A Little Trick, the Scumbag Dad Can't Hold the Knife After Understanding Love-Chapter 345

Upon hearing that it was an important holiday in Country O, Ji Nian stopped Chen Mo and asked him to explain.

Lu Jinghuai hadn’t mentioned anything about it to her.

He had only said that it was a festival in his homeland, and he needed to help his mother, so he wouldn’t be back until after the celebrations.

Chen Mo thought for a moment, then called the two kids away from the poor little horse and led them into the lounge.

He Xiang, who had braided the horse’s tail into a plait, followed along. He would’ve preferred to work on practice problems, but since Ji Nian seemed so enthusiastic, he didn’t mind listening.

Chen Mo, who had originally intended to sit next to Ji Nian: "……"

"Come on, Mo Mo, hurry up and tell us," Ji Nian urged him to sit down.

Chen Mo had no choice but to tear his gaze away from He Xiang and take a seat across from Ji Nian.

"The Oulei Festival is held in honor of Country O’s goddess, Oulei. Legend says she was their guardian spirit, though some believe she was actually an ancient queen of Country O. It was she who gifted the sacred herb that turned the ignorant into the wise, imparting knowledge and guiding people to survive the flames of war."

"After her death, the people of Country O erected a statue in her honor and worshipped her, granting her divine status."

Chen Mo recounted the legend as he remembered it.

"Come to think of it, when I was studying abroad about twenty years ago, I happened to visit Country O during the festival. I was lucky enough to witness the ceremonial dance."

"What’s the ceremonial dance?"

Seeing Ji Nian’s interest, He Xiang chimed in to ask—while casually taking away the half-finished iced drink from her hand.

Too much ice wasn’t good for her. This was enough.

Chen Mo: "……"

What’s going on here?

This kid was starting to look a little irritating.

He gave He Xiang a once-over.

Handsome, tall enough that he didn’t even seem like Ji Nian’s peer, well-built arms, long legs—trying to act cool at such a young age with that stoic expression.

He Xiang remained unfazed under Chen Mo’s scrutiny.

As ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌‍if he’d be bothered. Even Ji Tingzhou’s infamous glare had no effect on him.

"Mo Mo?"

Noticing Chen Mo’s silence, Ji Nian tilted her head.

Chen Mo snapped back to attention and smiled at her curious gaze.

"The ceremonial dance is an ancient performance offered to the goddess by members of the royal family as a sign of respect during the ceremony."

His voice softened with nostalgia as memories of his younger days surfaced.

"The dance isn’t performed every year—only once every two decades. The last time I saw it, the royal representative was…"

"Princess Feia."

Back then, Princess Feia had been a young girl, dressed in traditional O attire, moving gracefully to the rhythm of drums atop the ceremonial platform. Chen Mo still remembered his thoughts at the time.

She didn’t seem like she was dancing in devotion to a deity—it was as if she was dancing for herself, with an aura so divine that she might as well have been the goddess incarnate.

"Speaking of which… it’s been exactly twenty years since then."

"I wonder who will perform this time."

...

"All things considered, let’s go to Country O."

"Let’s give the little royal a surprise." ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

Ji Nian gathered her friends and repeated what Chen Mo had told her earlier.

Gu Xiuyuan crossed his arms and scoffed. "You just want to see the dance."

Shen Qingtang tapped her chin thoughtfully.

If it was a royal performance, there was a chance Lu Jinghuai might be involved.

She glanced at He Xiang.

Towering beside Ji Nian, his expression would’ve come off as edgy if he were shorter. But with his height and demeanor, he just looked effortlessly cool—more like an adult than a kid.

"What do you think, He Xiang?"

The moment Shen Qingtang spoke, Gu Xiuyuan shot her a look that said, Why bother asking? Of course he’ll agree.

Sure enough, He Xiang nodded. "No problem."

Gu Xiuyuan: Told you.

Ji Nian clapped her hands. "Great! Then it’s settled. Let’s go."

Gu Xiuyuan raised an objection. "I never agreed."

Ji Nian sidled up to him and whispered mischievously, "Stubborn men don’t grow very big down there, you know."

Gu Xiuyuan flushed with indignation. "Ji Nian!"

Back when they were kids, such remarks could be brushed off as childish nonsense.

But they weren’t little anymore! Did she have no sense of boundaries between guys and girls?

Ji Nian ignored him, darting away the moment she finished speaking. Furious, Gu Xiuyuan abandoned his usual "mature and composed" image and chased after her.

...

"Goodbye, Dad~ I’m setting sail soon~"

Ji Nian had already sung this line in front of Ji Tingzhou eighty times.

The worst part? It was the only line she knew.

Finally free from work and hoping for some peace, Ji Tingzhou tossed her a card. "The PIN is six zeros."

Ji Nian grinned as she pocketed her allowance. "Thanks, Dad!"

Ji Tingzhou smirked. "So is the balance."

Ji Nian: "……"

She was about to glare at him when Ji Tingzhou crossed his arms and chuckled. "You’d believe me just like that?"

Ah. He was messing with her.

Instantly, Ji Nian brightened again.

The one-eyed calico cat at Ji Tingzhou’s feet tilted its head.

So… singing gets the old man to cough up money?

"Don’t overeat. Stay sharp, and don’t act recklessly."

Zhiliao handed the prepared luggage to Wei Yang.

Wei Yang puffed out his chest. "Don’t worry."

He’d been feeling down lately.

When Mu Xiu and Ji Wanting met their end, he hadn’t even been there—stuck in bed because of his injuries.

At least Zhiliao had taken care of the remnants of the Crow organization.

But he? He’d been immobilized, and every time he tried to get up, Ji Nian would plant herself by his bed and stare at him without a word.

Who’d dare move under that gaze?

After everything settled, he’d been so embarrassed that he’d occasionally sulked under the covers.

It wasn’t until Zhiliao and Ji Tingzhou dragged him out for a "parental discipline session" that he snapped out of it.

"Let’s go, Ji Nian! Everything’s ready!"

Ji Nian plopped a cap on her head, hugged Zhiliao, bid her father farewell, and set off with Wei Yang in tow.

He Xiang had arrived earliest—Ji Nian had sent a car to pick him up. After making sure his grandmother was taken care of, he arrived with only a light backpack.

"Here’s your tea, sir."

A flight attendant set a cup before him with a smile.

He Xiang looked up. "Thank you."

Once she walked away, she whispered to a colleague, "That boy is so handsome—exactly my type."

Too bad she couldn’t ask for his number during work.

Her colleague giggled. "Better give up on that one."

"Why? Too rich for someone like me?"

"Nope."

"Then what?"

The colleague grinned. "He’s fourteen. You into minors or something?"

"WHAT!??"

The attendant whipped her head around to stare at He Xiang in disbelief.

"That young? What are kids eating these days to grow so tall?"

Unbelievable.

Later, she returned with some snacks kids usually liked.

He Xiang thanked her again, though his sharp eyes immediately singled out a pack of shrimp crackers and set them aside.

This time, the attendant took a closer look. Huh. Definitely a kid. Almost fooled by his height.

"He Xiang, sorry for the wait. Gu Xiuyuan took forever."

"The young master packed more sunscreen than me and Shen Qingtang combined."

Gu Xiuyuan, right behind her, smacked her head. "Don’t come crying to me when you need some later."

Country O’s sun was brutal. They could always buy more there, but Gu Xiuyuan preferred to bring his own.

Ji Nian pouted slightly and took a seat beside He Xiang.

He Xiang handed her the pack of shrimp crackers he had picked out earlier.

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