Chapter 26 Part 2

Some was nonsense without logic, but hearing it daily seeped in. Poor as she was, Lu Ningshuang became a hedonistic poor?

Not the kind buying luxury clothes and bags just to show off—refined poor. But ordinary-looking outside, carefree and comfy inside—happy poor?

Earlier, Lu Ningshuang had casually lied to keep Qin Yushu away, now caught red-handed.

“I was wrong~”

The Alpha backed down super quickly, as if trying to gloss over the matter. “So, what would you like to drink?”

Fortunately, Qin Yushu didn’t press the issue. “Water…”

She paused for a moment.

“Make it soda.”

Lu Ningshuang gave the stunning beauty a puzzled glance—this wasn’t quite what she’d imagined!

After dropping that line, Qin Yushu had already headed into the tiny living room.

The living room barely held a single-person sofa facing the TV, with a simple small table serving as a coffee table. It was so cramped that even the TV stand didn’t fit.

Lu Ningshuang was still fretting over it. The sofa was something she’d bought later on—brand new in condition, but secondhand. She’d simply aired it out and bought a cover, but hadn’t put it on yet.

Most crucially, it was still in the packaging, unopened and unwashed.

Not exactly clean.

Qin Yushu had already sat down, sinking in about two-thirds of the way without leaning back fully.

She didn’t look the least bit exhausted as she’d claimed.

Fine.

They’d both lied to each other—call it even.

Though it wasn’t quite even.

After all, Lu Ningshuang wouldn’t dare call out the stunning beauty on it!

As Qin Yushu lifted her gaze, she saw Lu Ningshuang still staring around, her expression a bit dazed.

Qin Yushu: “Aren’t you coming?”

Lu Ningshuang: “…”

Talk about turning the tables completely.

“Right away, right away.”

The little dog had an amazingly good temper. As she agreed, she turned on the TV opposite Qin Yushu, flipped to a random channel to fill the space and avoid the emptiness, then handed the remote to the Omega before leaving.

Qin Yushu’s gaze lingered for a moment on the pathetically small TV screen before shifting to Lu Ningshuang, who was bustling about with boundless energy.

The little dog was lively and active, full of vigor, considerate and gentle without causing chaos. She was a bit clingy at times, but occasionally sniffing a repair dog wasn’t bad either.

—Perfect!

Moments later.

Lu Ningshuang returned, now holding two glass cups. She handed the one filled with happy fat otaku water to Qin Yushu.

Normally, when she was home alone, she’d crack open a can of cola with a hiss and chug it straight from the can—no manners at home. But if Qin Yushu did the same… it would feel all kinds of wrong.

Too horrifying!

So, Lu Ningshuang had gone out of her way to find a clean cup and pour it out.

Qin Yushu took it, her eyes lowering. “Thank you.”

Lu Ningshuang didn’t say “you’re welcome” or anything like that.

They were somewhat familiar with each other now, and being overly polite would just feel awkwardly distant.

Lu Ningshuang set her own cup of pure water on the table. Then she remembered the fruit she’d bought a couple of days ago, still fresh in the fridge, and turned to make a fruit platter.

Qin Yushu still held the cola, her fingertips resting on the deep red-tinted glass cup—pale and slender.

She called out to Lu Ningshuang. “Is this how Miss Lu entertains guests?”

Lu Ningshuang: “…?”

What else?

Whenever guests came over, she handled these chores, while her parents chatted with them…

Oh, right!

She was missing someone to keep the guest company—too bad little Lu couldn’t split herself in two QAQ.

Qin Yushu: “You picked the channel yourself. Come sit and watch too.”

Lu Ningshuang glanced over. Sure enough, the noisy living room was still playing the drama she’d turned on earlier.

The remote hadn’t been touched.

She’d flipped it on casually, just wanting some background noise to liven things up and avoid awkward silence. By sheer coincidence, it was a melodramatic mother-in-law drama.

Right now, the TV showed a shrewish mother-in-law scolding her daughter-in-law O for being a hen that couldn’t lay eggs. The daughter-in-law O hung her head dejectedly, while the husband A just watched from the side, silent and making no move to help…

Ah, this—

Lu Ningshuang thought on her feet, snatching the remote in a flash and switching channels.

The TV domineering CEO Alpha flashed an evil, domineering smile at the soft and delicate Omega across from him. “Omega, you can only be mine! In this life, you can only have me as your Alpha!”

Shocking!

Switch again—

“Wangye, the lady has been hanging at the city gates for three days!”

“Hmph, has she regretted it yet?”

“Milady… Milady’s corpse has dried up!”

“No!!!!!”

Lu Ningshuang: “…”

Lu Ningshuang’s face twisted in agony, her heart tormented. She kept asking herself: Did she have to watch TV today?

No need!

So, the Alpha ruthlessly snapped off the TV. “Suddenly, I don’t feel like there’s anything worth watching.”

“Is that so?”

Qin Yushu looked at her with a half-smile. “I found it quite entertaining, especially the ones Miss Lu switched to at the end.”

Lu Ningshuang: Painful mask.jpg

Qin Yushu thoroughly enjoyed the Alpha’s shifting expressions before speaking again. “Fine, come sit.”

Lu Ningshuang looked over.

Sit where? The living room was too small, barely fitting that one single-person sofa.

But where there’s a will, there’s a way.

“I’ll go grab a little stool.” Lu Ningshuang said.

“No need.”

Qin Yushu patted the armrest beside the single-person sofa. “Miss Lu can sit here.”

Lu Ningshuang: “…”

It’ll dig into my butt.

