Chapter 52

Lu Ningshuang said, “……This isn’t good.”

However, the “overbearing CEO romance” poison had already seeped deep into Housekeeper Nangong’s heart, and no medicine could cure it.

Moreover, she even tried to convert it into a zombie virus and further infect the little madam with it.

Thus, Housekeeper Nangong smiled and said to Lu Ningshuang, “Isn’t Madam feeling bored? Coming out to get some exercise would also give a surprise to the young miss when she returns.”

“You’re sure it’s a surprise and not a fright?” Lu Ningshuang was extremely skeptical.

“It definitely won’t be.” Housekeeper Nangong said, “The young miss loves you so much that she’ll find whatever Madam does utterly adorable.”

Lu Ningshuang: “……”

Something even she herself found unreliable, yet Housekeeper Nangong said it with such confident certainty that Lu Ningshuang felt it was surreal.

If outsiders heard this rhetoric, Housekeeper Nangong would be labeled a typical PU A!

Lu Ningshuang hemmed and hawed, “But those flowers and plants outside look really expensive.”

Housekeeper Nangong replied smoothly, “Madam, rest assured. There’s still a patch of lawn in the back courtyard that no one uses.”

Lu Ningshuang: !

Was even this part of your plan, Housekeeper Nangong!!

Lu Ningshuang immediately flopped down. “No way! I suddenly feel so tired. Everything hurts. I just want to lie here and sunbathe.”

“Madam!”

Lu Ningshuang rolled to one side, turning her back to Housekeeper Nangong, and ignored her completely.

Really, she was perfectly content being a freeloading gerontocrat Alpha right now. There was no need to steal the gardener’s job!

“Sigh!”

Housekeeper Nangong felt utterly defeated, like an NPC who had issued a quest only to encounter a rebellious, headstrong player who skipped the dialogue and CG to run off on their own.

While Lu Ningshuang enjoyed the warm afternoon sunlight, someone from the front suddenly came to report—Eldest Young Master Qin had come to visit.

Housekeeper Nangong didn’t even furrow her brows. “The young miss isn’t home. Send him away.”

As long as it didn’t involve the sweet romance of the domineering CEO and his darling wife, Housekeeper Nangong was exceptionally reliable.

“What is he here for?” Lu Ningshuang asked as well.

Housekeeper Nangong was concise: “Making trouble out of nothing.”

Having followed Qin Yushu for many years, as the housekeeper, she should have been impassive, but whether it was because she had grown close to Lu Ningshuang or because she loathed that whole bunch from the Qin Family too much…

At this moment, Housekeeper Nangong’s tone wasn’t great—downright cold and disdainful.

Lu Ningshuang nodded, indicating she understood.

Then she added, “Wait a minute.”

Housekeeper Nangong paused, then saw Lu Ningshuang turn those clear, beautiful eyes toward her. “Housekeeper Nangong, have someone bring him in.”

Lu Ningshuang called her “Housekeeper Nangong,” not out of distance.

In fact, after hearing Qin Yushu call Housekeeper Nangong “Auntie Qin,” she had tried calling her that too. After all, “Housekeeper Nangong” was not only long but sounded terribly formal.

However.

Housekeeper Nangong herself wasn’t too pleased.

Just as she stubbornly insisted on calling Lu Ningshuang “Madam,” she was equally adamant about her own title “Housekeeper Nangong.”

Qin Yushu called her “Auntie Qin” simply because they had known each other early on, back when she hadn’t yet fallen into the domineering CEO romance pit. Later, Qin Yushu got used to it, and it stuck first-come-first-served. It was hard to correct her to “housekeeper” afterward.

One didn’t hear of housekeepers setting rules for the masters, after all 🙂

Not just Lu Ningshuang—everyone else in the villa called her the long and cumbersome “Housekeeper Nangong.”

This was her last bottom line! She couldn’t yield anymore! Any further concession would last a lifetime!!!

Housekeeper Nangong was about to say something when she saw Lu Ningshuang’s sparkling eyes. “The Qin Family folks don’t seem to have given any wedding gifts for the new marriage. Since he’s delivering himself to the door, let’s have him make up for it!”

Housekeeper Nangong nearly cried. “You’re truly a thrifty and capable madam. The young miss will be so gratified when she hears about this.”

Lu Ningshuang: “……”

No need to go that far.

Actually, Housekeeper Nangong could tell that Lu Ningshuang was just bored staying home alone.

The little madam’s personality wasn’t timid, but she wasn’t some super outgoing social butterfly either. She was a bit of a homebody.

These past days, aside from going back to her old family home at the start to pick up some “local specialties,” she had been holed up in the villa ever since. It really was quite dull, so today Housekeeper Nangong had come up with this method to get her moving.

It was also to train the madam’s core strength, which would surely earn her even more favor from the young miss upon her return?

Then, she got politely refused.

Heartbroken.jpg

However, Housekeeper Nangong recalled that Eldest Young Master Qin… The madam’s brain wasn’t the sharpest, but dealing with a completely brainless Alpha should be no problem, right?

She didn’t consider that the reason her own madam’s thought processes had become like this was at least one-third due to her, the esteemed head housekeeper.

Since it wasn’t some important guest, Lu Ningshuang didn’t bother to greet him. Even Housekeeper Nangong didn’t move, nor did she send a car.

The villa was rather large, so while the other party walked over, Lu Ningshuang took the opportunity to ask Housekeeper Nangong about the Qin Family matters.

It had been nearly half a month since marrying Qin Yushu. Qin Yushu had joined their Old Lu Family’s Happily Married Family Group chat, but Lu Ningshuang’s understanding of Qin Yushu’s side of the family was still quite vague.

