A Little Trick, the Scumbag Dad Can't Hold the Knife After Understanding Love-Chapter 244

After finishing a busy stretch, the stall owner returned.

Noticing that Lu Jinghuai's radiant aura seemed inexplicably dimmer, she felt a bit apologetic: "Lu, why don't you go explore around? If you're hungry, there’s a snack stall giving out free shrimp crackers if you walk straight and turn right. You can grab some to eat."

"If you're thirsty, right next to the shrimp crackers is the Hu Dayu bubble drink stand—you can get a free cup. They also give out complimentary Hu Dayu soft toilet paper, which you can use in the restroom."

Thanks to He Xiang and Lu Jinghuai, her stall’s merchandise was nearly sold out.

"He Xiang, you should go have fun too."

"I’m fine staying. Dr. Shen will be here soon, and there’s not much left to sell anyway."

"Dr. Shen" was Shen Qingtang’s cosplay name—here, everyone addressed each other by their handles rather than real names.

"I don’t need to go. You two enjoy yourselves."

He Xiang unscrewed a water bottle, took a sip, and glanced at Ji Nian.

He was here to work, and he took his job seriously. He couldn’t just abandon his post to goof off, no matter how lenient the boss was.

Ji Nian knew his personality well.

"Alright, we’ll go play and come back for you later."

Lu Jinghuai’s dimmed radiance brightened again.

Because Ji Nian had said "we"—and it was obvious who "we" referred to.

He Xiang gave a quiet "Mm," then looked down at Ji Nian’s shoes before pulling out a pair of disposable slippers from somewhere.

"Wear these if your feet get tired."

For his role, he was barefoot. Earlier, a kind older woman had given him these slippers as a free gift.

Since He Xiang had nothing to give in return, he handed her the convenience store rice ball he’d bought for lunch the day before.

"Thanks!" Ji Nian took the slippers and left with Lu Jinghuai.

But they didn’t go far. After picking up snacks and bubble drinks, they brought some back for He Xiang.

They’d heard he arrived at 4 a.m. and probably hadn’t eaten breakfast—they didn’t want him to go hungry.

...

Lu Jinghuai removed his crown accessory and shed the crimson cape, leaving only his satin shirt and trousers.

Even so, his looks were still striking. The stall owner came up with an idea: she hung a sign on him that read "Cosplay Commission in Progress."

Sure enough, no one bothered Lu Jinghuai after that. The "young prince" helped Ji Nian carry the extra shrimp crackers as they strolled around.

"He Xiang was probably recommended by Shen Qingtang. Little Prince, don’t tell me she invited you too?"

What were the odds that the two most handsome guys in their class would both show up at the con? Thinking about it, it had to be Shen Qingtang’s doing.

"Yeah. She said you’d be here, and I thought it’d be fun, so I came."

Lu Jinghuai admitted the real reason.

Ji Nian took a sip of her peach-flavored bubble drink, her words laced with its sweetness: "Oh? So I’m that important, huh?"

She teased.

Lu Jinghuai nodded in agreement, tilting his head with a soft smile. "Yeah. You’re the most important."

After browsing the con and catching a stage play, Ji Nian—having drunk too much—felt the need for a restroom break.

Lu Jinghuai accompanied her.

"I’ll wait here."

He held Ji Nian’s bag and a plastic bag of trash they hadn’t found a bin for.

"Got tissues?"

Just as Ji Nian turned to leave, Lu Jinghuai suddenly asked.

She paused.

Right—her dress had no pockets. No tissues.

She turned back sheepishly. "Nope..."

Lu Jinghuai chuckled and produced a small pack of tissues printed with some anime character’s face.

"Here."

Ji Nian took them, then grinned.

"Not enough."

Without changing his expression, Lu Jinghuai rummaged again and pulled out another pack—this one clearly his own.

Ji Nian recognized the brand. Ji Tingzhou also liked using them.

A small pack cost over a hundred yuan. Their marketing claimed their tissues left a natural fragrance and a breeze-like softness after use.

Ji ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‍Nian maintained that the nine-yuan-for-a-bulk-pack Hu Dayu soft toilet paper was far more cost-effective.

She picked a stall, sat down, and immediately heard the click of high heels outside.

"How ridiculous. Does he not know bypassing procurement to sign with the manufacturer directly is against protocol?"

"Hey, what about that distributor for the Tier-3 hospital..."

At first, Ji Nian thought they were discussing anime jargon, but the more she listened, the more confused she grew.

Then she heard "pharma rep" and realized this wasn’t con talk.

If she remembered right, there was a medical equipment exhibition in the adjacent hall. Maybe these women had slipped over to check out the con?

Ji Nian wasn’t sure.

The two outside chatted idly while touching up their makeup.

Ji Nian had been texting Lu Jinghuai to tell him to sit if he got tired—when one woman abruptly said, "Hey, you know what?"

"That drug Chen Corp. developed with XXXX Hospital? It’s killed people."

Ji Nian’s head snapped up.

"Seriously? Where’d you hear that?"

"A friend in the industry told me."

"After all these years, suddenly deaths? Sounds like sabotage."

"Word is there’ve been multiple fatalities, but the higher-ups are suppressing it hard. Not a whisper leaking out."

"Hospitals in the partnership were compensated, and the victims’ families got huge hush money."

"My god, that’s horrifying..."

Makeup done, the two left.

"My feet are killing me. Let’s sit somewhere. Who’d guess we came from there? The fact that every industry has weebs cracks me up."

Ji Nian stopped the recording, her expression dark.

Her first thought was: Something’s wrong. Did Chen Mo hide this from me?

But she dismissed it immediately.

Her formula couldn’t possibly be flawed. However, two versions had gone into production—which one were they talking about?

She hadn’t personally handled every batch. For mass production, she’d handed the formula to Bruce (the Ji family’s pharmacist, who’d once helped Wei Yang detoxify).

Was this sabotage or an inside job?

Either way, Ji Nian knew now wasn’t the time to dwell on it.

She sent the recording to Chen Mo, her urge to use the restroom gone.

By the time she stepped out, her troubled expression had vanished completely.

"Done?"

The moment she emerged, Ji Nian nearly walked face-first into a giant cotton candy.

"Whoa—where’d this come from?"

Lu Jinghuai handed it to her. "A nice lady gave it to me. Said I was cute."

As Ji Nian took the cotton candy, debating where to take the first bite, Lu Jinghuai’s gaze flickered.

"You’re upset."

His voice was soft but certain.

All these years, Lu Jinghuai had watched her from the shadows. He knew exactly what Ji Nian looked like when she was truly happy and relaxed.