<h4>Chapter 90: Ning Qing, I’m Ten Years Older Than You. Do You Think I’m Old?</h4>


    <strong>Trantor: </strong>Larbre Studio <strong>Editor: </strong>Larbre Studio


    Lu Shaoming smiled in a reserved manner but didn’t reply.


    The hotel manager couldn’t hold back; he took the dish from a waiter and served the dish to the aunt. He said politely, “Aunt, he is our hotel’s CEO. Every dish here is specially cooked by the top chef in the hotel. You can’t find it anywhere else. Aunties, please enjoy your lunch.”


    “CEO?” The aunt’s suspicious emotion seemed to reveal her confusion, what’s that?


    “CEO means boss,” the hotel manager exined patiently.


    The aunties gasped. The hotel looked like it was one of the top hotels in T city. The person opposite them... was the boss?


    They shook their heads in disbelief.


    Lu Shaoming took a bowl and filled the bowl with soup before he ced it in front of Yue Wanqing, “Mom, this is shark fin soup with cordyceps and sea cucumber. It’s really good for your health. I told the chef to cook it for you. Try it.”


    The aunties heard cordyceps and sea cucumber, and they started salivating. Those were words that they would hear in a wealthy family’s dining room. They grabbed their chopsticks and started eating.


    Ning Qing saw the aunties had eaten the dishes on the table at a tornado speed. They didn’t even manage to swallow. It was as though they were scared that someone was going to fight them for their meals and Ning Qing blushed even harder.


    She stole a nce at the side. The man didn’t eat much but he looked on gently. As the dishes on the table were emptied, she heard him tell the hotel manager, “Serve the signature dishes.”


    The hotel manager took his order while he stole a nce at Ning Qing. His gaze was filled with great respect.


    Yes, though he was out of ce at the dining table, his actions made it clear how much he cared about Ning Qing.


    Because she was there, he was there.


    The waiter served another te of stir fried meat. Ning Qing tried a piece and found it thin yet juicy, very delicious.


    She took another piece and put it into Lu Shaoming’s bowl.


    Lu Shaoming was talking to his mother-inw. He looked down and saw the meat that his wife took for him. He looked sideways and saw the girl looking at him with her crystal clear eyes while she smiled at him.


    She wore her hair down that day and she had braided the right side of her fringe into a beautiful fishtail braid that flowed behind her ear. She’d clipped the braid on her head with a butterfly hair clip. The youthful fashion made her look like she was only eighteen years old, like a very beautiful and innocent university student.


    There was an autumn moon in her beautiful eyes. She looked at him when she smiled and there was a tinge of warmth and dependence towards him. The expression was enchanting.


    Lu Shaoming’s bright slender eyes disyed affection. He picked up his chopsticks and put the meat into his mouth.


    This little girl... Finally, my effort wasn’t in vain.


    Ning Qing saw that he was eating so she quickly ced a little into his bowl every time a dish was served. The man was very humble but his high standard of living wouldn’t change. He didn’t quite fit alongside those who’d always eat like it’s theirst meal.


    Lu Shaoming saw that his wife by his side was extremely busy. Very quickly, there was a mini mountain in his bowl.


    The corners of his lips lifted as he enjoyed being taken care of.


    Yue Wanqing watched the sweet interaction between her daughter and her son-inw. Her eyes welled-up. She was worried that her daughter wouldn’t be happy in a sh marriage. It seemed that she had worried too much.


    Her daughter’s happiness was written all over her face.


    ...


    After the dinner ended, the aunties were so full that their stomachs were round. Lu Shaoming exhorted the hotel manager, “Serve some fruit.”


    The aunties didn’t raise any objection. They thought they might as wellplete the meal with some fruit.


    Then, the private room door was pushed open. A young man in a suit stood by the door anxiously. He nodded and bowed slightly. “Young Master Lu, good afternoon.”


    One of the aunties saw that someone hade and she quickly stood up. “Son, why are you here?” It was the son who drove BMW.


    The BMW son gave a look to his mom which was meant to tell her to shut up.


    “Young Master Lu, thank you for your hospitality today. My mom and the aunties are done with their meal, I shall bring them home.”


    The hotel manager moved the chair and Lu Shaoming stood up slowly. He put both his hands in his pocket and nodded, “Sure, see you again.”


    The BMW son held his mom by her arms and pulled her out. The other three aunties, who followed the lead of the BMW aunt, quickly bid farewell to Yue Wanqing and followed the two out.


    Lu Shaoming, Ning Qing and Yue Wanqing stood by the door as they watched them leave.


