A Little Trick, the Scumbag Dad Can't Hold the Knife After Understanding Love-Chapter 245

Being called out by Lu Jinghuai hit a nerve, and Ji Nian was too startled to even take a bite of her cotton candy.

But she didn’t let it show on her face, merely blinking in feigned confusion. "No? Why would you say that?"

Lu Jinghuai studied her expression. "Because the curve of your lips is slightly lower than usual."

He lifted a slender, pale finger, tracing the air near the corner of her mouth.

Ji Nian: "……"

Are you a magnifying glass? Observing me that closely.

Ji Nian didn’t want to elaborate, and Lu Jinghuai didn’t press further. He simply said, "If something urgent came up, don’t worry about me. You can go handle it."

Ji Nian considered it—the rumor had been circulating for a while now, so it couldn’t have just surfaced recently.

Even if she rushed now, it wouldn’t make a difference.

Chen Mo was abroad, and with the time difference, it was still nighttime in Huaguo. She couldn’t reach him immediately.

"Wait for me a moment."

She pulled out her phone and jogged ahead, finding a quieter corridor where she could stand behind a large potted plant and unlock her screen.

Since Chen Mo was overseas and the Chen family hadn’t followed, it wasn’t convenient for her to message directly. Instead, she contacted one of Zuo Yi’s subordinates, who was overseeing the project—the most suitable person to liaise with the Chen family.

Ji Nian briefly explained the situation, instructing them to discreetly reach out to the other side and coordinate solely with the person in charge.

Then she contacted You Er, asking them to verify whether the person rumored to have died from the antidote actually existed.

Once everything was settled, she pocketed her phone.

When she turned back, Lu Jinghuai was still standing where she’d left him, though now leaning against the wall. In one hand, he held the oversized cotton candy, while her handbag dangled from his wrist. His other hand idly played with the kitten charm on her folding fan.

Ji Nian hurried over. "Sorry, did I keep you waiting?"

Hearing her voice, Lu Jinghuai looked up and shook his head with a faint smile.

Not long… He’d never mind waiting.

"Let’s head back. Shen Qingtang said she ordered food delivery."

Getting angry wouldn’t help—at the very least, she should spend this time with her friends.

"If you’re troubled, you can always talk to me. I might not be able to help, but I’ll be a good listener."

He handed the cotton candy to Ji Nian, watching as she absentmindedly took a bite. His blue eyes softened with warmth and calm. "I’ll behave."

"I won’t go blabbing."

Ji Nian’s eyelid twitched, and she reached for the cotton candy stick.

But he suddenly pulled it away, as if refusing to return it unless she agreed.

Ji Nian couldn’t help but laugh. The young royal heir, usually so concerned with his image, had a childish side after all.

Then again, he was only fourteen.

Perfectly normal.

"Alright, if I have any worries, I’ll come to you."

Lu Jinghuai smiled, murmuring a quiet "Mm," before finally returning the cotton candy to her.

The two walked back to the original venue together.

The stall owner had completely sold out of their goods and was now lounging on a stool, playing mahjong with He Xiang and Shen Qingtang.

It was a portable set—Ji Nian had no idea how the three of them had managed to start a game.

"Ji Nian’s back!"

Shen Qingtang turned and waved at her and Lu Jinghuai.

He Xiang, visibly relieved to see them return, clearly wasn’t fond of the game.

"You bought so much."

Shen Qingtang sifted through Ji Nian’s purchases, pausing when she came across a particular notebook. "This is…?"

Recognizing it, Ji Nian said, "It’s for Gu Xiuyuan. Doesn’t he like this character?"

Shen Qingtang blinked slowly, her eyes brightening with each flutter of her lashes.

"Right, right, exactly."

Her grin turned knowing as she half-lidded her eyes. "Gu Xiuyuan is going to love it."

The stall owner leaned in curiously, but Shen Qingtang quickly stuffed the notebook back into the bag.

"One more thing."

Ji Nian was about to question her odd tone when Shen Qingtang abruptly changed the subject.

"Da Dan’s birthday is right before Gu Xiuyuan’s." frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

Only a week apart—one for the dog, one for the man.

"Da Dan is my dad’s dog," Ji Nian explained to Lu Jinghuai.

Lu Jinghuai nodded in understanding. "The big one with the orange fur?"

