Chapter 32

Xie Buy Xie didn’t know, but the conventional parental mindset of wanting to beat a bratty child was inevitable.

By now, Lu Little Dog was twenty-two years old. Could she still be considered a child?

Having spent more time with Lu Ningshuang, Qin Yushu’s originally very proper thought processes couldn’t help but be led astray by her…

Beyond that, the first thing she thought of was—

Little Dog had worked so hard to pluck the few remaining good things from her family to give to her. While criticizing her improper behavior, shouldn’t she also feel touched and happy?

Before Qin Yushu could figure it out, she heard Lu Little Dog ask from beside her, “What about the calligraphy and paintings?”

Qin Yushu assumed she was asking how to dispose of them. “Some have been mounted and placed in my study.”

Lu Ningshuang inwardly clicked her tongue.

The things delivered yesterday had already been mounted and hung up today. Nangong the housekeeper’s work efficiency was impressively fast!

As expected from a housekeeper with a classic surname who was obsessed with domineering CEO novels!

“Do you like these?” Lu Ningshuang asked again.

Qin Yushu replied, “Each has its own charm in form and meaning. Though copies, they carry a unique artistic conception.”

Lu Ningshuang got it instantly.

This means she likes them~

“Over the next couple of days, I’ll get a few more from Lady Ning for you,” Lu Ningshuang said.

Qin Yushu understood.

This is about plucking wool from both parents’ sides.

One was taken directly, the other required asking for permission… Her family status was already very clear.

But whether “taking” or “asking,” such a carefree attitude showed that Lu Ningshuang had an extremely good relationship with her family.

This included how Lu Ningshuang had covered for her cousin earlier, and from what Fu Junyi had revealed, that cousin had “sold” Lu Ningshuang to her for a day as a mommy. It was clear that Little Dog’s family relationships were also excellent.

In this world, it wasn’t true that wealth always brought family discord—among the poor, there were those who fought bloody battles over meager shares.

Lu Ningshuang always called herself a poor ghost, but the Lu Family wasn’t actually that poor. They might just adhere to certain principles and their bottom line, maintaining their living standard at a well-off level.

Perhaps, as Lu Ningshuang had said while exposing the fake earlier, they were “once wealthy ancestors.”

Once wealthy ancestors, so in times of need, a few thousand or billion-yuan Fortune Buddha jade statue could be given away on a whim;

Once wealthy ancestors, leaving behind certain wisdom and discernment.

Children raised in such families generally had good character, though they might occasionally show some quirks…

Lu Little Dog was a bit of a slacker, a bit thick-skinned, a bit of a soft rice eater… but probably no other flaws?

Her temper was genuinely good, her personality cheerful and able to bring her amusement, and her face was very pretty.

Beyond that, her primary gender was exactly what she needed most—Alpha.

Perfect.

There was even an unexpected bonus.

What Qin Yushu knew wasn’t that stack of wedding gifts—her horizons as President Qin wouldn’t be limited to such externalities.

It was Lu Ningshuang’s harmonious and friendly kinship ties.

No one understood better than her how rare it was to have relatives who didn’t stab each other in the back or drag one another down.

Lu Ningshuang was still tallying up her family’s meager “assets,” wondering what to pluck for Qin Yushu next time she went back.

Hmm, among Old Lu’s collection of vases, there seemed to be a few that weren’t too flashy. Mom had some more deceptive landscape and bird paintings hidden away well…

“Let’s go.”

The vehicle for today’s outing had arrived at the door—a Rolls-Royce.

The standard CEO ride!

Qin Yushu walked ahead.

Lu Ningshuang lagged behind because she wasn’t good at wearing high heels. Her original height was already sufficient—176 cm!

She never needed them usually. With heels, she’d be over 180 cm, which really didn’t help her fake the delicate, soft, cute girl persona.

But just those two steps behind let her spot some big news!

Goodness gracious!

President Qin looked dignified and elegant from the front, unassuming, but all her little schemes were in the back!

The two thin shoulder straps crossing the front chest had a trick to them. In just a few moves, they lightly wrapped up all the fabric from front to lower back.

Lu Ningshuang didn’t doubt their sturdiness, but this exposed Qin Yushu’s entire beautiful, snow-white back!

Her hairstyle today had all her thick, long hair fully pinned up, making those straps’ windings even more alluring and provocative.

This was more exaggerated than fully exposed, more tantalizing!!!

When Lu Ningshuang was shocked and instinctively turned her head back, sure enough, she saw Lu Little Dog with a dazed, worldly-naive, rustic look.

Even her brows furrowed, clearly not approving.

