Lu Qin took a bite, only to find a raisin hidden in the bitter, sticky bun. Amid the extreme unpleasantness, there was a sweet and sour taste, just like the process of pursuing his wife. Though the journey was fraught with difficulties, there were moments of hope and sweet rewards.
Suffer through the hardship, and he would eventually win the beautiful wife.
Moreover, he had Dundun, the little child who could accurately predict Pei Rong’s limits and help smooth things over.
The bond between the father and son has grown stronger over time. If this had been the Dundun from when they first arrived, he wouldn’t have stood up for him like this.
Pei Rong crossed his arms, watching Lu Qin with a half-smile. “Keep eating. The whole house has been disinfected; it’s not dirty at all.”
With a strong survival instinct, President Lu could tell this was sarcasm. However, Pei Dundun looked at him worriedly, as if the sky would fall if he didn’t finish the bun.
He couldn’t spit it out, nor could he swallow it. The bitter taste of Chinese medicine filled his mouth. Everyone knew that drinking Chinese medicine was best done in one go while holding one’s nose, because the longer it lingered in your mouth, the more disgusting it would get.
Pei Rong couldn’t bear to watch anymore. Resisting the urge to slap Lu Qin, Pei Rong reached out and cupped his chin. “Spit it out.”
Lu Qin froze, and suddenly the bun didn’t taste so bitter anymore. His heart felt as sweet as if he had just drunk honey.
Heaven and earth be witness—could Lu Qin really deserve such treatment?
When Pei Rong saw that he didn’t react, he paused, his fingers trembling slightly. Awkwardly, he withdrew his hand and placed it behind his back. “Spit it into the trash can.”
Having dealt with a little child who would eat random things, Pei Rong was quite adept at forcing someone to spit something out. Today, after being angered by these father and son troublemakers, he subconsciously treated Lu Qin the same way.
After the same action, his hand balled into a fist.
Why? Why could anything go into his mouth?
Lu Qin found a trash can, spat out the bun, and threw it away.
Pei Dundun looked on in confusion, rubbing his cheeks with his hands.
Why was Dad allowed to spit it out?
Pei Rong pulled the little child a meter away from the broken ceramic pieces and explained, “Dad Lu knocked it over by accident. He didn’t mean to refuse the medicine. Things spilled on the floor can’t be eaten—they have bacteria.”
“It was an accident, so Dad won’t be mad. But if you’re one year and four months old, and pretended to knock over the medicine bowl because you didn’t want to drink it, Dad would naturally get really mad.”
Pei Dundun’s dark eyes flickered with guilt.
Pei Rong whispered, “Don’t think you can play dumb and get away with it next time. You can only trick your Dad Lu with that.”
“Whether it’s intentional or accidental, if you knock over this bowl, Dad will always have another one.”
Pei Dundun: “......”
Lu Qin, now understanding what had happened: “......”
So it was you, this little child with a history, judging others by your own standards!
He cleaned up the broken pieces and, with one hand, picked up Pei Dundun: “Still, thanks for helping Daddy out of a tight spot, Dundun. You’re amazing.”
It was just a pity about the big steamed bun, which Pei Dundun had been enjoying.
Lu Qin decided to make it up to the child with a lunch: “What do you want to eat for lunch?”
Pei Rong chimed in: “I’ll order takeout.”
Today, President Lu was also stripped of his right to cook.
Lu Qin tried to protest: “My right hand is fine...”
Pei Rong: “Then can you take Dundun back soon?”
He handed over the little child to Lu Qin, but not so that the father and son could team up to annoy him.
He, a slacker, just wanted to go back to the sanatorium and lie down.
Lu Qin sat back down. “My left hand still isn’t strong enough. I can’t flip the pan, so the taste won’t be as good.”
The temperamental beauty made another pot of herbal medicine and called the manor’s kitchen, asking them to prepare fish maw chicken, braised pork trotters, and two plates of vegetables.
There were also some home-raised eggs in the fridge from Uncle Zhang’s farm. Pei Rong took out three, boiled them, peeled the shells, and mashed half an egg for Pei Dundun, adding two drops of soy sauce for the kid to fill his belly.
