Disabled Childhood Sweetheart: A Humble Puppy Begs for the Young Lady's Pity

Zhao Jingqian was a good friend of Zhou Jingchen during his studies abroad.

The two were both students at the University of Pennsylvania in the United States and lived on the same floor of an apartment building. After getting to know each other, they discovered that their parents were friends, which made their relationship even closer.

Zhao is a cheerful and outgoing rich kid with a romantic history that could fill an English-Chinese dictionary.

His loud voice came from the other end of the phone, and Zhou Jingchen subconsciously moved the phone further away.

Zhao Jingan said excitedly, "Let me tell you, come over to my place tomorrow night if you're free. A pure and innocent girl applying for a nightclub job, what a contrast!

"A woman who catches your eye must be extraordinary."

Zhou Jingchen chuckled, holding the phone in one hand and a pen in the other, signing a document. After signing, he handed it to his secretary, waved for her to leave.

He stood up, holding his phone, and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. He put one hand in his pocket, his shoulder line straight, and his lonely figure blended into the twilight outside the window.

"She's incredibly beautiful, how should I put it, she has a very elegant air about her. Damn, just looking at her makes my heart pound..."

Zhao said confidently, "Just you wait and see, I'll definitely win her over within a month!"

Zhou Jingchen chuckled, his voice clear and gentle: "Well, then I wish you success."

The phone rang right after I hung up.

An elderly woman's voice came from the other end of the phone: "Xiaoze, are you coming home tomorrow?"

Xiao Ze was the nickname given to Zhou Jingchen by his parents when he was born. Currently, only his grandmother still calls him that; everyone else calls him by his current name—Zhou Jingchen.

The old man is getting on in years, so there's no need to worry about how you address him.

Unsurprisingly, it's another plan to introduce him to a girlfriend.

Zhou Jingchen rubbed his forehead: "Grandma, the company has been a bit busy lately."

The old lady snorted in dissatisfaction, "It's my birthday tomorrow, have you forgotten?"

Zhou Jingchen sighed softly, "I'm sorry, I'll arrange my work and go back tomorrow."

-

The following day, at 6 PM.

The marble flooring gleams beautifully, reflecting the dazzling crystal chandelier on the dome, while the ceiling lights refract soft light to illuminate the Lu family's spacious villa living room.

Three genuine leather sofas were arranged in a triangular pattern, with the old lady sitting in the very center.

She wore a simple, button-down top, her silver hair was neatly combed, and she held a string of Bodhi seeds in her left hand. With a gentle smile on her lips, she looked at the girl beside her and patted the back of her hand lightly.

How are your parents doing lately?

"Thank you for your concern, Grandma. Everything is fine." Qiao Yue smiled shyly. She was the old lady's guest tonight. With her straight black hair, she looked well-behaved and adorable, and her clothes were appropriate—the kind of attire that would please elders.

She pushed an exquisite velvet gift box in front of the old lady: "It's your birthday. I don't know what you like. This is a string of Bodhi beads that my mother and I went to Jiuming Mountain to get some time ago. We asked a master to bless it and wish you health and longevity."

The ebony coffee table has a grain pattern resembling an ink wash painting. The gift box is beautiful, and the gift itself is even more beautiful when you open it.

The white jade bodhi seed bracelet has a rich luster and a delicate texture, making it a top-quality bead at first glance.

The two carnelian spacer beads paired with the boxwood lotus seedpod pendant were understated yet elegant. The old lady accepted them with a smile and nodded repeatedly.

At 6:30, Lu Yuanyuan and Lu Zhenting arrived home.

Lu Yuanyuan had just hung the scarf on the rack by the door when she heard the old lady on the living room sofa snort:

"What kind of daughter-in-law works until now on her mother-in-law's birthday? Is this how you show filial piety to your mother-in-law?"

Before Lu Yuanyuan could speak, Lu Zhenting had already taken her hand, turned around, and said gently, "Mom, Yuanyuan's prosecutor's office has a big case recently and she's very busy. She specially left work early today."

"Happy birthday, Mom." Lu Yuanyuan forced a smile and placed the gift she brought back on the coffee table.

Just then, she looked up and saw Qiao Yue coming out from the direction of the restroom. The other woman smiled and nodded in greeting, "Aunt Lu, Uncle Lu."

Seeing Qiao Yue come out, the old lady glanced at her daughter-in-law indifferently and said nothing more.

In the kitchen, the nanny was quickly cooking, and colorful dishes were laid out on the island. The aroma of food wafted out of the kitchen door.

Lu Yuanyuan poured several cups of hot tea, placing two cups in front of the old lady and Qiao Yue. The girl quickly bowed and politely thanked them, her posture generous and proper.

"Zhenting, sit down and rest, keep your mother company." The old lady beckoned to her son with a kind smile, then turned to her daughter-in-law and said coldly, "Go to the kitchen and help Aunt Xiu. Dinner will be ready when Xiaoze comes back."

Lu Yuanyuan, who was about to sit on the sofa, stood up again: "Okay."

Lu Zhenting glanced at Lu Yuanyuan and also tried to get up, but she gestured for him to sit back down.

The living room was bathed in warm light and filled with smiles. The old lady held her son's hand, asking after his well-being and praising Qiao Yue, her future granddaughter-in-law, to the skies.

She rubbed the Bodhi seed bracelet in her palm. The "Buddha" character engraved on the beads had been worn smooth and shiny over the years, making it almost invisible.

-

On his way home, Zhou Jingchen received a call from his sister. He asked her if she wasn't coming back to celebrate the old lady's birthday.

The voice on the other end casually teased, "Whether I go back or not is unimportant; it's just that you, my grandson, go back."

"Grandma treats you like a treasure, but I'm just a little girl, a blade of grass~"

The black Land Rover boasts sleek lines and a gleaming finish, cruising smoothly along the highway. The windows reflect the pristine snow-covered landscape outside, simultaneously showcasing the man's sharp, handsome profile.

His fingers gripping the steering wheel were long and slender, and the back of his hand, showing faint lines of veins from the force he exerted, was extremely attractive.

The car turned left and headed east along Ginkgo Avenue, entering a high-end villa area.

Zhou Jingchen slowly applied the brakes, his tone indifferent: "So you're letting your brother go back alone to suffer, right?"

The voice on the other end snorted, "Last time she arranged a blind date for you, I messed it up and got a good scolding from her. I'm not going to interfere anymore."

Then she chuckled again: "Brother, just go along with it. I heard it's a young lady from a prominent family, beautiful, a graduate of a prestigious university, and about your age. What a perfect match!"

She deliberately said, "If I get married early and give Grandma a big, healthy great-grandson, she'll die laughing..."

The sound stopped abruptly there.

Realizing she had said the wrong thing, she quickly mumbled a few incoherent "uh-huhs," and said, "Anyway, don't argue with her anymore, or she'll take it out on Mom."

The Land Rover smoothly pulled into the garage. Zhou Jingchen turned off the engine, removed the key, strode out, and neatly closed the car door: "Alright, I'm home. I'm not talking to you anymore. Be careful out there."

I closed my phone, then suddenly remembered I'd forgotten the gift, so I turned back and brought it with me.

As I walked home, my phone beeped with a QQ notification. I took it out and saw it was a message from Zhao Jinqian.

Are you coming tonight? The girl I interviewed yesterday is dancing tonight.

[Celebrating Grandma's Birthday at Home]

Come on, come over after your birthday. Please, bro, I haven't been interested in anyone in ages, help me choose someone.

[You womanizer, do you still need me to vet your partners???]

[We need it! We need it! Come on!]

Zhou Jingchen replied with "OK" and put his phone back in his pocket.