Lu Bochuan didn't speak, only casting a questioning look at Shu Qingqing.
Though silent, his eyes were clearly asking—When did I ever allow you to pinch my butt?
Shu Qingqing awkwardly picked at her fingers.
Yes, after marrying Lu Bochuan, the original host had been living like a widow. Not only had she never pinched Lu Bochuan's butt, she hadn't even held his hand!
Shu Qingqing wanted to explain, but didn't know where to start.
Forget it, better to play dumb.
Children always ask strange questions anyway.
"Nanny Li, could you please go call Lu Yu for dinner? Nanny Wang, bring out a few more spoons. Xiao Li, isn't there still a sweet and sour pork ribs dish I ordered in the kitchen? Go check if it's ready."
People always find things to do when they're embarrassed.
Shu Qingqing simply refused to look in their direction.
As expected, Lu Bochuan didn't ask her. Instead, he crouched down and ruffled Lu Xun's head. "Why do you ask that?"
Lu Xun began tattling righteously: "Mommy just kicked my butt! Twice! I even cried. But Mommy said if she can kick your butt, then she can kick mine too. Is that true, Daddy?"
Lu Bochuan asked, "So what you really want to know is whether Mommy has kicked Daddy's butt?"
Lu Xun nodded.
Hearing this, Shu Qingqing subconsciously pricked up her ears, and then heard Lu Bochuan say one word: "Yes."
Shu Qingqing raised an eyebrow.
Lu Bochuan glanced towards the dining table before continuing, "When Mommy kicked your butt just now, it was very gentle, wasn't it? That's her way of showing affection towards you. She wasn't bullying you."
Lu Xun trusted Lu Bochuan completely. Hearing this, he immediately stopped crying and pulled Lu Bochuan towards the table.
Lu Yu arrived just then.
Seeing Shu Qingqing sitting at the head of the table, with his father and Lu Xun sitting together, he was momentarily surprised.
In their home, the head of the table had always belonged to his father, while Shu Qingqing always sat with Lu Xun to help him eat.
But he didn't ask any questions, simply taking a seat on the other side.
Seeing everyone was present, Shu Qingqing waved her hand grandly. "Let's eat."
She first picked up a piece of pork rib, then some eggplant, and began eating with single-minded focus.
Lu Xun held his spoon, staring dumbfounded as she took several bites before asking, "Mommy, why aren't you taking care of me?"
Shu Qingqing looked up, placed a few greens in his bowl, and said, "Eat."
Watching Shu Qingqing take two more ribs, Lu Xun grew anxious. "I don't like greens, Mommy. Come feed me, quick!" Pork ribs were his favorite, and Mommy had already taken three pieces. There were fewer and fewer left.
Shu Qingqing frowned. "Can't you eat by yourself?"
Lu Xun, sitting in his high chair, waved his hands anxiously. "But you always fed me before!"
Shu Qingqing remained unmoved. "That was before. You're a big boy now. You need to learn to be independent. Be good, pick up your spoon and eat by yourself."
These bad habits instilled by the original host—she was going to correct them, one by one!
Seeing that Shu Qingqing really had no intention of helping him, Lu Xun whimpered and looked at Lu Bochuan with pitiful eyes. "Daddy..." He wanted to ask Lu Bochuan to feed him, but didn't dare.
"Listen to your mother. Eat by yourself." Lu Bochuan also added a few greens to Lu Xun's bowl.
He had suggested several times before that Lu Xun should eat by himself, but Shu Qingqing had always refused, using the excuse that the child was still too young. He never expected her to be so firm today. And earlier, the person who had never dared to lay a finger on Lu Xun had actually kicked his butt.
Perhaps during the two months he was missing, Shu Qingqing's mindset had also changed.
Lu Bochuan didn't ponder it further.
Meanwhile, Lu Xun, looking at the bowl now more than half-filled with greens, was on the verge of tears.
He wanted meat! Meat!
But his arms were too short to reach the plates. None of the three adults at the table were willing to give him any meat!
So he raised his voice: "Nanny Li, come give me some meat! I want ribs!"
Shu Qingqing let out a cold laugh. "Nanny Li won't be coming."
At the dining room entrance, Nanny Li, who had just stepped in, promptly retreated.
Isolated and helpless, Lu Xun sulked silently for two minutes before finally lowering his head to pick up the greens.
"Wow, you finished them all! Lu Xun is such a good boy." Shu Qingqing picked up a pork rib and placed it in his bowl. "A reward for you."
Lu Xun snorted, wanting very much to refuse out of principle, but in the end couldn't resist. Mmm, today's ribs seemed especially delicious.
Shu Qingqing smiled at him. "Lu Xun, what should you say when Mommy gives you food?"
Lu Xun puffed out his cheeks. "...Thank you, Mommy." Sniffle, Mommy is so mean today!
Shu Qingqing: "That's a good boy~"
And so, the meal ended pleasantly.
Shu Qingqing was a bit too full and was planning to take a walk in the small garden when she happened to see Lu Bochuan walking out, a suit jacket draped over his arm.
Was he going out?
Just as Shu Qingqing was hesitating whether to say something, Lu Bochuan spoke first. "There are still some matters at the company I need to handle."
Shu Qingqing quickly replied, "You go ahead, you're busy."
Lu Bochuan had expected her, as usual, to urge him to come back early, then rush to help him put on his jacket and fetch his shoes. He was just about to refuse when he saw her turn and walk out the door without a backward glance.
Lu Bochuan frowned slightly. She was acting a bit strange.
But he didn't have time to think too much about it. After being missing for two months, there was too much at the company requiring his attention.
He worked at the company until almost midnight before dragging his tired body home.
The south-facing bedroom on the second floor was decorated in a black and grey color scheme. Lu Bochuan opened the door, expecting to see Shu Qingqing on the sofa as usual, but was met with complete darkness inside.
Their marriage was a shotgun wedding. Back then, he had been drugged, took her innocence, and got her pregnant. Out of responsibility, he married her. But there were no feelings between them, so after the wedding, they agreed to only co-parent their child, with no emotional involvement.
Therefore, they did not share a bedroom.
But every time he returned from a business trip, he would always find Shu Qingqing in his bedroom, wearing sexy nightwear.
He knew Shu Qingqing liked him, but he didn't like her and had no intention of reciprocating.
And today, Shu Qingqing hadn't appeared...
It seemed she had decided to give up.
Lu Bochuan felt a sense of relief. Shu Qingqing was indeed very different today, but this change was good.
He walked straight to the bathroom.
After showering and putting on his robe, he went to the walk-in closet as usual to get his underwear. But after searching through all the drawers, he couldn't find a single pair.
Lu Bochuan's face darkened.
Half a year ago, after returning from a business trip and, as usual, rejecting Shu Qingqing's advances, he discovered all his underwear had vanished. Later, Shu Qingqing proactively told him she had personally washed all his intimate garments and hung them to dry in her room. He followed her to her room to retrieve them, only to turn around and find a completely naked Shu Qingqing.
He had thought Shu Qingqing had given up.
At the very least, her behavior today was very different from before.
I hadn't expected her to pull this trick again.