    ...


    The BMW aunt wanted to pull her arm back from her son, “Son, what are you doing? Little Lu is treating me to lunch, I’m not done yet.”


    The BMW son frowned, “Mom, Young Master Lu invited you for lunch and you went? Who do you think you are?”


    “Son, how can you speak like that? A person who can’t afford a house at Diaoyu Ind but bought his house at Tea Pavilion. Why would I be scared of him?”


    “Do you know who owns all the properties in Diaoyu Ind? They’re the Lu family’s! Tea Pavilion is right in the center of T City. Young Master Lu built a house for himself in the city center so he can overlook the entire city when he opens the window; he can see a maple tree forest when he opens the door. He named it Tea Pavilion. It is the one and only in the entire city. It’s not something that you can buy just with money. Do you understand?”


    “Wh... What,” the aunt was in a shock, “But little Lu said that he had never heard of Diaoyu Ind.”


    “Heh, that is because he has too many properties under his name. T city is just a smallnd, Young Master Lu, of course, doesn’t focus much of his attention on this ce.”


    “... But little Lu said he has a garage. So, I thought he meant bicycles, motorbikes and what not. He says that he drives Bentley. He can’t even afford a BMW.”


    “Mom, you don’t know much. Can you not try to scare anyone else in the future? One of his Bentley models would be able to buy my BMW. A garage with bicycles and motorbikes, you’re dreaming!”


    “... But, but little Lu...”


    “Aiya, mom, please, I beg you. Stop calling him “little Lu”. Are you trying to make me go crazy or are you trying to kill me?”


    The aunties shut their mouths then. Heh, we have yet to tell you that we think he’s too old.


    ...


    Until the aunties disappeared, Ning Qing looked up at the handsome man who was one head taller than her. “You’re the one who invited the aunt’s son?”


    “Mm,” Lu Shaoming nodded. His slender ck eyes revealed a sharp gaze with wisdom. He replied calmly, “The aunties harbored a preconceived idea. They wouldn’t have believed anything we said. They will only wake up when their sons tell them.”


    “Then, why’d you treat them to a meal? Why not just tell their sons to tell them off?”


    Lu Shaoming lowered his voice. There was a tinge of affection in his deep voice. “Didn’t you say that they’re your mom’s friends?”


    Ning Qing didn’t say anything else. Her crystal clear eyes were welled-up with tears. If her mom wasn’t there, she’d really want to hug him, very tightly.


    He was trying to tell her, he’ll do anything to make her happy.


    Yue Wanqing was very happy that night, “Shaoming, thank you.”


    “Mom, that’s what I should do.” Lu Shaoming’s phone rang and he answered the call. He said, “Ning Qing, I’m going downstairs for a while. Zhu Rui has a document that I need to read through. There’s a health center at the hotel. I’d tell the manager to bring you, see what mom likes.”


    “Mm, hurry up and go.” Ning Qing nodded.


    Lu Shaoming took a huge stride as he left.


    Yue Wanqing watched the man’s handsome back and sighed happily. “This Shaoming, the more I see, the less I’m worried. But Qingqing, was what the aunt’s son said true? It’s so scary. Is Shaoming’s family really that rich?”


    “Mom, I married him because of who he is. Why are you so worried?” Ning Qing was afraid that her mom would overthink so she quickly changed the subject.


    Ning Qing herself was surprised that she had fallen into this gold pit.


    ...


    Lu Shaoming walked out of the hotel and noticed there was a luxurious car parked next to the stairs. Zhu Rui was standing next to the door.


    Lu Shaoming looked but didn’t walk towards Zhu Rui. He walked down the stairs and turned towards a secluded area.


    There was a man standing there, Kong Yang.


    Kong Yang clenched his fists and there was jealousy in his eyes. “You think you’re great that you won against me? It was just money. Do you think Ning Qing would be with you if you didn’t have money?”


    Lu Shaoming stood straight and took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. He lit a cigarette with his lighter and took a puff. The smoke curled up as his gaze grew deep and dark. He smirked in disdain. “Ning Qing is with me because I’m rich. Then why would Ning Qing follow you who are poor? Because of love?”


    Kong Yang hated his wealthy aura. He stood handsomely and every single word he uttered showed that he was the helmsman.


    He was an authority.


    Kong Yang was inferior because he knew that he couldn’t win against the authority. He was too weak. But he was the one who liked Ning Qing first, how could he overtake him?


    The more inferior he realized he was, the angrier he felt.


    “Am I wrong? If you couldn’t afford to pay Ning Qing’s mom’s surgery fees, if you couldn’t help her in her entertainment career, would she love you?”


