He reached to take the dish from Qin Yusheng’s bowl.
Old Master Qin stopped him. “You’re spoiling him. Let him eat! He won’t leave if he doesn’t eat!”
With the old master’s command issued, Zhao Shuyao secretly chuckled to herself.
She ignored Qin Yusheng’s fury.
She knew Qin Yusheng had mysophobia and wouldn’t eat food that others had touched.
Especially not hers, which was even worse than taking his life.
As expected, the next second Qin Yusheng said coldly, “Grandpa, I’m full.”
Zhao Shuyao immediately chimed in, “Just a few bites of food won’t fill you up. You can’t waste food! Saving food is a virtue, isn’t it, Grandpa?”
“That’s right. Yusheng, did you hear that?”
Old Master Qin slammed his chopsticks on the table, startling not only Qin Yusheng but also Zhao Shuyao.
As expected of the head of the Great Qin Empire, he was still sharp. When he exuded authority, even a three-year-old child would fall silent and submit.
“Forget it, Grandpa. If he’s full, I won’t force him…”
Zhao Shuyao genuinely wanted to help Qin Yusheng out of the situation.
Unexpectedly, the man shot her a cold glare.
His gaze seemed to say, “A weasel paying respects to a chicken, with ill intentions.”
Zhao Shuyao swallowed.
She couldn’t help but give a wry smile.
Her good intentions were mistaken for insincerity again.
She decided to let them be and ignored the standoff between the grandfather and grandson.
She continued eating as if nothing had happened.
After a long stalemate, Qin Yusheng ultimately couldn’t defy his grandfather.
He picked up his chopsticks and grabbed the meatball that had been touched by Zhao Shuyao’s saliva.
It was as if he were picking up a pile of feces, not a delicious and juicy meatball.
With great courage, he managed to put the meatball into his mouth.
He took a small bite and then quickly put it down.
“Mmm… it’s quite tasty…”
Qin Yusheng swallowed it whole without even chewing, like a glutton.
Zhao Shuyao felt insulted.
Her cheeks burned as if she had been slapped.
“Grandpa, you eat too.”
Zhao Shuyao served Old Master Qin a bowl of soup, changing the subject.
Although Old Master Qin was old, he wasn’t foolish. He had seen all the subtle interactions between the two young people.
Even if Qin Yusheng put on a good act, he couldn’t deceive him.
After dinner, it was past ten o’clock. Old Master Qin had just arrived in Haicheng and was tired from his journey. He needed to return to his hotel to rest.
Qin Yusheng and Zhao Shuyao escorted the old master to the hotel. The caregiver was already waiting at the hotel entrance.
Handing Old Master Qin to the caregiver’s assistance, Zhao Shuyao reluctantly hugged the old man.
“Grandpa, visit me often…”
Only when Old Master Qin was present could she avoid being bullied by Qin Yusheng.
“Don’t bully your wife. Look how wronged she looks!” Old Master Qin raised his cane and heavily tapped Qin Yusheng’s leg.
The cane was made of solid wood and felt heavy, directly hitting the man’s flesh and bone.
A dull thud was heard.
Qin Yusheng’s expression changed slightly, and he endured the pain. “Grandpa, I haven’t bullied Le… Yaoyao. She’s very happy by my side.”
“Grandpa, it has nothing to do with Yusheng. I just missed you!”
Zhao Shuyao smoothed things over for Qin Yusheng.
Old Master Qin couldn’t say much more. After giving a few instructions, he turned and entered the hotel.
As soon as Old Master Qin turned away, Zhao Shuyao felt her wrist being firmly grasped by the man.
Zhao Shuyao gasped in pain. Before she could struggle, Qin Yusheng dragged her and unceremoniously threw her into the car.
Here we go again!
Zhao Shuyao was furious and quickly got up and fastened her seatbelt.
Just as she heard a click, Qin Yusheng roared the engine to life.
Because it was a sports car, the engine’s roar was very loud.
Zhao Shuyao screamed, “Qin Yusheng! I’m going to throw up! If you don’t mind me throwing up in your car, then drive faster!”
The man slammed on the brakes.
Fortunately, she had her seatbelt on.
Zhao Shuyao felt as if she were about to be flung out of the car.
The inertia was so great that the seatbelt dug into her stomach and shoulders, causing pain.
Having just eaten, she felt like she was about to vomit.
Zhao Shuyao held back her nausea and, feeling the car slow down, let out a scoff.
Qin Yusheng was a germaphobe. If she vomited in his car again, he would probably kill her.
Perhaps it was because Old Master Qin had come to Haicheng, or perhaps Qin Yusheng was showing some mercy.
For the next few days, he didn’t confine her.
Zhao Shuyao used the excuse of going out to return to the Zhao family.
She had been back in the country for half a month. Although the Zhao family treated her poorly, her maternal grandmother was still there, and she wanted to visit her.
When Zhao Shuyao arrived at the Zhao family home, most of the family members were out, with only a maid present.
Her grandmother was sitting in the living room watching a television drama, a melodramatic soap opera.
At an exciting part, her grandmother covered her face and exclaimed, “So handsome…”
Anyone who didn’t know would think she was a lovesick girl of eighteen or nineteen.
Zhao Shuyao felt embarrassed. “Grandma! How can you watch such a cheesy drama at your age! Be careful not to trigger your heart condition!”
“You know nothing! I want to watch!” Her grandmother snatched the remote from Zhao Shuyao’s hand and turned the TV back on.
Wu Guifen was so engrossed in the drama that she was oblivious to everything else. Zhao Shuyao could only sit beside her and watch with her.
When an episode finished and commercials started, her grandmother was still unsatisfied. Then, as if she had just remembered, she exclaimed,
“My dear granddaughter! When did you get back?!”
Wu Guifen was so excited that her false teeth almost fell out.
Zhao Shuyao helped Wu Guifen put her false teeth back into her mouth. “Grandma, did you miss me?”
“Miss you, miss you, I miss you so much!”
Wu Guifen pouted and leaned in to kiss her.
Zhao Shuyao pushed Wu Guifen away. “Grandma, I’m hungry!”
She felt a sense of resistance internally.
“I’ll cook for you. You love string bean braised noodles the most, so I’ll make you some string bean braised noodles…”
Wu Guifen mumbled as she went into the kitchen.
As expected, within a couple of seconds, the sound of breaking plates echoed.
Zhao Shuyao got up and walked towards the kitchen, holding a broom.
She silently cleaned up the shards on the floor.
For the next ten minutes, Zhao Shuyao was mostly the one chopping vegetables and cooking the noodles.
Wu Guifen directed from the side. When the string bean braised noodles were served, Wu Guifen proudly declared, “Your grandma is amazing. The string bean braised noodles she made are so fragrant.”
Zhao Shuyao’s lips twitched, but she played along with the old lady. “As expected of Grandma, you’re truly amazing.”
After eating a few bites of noodles, the maid heard a knock at the door and went to open it. “Old Master, Madam, Miss Zhao Shuyao is back.”
Then Zhao Shuyao heard her half-sister, Zhao Shuhui, say, “Mommy, why is that cash cow back in the country?”
Cash cow…
Zhao Shuyao’s hand, gripping the chopsticks, tightened.
Her appetite vanished instantly.
“You little brat, what nonsense are you spouting!”
Wu Guifen threw down her chopsticks, cursed, and walked over, leaning on her cane, ready to hit Zhao Shuhui.
“Ah, Dad, look, Grandma is going to hit me again!”
Zhao Shuhui complained tearfully while tattling.
Her father, Le Haitian, stepped in front of Zhao Shuhui.