The Qin family’s situation was somewhat complicated.
Going back three generations, they could all be considered prosperous in terms of offspring. Old Master Qin’s generation alone had split into three branches!
With so many roots at the base of this great tree, without pruning, as they grew upward, the branches were bound to split in all directions. And each had their own ideas.
These numerous tangled and peculiar relationships, intertwined with similar names, fully warranted a family tree diagram to sort them out.
First, the oldest generation.
Old Master Qin was the eldest, born to the same mother as Second Master Qin, though the two were eight years apart. Third Master Qin was born to a wife his father remarried later, a full nineteen years younger than Old Master Qin.
They were almost a generation apart and not from the same mother. From both age and blood ties, Old Master Qin wasn’t close to this Third Master. He had his own younger brother to dote on, so relations with the third branch grew even more distant.
Power transitioned early in that generation. Third Master Qin was still too young and ultimately suffered for it. In the end, Old Master Qin smoothly took control. He remained close with his younger brother from the second branch, while the third branch was completely excluded from the power structure.
Moreover, this Third Master was young and loved to play. People said he was spoiled rotten, spending his days fooling around with cats and dogs. He played for a long time, only marrying in his thirties to a young and beautiful Omega as a Beta. Now, their only daughter was just five years old, and he doted on her. For now, that branch was set aside.
In Qin Yushu’s father’s generation, Old Master Qin had three children.
Eldest daughter Qin Zhenxian, eldest son Qin Borong, and youngest son Qin Bolang.
As the old master’s firstborn, the eldest daughter was the most favored upon birth. Though she later differentiated only as a Beta, disappointing Old Master Qin somewhat, the early favor lingered. Even her marriage was one where the groom joined her household.
Qin Zhenxian had only one child beneath her—the Qin eldest young master, Qin Lizheng, who had come knocking today.
Eldest son Qin Borong was Qin Yushu’s father, with only Qin Yushu as his child.
Old Master Qin’s two sons were both good-for-nothing playboys addicted to wine and women. The difference was that the younger son, Qin Bolang, was younger and had been spoiled from childhood, while Qin Borong, as the eldest son, initially held some hope from Old Master Qin.
Especially since this one differentiated into an Alpha after coming of age.
But some mud was destined never to stick to the wall. Even as an Alpha, no amount of support could prop him up; instead, he risked dragging the entire Qin family down.
Qin Borong wasn’t bright, but he had a handsome face. Old Master Qin still cared and, when he reached marriageable age, arranged a good match for the Qin family. Then Qin Yushu was born.
Even at a young age, she displayed astonishing intelligence and talent. Old Master Qin treated her like a treasure, immediately casting aside his three worthless “big accounts” to focus on cultivating this “little one.”
Though Qin Yushu later differentiated into an Omega—and Old Master Qin, an Alpha with traditional views, believed Omegas, especially female ones, were naturally prone to indulgence in romance and unfit to hold power—he still wanted to wrest control from her and find someone else.
But the Alphas already in the family couldn’t shoulder the burden. Looking further afield? Not to mention the third branch, even his own younger brother’s line… The empire he had built over a lifetime—why hand it to outsiders?
People, no matter how close in childhood, developed their own selfish interests once they had families of their own.
It was human nature, unavoidable.
In the initial period after Qin Yushu differentiated as an O, whether for the family, himself, or the grandfather-granddaughter bond from years together, Old Master Qin had at least treated her “well” for a time.
Finally, the youngest son Qin Bolang was much like Old Master Qin and Third Master Qin’s situation.
He was twelve years younger than eldest daughter Qin Zhenxian—a full zodiac cycle—and had a pair of twins below him, currently in high school at seventeen, not yet differentiated.
Second Master Qin’s second branch also had one son and one daughter.
This family’s son was idle and particularly fertile, producing three sons and one daughter. The daughter was an Omega, the sons two Alphas and one Beta.
The daughter’s line had only one daughter, also in high school and not yet at differentiation age.
In an instant, the second branch’s descendants matched the total grandchildren under Old Master Qin.
Now, with Old Master Qin having passed away from overwork a few years prior, both Second Master Qin and Third Master Qin were still around.
After Third Master Qin had his sweet little daughter, he developed a soft spot for his wife and child, but his playful nature didn’t change. He happily stayed home playing with the kids, living off dividends peacefully. But Second Master Qin—
Old Master Qin had been too kind to his younger brother, inadvertently fostering their ambitions.
While Old Master Qin was alive, things were fine.
With him holding things down, he not only kept Second Master Qin’s side in check but also prevented the main branch’s three children from splintering. Now that he was gone and Qin Yushu had taken power, the whole clan fought internally while eyeing her warily—sharpening their knives toward this grandniece/niece/sister.
This even included Qin Yushu’s own good-for-nothing father!
Truly, one’s position determined one’s thinking.
With Dad gone, he suddenly thought he could step up.
Tsk tsk.
The whole clan now lived crammed in the old mansion, truly like raising Gu insects. Qin Yushu had moved out alone for some peace.
The Qin Third Uncle and Third Aunt whom Lu Ningshuang had seen at the banquet last time were precisely that hyper-fertile couple from the second branch.
Four kids in a row— no wonder Qin Family’s Third Aunt’s face screamed medical beauty tech, and she kept telling Qin Yushu to focus on husband and kids. Turns out she was speaking from experience!
And today’s troublemaker wasn’t even from the second branch—it was sent by Qin Yushu’s “good” aunt.
This person’s relation to Qin Yushu was much like Lu Ningshuang’s to Brother Facai, except Qin Aunt had taken a live-in son-in-law who took her surname, making this fellow Qin Yushu’s cousin by blood, not by marriage.
