Inside Liyuan, Qin Miaomiao accompanied Ninth Uncle to watch the opera, but she truly couldn’t understand it, propping her head up as she nodded off in drowsiness.
At first, Mr. Jiu was still watching the performance with interest, but soon his attention was drawn to Little Jin’er dozing off.
A face like a peach blossom, skin as creamy as congealed fat—her small and delicate features bore a slight resemblance to Su Jin from when she was young. A child raised in his lap, even the children he adopted later didn’t receive such treatment. Back then, she was foolish and dazed, easily bullied, yet never cried.
When clinging to him, she didn’t dare to make a sound and would only grab onto his trouser leg, staring at him with puppy-like eyes. He had been busy back then; she never made a fuss or caused trouble, just quietly hung around his knee. She could linger there all day long until hunger made her whimper softly.
At this moment, Old Third interrupted his reminiscence: "Mr. Jiu, Young Master Lu has arrived."
Looking up at the sky, it had already darkened. Little Jin’er had spent the entire day here.
He didn’t have the heart to wake Qin Miaomiao, who was napping. By the time Lu Qing walked in, the opera troupe had already finished their performance. Qin Miaomiao was still propping her head up, dozing off soundly, with a thick fox-fur cloak draped over her shoulders. Her face appeared small, and her slumber seemed sweet and peaceful.
Mr. Jiu gave him a glance. This man was undeniably top-notch in temperament, appearance, talent, and character, but... he simply didn’t sit well with him.
The one who had spirited away Little Jin’er—how could he not resent him?
"She’s sleeping. Don’t wake her up."
Lu Qing found a seat and sat down, his eyes dark and his tone calm:
"I heard Ninth Uncle plans to invest in Miao Miao’s movie?"
Mr. Jiu lifted his brow slightly, waiting for him to continue.
"Miao Miao’s movie—I’ll invest in it myself. Why bother troubling Ninth Uncle?"
Heh, this brat came to sabotage things?
Mr. Jiu rubbed the white jade ring on his thumb, lifted his eyelids, and his expression turned slightly cold:
"Little Jin’er’s movies will henceforth be funded solely by me."
"How does that work? I’m Miao Miao’s husband. Not just one; I’d fund ten movies if need be. After all, we’re a married couple."
The word "couple" was bitten out heavily. Tch, Miao Miao’s films—what business did others have investing in them?
With a sneer, Ninth Uncle said:
"Boy, you’ve got some guts. Do you believe I can terminate your marriage right this instant?"
He certainly had the means; at least legally, it could be achieved. Lu Qing’s heart tightened, though his expression grew calmer:
"And does Ninth Uncle believe I can ensure Miao Miao never sets foot in Liyuan again? Miao Miao has nothing to do with the Su Family. She’s not listed on the Su Family’s genealogy, so she doesn’t count as one of them at all."
Mr. Jiu narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at him with a sharp, cold expression:
"Oh? And what is a Su Family member then? What I can provide her far surpasses anything the average Su Family member can offer. However, in my opinion, Miao Miao ought to start by switching to a more fitting husband."
Lu Qing’s gaze turned equally fierce. The tension between the two was palpable, a confrontation so intense that the aides nearby broke into cold sweats, their knees almost buckling!
At this moment, Qin Miaomiao finally woke up. Rubbing her eyes, she murmured in confusion:
"Lu Qing? Why are you here? Huh, why is it already dark?"
Lu Qing stepped forward and held her in his arms, coaxing softly:
"I came to take you home."
She stood up and said to Mr. Jiu: "Ninth Uncle, I should be heading back now."
Mr. Jiu glanced at the bright grin on Lu Qing’s face and said flatly:
"Dinner’s ready. Spend the night here tonight."
"Huh? This... isn’t that inappropriate?"
Lu Qing’s expression darkened. Through gritted teeth, he said: "Indeed, Ninth Uncle, this kind of inconvenience is un-ac-cept-able!"