A few hours later, on the other side of the city, Qin Jia was roused by noisy commotion. She groggily sat up, hugging her silk quilt, and listened intently—voices and rhythmic tapping drifted from the courtyard. The sun hung high, casting golden squares of light across the floor. Throwing off the covers, she slipped on slippers, pulled back the curtains, and peered outside.
In the yard, several burly uniformed men planted a massive locust tree with a gnarled trunk, while a light blue swing draped in green vines stood nearby, picturesque. Qin Jia opened the window, leaning on the sill to admire the scene. A gentle voice interrupted her: "Jiajia."
She turned to see Shen Yushu, breaking into a bright smile. Bathed in sunlight, her oval face glowed, jet-black hair fluttering in the breeze—like a high-fashion editorial. Shen Yushu stared, momentarily forgetting her purpose, before Qin Jia waved a hand in front of her: "Mom, are you okay?"
Snapping back, Shen Yushu smiled, eyes crinkling: "I'm fine. I prepared a welcome home gift—look over there." She pointed to the yard.
"Those are for me?" Qin Jia's eyes lit up.
"Of course—your territory, your rules," Shen Yushu said. Qin Jia hugged her tightly: "Thank you, Mom! You're the best." For minutes, she gazed at the tree, grinning uncontrollably.
After lunch, Qin Jia headed to the yard, intent on climbing the locust tree. Butler Sun hovered behind her, heart in his throat, until she settled steadily on a branch. He quickly had servants lay cushions below. As they left, whispers floated back: "The young lady's cheerier than before… Why'd Madam plant a tree? Master'll be furious…" Qin Jia, immersed in the scenery, didn't hear.
The locust tree's lush foliage filtered sunlight into tiny, swaying specks. She leaned against the trunk, peaceful, napping briefly before climbing down, energized. Back inside, she ran into Shen Yushu, who said: "Jiajia, your dresses are too plain—no suitable for the charity gala. Let's go shopping, mother and daughter?"
Qin Jia froze. "A gala? I get dizzy in big crowds…"
"Just enjoy the food—no pressure," Shen Yushu reassured her. She needed Qin Jia there to confront Second Master Lu, but kept that unsaid. "So, shall we go?"
Qin Jia nodded. "Can I have matcha ice cream?"
Shen Yushu ruffled her hair: "No problem."
As they changed, Qin Jia's phone vibrated—a text: "Savings card ending 8985 received ¥8,000,000 at 14:05, balance ¥8,019,000." She blinked, calculating: 8 million could buy 400,000 ice creams. Opening her bank app, she saw Shen Yushu's name as the sender. "Mom really is the best," she sighed.
3:30 PM, MK Commercial Plaza
Secretary Lin reported to Lu Tingzhou, who was selecting a projector: "Mr. Lu, the robot malfunction was due to staff error—technical department says restarting fixes it. They'll upgrade the program and add operation guides."
Lu Tingzhou nodded, paying for the projector Secretary Lin recommended (a 4th-gen model with dual functionality, praised for reliability). As they walked out, Lu Tingzhou suddenly stopped. Secretary Lin followed his gaze to the third floor: outside a formal dress shop, Qin Jia chatted with a handsome young man—Qin Mo, her brother.
"Mr. Lu, we should head to the airport," Secretary Lin urged, but Lu Tingzhou remained fixed. When Qin Mo left to take a call, Secretary Lin suggested: "MK has new smart shopping robots on the third floor—shall we check?" Lu Tingzhou grunted, following. Secretary Lin sighed inwardly: Why was the CEO fixated on someone who seemed happily coupled?
Inside the Dress Shop
Qin Jia sat on a sofa, overwhelmed by rows of dresses. Shen Yushu had been called to the company, so Qin Mo accompanied her—though he knew nothing about fashion, approving every style. The clerk approached: "Miss, what's your budget? I can recommend options."
"Around ¥50,000," Qin Jia said. The clerk's smile froze—¥50k was barely enough for everyday clothes, not formal wear. Glancing at the door (assuming Qin Mo was paying), she said: "Mr. Qin can afford our most expensive dress. Try this first—decide when he returns." She handed over a light blue strapless gown.
Qin Jia entered the fitting room. Meanwhile, Lu Tingzhou stepped in, telling the clerk: "Looking at suits." His aura was imposing; the clerk fidgeted as she showed him options—until he interrupted: "What's your most expensive women's dress?"
Stunned, she pointed to a nude pink halter gown: "Designed by Delia, one-of-a-kind in Yucheng—¥4.75 million." Lu Tingzhou stared at it silently.
The fitting room curtain swished open. Qin Jia emerged in the light blue gown, embroidered with fluttering butterflies, looking ethereal. Even Lu Tingzhou was stunned. She twirled in slippers: "Is it too long?" The clerk handed her silver high heels: "These match perfectly."
As Qin Jia adjusted, she spotted Lu Tingzhou. "What are you doing here?" she asked, confused—didn't the system say they'd never meet again?
"Looking at suits," he replied. "You're shopping for a gala?"
She nodded, turning to the mirror. "What do you think of this dress?"
"Nice for a birthday party," he said. "For a gala, try the pink one."
Qin Jia stepped toward the pink gown, but the high heels tripped her. Strong arms caught her—she fell into Lu Tingzhou's chest, a cool woody scent wrapping around her. Their eyes met, and her heart fluttered. "Sorry, I'm not used to heels," she mumbled, pulling away.
Lu Tingzhou loosened his tie. "Glad you're okay." He told the clerk to help Qin Jia try the pink gown, then handed over his black card: "Settle her bill—quote her budget price." The clerk gaped, imagining a dramatic love triangle, before rushing to comply.
Qin Jia emerged in the nude pink gown—halter neck adorned with diamonds, silk skirt shimmering like a fishtail. "Understated yet luxurious—perfect for you," the clerk gushed. "Today's promotion includes free heels!"
"¥52,000?" Qin Jia asked. The clerk nodded. She paid, changing back to her clothes to wait for Qin Mo. Spotting Lu Tingzhou browsing suits, she offered: "Need help choosing? It's my first time, but I can try!"
His lips curved slightly. "Thank you for the trouble."
4:20 PM, En Route to the Airport
Secretary Lin glanced at the shopping bag in the backseat. "Mr. Lu, how much do you plan to donate to Thursday's charity gala?"
"Haven't decided—I'll go in person," he said.
Secretary Lin frowned. He'd called the gala "boring" before—why the change? Her mind raced: Was the company bankrupt? No, the Lu family was wealthy. Finally, she concluded: Their CEO was planning to be a "male mistress."
If this continued, the company might really go under soon. :)