatherings in the past were arrogant, domineering, and bullies who preyed on the weak.

But none of the young ladies around me, whether it's Xiao Lizhi, Sister Ye, or Zi Xiaoyu Che, are short of money. Oh, Xiao Lizhi is short of money.

Ahem... Anyway, it's amazing how the girls around Yu Zhe are all quite frugal. They don't get into the habit of wasting money just because they have it. For example, Xiao Lizhi just bought a crystal ball, and even though it's only worth twenty yuan, she seems to cherish it very much.

It was a gift from my brother Yuzhe, how could I not cherish it?

The topic of conversation during the meal was started by Yu Zhe.

He had been curious about something for a long time, and since Xiao Lizhi was here today, he finally had the chance to ask it.

"Little Lychee, I have a question for you."

"

"Hmm! Brother Yuzhe, you say it... um... you say it!"

Little Lychee ate a big mouthful of rice and didn't stop using her chopsticks while answering questions.

"Okay, then let me ask you, are there any elders in your family who interfere with family planning, making it difficult to implement internal company decisions?"

"Elders...? What... decision?"

She clearly didn't understand what he meant, so Zixiao simply said, "Brother is asking if there are any annoying old men or women among your relatives in the Ouyang family who criticize your parents' business decisions."

"Oh, I understand!"

Little Lychee thought back for a moment.

"Although I don't know anything about this, I do know this: my parents are the heads of the Ouyang family... right?"

"Don't have any doubts about this! It would be too much if you didn't know this!" Yu Zhe said, rubbing his forehead.

Little Lychee nodded and continued, "It seems that my family doesn't have the situation that Zixiao mentioned. Because when our main family makes money, many times the elders from the branch families come to our house during the New Year to collect their share of the profits. They leave happily after receiving the money and don't say much."

18. Can you cooperate a little? (Bonus chapter)

"Is that really how it is?"

Yu Zhe understood; he had guessed the same thing before asking. The Ouyang family's business operations were clearly much easier, and they faced fewer restrictions.

Zixiao picked up some food and put it on Yuzhe's plate: "Why did you suddenly ask this, brother?"

"It's nothing." Yu Zhe took a bite of food. "It's just about the cooperation with the Qi family. Yu Che just told me that those old fogies in the family seem to want to talk to me."

"Oh? They want to get involved in this too? What did you say, brother?"

"I don't need to say anything, Yu Che has already refused for me."

"As expected of Yu Che... Well done. This way, brother won't have to run around for this anymore. But this cooperation with the Qi family was a decision made directly by our main family, right? Do the elders from the branch families also want to interfere?"

Zixiao hit the nail on the head, and Yuzhe nodded.

"Yes, it seems they have objections and wanted to intervene, but unfortunately, they don't have much power left to intervene now. Yu Che and I have some influence in the Su family now, but if this had happened back in Father's time, it's hard to say whether this cooperation would have been successful in the end."

"That's why I said you and Yu Che are both amazing."

Xiao Lizhi couldn't understand the whole conversation, but she could grasp the general meaning.

Considering the question Yu Zhe had just asked her, she asked in confusion.

"But Brother Yuzhe, the Ouyang family also has many elders from branch families, but they seem to have never had much presence... Oh, I get it! It's because the Ouyang family is too small, far smaller than the Su family, right!"

You truly are a fine young lady of the Ouyang family!

Yu Zhe shook his head and denied it, saying, "No, the reason is complicated. Simply put, my father inherited the family fortune, while your father built the Ouyang Group from scratch. Do you understand?"

"?"

It would be strange if Little Lychee could understand anything.

However, it's clear that Zixiao seems to have already understood.

There was no other way, so Yu Zhe explained to Xiao Lizhi again: "The Su family has deep roots in Fenghai City and has been developing for a long time. There are many factions within the family. Although the main family has the most say, it has been limited by the power of the branch families in previous years. After Yu Che and I took over the Su family, it has now stabilized."

"As for the Ouyang family, Uncle Ouyang started from scratch and built such a large family in just over ten years. Your relatives who have branched out from the family are all benefiting from this. They probably invested some money when your father started his business, so they are grateful enough to receive dividends. Why would they cause trouble?"

