Lunchtime.
As the dishes were served one after another, Shen Yushu finally sat down. She glanced at the tableware on the table and asked the maid beside her, "Aju, why are there only three sets of bowls and chopsticks?"
It was correct to set out three sets of bowls and chopsticks in the past, but since Qin Zongming is back today, we should set out four sets.
Aju, carrying a tray, glanced in the direction of the kitchen, then turned back somewhat awkwardly, "Madam, Butler Sun said that Master has been admitted to the hospital and won't be coming home for meals for the next few days."
Hearing this, Shen Yushu was puzzled: Didn't he only injure his wrist? Did he really need to be hospitalized?
She suppressed her doubts, calmly curled the corners of her lips, and said, "Aju, could you please call Butler Sun over and have him explain the details to me?"
Aju obediently agreed and ran to the kitchen to pull Butler Sun over.
After catching his breath, Butler Sun leaned close to Shen Yushu and whispered, "Madam, the master has a wrist injury and is also allergic to pollen, so he needs to stay in the hospital for a few days."
"Pollen allergy? What kind of flowers is he allergic to?" Shen Yushu squinted, puzzled. "He has this problem? I don't remember him having it."
Butler Sun glanced furtively at Qin Jia, who was staring blankly across from him, and hesitated before speaking, "Sir is allergic to locust flowers."
He paused for a moment, then said, "It's... the flowers from the big locust tree in the backyard."
"Furthermore, the gentleman said—"
Butler Sun pursed his lips, stammering, unsure how to begin.
Shen Yushu looked up. "What did he say?"
Butler Sun took a deep breath and, forcing himself to speak, relayed Qin Zongming's words: "The master said that if you don't move that tree quickly, he won't come back."
Shen Yushu laughed in exasperation, "The locust flowers only bloom for half a month at most. He can just stay away from the backyard, right?"
Shen Yushu hates being threatened, especially by Qin Zongming; she won't fall for it.
"Tell him that if he doesn't want to come back, then he shouldn't. Between the tree and him, I choose the tree."
Butler Sun smiled awkwardly, his back almost sweating. "Madam, what the master said was just in anger and doesn't count. Please don't take it to heart."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yushu's expression softened slightly. Considering his injured hand, she decided not to hold it against him.
She lowered her eyes, quickly composed herself, and asked, "How many days has he booked a hospital room for?"
Butler Sun held up five fingers.
Shen Yushu made a quick decision: "Add another ten days. Also, find a few experienced people to take turns taking care of him."
Butler Sun: "Yes, madam."
-
Inside a hospital ward.
Qin Zongming sat in a recliner, lazily basking in the afternoon sunlight of spring.
Just as I was dozing off, there was a knock on the door.
He raised his left hand and subtly lifted the thin gray blanket on his knees, then closed his eyes and pretended to sleep.
The door creaked open, and several people came in from outside. The footsteps were dense, and it sounded like Shen Yushu had brought the little one over.
"The gentleman is resting, please keep your voices down."
Upon hearing Butler Sun's voice, Qin Zongming casually opened his eyes, pretending to have just woken up, and asked, "Butler Sun, who's here?"
As he spoke, he turned his head and suddenly saw three men and three women moving back and forth in the small living room, without even seeing a trace of Shen Yushu and the children.
Everyone was carrying large and small bags, containing flowers, fruits, clothes, and bedding.
Qin Zongming frowned and quickly summoned Butler Sun to ask, "What happened? Where is Madam?"
Isn't she coming?
Butler Sun pointed to the people in the living room, "Madam isn't coming. She said you should stay in the hospital and recuperate."
As if a sore spot had been hit, Qin Zongming suddenly raised his voice: "What do you mean by recuperating? I'm perfectly healthy!"
Butler Sun: "Madam said that if you were in good health, you wouldn't have to struggle with a tree."
Qin Zongming choked and remained silent.
"By the way, those people in the living room were sent by Madam to take care of you," Butler Sun said slowly. "They work in shifts 24 hours a day, so you can rest assured."
Qin Zongming said speechlessly, "Steward Sun, I only injured my right hand, there's nothing wrong with the rest of me!"
Butler Sun looked up at Qin Zongming with a serious expression. "What if?"
Qin Zongming got up from the recliner, stood by the window, and straightened his clothes. "Did Madam say anything else?"
Butler Sun: "Madam said she'll extend your stay for another ten days, so you can go back after the locust blossoms have faded. You can also have a full check-up while you're at the hospital."
Qin Zongming snorted coldly, "I won't do it."
"I'm perfectly healthy, I don't need..."
Before he could finish speaking, he coughed unexpectedly, choked on his saliva, and his face turned red instantly, preventing him from saying the rest of his words.
"Sir, you should still get checked out," Butler Sun said calmly, helping him catch his breath. "Since we're already here..."
Qin Zongming remained silent for a long time before asking again, "Can't that tree really be moved?"
