Chapter 20: The Sacred Son of Miao Territory’s White Moonlight, Part 4

Lu Ningshi wiped her hands and, with an unchanged expression, reached out to him again.

“What’s the meaning of this?” Lu Qingyu raised an eyebrow.

Lu Ningshi rubbed her fingers together. “The sponsorship fee, and the consulting fee for that suggestion you made a moment ago.”

A dark line appeared on Lu Qingyu’s forehead. He gave a speechless retort, “It’s not like you’re lacking for food or drink at home; how did you end up so obsessed with money?”

“Making money, it’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

Lu Qingyu pulled out his phone and transferred a million to her. “Is this enough?”

“Barely.”

Seeing that she had achieved her goal, Lu Ningshi stopped while she was ahead. Remembering something, she added, “I’m going on a trip with my roommates in a couple of days, so I won’t be able to keep you company this summer.”

“Fine.”

Knowing she was someone who couldn't sit still, Lu Qingyu asked casually, “Where do you plan to go?”

“The Miao village.”

Lu Qingyu’s expression shifted instantly, his gaze turning icy as he stared directly at her. “You are not allowed to go.”

Twelve years ago, he was sixteen, and he knew a thing or two about what had happened to his cousin. Regardless of whether one called them cowardly or timid, that place was a forbidden zone for them, a place they were never permitted to approach.

“I knew you’d say that.”

Lu Ningshi felt no surprise at all. She calmly took out her phone and found the video Zhu Yilin had sent her. “We’re going to a tourist attraction, not anywhere else. Nothing will happen.” She held it up. “It’s right here; if you don’t believe me, see for yourself.”

Lu Qingyu scanned it skeptically, still clearly displeased.

“Brother, my dear brother, I’ve already promised them. You wouldn’t want me to go back on my word, would you?”

Lu Ningshi’s indifferent attitude vanished in an instant. She moved behind him, placed her hands on his shoulders, and began to knead them with flattering affection.

Lu Qingyu brushed her hands away, unimpressed. “That trick doesn't work on me anymore. I’ve built up an immunity.”

“Brother~”

Lu Ningshi’s tone rose playfully. She tugged on him, swaying back and forth, acting spoiled. “It was so hard for me to make a few genuine friends. If you don't agree, I might never have friends again.” She moved to his front, crouched down, rested her chin on his knees, and blinked at him pitifully.

Lu Qingyu looked down and couldn't help but chuckle.

“What are you laughing at?” Lu Ningshi’s act faltered.

She lifted her dark eyes and stared at him gloomily.

Lu Qingyu feigned a cough, reached out calmly, and pinched a small piece of black film off the tip of her nose with his thumb and forefinger.

“Next time you try to act spoiled, apply some Korean-style 'no-makeup' makeup first. It might increase your chances of success.”

Lu Ningshi: ...

Very well, her fists were clenched.

Two days later, Lu Qingyu eventually gave in. Because their group was so large and her roommates had packed so much luggage, they decided to bring their boyfriends along as laborers. Since Xie Ninghuai and Ren Yixin were also joining, he figured that keeping her locked at home would smack of autocracy.

Song Yuehua watched as Lu Ningshi reported her itinerary to her brother and remarked with envy, “Your brother really cares about you.”

“Ha.” Lu Ningshi let out a cold laugh.

In the Lu family, she wasn't the only one who knew how to act. The gentle, jade-like image Lu Qingyu maintained for her friends was the true pinnacle of performance.

The group drove for a full day before arriving at the reserved homestay. As Lu Ningshi got out of the car, her luggage was already in Xie Ninghuai’s hands. She frowned and quickly stepped forward. “Go help Ren Yixin; I can carry my own things.”

“You girls just focus on having fun; leave this kind of work to us men,” Xie Ninghuai said with a faint smile, effortlessly shifting the luggage in a different direction.

“Weiwei, Senior Xie is right. We have to give the boys a chance to show off, don't we?” Tang An linked her arm with hers and pulled her into the homestay with a giggle.

“Taozi, Xiao Yang, our luggage is in your hands now. Do your best!” Song Yuehua and Zhu Yilin waved at the remaining two men and followed closely behind.

Ren Yixin did not follow them in. She watched her own luggage sitting on the ground and her eyes flickered. “The girls have quite a bit of luggage; let me help you move it.” She stepped forward with a look of guilt on her face.

Xiao Yang took a step back, distancing himself, and waved his hands repeatedly. “No, no need. We have plenty of strength; we don't need your help.”

“If we let a girl help us, Yueyue would kill us for sure. For the sake of our personal safety, just go inside and play with them. Don't worry about us.” Li Tao spoke with a cheeky grin, his movements efficient and swift as he grabbed a suitcase in each hand and ran off.

With two of the three men gone, Ren Yixin’s hand remained suspended in mid-air, feeling rather awkward. Seeing her thoughtful concern for them, a hint of warmth flowed through Xie Ninghuai’s heart.

He smiled to break the tension. “I invited you here, and as they said, you don’t need to worry about these manual tasks. Just focus on eating and drinking with the rest of them.”

“Since Senior Xie is being so considerate of me, how could I just sit back and enjoy the benefits?” The awkward atmosphere dissipated as she spoke. Ren Yixin took the luggage from his hand and joked, “I may not be able to lift heavy objects, but I’m still capable of lending a hand.”

“You really are hardworking.” Xie Ninghuai didn't see through her little schemes. He picked up the other suitcase and walked inside alongside her, chatting and laughing.

In the hallway, Tang An turned her head to look behind them and whispered, “What’s going on? Is Senior Xie trying to pursue you?”

“You’re overthinking it.” A flash of impatience crossed Lu Ningshi’s mind. She had no idea what had gotten into Xie Ninghuai; why wasn't he off cultivating a relationship with the female lead instead of following her around?

“He introduced himself as your neighbor when he arrived, but he hasn't looked for you once in the six months since you started school. Now that he’s suddenly hovering, could there be something fishy going on?” Song Yuehua adjusted her non-existent glasses and stroked her chin in speculation.

Lu Ningshi suddenly remembered her brother’s hypothesis about the Xie family going bankrupt, and the corners of her lips curled upward in a way that was barely perceptible. She had withdrawn from meddling in the Xie family’s affairs, and since Xie Ninghuai hadn't developed any rebellious spirit and stopped proactively applying for business school, it seemed the butterfly effect had already taken hold, altering the plot.

“Men are truly not good things.” Hearing Song Yuehua’s speculation, Zhu Yilin clenched her fists in resentment. “Weiwei, let’s not be polite with him. Since he’s the one who insisted on tagging along, let’s make sure to put him to good use.”

Her indignant expression made Lu Ningshi chuckle and nod. “Fine, I’ll listen to you.”

Deep in the high mountains of the Miao village, unlike the hustle and bustle of the outer areas, the place was so silent that one could hear the fall of a leaf.

As the sun slanted toward the western hills, a fiery red halo filtered through the latticed windows, refracting onto the black clothing and presenting a dazzling, ornate scene. The gaze moved slowly upward to a pair of slender, clearly-defined hands that were holding an ancient book, turning the pages with rhythmic precision. A strand of jet-black hair was braided into a tiny plait, hanging motionless against the chest, creating the illusion of a machine.

“Holy Son, your travel permit has been processed.”

A youth of fifteen or sixteen crossed the threshold, his clear voice shattering the silence of the room. The man’s page-turning motion paused slightly, a moment that made one realize he was not a machine devoid of emotion, but a real, living person.