<h4>Chapter 100: Cheering Him Up</h4>


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


    “Okay, Madam.” Zhu Rui nodded.


    Her grandma in the back seat was looking around curiously through the car window. She hadn’t been out for three years and she found everything interesting.


    “Qingqing, where Junxi? Why isn’t Junxi here?” Grandma suddenly turned around to ask Ning Qing.


    Hearing Xu Junxi’s name made Ning Qing feel helpless. She and Lu Shamoing were on bad terms because of that man.


    “Grandma, Junxi is very busy. Please don’t bring him up again. He and I...” Ning Qing carefully weighed her words and organized her speech as she exined tactfully.


    Yue Wanqing looked shocked. She said, “Qingqing, why is Grandma still talking about Xu Junxi? You brought Lu Shaoming homest night. Didn’t you introduce Lu Shaoming to Grandma?”


    “I...” Then, Ning Qing felt aggrieved. She told her mom about what happened the night before. Of course, it didn’t include what they had done in bed.


    “Nonsense!” Yue Wanqing’s face grew grave as she reprimanded Ning Qing solemnly.


    “Mom, don’t be so fierce with me. I didn’t do anything wrong...”


    “Qingqing, didn’t you do wrong? Let me ask you. If you were to go to Lu’s house for the first time and Lu Shaoming had an ex-fiancee too. The ex-fiancee happened to be there. Then, Shaoming did the same as you did. He pretended to be in love with his ex-fiancee before his grandma but you’re Shaoming’s wife and you could only stand by and watch like a stranger. Would you feelfortable with that?”


    Ning Qing was suddenly at loss for words. She would definitely feel ufortable!


    As soon as she imagined him with an ex-fiancee, she became anxious. She would make wild guesses about the intimate things that they had done before. She would be jealous. She would be unhappy.


    Yue Wanqing looked at her daughter’s tightly knitted eyebrows and knew that it was her responsibility. As her daughter turned eighteen and she was in her first bloom of love, she witnessed her parents’ failed marriage. Then, her daughter had been working hard for three years to make money and her rtionship with Xu Junxi went down-south. She didn’t know how to love.


    “Qingqing, do you know what you did wrong now?” Yue Wanqing thought it was necessary for her to talk to her daughter in depth. “You had an ex-fiancee and this would be something all men would mind. Your grandma is your loved one. Introducing Shaoming’s identity before your grandma is respecting him. It’s a privilege that he should enjoy.”


    “But, Xu Junxi and I already passed. Why can’t he believe in me...” Ning Qing rubbed her hands anxiously before her.


    “What did you do to make Shaoming believe that Xu Junxi and you have ended things? It can’t be shown with mere words. You have to show him with your actions. What happenedst night, Shaoming only saw that Xu Junxi saved you and you still maintain your rtionship in front of Grandma.”


    “...” Okay, Ning Qing admitted her wrongdoing.


    The two of them had known each other for two months and Xu Junxi had been tangled up with her. She felt magnanimous and thought there was no need to exin. However, from Lu Shaoming’s point of view, things may not be so clear.


    “Mom, I didn’t introduce Shaoming because I was worried that Grandma would be provoked. I’m afraid that Grandma couldn’t ept him. I want to look for another suitable chance.”


    “Silly girl,” Yue Wanqing held her daughter’s hand, “Grandma loves you. Whoever loves you, your grandma would love him too. Grandma needs time. Shaoming needs to know you care. Youplicated the entire thing. Like myself, when Shaoming suddenly came and called me “Mom”, I epted him in the end anyway.”


    “I... He wouldn’t be like this in the past. He never asked about Xu Junxi. He is gentle to me. So gentle that I thought he would never get angry.”


    “Qingqing,” Yue Wanqing pulled her daughter into her embrace. Shebed her daughter’s hair affectionately as she said, “No matter how knowledgeable or how polished a man is, he is a man after all. If a man really loves you, he would be the same as any other ordinary men out there; he would want an ordinary yetsting love. He would be narrow-minded and jealous.


    “Mm.” Ning Qing nodded. She seemed to understand but not understand at the same time.


    “Qingqing, you aren’t young anymore. Everything you do, you have to learn to put yourself into someone else’s shoes. You must learn to be considerate andpassionate. When Shaoming stood by the doorst night, you let him leave just like that. Have you thought of what Xu Jinxi would think, have you thought of what Shaoming would think?”


    Mm... From Xu Junxi’s point of view, it appeared that she still loved him, so he became proud. Oh yeah, on the balcony, Xu Junxi talked to Lu Shaoming.