Butler Sun gave him a meaningful look and said, "That's the young lady's favorite tree."
"My wife won't let me move."
Mentioning Qin Jia, Qin Zongming felt a headache coming on as he recalled the events of the morning.
He slowly sat back in the recliner, watching the swaying shadows of the trees on the wall in silence for a long time.
"Butler Sun."
Butler Sun bowed and said, "I'm here."
"Find a fortune teller for me to see if I and the young lady are destined to clash."
Butler Sun paused for a moment, then said, "Sir, there's something I'm not sure if I should say."
Qin Zongming: "You speak."
"I think you should get a full medical checkup instead of relying on feudal superstitions."
"It works even better."
"..."
-
With Qin Zongming absent, everyone's life continued as usual, except for Steward Sun, who was quite busy.
Qin Jia practiced catwalk at home for two days and basically mastered the techniques.
On Wednesday afternoon, she went to Zhenyuan as arranged and met up with her colleague Lin Luxi near the company auditorium.
Lin Luxi was startled when she saw the burly man behind Qin Jia.
Seeing this, Qin Jia turned around and instructed Fifteen, "Take off your sunglasses."
Lin Lucy met those bright, piercing eyes and said weakly, "Qin Jia, why don't you make him put his sunglasses back on? It's even more...unusual if he takes them off."
Fifteen silently put on her sunglasses.
The three of them entered the auditorium together. Inside, Lin Lucy used the stage to explain to Qin Jia how to make an entrance, how to position himself, and other important points.
Qin Jia walked through the area once in flat shoes, then changed into high heels that she had prepared beforehand and walked through it twice more.
During this time, Lin Luxi stood below the stage, constantly saying, "Look to the left, look to the right, freeze, smile, very good, beautiful!"
Half an hour later, the rehearsal ended.
Lin Luxi showed the video she had recorded to Qin Jia, "Look, it's not bad, is it?"
Qin Jia looked at herself in the video and nodded thoughtfully, "Not bad."
Lin Luxi put away her phone, took Qin Jia's arm and walked out, saying, "Qin Jia, it's almost lunchtime, let me treat you to dinner."
Shen Yushu had a business dinner that evening, and Qin Mo was working late at the company, so they couldn't all have dinner together. After a moment's thought, Qin Jia accepted Lin Luxi's invitation.
"I know a good restaurant, it's newly opened, and it's about three kilometers away from here."
Lin Lucy opened the navigation app, looked at Fifteen, then at Qin Jia, and said, "We might have to trouble you, my friend, to give us a ride there."
Qin Jia nodded. "No problem."
-
As evening falls, the setting sun paints the sky red, and the afterglow stretches across the horizon like a ribbon.
Secretary Lin yawned, turned her gaze away from the window, and looked at the man in the back seat.
The man leaned back in his chair, his long legs crossed naturally. A tablet rested on his lap, and his slender, handsome fingers held an electronic pen, writing and drawing on it as if he were creating a remarkable work of art.
Secretary Lin strained to keep her eyes open, fighting off the drowsiness. "Mr. Lu, may we get out of the car now?" @Unlimited good stories, all at Jinjiang Literature City
In the back seat, Lu Tingzhou finished the last stroke and leisurely clicked save.
"Okay, let's go."
Secretary Lin received the order and quickly got out of the car. He then went around to the back seat and opened the door for Lu Tingzhou.
As the setting sun streamed into the car, he was surprised to see a picture on the screen, and his gaze suddenly froze.
The image on the screen depicts an adorable koala with a leaf in its mouth and wide, staring eyes.
"Mr. Lu," Secretary Lin said, surprised, "why are you drawing koalas again?"
Lu Tingzhou calmly put away his tablet, his eyelids slightly lifted. "I've been dreaming about it a lot lately, so I just drew it." @Unlimited Good Stories, all at Jinjiang Literature City
"Any news about Second Uncle?"
Secretary Lin looked down at her phone. "Yes, Second Master is stuck in traffic. He'll be there in half an hour."
Lu Tingzhou strode out of the car, straightened his suit in front of it, and said, "Let's go inside first."
The two entered the restaurant through the VIP entrance, went directly upstairs, and sat in the private room that had been arranged in advance.
Secretary Lin sat by the window, idly looking around. His gaze inadvertently caught sight of a familiar figure, and he quickly turned around, lightly tapping the table with the back of his hand.
"President Lu, Qin, Qin..."
Lu Tingzhou looked up. "Speak properly."
Secretary Lin took a sip of water, caught her breath, and said, "Mr. Lu, Miss Qin is downstairs."
"It seems they can't get in."
Lu Tingzhou got up, walked to the window, looked out, took out his phone, and dialed Qin Jia's number.
-
After we finished eating, it was already dark outside.
Lin Lucy went to the cashier to pay the bill. She looked at the reservation time for the private room on the bill and gently nudged Qin Jia's arm. "Qin Jia, look at this."