Surprised he’d seen it before, Ji Nian confirmed, "Yeah, that’s him. You’ve been to my place?"

Lu Jinghuai chuckled. "Mm."

"I was standing by the corridor pillar when he lifted his leg to pee on me."

Ji Nian: "……"

Da Dan, you absolute menace.

Shen Qingtang propped her chin on her hand, amused. "That’s just how he is. Aside from Ji Nian, Uncle Ji, and Zhiliao, he treats everyone like that."

Honestly, before meeting Da Dan, it was hard to imagine a dog capable of looking so utterly disdainful toward humans.

He Xiang found it fascinating. The dogs in the mountains were loyal guardians, fiercely devoted to their families—nothing like this.

"Since their birthdays are only a week apart, why not celebrate them together?"

Ji Nian tossed it out as a joke, of course.

After all, Young Master Gu Xiuyuan's birthday was an occasion to entertain guests from all around.

"How about this—it seems like there's no time left to prepare a surprise for him."

Shen Qingtang thought about it and agreed. Moreover, she was most likely going to attend the birthday banquet.

Suddenly, He Xiang made a suggestion.

"What if we hold a private celebration for him on the same day?"

"Find an excuse to bring him over—would that count as a surprise?"

Ji ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‍Nian slapped her own thigh in excitement. "Great idea!"

Only to realize her leg didn’t hurt.

She looked down—

She had smacked Lu Jinghuai’s leg instead.

Ji Nian: "………Sorry."

She had quite the strength—that crisp smack was unmistakable.

But Lu Jinghuai didn’t seem to feel any pain, shaking his head gently and murmuring that it was fine.

After the little mishap, their attention returned to planning Gu Xiuyuan’s birthday surprise.

Once He Xiang brought it up, the more they discussed it, the more feasible it seemed. In the end, they decided to hold it at He Xiang’s place.

He had rented a small apartment in an old residential area outside the city, where his grandmother stayed whenever she returned from the hospital.

Sometimes on weekends, the trio would visit He Xiang’s grandmother, bringing fruits and staying over to do homework.

So they were quite familiar with the place.

"Then it’s settled."

After roughly outlining the plan, Shen Qingtang made the final decision.

"Let’s have the little crown prince join us too. More people means more fun, and He Xiang might need help with preparations."

Shen Qingtang glanced at Lu Jinghuai, who was sitting beside Ji Nian.

Upon hearing the invitation, Lu Jinghuai nodded without objection. "Sure."

Though he was smiling, his eyes discreetly swept over Shen Qingtang, who wore an eye patch, and He Xiang, whose expression remained indifferent. He also recalled Gu Xiuyuan, whom he had met once before.

The Ji family’s adopted daughter, the top student from out of town, the Gu family’s heir with great expectations placed upon him.

Quite an interesting group.

Finally, Lu Jinghuai’s gaze settled on the person beside him—

Ji Nian, who was suggesting they pool money for a gift like they did every year.

Hmm… the glue holding them together.

Lu Jinghuai found it amusing. He stopped listening to Ji Nian’s words, smiling to himself.

After all, he had now become part of it too.

The foreign little crown prince?

That was probably how Ji Nian would describe his role.

"Oh? You’re smiling so happily—do you have a good idea, little crown prince?"

Since Lu Jinghuai hadn’t been with them for long and wasn’t too familiar with the group yet, Ji Nian felt she should look out for him a little.

He shook his head, his gaze still fixed on Ji Nian’s face, and replied softly, "Just thought of something."

"When you leave the banquet, you could bring back a bottle of non-alcoholic champagne."

Ji Nian’s mind lit up with inspiration.

"Isn’t the table at He Xiang’s place a bit small? Maybe we should bring another one?"

Shen Qingtang mused, "The crystal chandelier looks nice. It’d brighten up He Xiang’s place—let’s take that too."

Watching his friends get increasingly carried away, He Xiang could only sigh in resignation.

With friends like these, the inferiority complex born from poverty had dwindled over time. By this year, it had almost faded into nothingness.

So, for once, he played along, deadpanning, "I’m running out of underwear—might as well grab a couple of those too."

Everyone: "…………"

Shen Qingtang looked at Ji Nian, then at He Xiang, and sighed meaningfully. "This is the soldier you trained."

Ji Nian: ?