Chapter 41: Chapter 41: The Origin of the Conflict

"Dual cultivation?" Ye Ningsuan's small mouth widened in surprise. Although she hadn't practiced any martial arts, she had watched TV shows, movies, and read novels, and she knew that the Liu family had an ancestral internal cultivation technique. So she believed in this somewhat elusive term and understood that this type of technique required engaging in certain activities to enhance abilities. Feeling a bit secretly pleased, after the events of yesterday, she felt that she couldn't be without Ye Fei.

Although it wasn't appropriate to speak about this matter, since the first time had already happened, she didn't mind it happening again. Besides, the feeling was simply too good. As long as this matter wasn't revealed, they could continue this relationship.

Initially, Ye Ningsuan had felt a sense of guilt towards Ye Fei, considering he was just a sixteen-year-old boy. However, upon learning about his dual cultivation technique, she found a good excuse to help her nephew improve his skills. This way, she could justify this improper relationship to herself. With these thoughts in mind, she blushed slightly and said, "So, in the future, would you like your aunt to help you cultivate?"

Naturally, Ye Fei was eager for it and quickly nodded in agreement, saying, "I also want to become stronger as soon as possible, so it will be easier to overcome the crisis in the family."

"Family crisis?" Ye Ningsuan asked with some confusion, "What are you talking about? Why am I unaware of any crisis?"

Ye Fei explained his speculations to her again, using her experience to gauge their validity.

After some thought, Ye Ningsuan said, "Your speculations make sense. It seems there might indeed be someone targeting the Liu family. After things settle down, I must have a good talk with your mother. Why didn't she inform me about such a big issue?" Her tone resembled that of a scolding elder sister to a disobedient younger sibling.

This sparked a thought in Ye Fei's mind. Weren't his aunts not on good terms with his mother and the others? Why did Ye Ningsuan seem so concerned about the Liu family? Now that he had such an intimate relationship with Ye Ningsuan, he felt comfortable asking directly, "Aunt, aren't you in conflict with my mother and the others? Why are you so concerned about the Liu family then?"

Ye Ningsuan sighed and said, "The conflicts between us sisters and your mother are personal grudges. The collaboration between the Liu and Ye families is still very close. It's fair to say that we are interdependent. How could I not be concerned about the Liu family's affairs?"

"Why do you have conflicts with my mother and the others to the extent that you haven't been in contact for so many years?" Ye Fei's purpose in coming this time was to resolve the conflicts between them. Since the conversation had reached this point, he seized the opportunity to ask.

Ye Ningsuan sighed again, feeling a bit helpless as she said, "Let's forget about it. These are all old matters, and I don't want to bring them up again."

"If these are all old matters, why not just let go and reconcile? You don't know that over these years, your conflicts have made Yunqi, Sis Siqi, and Siyao very uncomfortable."

"We do want to reconcile with them. Your mother has reached out to us several times in these years, but your second aunt always refuses to budge. Your third aunt and I have tried to persuade her many times, but it has had no effect."

"Second aunt?" Ye Fei was taken aback. He hadn't expected that the root of the conflict between his aunts and his mother lay with his second aunt, Ye Ningxue. He didn't know what had happened, so he asked, "How did my second aunt end up in conflict with my mother and the others?"

Ye Ningsuan didn't answer him this time. Instead, she said, "This matter concerns the reputation of your second aunt, and we agreed long ago not to tell anyone about it."

With Ye Fei hugging Ye Ningsuan, he softly said, "Suan, just tell me. Let me see if there's a way to resolve it. Don't you also hope that we can all get along peacefully?"

Hearing Ye Fei calling her 'Suan,' Ye Ningsuan couldn't help but feel a wave of intoxication. Since her parents passed away, no one had used this name for her. Hearing it from this little guy now made her feel loved, a feeling different from parental love but more intoxicating. She nodded involuntarily and said, "Alright, but you mustn't mention it to anyone, especially not in front of your second aunt."

"Okay!" Ye Fei nodded vigorously. The immediate priority was to clarify past events. As for how to resolve them, that was a matter for later.

Ye Ningsuan composed herself and said, "This happened when we were all quite young. At that time, your second aunt and your eldest aunt were studying at the same university. Their relationship was extremely close, and it was from them that the Liu and Ye families established closer ties. However, something happened that turned them into enemies, or more accurately, made your second aunt resent your eldest aunt."

"What exactly happened?" Ye Fei asked as Ye Ningsuan paused.

Ye Ningsuan sighed and continued, "At that time, your second aunt and your eldest aunt were both outstanding girls, known as the two campus belles with many suitors. However, both of them had very high standards and looked down on those suitors. Then, a very outstanding young man entered their lives. At that time, they were respectively the president and vice president of the student union. This young man was a minister under them and also assisted your second aunt's work. Gradually, your second aunt developed feelings for him. But when she confessed her feelings boldly, he confessed that he liked your eldest aunt instead. Your second aunt was heartbroken. However, their relationship was at its closest then, so your second aunt had to let go of her feelings and instead help that young man pursue your eldest aunt."

At this point, Ye Ningsuan paused again.

Ye Fei felt a bit helpless. Matters of the heart were indeed the most complicated. However, this shouldn't have caused his second aunt and eldest aunt to become enemies. So he asked, "What happened next? Did that young man end up with my eldest aunt?"

Ye Ningsuan sighed, "If they had gotten together, your second aunt wouldn't hate your eldest aunt so much. With your second aunt's help, that young man confessed his feelings to your eldest aunt. But your eldest aunt rejected him outright. At that time, your second aunt thought that your eldest aunt rejected him because of her, so she kept trying to persuade your eldest aunt. It was only later that she found out your eldest aunt truly didn't like that young man. This made your second aunt determined to pursue him again. But then came the news that the young man had taken his own life because of your eldest aunt's rejection."