    Ning Qing could easily guess what he had said. He must have scoffed at Lu Shaoming.


    Actually, she was Lu Shaoming’s wife. Who the hell was Xu Junxi? How could he mor before Lu Shaoming? It was all her fault.


    She helplessly aided Xu Junxi’s arrogance. It was she who made Lu Shaoming insecure and uncertain.


    No wonder he lost control when they went to the room.


    And, the music box was a gift from Xu Junxi and he could totally tell but she lied. Although he didn’t call her out on it, he must be utterly disappointed with her.


    “Qingqing, it’s easy to fall in love. There’s no one who would treat you well for no reason in this world. Simrly, there’s no one who would contribute in silence but not hope for return of the same love and care. Shaoming’s nice to you and I can see it with my own eyes. The luckiest thing to happen to a woman in her life is to meet a man that loves her. Coincidently, you love him too.”


    ...


    They returned to Tea Pavilion and the prestigious neurosurgeon from the UK, Dr. Aaron, came to do a series of checkups for Grandma.


    “Mrs. Ning, after examination, there is a blood clot in the patient’s head, which caused pressure to her nerves. This might be the main factor why the patient is unconscious.”


    “Is there any treatment avable?” Ning Qing asked anxiously.


    “The blood clot is too near to the patient’s cranial nerve. If she goes through surgery, there’d be a risk factor of seven. I’ll have to discuss with my team toe up with a surgery n.”


    “Mm. Thank you, Dr. Aaron. Also, my grandma might have taken a medication that led to dizziness three years back. Can it be checked now?”


    Professor Aaron shook his head with uncertainty. “Under normal circumstances, we wouldn’t be able too as three years was too long ago. But, I’ll draw some blood to test. We’ll give it a try.”


    Then, Professor Aaron left. Grandma was tormented the entire afternoon so Yue Wanqing prepared her to bed. Until dinner time, Zhu Rui bid farewell and left.


    Before having dinner, Ning Qing took out her phone and called Lu Shaoming after taking a deep breath.


    “Hey.” The man’s deep maic voice could be heard on the other end.


    “Hello, Shaoming.” Ning Qing looked down at her pink slipper as she blushed. “What time are youing home? I’ll wait for you so we can have dinner together...”


    They had argued the night before and she took the initiative to call him and reconcile.


    He kept quiet for three seconds and replied, “Don’t wait for me. Go ahead and eat. I have a dinner to attend.”


    A dinner to attend?


    Ning Qing felt awkward after he rejected her.


    Then, there was another man’s voice over the phone. “It’s rare that Young Master Lu is willing to attend dinner. Yishuang, my youngest daughter. She has been in awe of Young Master Lu all this while. Yishuang, hurry up and pour Young Master Lu something to drink.”


    Then, Ning Qing heard a very gentle yet soft female’s voice. She reckoned the female should be quite young, probably a twenty years old, a daughter of a wealthy family.


    Ning Qing didn’t know what to do.


    “Is there anything else? If not, I shall hang up. Go to bed early,” the man said over the phone.


    “Oh,” Ning Qing came back to reality and replied. Then she heard him hang up.


    Yue Wanqing brought a bowl and chopsticks to the dining table. She watched her daughter’s back and asked, “Qingqing, is Shaominging back tonight?”


    Ning Qing turned around and pretended to smile, “Mom, Shaoming is noting back. He has a dinner to attend.”


    Yue Wanqing didn’t think much but exhorted, “Man is the most tired when they have to entertain their clients. Qingqing, don’t go to bed early tonight. Wait up for Shaoming. If he happens to be drunk, cook him a bowl of soup to sober up. He probably will not have eaten much at the dinner. Ask if he’s hungry and cook him a bowl of noodles.”


    “Mm!” Ning Qing nodded.


    ...


    Ning Qing waited until ten at night. She was sitting on the sofa in the living room while she read a script for one of her projects. She took a two-day break and she would be going to set early the next morning.


    Then, she heard the door open. Lu Shaoming walked in.


    He was wearing a blue shirt with grey slim fit cks. He didn’t wear a tie and his shirt was slightly unbuttoned. It was a casual suit, the kind with four buttons. He looked very handsome.


    His eyes were bright and clear and he didn’t look drunk. He lifted his eyes and saw her in the living room. He supported himself against the front door as he changed into room slippers.


    Ning Qing quickly got up and walked to him. “Shaoming, you’re home!” She helped unbutton his suit for him.


    Lu Shaoming didn’t reject her. He stood straight and looked at her delicate face as he asked, “Why aren’t you asleep? Have Grandma and Mom gone to bed yet?”