"But this is only temporary. If a few decades pass, these branches of the Ouyang family will become more and more greedy, wanting to extract more benefits from the main family. At that time, the Ouyang family will become just like the Su family before. So, Little Lychee, your task will be very important then."

Otherwise, only Xiao Lizhi can handle this matter. As the only daughter of the Ouyang family, even if she is not very smart, she will have to take over the management of that big family sooner or later. No wonder her parents are so anxious. That's why they said that the task is arduous and the road is long.

"Hmm..." Little Lychee thought for a long time and suddenly felt a bit of pressure.

But after a long silence, she finally managed to say, "Since it's so difficult... then Brother Yuzhe, will you help me manage the Ouyang family from now on?"

"puff!"

Yu Zhe almost spat out her tea. I'll say it again, you really are an outstanding young lady of the Ouyang family!

Unlike him, Zixiao slapped Xiaolizhi on the back of the head.

"Ouch! That hurts! Zixiao... what did I say wrong again!"

"You—you still dare to ask!" Zixiao was furious. "How can you talk like that! That's an entire family! How can you let others interfere? And by saying that, aren't you implying you want to…"

"You mean?"

"You blockhead!"

"Ouch!"

Too lazy to say more, Zixiao found her head and slapped it again, this time on the forehead!

Could Zixiao really say that? If the eldest daughter of the Ouyang family said that Yuzhe should help her manage the family, wouldn't that mean she wanted to marry Yuzhe?

How could I let you succeed?

"Hey Zixiao, stop hitting her. She probably doesn't even know what she's saying."

Yu Zhe advised Zi Xiao to pick up her chopsticks again, saying that even the hardest head couldn't withstand another hit.

But now, Little Lychee, who was covering her forehead, was worried: "Waaah... what am I going to do in the future?"

What can we do?

"Yu Zhe explained it very clearly, "Learn more, ask more questions. Not everyone is born able to manage a large family. You have to improve, just like when you were the student council president in school. You'll gradually understand."

"But Brother Yuzhe, you were born with the ability to manage..."

"..."

No, Yu Zhe's words to educate Xiao Lizhi are not very convincing. But in reality, even if someone is smart, knowledge is still learned little by little.

Even though Yu Zhe said a lot of encouraging words to her afterward, Xiao Lizhi still didn't have any confidence.

Waaah, if we let her manage things herself, the Ouyang family will be gone in less than three days.

At the end of dinner, Little Lychee suddenly remembered something funny.

"Brother Yuzhe! Could you cooperate with me for a bit? I just remembered a new meme I saw online recently, and I'd like to try it out!"

"A new meme?"

Over the years, there have indeed been wave after wave of memes online, but jokes that become "memes" must be quite interesting.

He was also quite curious about what this pistachio had discovered this time.

"Okay, tell me."

With Yu Zhe's permission, Xiao Lizhi, under Zi Xiao's questioning gaze, went to the kitchen and got a clean spoon.

Then he scooped up some of the leftover egg drop soup with a spoon and brought it to Yu Zhe's lips.

"Ah~ Brother Yuzhe, have a sip."

"..."

Yu Zhe glanced at Zi Xiao out of habit; she was clearly a little unhappy…

But Little Lychee was in high spirits: "Hey! Just one sip! Brother Yuzhe, you only need to take one sip."

Looking at her now, Yu Zhe thought she was incredibly innocent and naive. She just wanted to try out the new memes she saw online.

Well, it's just like playing with a child; there doesn't seem to be any psychological pressure.

Yu Zhe opened his mouth, bit the spoon, and drank the soup inside.

"Is this okay? So what's your new joke?"

But then, Yu Zhe opened his eyes wide and looked at Xiao Lizhi in surprise.

She picked up the spoon that Yu Zhe had just used, placed it in front of her, and licked it with her tongue.

Almost instantly, Yu Zhe felt an invisible pressure from Zi Xiao beside him.

This isn't a new meme, it's practically a heart attack!

After licking the spoon, Xiao Lizhi put it down and deliberately made an exaggerated expression.