When Liu Qinxin walked in, the book was still lying obediently on the floor.

She bent down to pick it up, went over to Ming Shuo, put the book back in its place, and then poured him a cup of warm milk. “Did you reach an agreement?”

“Mm.”

Ming Shuo nodded.

Liu Qinxin’s delicate brows furrowed slightly, then quickly relaxed.

As usual, she stood behind Ming Shuo and began massaging his shoulders and back. “It seems our Ming Yue really is smart, sensible, and knows how to see the bigger picture. Sigh, if only Jiajia were half as good as she is!”

Was it intentional or not?

When Liu Qinxin said this, she emphasized the word “smart” a bit too much, making it easy for anyone to catch the point—especially Ming Shuo, who was already feeling rather troubled.

Sure enough, no sooner had the word “smart” left her lips than a fleeting shadow darted across his vision.

His heart skipped a beat, and that familiar feeling came rushing back.

He quickly pulled himself together, stopped dwelling on it, and let out an indignant huff, his face turning dark purple. “Being ‘smart’ might just about be acceptable. But ‘sensible’?”

Ming Shuo let out a cold laugh. “Tell me, have you ever seen a sensible daughter who would actually pick up something and smash it over her own father’s head? Or a sensible daughter who would turn the family kitchen into such a mess?”

If it weren’t for the fact that he had to smooth things over with her now and had to let outsiders know about the “deep bond” between them, he’d gladly throw that scheming, money-grubbing brat right out the door.

Liu Qinxin still wore that gentle smile, her soft, delicate hands moving even more gently.

“She’s still just a child, after all. When she’s upset, of course she’ll find ways to vent her frustration. You, as her father, should be more magnanimous and not hold grudges against her like a little kid.

No matter how much she fusses, she’s only making a scene at home, letting off steam under various pretexts. She can’t really do anything serious to you, her own father, can she?”

“The women back in her hometown have all had several kids by now! Kids? If she’s still a kid, then what kind of kid is she anyway?”

Ming Shuo’s face remained grim.

Liu Qinxin smiled even brighter, her petite hands resting lightly on his temples. “Alright, alright, stop being mad. Since you don’t like us, we won’t talk about her anymore.”

Ming Shuo nodded, took Liu Qinxin’s slender hand—thin as a scallion root—and held it in his palm, playing with it. “By the way, Qin Qin, there’s something else I need your help with.”

Liu Qinxin smiled sweetly, her voice full of charm, her delicate fingers gently tracing patterns on his palm. “Do we really have to be so formal with each other?

Go ahead—what do you want me to do? As long as it’s not something like killing or setting fires, and as long as it can help you, I’ll definitely say yes.”

Hearing this, Ming Shuo’s brow relaxed, and he pulled Liu Qinxin close, sitting her on his lap and wrapping his arms around her waist as he explained softly.

“In a few days, I’m taking Ming Yue to Old Master Gu’s birthday banquet. I know you’ve been a bit put out these past few days, so could you please teach her how to dress and carry herself?

I’m not asking that brat to be as gentle and virtuous as you, someone who dazzles at first sight, but at least let her not look like the kind of shrew who’s totally unfit for polite society.”

“Old Master Gu’s birthday?”

Liu Qinxin murmured softly, instantly recalling the promise this man had once made her—to take her and Jiajia out to see the world. Their original plan had been to start with Old Master Gu’s birthday banquet.

Looks like… that’s not happening anytime soon.

Her eyes grew slightly glazed, and a faint layer of frost settled over her brows.

But she quickly brushed that chill away.

With one hand around his neck and the other slipping into Ming Shuo’s tousled hair, she asked in a sweet voice, “Is this some kind of strategy to ease the current situation?”

Ming Shuo nodded, tilting his head back to look at her. In his quiet gaze, flickers of light danced.

End of Chapter 50: Understanding