From the Qin Family’s Third Uncle and Aunt she had seen at the Huo Family birthday banquet last time, and the image of Old Master Qin pieced together from Qin Yushu’s scattered mentions, she knew the Qin Family might not be a dragon’s den or tiger’s lair, but the internal situation was definitely far from good.

They were absolutely holding President Qin back!

This time, she got the full story from Housekeeper Nangong.

Of course.

Housekeeper Nangong wasn’t a blabbermouth who spilled everything, but Qin Yushu had never ordered her not to tell Lu Ningshuang. Besides, given how the two got along now, it was obvious!

Understanding each other’s past was a crucial step in advancing their relationship.

Housekeeper Nangong thought: No worries, I’ll handle this for you!

Moreover, looking at the young miss’s experiences along the way, they could fully qualify as “beautiful, strong, and miserable”… Well, maybe not that miserable. There was even a bit of the shuangwen protagonist dominating everything flavor.

But—

When had one ever seen a “beautiful, strong, and miserable” character personally recount their tragic past? Talk about a massive drop in cool points!

At times like this, she, as the housekeeper and tool character, was perfectly suited to step up!

Housekeeper Nangong, having devoured countless domineering CEO novels and boasting high education and credentials, described Qin Yushu’s past in vivid detail. When she looked up, she saw Lu Ningshuang’s expression.

“The title ‘Qin Third Miss’ is so cool and satisfying.”

Housekeeper Nangong: ?

Something felt off?

But upon careful reflection—

Yeah, it really was cool. This was straight out of domineering CEO literature’s childhood phase, the devilish young master/miss trope. Add a dash of willful arrogance and untamed defiance, and the flavor was spot on!

Delicious~!

While Lu Ningshuang and Housekeeper Nangong chattered away, Eldest Young Master Qin, Qin Lizheng, finally arrived on his own two legs.

Lu Ningshuang was sunbathing outside amid the cluster of flowers. A small pavilion had been set up in the garden to shield from sunburn, and she lay there at just the right temperature.

But Qin Lizheng had trudged over on foot, sweating from the heat. The afternoon sun around two in April could be quite harsh, beating down on his black suit’s heat-absorbing fabric, flushing his cheeks red like a monkey’s butt.

Qin Lizheng arrived brimming with fury, but upon seeing that they had received him not even in a proper living room, his anger skyrocketed.

He opened with a barbed sneer: “So you’re the pretty boy Alpha my third sister keeps? Coming from some backwater, you have no manners. You don’t even know basic hospitality…”

The last word stuck in his throat.

As a fellow Alpha, the instant he saw Lu Ningshuang’s face, he couldn’t help being stunned.

In the Qin Family, Qin Yushu’s looks were top-tier, but she was too flamboyantly gorgeous from face to personality—like a rose with thorns. Coupled with her ruthless methods when in power, it had given these brothers PTSD. Many had developed a fear of bright, glamorous beauties.

Instead, they preferred the delicate, fragile type.

And this Eldest Young Master Qin had the severest case.

Qin Lizheng thought to himself that although Qin Yushu had married a totally useless Alpha, this face and aura were quite to his taste. His good third sister had finally shown some discernment for once.

He grudgingly approved.

Then, the delicate beauty in the rocking chair propped herself up, her clear watery eyes rippling as she glanced at him, her expression seeming a bit startled, as if frightened.

In this world, those indifferent to AO like the transmigrator Huo Yunyi were rare. Physiologically, most Alphas still preferred pairing with Omegas for satisfaction.

Qin Lizheng wasn’t that kind of pervert, but Lu Ningshuang’s appearance was just too beautiful, too slender, too alluring.

He momentarily forgot the purpose of his visit and even the other’s gender. Like a peacock fanning its tail, he straightened his clothes and stood even more rigidly.

To show off his elegant poise.

“Housekeeper Nangong.” Lu Ningshuang called.

Her voice was soft and glutinous too, which greatly pleased Qin Lizheng, but what came next…

“How did a dog get into this villa district?”

“Madam, I’m not sure.”

Housekeeper Nangong coldly glanced at Qin Lizheng and obligingly answered Lu Ningshuang’s confusion.

“But a stray dog that barges into someone’s courtyard and barks wildly at the owners must be dragged out and beaten to death!”

“You—!”

Qin Lizheng flew into a rage. He had already been displeased by Lu Ningshuang’s words, but who could blame the straight man Housekeeper Nangong for pulling aggro so effectively?

She drew all the hatred with one line, earning the eldest young master’s bulging glare!

The Qin Family genes weren’t bad either.

They could produce a top beauty like Qin Yushu in both looks and ability, or mediocrities like Qin Lizheng.

Lu Ningshuang furrowed her brows. “Wouldn’t that be a bit too much? Isn’t it a little cruel?”

These words soothed Qin Lizheng’s heart by a third.

This pretty boy Alpha knew how to talk—though he had clearly forgotten that it was this very person who first called him a “dog.”

Having spent so much time with Lu Ningshuang, Housekeeper Nangong knew she wasn’t as weak as she appeared.

Thus, she played along. “What do you think, Madam…”

The beauty lowered her eyes, kind and compassionate.

“I saw online that neutering a male dog makes its temperament much gentler…”

Her heavenly, melodic voice delivered the cruelest words. “Then let’s castrate it. At least that way we spare its life.”

Qin Lizheng: “……”

The perfect straight woman Housekeeper Nangong: “Madam, you’re too kind! There probably isn’t a kinder Alpha in this world!!”