    “Heh.” Lu Shaoming smiled. He looked calm and quiet but his sharp gaze pierced Kong Yang as he said, “I paid her mom’s surgery fees, I helped her, due to my capability to provide her a good materialistic foundation. This is what I do because I love her. What do you have? When her mom needed surgery, you took out a mortgage on your property and you only managed to lend one fifth of the surgery fees. What do you have to show her your love?”


    Kong Yang was stabbed right where it hurt. His eyes grew red.


    Lu Shaoming continued, “In your head, Ning Qing is a good girl. In this word, the better the girl is, the more exquisite she deserves to be treated. You can’t provide for her but I can. How are you qualified to question me?”


    “I look down on you not because you have no money but because you’re a coward and you’re not willing to ept the reality. Ning Qing does not owe you. You couldn’t get what you want so you became wicked. You stirred up the few aunties and put Ning Qing’s mom in a difficult position. Hatred derived from love; you’re a wicked man.”


    Kong Yang clenched his fist and it cracked. “I see. So, you knew. Go ahead and tell Ning Qing. Tell Ning Qing what kind of a person I am.”


    “There’s no need to.” Lu Shaoming shook his head.


    “Why?”


    Lu Shaoming looked at themp afar and replied gently, “There are very few people who’ve treated Ning Qing with kindness and Ning Qing remembers everyone who lent a helping hand to her sincerely. She thinks you’re one of those people. I don’t want her to feel disappointed nor do I want her to feel upset.”


    Kong Yang’s body stiffened as he looked up at Lu Shaoming.


    He...


    The tears in Kong Yang’s eyes flowed down. He gnawed and said, “I give up but remember this, I’m giving up not because I lost to you but because I lost to your love for Ning Qing. I’ll take the steps to further my studies at Cambridge UK tomorrow. I’ll return in five years. If you will have treated her poorly by then, I will take her back.”


    Then, Kong Yang turned and ran.


    Lu Shaoming exhaled out thest puff of smoke. Then, he put off the cigarette butt under his shoe. There wouldn’t be a chance; Ning Qing will forever be his!


    ...


    Ning Qing left the hotel to look for Lu Shaoming. He was talking to Zhu Rui in front of the car.


    Zhu Rui was holding a document while Lu Shaoming had one hand in his pocket and the other pointed at the document as he muttered something. The man’s deep sideburns were beautiful. His mountain-like nose was plump and good looking. He was a mature looking man.


    Ning Qing looked at him and suddenly looked away. She realized that she’s be more and more shallow. She would stare at him uncontrobly and sometimes blush for no reason.


    She thought about it and she felt bad. He was so busy with work but she dragged him to have dinner. She was not understanding.


    “Ning Qing,” Lu Shaoming saw her and called.


    Ning Qing quickly looked around and Zhu Rui had already retreated to the side politely. So, she walked towards the man.


    “Where’s Mom?” Lu Shaoming asked.


    “Mom is having a massage at the health center so I came to look for you.” Ning Qing avoided meeting his gaze when she spoke. Her face was filled with apology and embarrassment.


    Lu Shaoming smiled. “Why, you know you did something wrong?”


    Ning Qing put both her hands behind her and nodded obediently. “Mm, I’ll not get you into any more trouble.”


    This silly girl. Is the trouble he got into not enough?


    Why would the aunties in the ward suddenly start osting her mom? She would never guess that the boy who was once so friendly to her was the instigator.


    And also Xu Junxi. As a man, Xu Junxi brought Ning Yao to do things in the room next to hers, only a dumb person wouldn’t understand how filthy Xu Junxi’s mind was.


    A man’s desire could easily be stoked by the voice of a woman they long for.


    She didn’t know how provocative she was, which put him at odds with two different men.


    The girl was one head shorter than him. He took a step closer to her. “Ning Qing, I did you a great favor today. I taught you before, how would you thank me?”


    Ning Qing blushed. How could he be... So improper?!


    He liked to ask for kisses!


    After thinking for a moment, Ning Qing tiptoed and extended her arms to hold onto his neck. There was a denim colored scarf around her smooth fair neck, entuating her exquisite look.


    She closed her eyes and kissed his handsome face.


    Just as she stepped back, she heard the man’s arrogant voice, “Ning Qing, I’m ten years older than you. Do you think I’m old?”


    Ning Qing was stunned. She’d never thought that he would ask such a question.


    A man like him shouldn’t be afraid of aging. Time to them meant richer life experience; it meant a higher and more elegant ce in the world.