A Little Trick, the Scumbag Dad Can't Hold the Knife After Understanding Love-Chapter 248
After finishing the meal, Ji Nian had a few desserts packed to take back for her friends.
However, she hesitated when picking something for the Young Imperial Grandson, unsure of Lu Jinghuai’s preferences.
"I’m leaving now, bye bye, Momo~"
Ji Nian blinked at Chen Mo, who had walked her to the school gate, then passed through the turnstile with her bags.
Hearing the nickname "Momo," Chen Mo smiled faintly.
The older she got, the less she listened—since last year, she’d stopped calling him "uncle."
But it was fine. "Momo" was still better than "Tiaotiao."
Hmph, that annoying Ji Tingzhou.
Ji Tingzhou, who was discussing clothing designs with a designer at that moment, frowned and rubbed the tip of his nose.
"Mr. Ji, I’ve adjusted the pattern. Since it’s a formal occasion, the original design might come off as too flashy."
In a few months, there would be an important conference he had to attend—an official invitation couldn’t be refused.
Ji Tingzhou had already started preparing his outfit in advance.
"Acceptable."
He gave a dignified nod.
...
During lunch break, some students returned to their dormitories to nap, while others stayed in the classroom, reclining their chairs, wearing eye masks and earplugs, or simply scrolling on their phones.
Aside from occasional murmurs, the classroom was quiet.
Ji Nian peeked inside. Shen Qingtang wasn’t sleeping, just sitting at her desk reading.
He Xiang, who had noticed Ji Nian earlier, walked over and tapped Shen Qingtang’s desk, snapping her out of her focus.
When she looked up and saw Ji Nian at the door, she immediately understood and followed He Xiang into the hallway.
The three stood by the railing outside the classroom. The corridor was warm, so Shen Qingtang fanned Ji Nian lightly.
"Too hot?"
Ji Nian shook her head and handed them their share of desserts before asking, "Where’s the Young Imperial Grandson? I didn’t see him."
Shen Qingtang shrugged. "He said he wasn’t eating lunch, and I haven’t seen him since."
He Xiang’s eyes flickered slightly, as if recalling something.
"He’s in the office."
"I just came back from there—he’s still talking with Teacher Liu."
He Xiang had gone to deliver a letter.
Originally, he wrote daily, but to avoid bothering his sponsor, he switched to weekly updates, diligently reporting his studies and occasionally sharing snippets of his life.
Even though he had never received a reply.
Sometimes, he wondered if the person even read his letters. But over time, writing had become a habit, a part of his routine.
"Alright, I’ll go check on him later."
She still had to find Gu Xiuyuan.
Watching Ji Nian head for the elevator, Shen Qingtang opened her box of strawberry cheesecake and turned to He Xiang with a playful grin.
"Hey, Haki Xiang~ Big sis has a question for you."
He Xiang: ?
Though he didn’t know why he was suddenly "Haki Xiang" or why Shen Qingtang, the same age as him, was calling herself "big sis," he obediently waited for her to continue.
"What do you think of the Young Imperial Grandson?"
He Xiang’s expression remained neutral.
"He solves problems quickly, with high accuracy, never needing scratch paper. It’s made me competitive—I don’t want to lose my top ranking to him."
Shen Qingtang blinked. "Not about academics. I mean, as a person—what do you think?"
He Xiang fell silent.
After a long pause, just as Shen Qingtang thought he wouldn’t answer, he spoke.
"The way he looks at Ji Nian is strange."
"I don’t like it..."
...
"You really have nothing to say to me?"
Gu Xiuyuan accepted the dessert Ji Nian handed him—thin mint cheesecake, his favorite flavor.
Seeing her puzzled look, Gu Xiuyuan thought of the doujinshi he had desperately shoved into his desk, planning to dispose of it after school, and gritted his teeth.
But before he could speak, two students from the neighboring class walked past on their way to the restroom.
Gu Xiuyuan instantly schooled his expression back into the stern student council president’s demeanor.
Once they were out of earshot, he frowned and lowered his voice.
"That... book you gave me."
Ji Nian, noticing his slightly reddened eyes, tilted her head. "What book? The doujinshi? What’s wrong?"
She seemed genuinely unaware of why he was upset.
Seeing her reaction, Gu Xiuyuan’s rationality returned for a brief moment.
A possibility struck him.
Could it be that Ji Nian had no idea what was inside?
Testing the waters, he confirmed his suspicion—she truly didn’t know.
Relief washed over him.
Thank goodness...
He had thought she did it on purpose and had even spent half a class period wondering when he’d given her the wrong impression.
"Never mind. It’s too hot outside—you should head back."
Young Master Gu returned to his usual composed self, nodding at her.
Ji Nian, having been questioned for no clear reason, left just as confused as she had arrived.
...
Lu Jinghuai stepped out of the office, his thoughts elsewhere, nearly bumping into someone.
"Apologies."
The other person, initially annoyed, quickly softened upon seeing his face.
"No worries, my fault."
They hurried off with their friend, glancing back at Lu Jinghuai repeatedly.
He had intended to return to class, but then a snippet of conversation between two students reached his ears.
"Hey, do you know Ji Nian from Class 1-2? The one with green eyes, the mixed-race girl?"
"Yeah, what about her?"
"My friend and I saw her at lunch outside school. She was with this super handsome guy—looked way older than us."
"For real?!"
"Dead serious. I think it’s so cool she’s friends with someone that much older."
"Right? They seemed really close. My friend even heard her call him ‘Mumu’—so affectionate..."
Their voices faded into the distance.
Lu Jinghuai stood motionless, his gaze lowered, as if forgetting what he had meant to do.
Not "Mumu."
It was "Momo."
...
On her way downstairs, Ji Nian passed the teachers’ office and spotted Lu Jinghuai stepping out.
Before she could get a clear look at his expression, he suddenly lifted his head, as if sensing her presence, and met her gaze directly.
The moment he recognized her, his face lit up with a radiant, almost blinding smile.
Dazed, Ji Nian found herself standing in front of him before she realized it.
"Does your face still hurt?"
At her concerned question, Lu Jinghuai’s silver-gray eyes held an emotion she couldn’t decipher—something faintly sorrowful.
"It does..."
