That night, Qin Jia suffered from insomnia, which was unusual for her.
She lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. The image of Lu Tingzhou embracing her kept flashing through her mind, and her fair cheeks gradually warmed up.
Strange feelings piled up to a certain point, and she suddenly opened her eyes, sat up while hugging the blanket, reached out and turned on the wall lamp, and glanced at the low cabinet beside the bed.
On the low cabinet sat a vintage clock, which showed that it was two in the morning.
Qin Jia sighed helplessly, thinking that Lu Tingzhou truly deserved to be the male protagonist of this world; in this world, no one could escape his powerful aura.
He only hugged her once, and her body reacted so strongly. If it happens a few more times, she probably won't be able to sleep well anymore.
Qin Jia sat on the bed in a daze, then suddenly remembered that Grandma Huai Shu had taught her the Heart-Cleansing Mantra, which could calm the mind and help her sleep, and perhaps solve her current problem.
Thinking it over, she closed her eyes, slowly adjusted her breathing, and silently recited a spell in her heart.
The first time she read it, it had little effect. The second time, she felt sleepy, but she still thought of Lu Tingzhou and that warm embrace.
After reading it for the third time, the man finally disappeared from her mind. Qin Jia breathed a sigh of relief, opened her eyes, turned off the wall lamp, and lay down again.
This time, she finally fell asleep.
-
Sunday morning at nine o'clock.
Inside the Qin family villa, Butler Sun led the servants in doing the final cleaning and tidying up.
"Everyone, hurry up! Don't overlook any corner of your home, not even a speck of dust!"
"After you're done, everyone should check it carefully again. Don't try to cut corners or take any chances. Do you understand?"
Everyone answered in unison, "We heard you," and only then did a relieved smile appear on Steward Sun's tense face.
Qin Zongming is a clean freak, but he also has a pair of sharp eyes that can spot dirt anywhere he looks.
Because of cleaning issues, we've had many different maids; this is the eighth batch to arrive.
The servants finished their final checks, while Butler Sun looked around, pondering what else was left undone.
His gaze fell upstairs, and he suddenly remembered something. He quickly grabbed a maid and whispered, "Aju, go upstairs and wake Miss up."
Upon hearing this, Aju shook her head repeatedly, her previously relaxed features instantly contorting into a frown. "I'm not going. The young lady's morning grumpiness is quite frightening; I dare not."
Butler Sun curled his lips into a kind smile and softened his tone: "Ah, that's all in the past. Look, Miss is in good spirits now, and her temper has improved a lot, hasn't it?"
"Don't be afraid, it's okay."
Aju was still shaken and kept shaking her head, "That's because her husband wasn't home, so she could sleep as late as she wanted, which is why nothing happened."
"But the master will be back soon. If I upset the young lady and she gets angry and throws things, I'll get my salary docked again…" Aju resisted. "I'm not going to do something so thankless."
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"Butler Sun, if you insist on forcing me..." she said, wringing the dry rag in her hand, "I'd rather resign!"
Seeing that Aju was so resistant, Butler Sun didn't say anything more. He looked around and saw that everyone had their heads down and were trying their best to avoid eye contact with him.
Nobody wants to be the first to stick their neck out.
Butler Sun sighed deeply, waved his hand, and said, "Never mind, I'll go call them."
At worst, he can just forgo his bonus this year.
After all, compared to having her pay docked, the consequences of Miss T not being able to come out to greet her husband on time are far more serious.
Butler Sun went upstairs and stopped in front of Qin Jia's door. He didn't rush in but knocked on the door first.
"Young Miss, it's time to get up."
This was repeated three times, but there was no response.
Suddenly, his phone vibrated twice in his pocket. He took it out and saw the latest message from the front lines.
The driver said they had arrived.
Butler Sun took a deep breath, turned the doorknob, pushed the door open a crack, and called inside, "Young Miss, your father is back!"
"Get up now, stop sleeping!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a voice responded from inside.
Butler Sun was immediately relieved and quickly stopped the servants downstairs, telling them to line up at the door.
He hurriedly went downstairs, crossed the line, and walked to the front of the crowd.
-
At 9:08, the villa's iron gate opened, and a black Porsche drove in.
The car came to a smooth stop in the front yard, and several servants came forward to open the doors for the people inside.
As Qin Zongming alighted from the car, everyone bowed respectfully and shouted in unison, "Welcome home, sir."
Then he greeted Shen Yushu and Qin Mo one by one: "Hello, Madam. Hello, Young Master."
Shen Yushu was already tired of these pretentious "rules," but out of consideration for face, she didn't make a scene. She simply reminded Qin Zongming to agree quickly.
Qin Zongming ignored him, looked around, and turned to Shen Yushu, "Where is she?"
"Her? Who is she?" Shen Yushu looked around and realized that Qin Jia was not there.
Her heart tightened, but she maintained her smile. "Jiajia is sick and resting."
Qin Zongming sneered: "Why didn't I hear she was sick before? She's only feeling unwell now that I've come back?"
Shen Yushu bluffed: "If you're sick, you're sick. Do you think your virus can pick a time to wreak havoc?"
After speaking, she cleared her throat and looked at the butler and servants who were still bowing, "Everyone, stand up straight and don't bend over, it's tiring."
Despite her words, Qin Zongming remained silent, and no one dared to move.
Qin Zongming glanced at Shen Yushu indifferently, his expression authoritative without anger: "Is this how you behave at home? No wonder you've spoiled those two little ones so much."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yushu's anger flared up. She stood in front of Qin Zongming, raised her head to look at him, and poked his chest with her finger. "Qin Zongming, what do you mean I spoiled them? Look at what you've done to these two children!"
