A Little Trick, the Scumbag Dad Can’t Hold the Knife After Understanding Love Chapter 241

Lu Jinghuai was on the phone with his father.

"Ah Huai, have you t Ji Nian yet? How do you feel about her?"

Lu Zhi and Feia were on vacation, enjoying so private ti on a tropical island.

Lounging on a beach chair with sunglasses on, Lu Zhi looked utterly relaxed.

"She's nice."

Lu Jinghuai set his phone down on the table and tidied up his freshly completed howork.

"That's it?"

Lu Zhi was a little disappointed, having expected his son to elaborate. After all, he had watched Lu Jinghuai treasure that half-torn commorative photo for years.

"So, how does she feel about you? Does she like you? And I don’t an just in a general way."

Lu Jinghuai paused, giving his father a puzzled look. "What other way is there?"

Staring at his fourteen-year-old son, Lu Zhi decided to skip the question.

"Alright, so… how does she act around you?"

"I heard you waited outside her school for an entire day on the first day."

That Ji Tingzhou—just last month, they had closed a major deal with the Ji family. Was this how he treated a business partner?

Lu Jinghuai thought back to their interactions.

She always seed to stare at his face…

Even during their first eting, when there were so many people around, her eyes had locked onto him alone.

"Probably… she likes ."

If she liked his face, didn’t that count as liking him?

Lu Zhi chuckled approvingly. "See? With my son’s looks and personality, who wouldn’t like you?"

Lu Jinghuai thought to himself that there were actually quite a few people who didn’t.

"How’s your sleep lately? No trouble adjusting to the new place?"

At this, Lu Jinghuai’s gaze flickered almost imperceptibly toward the small bottle of sleeping pills he had just taken out of a plastic bag. He shook his head. "It’s fine."

After exchanging a few more words, the call ended.

Lu Jinghuai picked up his phone and glanced at the 99 pending friend requests in his notifications. He tapped to clear the red dot but froze when an unexpected na caught his eye.

Shen Qingtang.

If he rembered correctly, she was close with Ji Nian.

His finger hovered over her profile picture for a mont, his silver-gray eyes unreadable.

Just as he was about to ignore the request, she sent another one—this ti with a note: About Ji Nian.

Lu Jinghuai’s finger smoothly tapped Accept.

You are now friends. Start chatting!

Shen Qingtang stared at the ssage. "……"

That was fast.

She reworded the sa pitch she had given He Xiang and sent it to Lu Jinghuai—though this ti, she didn’t ntion part-ti work. Instead, she frad it as a favor and emphasized that Ji Nian would be there.

Sure enough, Lu Jinghuai agreed without hesitation.

And then he transferred 100,000 yuan to her.

Lu Jinghuai: Thank you. Let know if you need help with anything else.

He followed up with a sticker of a puppy bowing ekly in gratitude.

Shen Qingtang recognized it instantly—it was from Ji Nian’s favorite sticker set.

"He Xiang… forgive for just one second."

Shen Qingtang pocketed the money, closed her eyes, and drew a cross over her chest.

"What’s wrong?" Ji Nian turned to see Shen Qingtang muttering to herself with her eyes shut.

Shen Qingtang snapped her eyes open, locked her phone, and grinned. "Nothing! Just planning a surprise for you."

Ji Nian was busy attaching a new dog charm to her phone and replied absentmindedly, "Oh? I’ll look forward to it, then."

During ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‍dinner, Ji Nian pulled out a box of pastries she had bought on her way ho. "Dad, I got you dessert!"

It was a crispy multigrain pancake wrapped around a filling of mochi and red bean paste.

Ji Tingzhou loved this shop. The owner, a retired man in his sixties, opened only when he felt like it. Ji Tingzhou had once tried to buy the place, but the old man couldn’t care less about money.

Ji Nian hadn’t expected the shop to be open, but when she passed by, it miraculously was.

Seeing his favorite treat, Ji Tingzhou gave Ji Nian a you’re finally being filial look.

"Perfect for a drink later."

Today was his designated alcohol day—he allowed himself a few small glasses.

Ji Nian grinned smugly before ntioning that she and Shen Qingtang were going to a comic convention over the weekend.

Ji Tingzhou glanced at Wei Yang, who nodded—he’d arrange security ahead of ti.

With everything settled, Ji Nian happily dug into her al.

After her lab session and an hour of training with Zhi Le, she returned to her room and checked the ssages from Gu Xiuyuan.

The gist was that Yang Xinyu’s father, after learning what Yang Qicheng had done in front of everyone, had been so embarrassed that he slapped his son twice in public.

But after the beating, Yang Qicheng suddenly started scratching himself frantically, rolling on the floor in agony.

Ji Nian smirked, glancing at the lipstick-shaped gadget on her desk.

Thanks, Ma Xiaofei. Without you, I’d never have thought to swap in an itching potion.

---

On Saturday, Shen Qingtang arrived excitedly at Ji Nian’s place with a newly delivered dress.

"Huh… so pink."

"And cat ears? Wait, why an apron?"

Ji Nian didn’t quite get it, picking up a bell accessory and shaking it. The tiny silver bell jingled crisply.

"Yep! It’s a cat maid outfit. Super cute! I’ll straighten your hair later, and we might need so light makeup too."

Shen Qingtang gestured enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling.

She had a secret.

Privately, she had designed an original character (OC) based on Ji Nian’s face. Most of her monthly allowance went to commissioning writers and artists for this OC.

Ji Nian didn’t understand, but if Shen Qingtang wanted her to wear it, she would.

"Alright."

"If you get tired later, you can rest at my friend’s booth—she’s an artist who sells OC rch."

After hanging out with Shen Qingtang for so long, Ji Nian had picked up so fandom lingo, even if she didn’t fully grasp it.

"Got it."

The next morning, Shen Qingtang woke up extra early—rarely did Ji Nian agree to outings like this.

The makeup artist she had booked arrived promptly. After a light makeup session, Shen Qingtang helped Ji Nian into the dress and adjusted the cat-ear headband.

When Ji Nian stepped out, even the makeup artist—who had been scrolling on her phone—looked up and gasped.

"Wow! Which character are you cosplaying? You look amazing!"

Black-haired cat maid? Adorable.

Shen Qingtang grinned. "Original design."

She then whipped out her phone and snapped several photos of Ji Nian.

She sent the best one to Ji Tingzhou, another to Zhi Le, and yet another to Wei Yang.

By the ti they left, it was almost Ji Tingzhou’s usual waking hour.

Shen Qingtang adjusted her imaginary glasses, watching as Ji Nian held up a reflector to help with lighting. She smirked.

"Sweetie, you’re one valuable kitten."

Ji Nian's finger trembled as she pressed the shutter button: Huh?