Lu Ningshuang couldn’t stand it anymore. In Qin Yushu’s father’s generation, her own aunt had fought to stay. Perhaps her brain wasn’t great to begin with, and differentiating as a Beta drew disdain from the somewhat sexist Old Master Qin, but since he’d doted on her as a child, he agreed to the live-in marriage.
But taking a live-in son-in-law itself meant she wanted to stay in the Qin family, to get a share of this feast.
Perhaps one cup wasn’t enough.
Far from enough.
Back to the present.
Lu Ningshuang looked up and saw Qin the Eldest Young’s face, flushed red from just a few words between her and Housekeeper Nangong.
She was truly puzzled like a little dog.
With a brain like that, what right did he have to compete with Qin Yushu? Just his God-given Alpha status?
Thinking of Qin Third Uncle and the others she’d seen last time, none too bright either. No wonder Housekeeper Nangong described her young miss as beautiful, strong, and “miserable”—it all felt… so hollow.
This was straight-up brainless crushing dominance, wasn’t it?
While Lu Ningshuang pondered, Qin Lizheng’s chest heaved dramatically until he finally calmed his mood.
“Uneducated little bastard!”
Now, when he looked at Lu Ningshuang, there was no trace of pity for her beauty. He cursed away, but it had no effect on her.
Housekeeper Nangong, standing to the side, grew colder and colder in expression.
As long as it didn’t involve domineering CEO tropes, she was utterly reliable. Earlier, when chatting with Lu Ningshuang about the Qin family structure, she’d been sitting.
Now standing was her own idea. As she put it, didn’t this make Madam look more imposing?
“Sharp-tongued.” Qin Lizheng, feeling humiliated, spat icily, “Tell Qin Yushu to come see me!!”
Lu Ningshuang showed a “are you okay?” puzzled look. She was far more honest than this uninvited guest.
“She’s not here.”
“Didn’t you know she wasn’t home, that’s why you dared show up?” Lu Ningshuang’s little barbs stabbed straight at his heart.
“Alright, everyone knows you’re a coward now. Anything else?”
Qin Lizheng’s eyes suddenly shifted.
Prompted by Lu Ningshuang, his anger-fueled mind finally recalled the purpose of his visit. Seeing her impervious to reason, he turned his spear on Housekeeper Nangong.
“Qin Yushu’s not here, and you just let her host? You’re Qin Yushu’s steward—aren’t you afraid of losing face with such hospitality?”
Housekeeper Nangong smiled without her eyes. “With Miss away, everything in the household naturally falls to Madam.”
While boosting Lu Ningshuang, she didn’t forget to kick him while he was down. “Unlike some uninvited guests who act on whims, not even bothering to call ahead.”
“Cave dwellers?” Lu Ningshuang said.
Housekeeper Nangong lowered her head deferentially. “Madam speaks truly.”
“You—”
Qin Lizheng’s freshly suppressed anger flared hotter. Now he understood Third Uncle’s expression after seeing Qin Yushu at the Huo family banquet that night.
Now, it was her turn.
Lu Ningshuang asked innocently, “You want in so badly—planning to steal secret files while my wife is away?”
Wife!
With the domineering President Qin absent, the little phoenix man spoke boldly. Housekeeper Nangong, assisting in the face-slapping, had her eyes light up again.
Candy!
This “wife” had to be reported back to Miss.
Right.
She knew Madam was bored, which was why she’d let Qin the Eldest Young in for Madam to toy with—mainly because Housekeeper Nangong trusted this Qin eldest young master’s intellect completely; she knew him inside out.
But today’s events still needed reporting to Miss—spin it as the Qins “bullying” Madam. Though Miss wasn’t home today to swoop in protectively,
it was still a great way to heat up their relationship. She couldn’t steal Miss’s scene.
Where to find the next relationship booster?
Thus, Housekeeper Nangong pulled out her phone and tapped away.
Meanwhile, Lu Ningshuang and Qin Lizheng’s banter reached—
Qin Lizheng: “I didn’t! You’re slandering me!”
Lu Ningshuang: “Oh oh, got it. No need to shout if there’s nothing.”
Qin Lizheng: “You’re ruining my reputation!”
Lu Ningshuang: “Mm-hmm. Since there’s nothing else, let’s take him out back and castrate him.”
Zero fight in him; she was bored.
Beside her, Housekeeper Nangong suddenly took a call, her expression turning grave bit by bit. She suddenly called out, “Madam.”
Lu Ningshuang turned back.
Housekeeper Nangong: “Miss is back early today.”
Lu Ningshuang’s eyes visibly brightened. She stood too, shedding her lazy demeanor, her tone softening sweetly.
“Wow, so soon? Why didn’t you say earlier? Let’s go pick her up now. It’s the weekend anyway, nothing going on.”
She figured since Qin Yushu had dragged her along when leaving, proactively picking her up this time would make her happy too, right?
Little phoenix man Lu was quite self-aware.
But Housekeeper Nangong, who always handled everything impeccably, didn’t immediately call for the car.
“Miss is already here. It’s just… there was a car accident on the road…”
Lu Ningshuang’s smile vanished instantly.
“Hahaha—”
Elsewhere erupted a burst of laughter—from Qin the Eldest Young, Qin Lizheng. “Qin Yushu in a car crash? Karma! Good hit!”
“How is she? Dead yet?”
Excitement laced his tone, so intense that blood rushed to his face, redder than when he’d been enraged earlier.
Silence fell around him.
Qin Lizheng felt the light dim as if blocked, finally lowering his proud, skyward-laughing head.
The delicate, soft-looking little white face Alpha stood right before him.
She’d been a bit far before; even when Lu Ningshuang stood from sitting, it wasn’t obvious. Now, up close.
