A Little Trick, the Scumbag Dad Can't Hold the Knife After Understanding Love-Chapter 276

Ji Nian paused for a moment.

In the end, she refrained from saying something mood-killing like "This is indoors—there’s no sun to bask in."

[Pretty boys always have their own logic.]

"Alright then."

She leaned closer to glance at the little turtle in Lu Jinghuai’s hand. After all, she had made it herself, and seeing him treasure it so much warmed her heart.

[The young prince still has such a childlike charm.] freēwēbnovel.com

Taking a little turtle out to sunbathe was almost too adorable.

Not wanting to ruin the boy’s sweet fantasy, Ji Nian poked the turtle’s shell and said, "That’s good. Now it’s a nice, toasty little turtle."

...

After school, Ji Nian texted Wei Yang in advance, saying she wouldn’t be heading home right away—she was going out to play with Lu Jinghuai.

Wei Yang treated the message like an emergency, immediately screenshotting it and forwarding it to Ji Tingzhou.

: Big bro big bro big bro, Ji Nian’s going out with that blond kid

The reply came swiftly and succinctly: Follow them.

After sending the message, Ji Tingzhou tossed his phone aside and turned his attention to the elderly couple sitting across from him.

They were Shen Qingtang’s grandparents.

Ever since the incident involving Ma Xiaofei, the two had been too embarrassed to visit. This time, they had specifically checked Ji Tingzhou’s schedule to come and apologize.

They explained that Ma Xiaofei had caused trouble last time and hoped he wouldn’t hold it against her.

Ji Tingzhou, of course, didn’t mind.

He didn’t even remember who Ma Xiaofei was.

A new dog the Shen elders had adopted?

After all, Ji Nian had mentioned several times that her grandparents’ old ox had the resounding name "Chen Jianguo" and had even suggested he rename his own dog "Ji Dan" for formality’s sake.

Given that, wasn’t it perfectly reasonable for the Shen couple’s dog to be called Ma Xiaofei?

It wasn’t until Grandma Shen said, "Her mother has already decided to transfer Xiaofei to Hainuo School. Hainuo and S High are in different districts, so they won’t cross paths again," that Ji Tingzhou realized—oh, this was a person.

He gave a dignified nod.

As if he actually remembered what had happened.

Seeing that Ji Tingzhou wasn’t upset, the elderly couple exchanged a relieved glance.

Though Ji Tingzhou was young, his gaze carried an undeniable weight. Every time they spoke with him, the two elders couldn’t help but feel a little restrained.

Still, he had been their son’s friend—childhood friends, even—and despite the pressure, they quite enjoyed talking to him.

Whenever they saw him, it was like catching a glimpse of the Shen Rushan they had never known in his younger years.

"By the way, will you be attending the parent-teacher meeting this Friday?"

At the mention of the meeting, Ji Tingzhou’s reaction was indifferent.

After all, Ji Nian had explicitly forbidden him from attending since elementary school.

"Too busy. Can’t make it."

Grandma ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‍Shen nodded. "That’s understandable. Managing such a large family must leave little free time."

"You know, we used to argue every year over who’d go to the meetings. Now we’ve settled on taking turns—one of us goes each year."

Once they started reminiscing, they couldn’t help but go on.

"Last year was my turn. We’ve never pressured our child about grades—just wanted her to be happy."

"But Qingtang’s really made us proud. Good at sports, excellent in her studies, even her class monitor. When I went last time, her homeroom teacher, hearing I used to be a teacher, asked me to say a few words."

"Other parents kept asking me for parenting tips too."

Grandpa Shen patted his knee, his eyes crinkling with pride at the mention of his granddaughter. "Absolutely! The year before last, they even let us observe a class. Qingtang kept getting called on—answered every question right."

"Every time the teacher said ‘Shen Qingtang’s guardian,’ I felt so proud speaking up."

"And last year’s refreshments were delicious—apparently they hired chefs from Suyuan..."

As they chatted animatedly, Ji Tingzhou’s brows rose higher and higher.

Parent-teacher meetings were this interesting??

Ji Nian was great at sports, top of her class—who knew more about raising an outstanding child than him?

Answer: It’s all thanks to him.

The original must be flawless for the copy to turn out right.

Listening to the elderly couple’s lively chatter, Ji Tingzhou maintained his composure, but inwardly, he felt a twinge of dissatisfaction.

Compare that to what Ji Nian had always told him:

‘Parent-teacher meetings are boring, Dad. You just sit there listening to the teacher summarize the semester. Packed room, and if the teacher gets too excited, they might even spit on you.’

Grandma Shen, who couldn’t stop gushing about her granddaughter, suddenly noticed Ji Tingzhou’s expression and nudged Grandpa Shen, signaling it was time to wrap it up.

"Sorry, we got carried away talking about ourselves."

Ji Tingzhou lifted his gaze. "It was fascinating."

When the couple left, Ji Tingzhou instructed Zhiliao to send them off with a gift.

"Oh no, you don’t have to—you always give us something when we visit."

The elders reflexively declined, but Zhiliao gently pressed the bag into Grandma Shen’s hands. "You should take this one."

Grandma Shen froze.

Almost instinctively, she accepted the bag and peeked inside.

"It’s a photo album. We had copies made recently—just finished."

"There are private photos of the family head inside, so please keep it to yourselves."

With that, Zhiliao turned and left.

Grandma Shen’s hands trembled slightly.

In the end, Grandpa Shen had to help her open the album. The cover was sleek and new, the scent of leather still fresh. Unable to resist, they flipped to the first page right there.

The very first photo brought tears to their eyes.

Four children of varying ages sat on the floor, all looking at the camera. It seemed like a candid shot—their youthful faces caught off guard, yet none looked lost. There was none of the innocence typical of children their age.

Running her fingers over the image of a boy with a close-cropped haircut—his features bearing a resemblance to Shen Qingtang as a child—Grandma Shen burst into tears.

"My son..."

...

Ji Tingzhou reclined in his lounge chair, a servant fanning him nearby.

Zhiliao returned to report that the gift had been delivered.

After a pause, Ji Tingzhou gave a quiet "Hm."

He waved off the servant with the fan, and Zhiliao took it over, cooling herself instead.

Deprived of his breeze, Ji Tingzhou shot her a mildly disgruntled look but said nothing.

If this had been Wei Yang, he’d have kicked him by now.

Zhiliao pretended not to notice his childish sulking.

"What is it?"

Ji Tingzhou stretched lazily, his voice drawn out. "I’m going to the parent-teacher meeting."

Dead certain.

Zhiliao remained expressionless but her tone was disapproving. "The kid said no."

Ji Tingzhou sat up, cracking his neck with a satisfied ‘pop’ before settling back.

"Who said it’s for her?"

A mischievous smirk played on his lips.

Zhiliao shook her head, recognizing that playful glint in his eyes.

But then again—he was still just a kid at heart. Let him have his fun.

Meanwhile—

Lu Jinghuai’s phone suddenly rang just as he was teaching Ji Nian the proper way to swing a bat.

He took a few steps back and glanced at the caller ID.

Upon recognizing the contact name, a flicker of unmistakable surprise flashed in his silver-gray eyes.