They are still close to me today despite their negative feelings

The man in the suit lowered his head and spoke softly to Qiu Luxi.

Qiu Luxi listened quietly to the three elders' confessions, holding my hand tightly without letting go. In fact, she seemed even more at a loss.

"...Shall I say a few words?"

Looking at Qiu Luxi, who seemed completely shaken, I finally couldn't help but interject.

These people were all so genuine, it made me feel like a professional cat tree, responsible for being Qiu Luxi's cushion.

"Ok!"

As if grasping at a straw, Qiu Luxi suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with pleading.

Well, it's not exactly the kind of drowning person asking for help from a lifeguard. It's more like An Yu not knowing what to eat first at a buffet—damn, how did I come up with this example, and it's even so vivid!

I looked around and sighed.

"Leaving aside other matters for now, what are your plans regarding Xiaoxi's situation in the outside world?"

Someone as cynical as me doesn't care what you say. The most crucial issue right now is how you handle things, isn't it?

[Next chapter preview: "Could this kid also be a survivor of the most turbulent period of the gray industry? Was he born that way?!"]

"You've already called it that. You should call it that from now on."

"But netizens don't know that."

"...I'm getting more and more curious about what kind of place you grew up in. Is this still in China?"

Interlude: The Bizarre Adventure of a Boy and a Cat

As for Ning Ruoyu, it's hard for Old Master Qiu to say that he likes him.

He appears humble on the surface but is arrogant inside, and occasionally reveals a touch of paranoia and morbid madness.

If Jin Shuheng had mentioned Ning Ruoyu to him before, the old man still felt...

"An extraordinary kid? How extraordinary could he be?"

So, this is probably how the old man feels now.

"Could this kid also be a survivor of the most turbulent period in the gray industry? Was he born that way?!"

Just like it is now.

"So, you don't even know what Qiu Luxi wants to do, yet you're making decisions on your own. Isn't this forced concern what's driving you further and further apart?"

That's a really hurtful comment, so hurtful that even his own daughter-in-law lowered her head.

Even so, the young man before them had already demonstrated through his actions and achievements that he was not standing on a high place and condescendingly criticizing—among everyone present, he was indeed the only one qualified to say such things.

The evidence was that after hearing the boy ask the question, Qiu Luxi's expression looked like she was about to cry. The way she looked at the boy made the old man have no doubt that his granddaughter seemed to rely more on this boy she had only known for a short time than on her family.

But thinking about this made the old man even angrier, and his gaze toward his son became increasingly dissatisfied.

"Useless piece of trash! You can't even take care of your own daughter! If Xiaoxi gets kidnapped by that brat this early, I'll skin you alive!"

"Huh? If you hadn't said you wanted Xiaoxi to stay away from the family business, I would be hearing her sweetly calling me 'Daddy' right now. Why should I be so ashamed of myself because of a little kid?!" The son also expressed his resentment with his eyes.

The daughter-in-law's eyes were unusually cold.

"I think neither Dad nor you, my husband, are as reliable as this young man in front of me. Anyway, I'm very satisfied with Xiaoxi's taste."

"!!?"

The rapid exchange of glances within the Qiu family left Ning Ruoyu somewhat speechless.

"Sorry to interrupt your Morse code exchange with your eyes. But let's get back to the question—are you really going to just confess and then acquire a major entertainment company to create a company specifically to protect Xiaoxi? Just use your money?!"

This is the idea that the old man just proposed. It's a swift and decisive move, full of his determination to protect and safeguard his granddaughter.

But what he got in return was a look of utter disbelief from the boy.

"Xiao Xi?"

Qiu Luxi suddenly raised her head, then looked at Ning Ruoyu with some happiness, and softly murmured.

"Ah, I just started saying it like they do, sorry."

Qiu Luxi shook her head.

"You've already called it that. You should call it that from now on."

"Let's talk about it later." The boy smiled, neither refusing nor agreeing.

This made the old man even more dissatisfied. His son, standing beside him, immediately coughed and gave Ning Ruoyu a forced smile.

"Xiao Ning, aren't you being too cold to my daughter...?"

Before her son could finish speaking, Qiu Luxi frowned and showed a somewhat unhappy expression.

Just like a cat can play and frolic with its beloved owner, but will get angry if a stranger is rude to its owner.

The old man's useless son instantly wilted, and neither the old man nor his daughter-in-law said a word.

Thank goodness it wasn't me being stared at by Xiaoxi like that.

The old man secretly rejoiced. He wondered if his old heart could withstand Xiaoxi's displeasure in this situation.

"So, Xiaoyu, what do you think we should do?"

"That's what the daughter-in-law said. She seemed very satisfied with Ning Ruoyu, and because of that, Xiao Xi seemed to trust her even more."

At least when her daughter-in-law was speaking, Xiaoxi was willing to look at her calmly, unlike when she or her son were speaking, she would always look away helplessly.

"Me? I just have a small suggestion."

The boy spoke softly, revealing a meaningful smile.

"However, I need you to agree to one thing for this proposal."

……

"Is Xiao Qiu trending again?"

"...Although my classmates are trying to debunk the rumors, but..."

Wu Yuehua fell silent.

