Chapter 177: Twelve Years Old

The two sat in the car, exchanging questions and answers, and gradually, Qin Miaoyu pieced together many things she had never known before.

Although she no longer cared for strawberries—so much so that she avoided anything related to them—she still remembered that every year when strawberries came into season, their home would receive batches of exceptionally high-quality fruit.

She had asked her parents where the fruit came from, but they never told her the truth, only saying it was purchased by the family.

Most of these fruit batches were given away by Qin Shengyi as gifts, with only a small portion kept at home for themselves. Qin Lianzhu could eat these freely, but Qin Miaoyu only received a little as a reward after completing tasks assigned by Su Yaqing.

Similarly, many of the things her mother used to reward her weren’t specifically bought for her by the family but were sent over by Lu Qi’an.

The reason Qin’s parents no longer tried to use her to connect with the Lu family was probably because these gifts didn’t bring tangible benefits to the Qin family. In their minds, the Lu family didn’t seem to care much about the life-saving favor.

Had the Lu family continued, as they did the first time, offering both money and projects that made Qin’s parents feel the importance of that favor, the Qin family would have clung tightly and never let go.

And she—Qin’s parents would surely have demanded she curry favor with the “young master of the Lu family,” who could bring countless benefits to the Qin family.

Moreover, in her senior year of high school, the disappearance of the “academic prodigy” label and the fact that no one deliberately bullied her anymore was not because those people suddenly developed a conscience but because Lu Qi’an had dealt with it.

No wonder those followers of Liang Sixuan looked at her strangely back then—eyes full of malice, and she was certain they would try to make things difficult for her next, yet they never did, all the way until graduation.

Knowing all this, Qin Miaoyu found herself uncertain whether it would have been better if they had kept in contact all those years ago.

She was also curious: “Why didn’t you appear in front of me all these years?”

Lu Qi’an smiled helplessly. “Back then, when I went to the Qin family, you must have been having a conflict with your family. You left the living room shortly after sitting down. Later, when the elders had matters to discuss, they sent me to find you.”

“You didn’t find me, did you? I never saw you,” Qin Miaoyu said firmly.

She recalled seeing Lu Qi’an only once that year.

Lu Qi’an shook his head. “No, I found you. You were sitting behind the Qin family’s garden, behind a hollowed floral wall, talking to yourself, muttering about how your parents wanted you to please certain people, which you didn’t like. And I was definitely the next person you had to please... I heard what you said, so I decided not to show up again.”

Qin Miaoyu immediately recalled the events of that time.

From around when she was ten, Su Yaqing had consciously been training her in speaking skills.

But the goal wasn’t to improve her eloquence—it was to teach her how to please others, to learn to speak in a way that made people happy, hoping she could build good relationships with the young masters and misses from the upper-class families at school so that the Qin family could gain more connections.

However, when a person places themselves in a lower position, how could others treat them equally?

Therefore, what Su Yaqing taught Qin Miaoyu didn’t help her build genuine relationships; instead, it led to much ridicule and being bossed around.

At that time, Qin Miaoyu didn’t understand this; she only knew she didn’t want to please others and even quarreled with Su Yaqing over it. The day the Lu family came, she must have been upset over this argument with Su Yaqing, which affected her mood the next day.

Qin Miaoyu said, “If back then they had asked me to please you, our relationship might really have turned out badly.”

Lu Qi’an might not have treated her badly, but as for her toward him—that was uncertain. She was still a temperamental child then, with her grandmother protecting her.

Lu Qi’an asked, “Did they later ask you to please anyone else?”

Qin Miaoyu shook her head. “At that time, you gave the Qin family many benefits, enough to keep them occupied for a long while. Su Yaqing was also able to maintain good relations with the other ladies because of those benefits. So during that period, I wasn’t required to please those young masters and misses.”

But after her grandmother passed away, longing deeply for her parents’ affection, she allowed Qin Shengyi and Su Yaqing to shape her as they wished.

Qin Miaoyu looked at Lu Qi’an, their eyes meeting perfectly; she could see the emotions in his gaze.

“Lu Qi’an, I—”

Before she could finish, Lu Qi’an gently embraced her.

Qin Miaoyu closed her eyes, relaxing as she leaned into his arms.

Although she knew that even if they had kept in touch back then, the outcome might not have been better, she couldn’t help but imagine.

However...

“Lu Qi’an, meeting you at twenty-two isn’t so bad after all.”

Meeting Lu Qi’an again, using marriage as a way to avoid the schemes of her parents, and being happy together—he also helped her solve problems.

Except for his long delay in revealing his identity, everything else was fine.

Hearing this, Lu Qi’an held Qin Miaoyu even tighter.

He too felt that knowing Qin Miaoyu was a beautiful thing.

Looking out at the darkening sky beyond the car window, Qin Miaoyu nudged Lu Qi’an.

“It’s late. Let’s drive back quickly—I’m hungry.”

Lu Qi’an released her and drove toward her residence.

Just after they finished dinner, Lu Qi’an received a call from Gu Feng.

“Are the test results in?” Lu Qi’an asked.

“Yes, Mr. Lu. It’s confirmed that Li Qixiao has no blood relation to the old master.”

“Hm. Besides this result, did anyone arranged by my father convey any other news to you?”

“Yes, Mr. Lu. The old master recently met with Mrs. Li, and Li Qixiao was present. The old master was in a very good mood when he left.”

“Good. Any news from Madam Gao and Gao Qingqing?”

Gu Feng responded from the other end, “Gao Qingqing has indeed returned to the country, and Madam Gao has been attending various high-society gatherings lately. She also met with the two shareholders who have been stirring trouble with the Lu Corporation.”

“Okay, keep a close eye on Madam Gao’s actions. For Gao Qingqing, ensure Julia’s safety until Louis’s people arrive.”

After hanging up, Qin Miaoyu spoke of Julia: “She came to the studio today. I think she’s alright, at least she can admit her mistakes and doesn’t take her frustrations out on Lu Qi’an.”

Lu Qi’an nodded. “Compared to others in the Davis family, she’s indeed better, but having been spoiled growing up, sometimes she acts without considering the consequences.”