But seeing Qin Yushu’s sincere expression, the Alpha couldn’t refuse. She scurried over and, before sitting, even warned, “This’ll make me taller than you by a bit.”

Qin Yushu didn’t mind. “Even bare height, Miss Lu is already a bit taller than me.”

Though not by much.

Lu Ningshuang sat down.

Without the TV’s background noise, it suddenly felt too quiet—inevitably a touch… awkward.

The pure (silly) college student little Lu, fresh out of school, had no idea how to handle the situation.

But for President Qin, who managed countless businesses under her banner, it was a piece of cake.

She casually picked a topic to start the conversation. “Does Miss Lu live alone?”

Lu Ningshuang: “Yes.”

“I noticed two rooms inside when I came in—they must both be bedrooms. No way this tiny place has a study.”

“Right.”

The honest Lu Ningshuang laid all her cards on the table. “Two bedrooms. I rented the place from the landlord first, then found someone to share the rent later. That person just moved out recently.”

“Why?” Qin Yushu asked.

“Incompatible pheromones.”

Lu Ningshuang didn’t badmouth people behind their backs, even giving a stranger that courtesy. “Not a good fit, so they left.”

Qin Yushu lifted her head slightly. “So, Miss Lu is living alone now?”

“Yes.”

“Planning to find another roommate?”

“If I can, yeah. That bedroom has a bed, desk, AC—all ready to go. Can’t just let it sit empty.”

The poor Lu Ningshuang said, “Sharing the rent would be nice.”

“How much is the rent?” Qin Yushu asked again.

Lu Ningshuang quoted a number—not expensive.

Of course, by Qin Yushu’s standards, most things in the world were “cheap.” But judging by Lu Ningshuang’s intern salary, it wasn’t bad.

Not expensive.

But for a fresh grad just entering society, it was a bit of a strain—sharing was indeed better.

“Half of that would be…”

Qin Yushu said, “Does the new tenant sign the contract with the landlord or with you?”

“With me.”

Lu Ningshuang replied, “The landlord rented it to me outright and doesn’t meddle much. I’m basically a sublessor now.”

Qin Yushu seemed intrigued. “Do you have the contract? Let me see it.”

“Oh.”

The little dog headed back to her room to rummage around.

Even in a temporary place, Lu Ningshuang kept everything spotlessly clean, items neatly arranged.

That was why Qin Yushu had stepped inside without hesitation—sure, she could keep a straight face, but if it were too dirty or rundown, she’d feel some discomfort and hesitate.

Lu Ningshuang found it quickly and came back out, also carrying a shopping bag from their earlier outing.

She set the bag down and handed the lease agreement to Qin Yushu. Thinking President Qin might want to make notes, she even offered a pen.

This earned her an extra glance from Qin Yushu, whose eyes held an ambiguous emotion.

Lu Ningshuang: …?

Qin Yushu noticed the extra shopping bag but just glanced at it without comment. In the quiet atmosphere, President Qin began seriously reviewing the contract.

Lu Ningshuang returned to her little dog exclusive seat.

Like a kid dragged out to entertain guests as a child, with nothing else to do, she picked up her cup… and drank water.

If you asked an Alpha when an Omega was most alluring, most As would say—”In bed.”

But specifying Qin Yushu, you’d add one more—”When seriously working.”

Little Dog Lu secretly watched from the side, cup in hand. The beauty’s inky hair was like clouds, her brows and eyes like a painting, unfolding slowly in the deep hues of the night.

The Omega’s features were exquisitely refined, perfectly proportioned—stunning up close with strong impact; viewed hazily, they gained an atmospheric allure.

Not the kind forced by poor looks and lighting tricks.

Just veiled in a thin gauze, the beauty’s stunning visage was like Jiangnan in misty rain, tempting one to draw near and unveil it personally.

Yet she remained elegantly poised, never frivolous.

Lu Ningshuang watched her, sipping little by little, her crow-drinking-water motions never stopping.

Qin Yushu focused intently, took a sip of her soda, then lightly furrowed her brows.

Lu Ningshuang, who had been watching closely, immediately asked, “Not good?”

Qin Yushu moved the cup farther away, her action showing clear distaste, brows still furrowed. “This flavor… I’m not used to it.”

Lu Ningshuang had anticipated this!

Qin Yushu’s face didn’t look like one that drank junk soda, so she’d prepared an extra cup earlier.

“Then I’ll—”

Halfway through, she froze. Glancing down—oh, the backup cup she’d prepared for Qin Yushu was in her own hand now, and she’d already sipped it!

Lu Ningshuang jumped up. “I’ll get you a fresh one!”

“No need.”

Qin Yushu set the papers on her knee, using her freed hand to tug Lu Ningshuang.

It didn’t look forceful, but it yanked Lu Ningshuang right back.

The cola was still in her other hand, bubbles swirling with a light shake.

“You like this?” Qin Yushu asked.

“I-It’s okay, I guess.”

“Okay enough to stock it at home?”

Faced with Qin Yushu’s relentless pursuit, Lu Ningshuang squeezed her eyes shut. “Actually, I kinda like it.”

“I see… Then let’s swap.”

Lu Ningshuang felt something shoved into her hand. The next second, as she opened her eyes, Qin Yushu had picked up the cup of pure water she’d sipped from and set back on the table.

Noticing her gaze, Qin Yushu didn’t dodge or yield. Now fully at ease as the big boss who’d made herself at home, she no longer needed her rotten-drama-heroine acting to feign weakness.

Her goal was achieved.

Meeting Lu Ningshuang’s eyes, she even chuckled lightly with interest. “Miss Lu, don’t waste it.”

Pausing, Qin Yushu emphasized.

“It’s the one you like.”