What will she say?

Qin Yushu couldn’t help but wonder about the Alpha’s thoughts.

“You…”

Lu Ningshuang’s brows were still furrowed, her tone hesitant. Qin Yushu didn’t throw an encouraging glance, but pausing like this tacitly permitted her to continue.

“Aren’t you cold?” Lu Ningshuang asked.

“…”

Lu Ningshuang continued, “Even though the car and house have full heating, that short walk outside is still cold.”

“It’s just a few steps, but don’t you need something to drape over?”

Qin Yushu: “…………”

Very Lu Little Dog.

“I came prepared,” Qin Yushu said. “Including yours.”

As soon as she spoke, Nangong the housekeeper astutely handed two shawls to Lu Ningshuang’s hands.

A glance down, and the colors made it easy to tell which was whose.

Nangong the housekeeper even winked subtly at her, hinting for her to hurry. Lu Ningshuang could practically hear her next thought—

This is the first time the young lady has proactively accepted a shawl from an Alpha, but clearly, you’re special to her.

Lu Ningshuang: (embarrassed)

Still, Lu Ningshuang unfolded one and gently placed it over Qin Yushu’s shoulders. From start to finish, her fingertips never touched her body, only brushing the stray strands of hair.

The beautiful back was engulfed by the camel-colored genuine leather shawl.

Qin Yushu slanted a glance at the Alpha in this pose.

This time.

No thanks.

*

Lu Ningshuang and Qin Yushu got into the car heading to the banquet.

The car heater was on sufficiently, and with both of them draped in shawls over their upper bodies, they didn’t feel cold.

Before long.

The especially beautiful Lu Ningshuang today grew restless, fidgeting and twisting all over, like a monkey’s butt was under her.

Qin Yushu in the back seat naturally noticed. “What are you nervous about?”

“Yeah, yeah—”

Lu Ningshuang asked super nervously, “Your family will be there too, right? How should I interact with them, or rather, how should I respond to them?”

Qin Yushu had mentioned earlier that the banquet host wasn’t from the Qin Family, but everyone was in the same circle, and the host seemed to have significant background. Surely Qin Yushu’s family would attend?

By “family,” she meant Qin Yushu’s two direct blood relatives above her.

Lu Ningshuang didn’t dare ask rashly. There were just too many ABO pairing types!!

Though ABO came first, people usually addressed as ladies and gentlemen.

Aside from this Alpha/Beta/Omega being a bit odd, it might not be obvious at a glance, leading to awkward mistakes. Distinguishing by male/female was easiest.

Qin Yushu said, “My family structure is the same as yours: an Alpha father and an Omega mother.”

Lu Ningshuang listened intently to Qin Yushu’s introduction, quietly memorizing it.

“Don’t worry. You won’t see them tonight.”

The family relations intro cut off abruptly. Lu Ningshuang didn’t even react.

“Why?”

Qin Yushu seemed to chuckle lowly—was it a cold laugh?

“One lacks ability, the other lacks time. Neither will attend. Miss Lu needn’t worry.”

“Oh.”

Noticing Qin Yushu didn’t want to dwell on the topic, redundant-A Little Lu wisely didn’t pry.

She didn’t even speculate inwardly.

Qin Yushu’s upbringing environment was clearly worlds apart from hers in every way…

Lu Ningshuang also noted that, besides her parents, Qin Yushu hadn’t mentioned anyone else—

She knew the entire Qin Family was now mainly under Qin Yushu’s control, though some collateral branches still held power in subsidiaries.

They would definitely attend tonight.

Qin Yushu had no interest in mentioning them.

But those were old, recurring issues—the people and conflicts were there, impossible to clear up quickly.

She was used to it and wouldn’t let such externalities affect her mood.

However.

Her earlier coldness might have startled Little Dog. Now, she sat there more obedient and docile than ever.

She seemed to have forgotten to tease Little Dog just now.

Time to make up for it.

Qin Yushu asked, “Do you know what banquet we’re attending tonight?”

Lu Ningshuang shook her head blankly.

Qin Yushu said, “Old Master Huo’s seventieth birthday.”

A birthday celebration, and at seventy—life’s rarity past seventy. Lu Ningshuang began pondering what auspicious words to say to the birthday star…

Wait.

Hold on!

Lu Ningshuang suddenly realized and turned to Qin Yushu beside her. “Old Master Huo… the Huo surname—”

Qin Yushu watched her leisurely, her lips curving into a bewitching, gorgeous smile.

“Yes, that Alpha you’re very concerned about—Huo Yunyi’s… grandpa.”