"One doesn't dare to sleep too much, and the other doesn't even dare to eat snacks. Qin Zongming, are you a reincarnation of a troublemaker? Why do you have to meddle in everything?"
"If you like rules so much, then go with the rules! I'm not putting up with this anymore!"
After saying that, Shen Yushu angrily dragged Qin Mo into the house, her high heels clicking loudly on the cement floor, irritating the eardrums of everyone present.
Qin Zongming was publicly humiliated, and his face instantly turned extremely ugly.
He entered the house in silence, paused at the door, and said to the people who were still bowing, "Come in."
The servants breathed a sigh of relief, rubbing their aches and waists as they entered the house, then dispersed in twos and threes.
Under immense pressure, Butler Sun stepped forward, helping Qin Zongming remove his suit jacket while covering up Shen Yushu's lie: "Sir, please don't be angry. Miss has been ill recently, and Madam is very worried about her; she hasn't been feeling well."
Qin Zongming, taking the opportunity to back down, softened his expression slightly: "What illness does the young lady have?"
Butler Sun smiled awkwardly and said, "You'll know once you go up and take a look."
-
Second-floor bedroom.
Shen Yushu held her daughter's hand and whispered, "Jiajia, wake up, your dad is back."
"Good girl, don't sleep." Shen Yushu said, glancing at the doorway, her heart pounding in her throat. "If you don't get up, your dad will get angry again."
Outsiders all say she's a shrew, someone not to be trifled with, but only she knows that she has an even more formidable husband at home.
She and Qin Zongming were like oil and water; if it weren't for their perfect harmony in that area, they probably wouldn't have been able to stay together for so many years.
Suddenly, the door was pushed open.
As the sound of leather shoes drew closer, and realizing she couldn't hide it any longer, Shen Yushu's heart sank.
She thought that if Qin Zongming went crazy again, she would risk everything and fight him.
My daughter had finally had a few happy days, but if he upset her again and she got sick, and eventually developed a mental illness, she would definitely regret it immensely.
Behind Shen Yushu.
Qin Zongming looked at his daughter on the bed, whose face was rosy, and his brows gradually furrowed into a deep frown.
She looked great, even better than before, and her breathing was steady and long, not at all like someone who was sick.
What's wrong? You're clearly just lazing in bed again.
He's so hardworking, working 350 out of 365 days a year. I don't know how he could have such a lazy daughter.
Qin Zongming pulled Shen Yushu away unhappily, "You go over there, I'll call her."
Before Shen Yushu could react, Qin Zongming sat down on the edge of the bed and patted Qin Jia's face.
Suddenly, the person on the bed frowned, and a slender arm rose swiftly, as if by reflex, and firmly and accurately clamped his wrist.
"Crazy pig, stop touching me!"
With a few slender fingers, a snapping sound was heard, the sound of bones breaking.
Qin Zongming cried out in pain.
Everyone present was stunned.
Qin Mo rushed over first, quickly shaking Qin Jia's shoulder and saying urgently, "Sister, let go! This is our dad, not some crazy pig!"
"Sister, let go!"
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Qin Jia woke up with a start in bed.
She let go, sat up while hugging the blanket, and mumbled in a daze, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
"I was just dreaming that a wild boar was nudging my face. I got startled and pushed it away instinctively. I didn't mean to, sir—"
Qin Jia, still shaken, quickly accessed the database to retrieve information about the middle-aged man in front of him.
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Qin Zongming (Note: Wrist fracture version)
Age: 47
Gender: Male
Height: 852cm
Identity: Chairman of Qin Group
Character traits: Talkative, obsessive-compulsive, workaholic, perfectionist, has a sensitive stomach, likes to be complimented on his thick, black hair, outwardly tough but inwardly weak, and very concerned about how others perceive him...
The character introduction was nearly a thousand words long, and Qin Jia's mind was almost overwhelmed.
After a long pause, all her words finally boiled down to one sentence: "I'm sorry, Dad."
"I didn't mean to."
Qin Zongming looked at his swollen wrist, then at his slender daughter, and couldn't believe what had just happened.
The person who just tried to break his wrist was incredibly strong; they almost broke his fingers.
Thinking of this, Qin Zongming twitched his little finger, and his finger seemed to...
Qin Zongming closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again, a fine sheen of sweat appearing on his forehead.
He looked at Qin Jia, forcing a smile, "It's okay, I know you didn't mean it."
"You continue to rest, I'll go out first."
Qin Zongming propped himself up with his left hand, pretending nothing had happened, and strode away, leaving the others with a dashing silhouette.
Butler Sun followed him out.
"Sir, your hand..." Butler Sun rubbed his right wrist with lingering fear. "Is it alright?"
Thankfully, he didn't act impulsively; this young lady's morning grumpiness was terrifying!
In the corridor, Qin Zongming glared at him.
"Go to the hospital."
"Immediately, right away."
Butler Sun helped him downstairs, and as they walked, he suddenly thought of something.
So, he mustered his courage and asked:
"Sir, if someone asks how you got injured, how will you answer?"
Qin Zongming remained silent for a long time.
"Just say it is—"
"On the way back, we passed through Dongshan and encountered several wild boars that had gone mad."
"He was injured unexpectedly during the fight."
Butler Sun narrowed his eyes, deep in thought: "Then, exactly how many wild boars were there?"
Qin Zongming: "..."