After the big steamed bun, Pei Dundun was placated with a boiled egg.
He held a yellow-shelled stainless steel bowl, sat on a small stool, his little feet tapping the ground, taking small bites with a long-handled, small round spoon.
Daddy had said, eggs shouldn’t be eaten too quickly, or he’d choke.
Pei Dundun’s mission was to supervise Daddy Lu’s recovery, just like Daddy was now taking care of Grandma at the sanatorium. To Lu Qin’s amazement, Pei Dundun was actually taking it very seriously, guarding the door like a little security guard. If Lu Qin tried to do anything with his left hand, he would be promptly reminded.
Watching Dundun, Lu Qin was filled with guilt. As a powerful CEO, it felt like coming home to find his one-and-a-half-year-old son eating a boxed meal on a construction site was heartbreaking.
In order to gain sympathy and win back his wife, he had sacrificed his right to cook for Dundun, failing in his fatherly duties.
He said, “Dundun, this afternoon Daddy will take you to the manor to fish. Whatever we catch, we’ll grill it.”
Secretly sneaking an extra meal behind his wife’s back.
Pei Dundun savored the egg yolk in his mouth, finding it even more delicious. He didn’t have the habit of discarding things easily; as long as it was something he looked forward to, it would always boost his appetite.
He had been looking forward to fishing for a long time, but his father’s injury had delayed it until now.
“Great!” Pei Dundun scraped the sides of his bowl with a spoon, egg yolk smeared on the corners of his lips. He licked them and said, “Let’s go right after lunch without taking a nap!”
Lu Qin: “We have to take a nap first, let the food digest. Otherwise, your stomach will be too full, and you won’t be able to enjoy grilled fish.”
Pei Dundun innocently replied, “But fishing takes a long time.”
He had already set up the cooking pot, but his dad still hadn’t caught any fish.
Lu Qin: “Daddy Lu’s more professional.”
At twelve-thirty, Pei Rong returned from the sanatorium, and lunch for the manor was delivered.
The dishes from the kitchen were all approved by Lu Qin for their taste. Pei Rong took out the boiled eggs and divided them up: one for him, one and a half for Lu Qin, while Dundun had already eaten his.
Lu Qin was pleased with his one and a half eggs, regaining his authority as the head of the family. In the tone he used at the negotiation table, he started discussing business with Pei Rong.
“I want to work on a collaboration with Greenwood Manor. From now on, all of Lu Corporation’s team-building events and one-day trips will be held at Greenwood Manor. As part of the annual employee benefits package, each employee will receive a family pass to Greenwood Manor.”
The Lu Corporation was large, with many employees, and the upper management had plenty of money. Securing this deal would be highly beneficial for Greenwood Manor, providing guaranteed profits and increased reputation.
There was no need for Pei Rong to act modest or refuse such a good offer. Although it was a “collaboration,” Pei Rong would definitely offer discounts and make concessions. Plus, the annual profits would go towards raising his son.
“Thank you, President Lu.”
Offering membership cards to premium clients was a common tactic in the service industry.
Lu Qin: “I’ll have all of Lu Corporation’s management sign up for membership.”
Pei Rong: “Thank you.”
Lu Qin slowly revealed his true intention: “So, can you take me off the blacklist?”
He wanted to explain why he hadn’t gotten the membership last time, but that would ruin his image of restraint.
Even though the excuse from before was already flimsy beyond repair, Lu Qin still wanted to change the impression Pei Rong had of him.
He didn’t want to be seen as a lustful man who only thought of getting into bed with Pei Rong. There were many other things they could do together, and they could develop higher, more advanced human emotions beyond just primal desires.
Pei Rong raised an eyebrow, not surprised at all.
Lu Qin, with a serious expression, said, “I promised Dundun I’d take him fishing.”
Upon hearing this, Pei Dundun lifted his head from his bowl, a grain of rice stuck to the corner of his mouth. “Yes! We’re going fishing!”
Pei Rong smiled. “Alright.”
With this, President Lu successfully removed himself from the blacklist. His expression didn’t resemble someone offering money, but rather someone who had just signed a highly profitable 60-year contract.