    “Mm, Grandma and Mom are asleep. I stayed up to wait for you.” The living room was very quiet, and she’d only left a single dim light on as she was afraid she might wake the others up. Ning Qing spoke softly in a flirtatious tone. In the silent night, her voice stirred amotion in one’s heart.


    Lu Shaoming didn’t hold back and looked at her again.


    Her head was at the height of his chest. She tiptoed when she took off his suit for him. As she did that, she rubbed against his shirt and her scent filled his nose.


    “Shaoming, did you drink?” She asked softly.


    “Not much.” He focused as he looked at her sleepwear. It was a yellow sleeping gown with a wide cor that revealed her beautiful cor bone. The puffy sleeves were three quarter in length and her forearms were exposed. Her arms were smooth and small.


    Lu Shaoming lifted the corners of his lips and smiled. He didn’t know what she was trying to do. Normally, she was only willing to wear a white cotton shirt, which was rather conservative. But now, she was wearing such an outfit.


    Maybe she trusted him too much. He said that he wouldn’t touch her the night before and she wore it without worries.


    But the yellow highlighted her skin tone. She was as beautiful as if she were only sixteen.


    Ning Qing put his suit in her arms and she looked at him with her pair of beautiful eyes, “Shaoming, I won’t cook you any soup to sober you up since you haven’t had much to drink. I can cook you a bowl of noodles, or you can have dumplings. Which do you want to eat?”


    Lu Shaoming didn’t say much. He put one of his hands in his pocket as he fixed his gaze on her.


    Ning Qing blushed. She showered for him, and it had taken her a long time to pick the right sleeping gown. He must like it, right?


    She knew she did wrong and she was pleading guilty. She didn’t want the cold shoulder from him.


    She knew clearly just how many women were into him. Hearing Yishuang over the phone made her jealous. She didn’t like him looking at other women.


    She could dress up very beautifully too. Women often dress themselves up for their loved ones. If he likes it, she could dress up for him every night.


    As long as he’s not angry.


    She raised her hand to tuck away a lock of her hair that fell next to her cheeks. Ning Qing pinched her earlobe as she bore an embarrassed and nervous expression. “Shaoming, why are you looking at me?”


    The man took the suit away from her arm with two fingers and he said calmly and slowly with a slight reprimanding tone, “Go back to your room and put on some pants. Aren’t you cold dressed like this?”


    The enchanting charm disappeared in an instant. The man turned to go upstairs. “I’m not hungry, go to bed. I have to work in the study room.”


    The man disappeared before her eyes and Ning Qing had yet to recover from the shock.


    She ran to the front door and looked at herself in the mirror. She turned around, That’s right. Lovely figure. Looking beautiful.


    Why didn’t he like it?


    She intentionally asked him why he looked at her. Shouldn’t he answer something along the line that she was beautiful? Then, she would have replied flirtatiously that he’s being annoying. After that, he would pull her into his embrace. She’d already prepared all her lines.


    But he told her to go back to the bedroom to put her pants on?


    When did he be so inconsiderate?


    Dang, dang dang!


    What does he want?


    She already lowered her ego to cheer him up. He treated her like that the night before but she dressed up so beautifully for him against the next day. She wore so little shamefully and she was afraid that her mom or Aunt Zhang would see. She did everything in silence just to make him happy.


    She held back her urge to ask about Yishuang and asked if he wanted noodles or dumplings like a nice wife, but he walked away after he removed his suit. He didn’t bother with her.


    Humph, so pissed!


    ...


    Ning Qing was really angry. She stomped her foot at the front door and only went upstairs after a while. She wanted to go back to her room but she turned and walked to the study room instead.


    She didn’t know how to cheer the man up. She hardly sees the man throwing a tantrum and she never thought it would be so difficult to cheer him up when he’s angry.


    She stood by the door and reached for the doorknob. She then opened the door quietly.


    Through the gap, she saw a beautiful maning out of the shower.


    Lu Shaoming had just taken a shower, and he was wearing khakis with a white shirt. He only buttoned one button of his shirt and his sun-kissed tan skin was exposed.


    His muscr figure had a graceful outline and his six-pack could make anyone drool.


    His body wasn’t bulky like those who worked out all year round but he had an elegant yet exquisite look. There wasn’t any extra chunk of meat on him. His broad shoulders and narrow waist could bepared favorably to any male model.


    His hair was still wet. He held a towel with one hand to dry his hair.


    Ning Qing blushed at the sight.


    She could even sense the tenacious desire below his waist, which was powerful.