Ning Ruoyu's carefully cultivated image of an ordinary girl has crumbled under the weight of her "illegitimate daughter of a wealthy family." Now, not only Qiu Luxi, but also the club leader who spoke up for her at the time, and even teacher Lai Ruhui, have been implicated to some extent.

"..."

Chen Di remained silent in his seat ever since the topic trended on social media. As the sun gradually set, Wu Yuehua finally pulled the two out of the club room and led them to a nearby family-run restaurant.

Otherwise, she was worried that Chen Di would become a troublemaker in the club room.

"Hey, junior, don't blame yourself too much. Ning Ruoyu said at the time that there was no problem with the plan, so let's just keep thinking of ways together."

Wu Yuehua knew that this plan was proposed by Chen Di as a Plan B to replace Ning Ruoyu's self-destructive plan. Given the current situation, she could understand Chen Di's frustration.

but.

"Self-blame? Sorry, senior, you've got it wrong." Chen Di raised her head and smiled as if mocking herself. "I've thought of a few solutions, but they're not perfect. I just wanted to see what that guy would do."

"Eh?"

Wu Yuehua couldn't understand Chen Di's explanation—was it a deep friendship or blind trust? But An Yu, standing beside her, quickly understood.

"Class monitor, you're saying this because you've already discovered what Ning Ruoyu is doing?!"

She leaned forward slightly, somewhat excited.

"This is trending on social media rapidly."

Chen Di turned the phone 180 degrees and then pushed it towards him.

"Qiu Luxi strolled around the amusement park during her work hours."

I glanced at the related comments. Although some staunch fans said that Qiu Luxi was also cute when she was slacking off, most people were mocking her, saying that the life of a big star with a background is just too good to be true.

"Hey, but I remember Xiao Qiu had already finished her schedule, right? And in this photo of Qiu Luxi playing bumper cars, the little girl sitting next to her is actually..."

"correct."

Chen Di said with a smile.

"But netizens don't know that."

"They have no idea about the heartwarming story behind this 'young lady slacking off' incident."

……

"Sorry, Qiqi, if you don't want to, we can also use the videos and related materials provided by the amusement park..."

"No need, Brother Ning!"

The little girl raised her fist.

“I’ve heard a lot about Qiu Jie in the yard lately. She’s been misunderstood by so many people. I’ve been trying my best to tell the other kids around me that Qiu Jie is a really good person.”

"Yes, that's great."

"Hehe. Now that I have a chance to help Sister Qiu, I will definitely explain things clearly to the policewoman!"

"It's because of Sister Qiu and Brother Qiu that I had the happiest day ever!"

"........."

Watching the girl being gently led away by a woman in police uniform, Ning Ruoyu sighed softly.

"Honestly, the more I realize how outstanding you are, the less I want my granddaughter to be associated with you. You are too terrifying; you make it impossible to guess what preparations you've made, or how you view the people around you."

The old man slowly emerged from the shadows.

This boy is so divided; it's always hard to see his true feelings.

However, Ning Ruoyu simply smiled casually.

"Is it really okay to be out alone without any security personnel?"

"Although this is an experience I haven't had in a long time, if danger can occur here, then is there any safe place in the Jiuhua Kingdom?"

The old man said calmly.

"The security situation in Jiuhua Kingdom is not so bad that ordinary citizens can encounter danger at the police station."

Ning Ruoyu nodded.

"That's because your life here is really too comfortable."

"...I'm getting more and more curious about what kind of place you grew up in. Is this still in China?"

Ning Ruoyu remained noncommittal.

"Forget it, it's not like I haven't investigated you. Your past life was indeed unremarkable, but it's as if you turned into a monster overnight."

"Let's skip this pointless probing, old man. You should save your energy for dealing with your old buddies. As long as Qiu Luxi isn't involved, I won't interfere in their affairs."

"Hearing that my granddaughter is valued so much, I am truly filled with emotion." The old man shook his head.

"It's not that I value it, it's just that I will try my best to complete the agreed-upon task." The young man looked at Old Master Qiu, and it seemed that only when he was confronting people involved in the gray industry in private would his dark, abyss-like eyes be so undisguised.

Completely different from his usual lazy and easygoing demeanor. Even the old man couldn't quite figure it out. Which one was the real Ning Ruoyu: the one who would smile and stroke his granddaughter's head on ordinary days, or the one exuding a chilling aura now?

"By the way, you haven't forgotten what you promised me, have you?"

"……certainly."

[Next chapter preview: So most topics have become a mess of filth, depriving normal people of the right to speak.]

It's as if all the past insults were just a dream, a facade of peace and harmony, so hypocritical that I want to laugh.

The man with the gold teeth frowned. "Brother Ning, isn't it a bit inappropriate to use children like this?"

"Brother Ning, I have a small request, you..."

Chapter 88: Sincerity has the greatest destructive power (laughs)

For internet surfers, taking things too seriously often means you've already lost.

Even if you genuinely want to discuss things with the other party using facts and logic, the moment they casually invoke the Six Arts of a Gentleman—filial piety, urgency, joy, and the art of self-defense—you've already secured your position.

Therefore, most topics become a muddy mess, depriving normal people of their right to speak.