Qin Jia followed her finger and looked over. The bill showed that the private room had been booked yesterday, and the 800 yuan fee for the private room had already been paid.
"It seems this private room was given to us by your friend at the last minute, not just an extra one," Lin Lucy said softly. "Should we go and thank them?"
Just as she finished speaking, Lin Luxi's phone rang.
She glanced at the caller ID, her face instantly falling. "Qin Jia, I have to go. The new design director is looking for me; I'll probably have to work overtime."
Qin Jia waved to her, "Bye-bye."
After saying goodbye to Lin Luxi, Qin Jia and his bodyguard Fifteen walked out of the restaurant together. Although it was past lunchtime, there were still many people queuing outside.
It seems this store is indeed very popular.
With Lin Lucy's words echoing in her mind, Qin Jia felt that she should indeed thank Lu Tingzhou.
What would be a suitable return gift of 800 yuan? I don't even know what he likes.
As I was thinking, the familiar ringtone sounded.
Qin Jia swiped to answer the call, "Lu Tingzhou? Have you eaten?"
"I've already eaten," he said calmly. "Would you like to come over for a cup of tea? Do you have time?"
Qin Jia paused for a moment, then said, "Address."
A male voice chuckled softly in her ear and said casually, "Look up."
Qin Jia looked up and met the gaze of the person by the window. The voice continued in her ear: "205."
"knew."
Qin Jia nodded to him, silently put away her phone, and quickly walked into the teahouse.
Upon arriving at door 205, Shiwu offered to wait outside. Qin Jia pushed open the door and entered the room, where a fragrant aroma of tea wafted out, creating a sense of inexplicable warmth.
Lu Tingzhou wasn't alone in the tea room; sitting opposite him was his second uncle, Lu Jingnian. She and Shen Yushu had gone to see him on the day of the charity gala.
Qin Jia sat down next to Lu Tingzhou, turned over the teacup in front of her, and poured her a cup of tea.
Qin Jia politely replied, "Thank you."
Qin Jia took a sip of tea and had just put down the cup when he suddenly heard Lu Jingnian ask, "How was it?"
"Is it good?"
Qin Jia tasted it carefully for a while, then said truthfully, "It's a little bitter."
She doesn't like bitter things.
Lu Jingnian put down his teacup, held his hand near the cup, and fanned the aroma of the tea twice. "This tea has a sweet aftertaste; you'll see in a moment."
Before long, a faint sweetness spread across my tongue, leaving a lingering aftertaste.
Qin Jia smiled at Lu Jingnian, a slight smile playing on her lips. "It does taste sweet."
Lu Jingnian: "You can try the sweets in front of you; they go perfectly with this cup of tea."
Qin Jia started eating sweets, while Lu Tingzhou felt completely unable to get a word in edgewise.
He was just about to tell her that the sweets she was eating were made by him when his second uncle across from him spoke up again.
"Qin Jia, I feel like we get along really well, so I wanted to ask you—"
"Would you like to be my goddaughter?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Tingzhou's hand holding the teacup trembled slightly, and a few drops of water spilled out.
If she agrees, won't they only be able to address each other as brother and sister from now on?
At this moment, Qin Jia swallowed the food in her mouth and, without much thought, blurted out, "No, no, I'm much older than you, it's not appropriate for me to be your daughter."
Lu Jingnian was stunned for a moment, "Huh?"
Qin Jia suddenly realized what he meant and smiled innocently, "I mean, mental age."
"However, if you're willing, we can be friends."
Lu Jingnian paused for a moment, then said, "That works too."
Lu Tingzhou, who had single-handedly brainstormed a melodramatic soap opera: "..."
A dozen minutes later, the tea and snacks were gone.
Lu Jingnian left the tea room first, and Qin Jia was about to leave as well. She stood up from her chair when her arm was suddenly grabbed.
A pair of beautiful peach blossom eyes stared intently at her, as if trying to draw her in completely.
She touched her cheek and asked, "What's wrong? Is there something on my face?"
The man pulled her down to sit, lowering his head slightly to meet her gaze.
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"Qin Jia, I have a question for you, and you must answer it seriously."
Qin Jia nodded slightly. "Go ahead and ask."
He looked at her and said, slowly and deliberately, "Where do I rank among all your good friends?"
Qin Jia smiled and said, "First."
Lu Tingzhou was overjoyed, "Really?"
Qin Jia nodded.
Lu Tingzhou, Lu Jingnian, Luo Shiqing.
Sort by first letter of surname.
Three L's, tied for first place.
It's very simple.
"Oh, right, there's something I almost forgot," Qin Jia said with a smile. "You gave me the private room, and I wanted to give you an 800 yuan gift in return."
Do you have anything you like?
Lu Tingzhou looked at her, and without realizing it, even the corners of his eyes were filled with joy. "Let me think about it."
Qin Jia: "Hmm, think about it carefully."