Chapter 26: I, Ling Qiong, Transfer the Money! (26)

For reasons he couldn’t quite explain, Lu Wenci suspected that Father Su’s refusal to let her inherit the family business stemmed from the fear that she would simply squander it all away.

As Ling Qiong continued talking, it seemed her own words incensed her. She shoved her glass of milk into Lu Wenci’s hands and stormed out of the bedroom.

Lu Wenci was left at a loss for words.

Half the milk remained. After a moment of hesitation, he finished it off, biting down on the straw. Though the milk was plain, he tasted a hint of sweetness.

There was no one else in the room, yet Lu Wenci’s ears burned red. He hurriedly disposed of the milk carton and only emerged once he’d regained his composure.

“So, what are you planning to do next?” he asked.

Curled up on the sofa, Ling Qiong replied, “I’m going to show him what I’m capable of, of course.”

The ability to spend money?

Lu Wenci couldn’t help the silent retort. But, to be fair, Ling Qiong was indeed competent; her ability to earn money was impressive. She never saved, but her income always matched her extravagant expenses.

When she truly ran out of money, she wouldn’t borrow like others to keep up appearances. She would simply stay home as much as possible—if I don’t go out, I don’t spend.

Lu Wenci didn’t doubt for a second that if she lacked both money and the motivation to earn it, she would survive on instant noodles at home for an entire week.

“Yes, you can do it,” he said.

“At least you recognize real talent. You see my brilliance. My love for you as your ‘father’ has not been in vain.”

He could only stare at her in silence.

Later, when Lu Wenci and Ling Qiong went out to eat, he was fully disguised—mask, sunglasses, cap—not a single item omitted.

Ling Qiong was baffled. “Dressing like this is basically announcing to everyone that you’re a celebrity, isn’t it? Isn’t it more conspicuous? You’re bound to be recognized.”

Lu Wenci was speechless. Was he supposed to go out bare-faced?

A sudden idea struck Ling Qiong. She dragged Lu Wenci to change into a hip-hop outfit entirely at odds with his usual style.

“Come here, let me give you a new hairstyle,” she said, pressing down on the chair for him to sit.

Lu Wenci hesitated.

“I’m a professional! Hurry up!”

In the end, Lu Wenci left the house with a striking new hairstyle, side by side with Ling Qiong.

His usual attire was always proper and understated, giving the impression of a well-behaved ‘good kid.’

But now…

He looked ready to challenge someone to a street dance battle.

And most distressing of all—

From a shop window, he caught sight of the adorable, pastel-pink mask he was wearing. Ling Qiong had rummaged through the wardrobe before they left and unearthed the pink, cutesy mask, insisting he wear it.

He suspected this was her idea of a joke, though he had no proof.

His eye-catching get-up, combined with the pink mask, only drew more attention.

“So, how is this any different from before?” he asked.

If anything, it was even more conspicuous.

Ling Qiong blinked innocently. “But no one recognizes you.”

Lu Wenci could only stare at her.

She launched into her convoluted logic: “If you’re going to stand out anyway, isn’t it safer if people don’t recognize you?”

He very much doubted that.

Meanwhile, in the car, Assistant had been talking to Shen Qinchuan for ages without a response. Finally, he asked carefully, “Sir, what are you looking at?”

Staring out the window, Shen Qinchuan’s expression was cold and unyielding, bordering on intimidating.

The assistant followed his gaze. Amidst the bustling street, a girl immediately drew the eye. If he had to describe her, she was like a little sun, radiating brilliance.

She linked arms with the man beside her, laughing as they went into a western restaurant.

Wait—that was…

“Sir… Sir!!”

Suddenly, Shen Qinchuan threw open the car door and got out. The assistant hurried after him.

Upon entering, Shen Qinchuan scanned the room, quickly locked onto his target, and strode in that direction.

The assistant, eyeing his boss’s imposing demeanor, thought he looked for all the world like a man about to confront a cheating lover.

As the assistant’s mind raced with dread, Shen Qinchuan, just two tables away from his quarry, abruptly changed course and sat down at another table as if he had merely come for a meal.

The assistant nearly overshot but doubled back quickly.

“Sir…”

“Sit.”

He didn’t dare refuse.

Shen Qinchuan’s voice grew even colder. “Sit.”

With a gulp, the assistant sat.

“Who is the person sitting across from her?”

The assistant was baffled, but quickly caught on.

He left the table, made a circuit of the restaurant, and soon figured out the person opposite Ling Qiong.

“I believe that’s Lu Wenci—a minor celebrity. He was popular for a while, but then disappeared from the spotlight.”

Shen Qinchuan’s gaze grew icier; he muttered, perhaps to himself, “Utterly degenerate.”

The assistant could only nod in agreement.

Suddenly, Shen Qinchuan ordered, “Go buy a bouquet of flowers.”

“What kind… what kind of flowers?”

“Use your judgment.”

The assistant was nearly in tears. How was he supposed to guess his boss’s ever-changing moods?

After much deliberation, he returned with a bouquet of roses.

Shen Qinchuan glanced at it and said nothing, simply instructing him to deliver it to the neighboring table.

Ling Qiong didn’t eat much, but she was particular; if she didn’t want something, she wouldn’t touch it at all.

Lu Wenci watched with concern. She’d never been so picky when it came to instant noodles.

“Miss Su,” a stranger appeared, carrying the bouquet and smiling courteously. “These are from Mr. Shen.”

Lu Wenci frowned slightly at the man.

“Shen Qinchuan?” Ling Qiong asked, twirling her fork. She only knew one person with that surname.

The assistant nodded with a smile.

Ling Qiong spun her fork, her gaze circling twice before she asked, “What’s wrong with him?”

Why on earth was he sending her flowers? Did he want to give her money again?

The assistant could only shrug, “Please accept them, or I’ll have a hard time explaining.”

Lu Wenci pressed his lips together and looked at Ling Qiong.

“No,” she refused flatly. “Take them away. I’m allergic to pollen.”

The assistant, alarmed, hurried back with the flowers.

Barely three minutes later, Shen Qinchuan himself strode over, slammed the bouquet onto the table like a grenade.

“Allergic to pollen? Since when are you allergic to pollen?” he demanded, eyes flickering to Lu Wenci with a hint of scrutiny.

Lu Wenci kept his head down, avoiding Shen Qinchuan’s gaze. He knew full well who Shen Qinchuan was, and compared to him…

Ling Qiong’s eyes swept over the bouquet, a slight smile on her lips. “Mr. Shen, what exactly are you trying to do?”

He withdrew his gaze, snorted coldly, and replied stiffly, “Nothing at all.”

With that, he turned and walked away.

“What’s wrong with him?” Ling Qiong muttered, poking her head out and calling after him in a low voice, “Mr. Shen, if there’s something wrong, you should seek treatment sooner rather than later.”

Shen Qinchuan hadn’t gone far, and it was easy for him to hear her words. His face grew even darker, and though he’d intended to leave, he abruptly changed his mind, turned around, returned to his seat, and composedly began to order a meal.