HPDBC Chapter 447 Rushing to Compete for Favor
Chapter 447 Rushing to Compete for Favor
Words failed to bridge their differences; after discussing business, they exchanged not a single pleasantry.
One wore a cold face, the other a dismissive pout, as they entered the Qin household, one after the other.
Inside, Zhouzhou was eagerly introducing the Qin family members to Lu Qing. Grandma Qin, with a warm smile, brought over a fruit plate and curiously asked, "Zhouzhou, how many senior brothers do you have?"
Zhouzhou glanced at her chubby little hands, spread one out, and held up two fingers with the other, replying sweetly, "Seven."
"So many," Grandma Qin remarked in surprise. Besides Lu Qing, she had met the eldest and third senior brothers, leaving four yet to be seen.
She couldn't help but ask, "What are your other senior brothers like?"
Talking about her senior brothers, Zhouzhou's interest piqued. She excitedly said, "You've met the eldest and third senior brothers, Grandma. The eldest is an honest man, and the third is like a child."
"Our second senior brother cooks the best meals."
"The sixth senior brother is the gentlest."
"The seventh senior brother loves to paint, but I think his paintings are useless compared to mine."
Zhouzhou shook her head proudly. Her declaration of uselessness was meant in a practical sense, for her paintings could calm the mind, aid sleep, and ward off evil spirits, even if they were a bit harsh on the eyes.
Grandma Qin, understanding this, didn't expose her. Curious about the missing mention, she asked, "And what about your fourth senior brother?"
Zhouzhou's expression froze, and she buried her head in eating an orange, her face crumpling in resistance. After a while, she muttered, "Fourth senior brother is a meanie!"
Her little mouth pouted indignantly. Grandma Qin frowned, "Does your fourth senior brother bully you?"
Zhouzhou nodded vigorously, "He always steals my food but never eats it, only to give it back to me later. He likes to pat my head and interrupts me when I draw talismans, not letting me work in peace."
As she spoke of her fourth senior brother, Zhouzhou's mouth ran with complaints, her chubby fingers waving in frustration.
It was their first time seeing her like this, as she usually spoke happily of her other senior brothers. Could it be that her fourth senior brother truly mistreated her?
But these actions didn't sound like bullying; they seemed more like attempts to gain her attention, to play with her.
"Nothing special, just that eldest senior brother heard Fifth Senior Brother was here, so we came to see him," Yun You answered without thinking.
Lu Qing turned to Mu Xuan, who said, "Thank you, eldest senior brother."
Mu Xuan smiled with the demeanor of a caring elder, "Lu Qing, you don't have a place to stay yet, do you? My home is ready for you. You can stay with me."
Lu Qing still smiled, but with a hint of embarrassment. He glanced at Zhouzhou and said, "Thank you, Eldest Senior Brother. But I already promised Zhouzhou to stay with her."
Hearing this, Zhouzhou nodded repeatedly, "Yes, Fifth Senior Brother is staying with me. I have to keep an eye on him, so he doesn't randomly tell fortunes."
She remembered the earlier incident and couldn't help but glare at him. Lu Qing, like a child who had done something wrong, lowered his head and remained silent.
Zhouzhou immediately felt sorry for him, hugging him to console, "I'm sorry, Fifth Senior Brother, I won't say it again. Master said admitting mistakes and correcting them is great. Just don't do it again."
She shook her little head, her words flowing, her little green onion sprouting and swaying, her chubby face incredibly cute.
A hint of amusement flashed in Lu Qing's eyes. He held her hand, "Okay, I'll remember."
Upon hearing this, Zhouzhou smiled contentedly.
Mu Xuan watched them, a flicker of displeasure in his eyes. Noticing his gaze, Lu Qing looked over, a smile playing on his lips that seemed friendly but carried a hint of smugness.
Mu Xuan clenched his hand, returning a similarly friendly smile, though his eyes betrayed a different sentiment.
A fake who only knows how to play the pity card.
Lu Qing maintained his gentle and warm demeanor, but the true emotions flickered in his eyes, hidden behind the facade.
He met Mu Xuan's gaze unflinchingly, his expression calm.
Isn't he also just a big bad wolf pretending to be gentle and magnanimous?
Can he honestly say he didn't know Lu Qing was here and rushed over to vie for attention?
Their eyes locked, a cold tension filling the air.