Chapter 34: Dislike

"Tang Shuxun, what are you doing here?" Qin Miaoyu's voice was tinged with obvious emotion, prompting Lu Qi'an to glance at this Tang Shuxun with curiosity.

"Miaoyu, be polite. He's my guest," her father interjected.

"Weren't you having Lu Qi'an back for dinner? Why invite someone else?"

When Tang Shuxun heard himself referred to as someone else, the smile on his face faltered, his gaze shifting to the man standing beside Qin Miaoyu. Once he got a good look, his smile vanished completely. After all, judging from appearance and temperament alone, there was hardly a flaw to be found!

"Qin Miaoyu, you really haven't changed, have you? Every time you see a handsome man, you can't help yourself," Tang Shuxun remarked with no small amount of sarcasm.

It was a preference he'd noticed in Qin Miaoyu long ago—she was intensely attracted to good looks. Yet somehow, he, Tang Shuxun, never made the cut for her. The man opposite him, surnamed Lu, was exactly Qin Miaoyu's favorite type.

Qin Miaoyu rolled her eyes. "What does it matter to you?"

Seeing her lively expression, Lu Qi'an found her adorable, yet raised his guard against Tang Shuxun. It was rare to see someone stir Qin Miaoyu's emotions so easily.

He took the initiative, extending his hand: "Hello, I'm Miaoyu's husband, Lu Qi'an."

Tang Shuxun glanced at the offered hand, expressionless. "I was Miaoyu's desk mate in high school."

He kept his hand firmly by his side, showing no intention of shaking.

"Tang Shuxun, how can you still be so rude? Someone greets you and offers their hand, can't you extend yours?"

"Miaoyu, it's fine. Your old classmate probably just doesn't like shaking hands with strangers."

"Hmph, if he doesn't like it, so be it. I don't care to shake his hand!" Qin Miaoyu said, pulling Lu Qi'an's hand back to his side.

Tang Shuxun watched their interaction, secretly furious. That Lu fellow had all the airs of a schemer. He quickly thrust his hand forward. "Fine, fine, let's shake, okay?"

Sensing Lu Qi'an’s hand about to move, Qin Miaoyu immediately tightened her grip, refusing to release it.

"No need to shake. Who wants to shake your hand anyway!"

Lu Qi'an’s eyes sparkled with amusement as he watched their hands clasped together.

Qin Shengyi, having finished giving instructions in the kitchen, invited Tang Shuxun to the study for a discussion, only reappearing when dinner was served.

The Qin family dinner table always observed the rule of eating in silence. Tang Shuxun, however, was unburdened by such etiquette. He looked at Lu Qi'an seated beside Qin Miaoyu, his gaze openly provocative.

"Mr. Lu, Uncle Qin and I discussed a partnership in the study earlier. I can invest up to seventy percent. How much are you prepared to offer?"

Qin Miaoyu was infuriated. Tang Shuxun simply couldn't stand to see her happy and now, in his spite, was making things difficult for her contract husband!

"Tang Shuxun, haven't you heard the rule of 'no talk at the table'? Can’t the food keep your mouth occupied?"

Before Tang Shuxun could respond, Qin Shengyi sternly scolded, "Qin Miaoyu, mind your manners. Mr. Tang is our guest; there's no need to be so particular."

Tang Shuxun had just agreed to invest seventy percent in the project—never mind talking at the table; even if he wanted to curse during dinner, Qin Shengyi would not object.

Seeing Qin Shengyi’s obsequiousness, Qin Miaoyu lost all appetite. She set down her chopsticks and left the table, saying she’d had enough.

Lu Qi'an quickly followed, declaring he was finished as well, and left in her wake.

Their blatant disregard made Qin Shengyi grunt in displeasure, though with Tang Shuxun still present, he restrained himself.

Tang Shuxun observed the scene and suddenly sensed something amiss. The relationship between Qin Miaoyu and her father seemed strained.

Lu Qi'an caught up with Qin Miaoyu in their room. "Was the food not to your liking? You ate so little."

His concern was obvious. Qin Miaoyu felt a bit better and explained, "I just can't stand watching my father grovel to Tang Shuxun."

From Tang Shuxun's words, it was clear he was the major investor in Qin Shengyi’s project. Her father, for the sake of business, would surely try to curry favor with Tang Shuxun. And since Tang Shuxun disliked her so much, he might force her to do something she didn't want!

Thinking of that rather arrogant young man, Lu Qi'an ventured, "Are things really that bad between you two?"

Qin Miaoyu had plenty to say on the topic. "Not just bad—it's terrible, extremely terrible."

She recounted their first conversation, Tang Shuxun's various displays of dislike and sarcasm, and her own aversion to him... In her eyes, they were mutually antagonistic, best left as enemies never to cross paths again.

Yet Lu Qi'an sensed something unusual in Tang Shuxun's attitude toward Qin Miaoyu.

He had a friend who’d once had a rival at school, but his friend was far less foolish than Tang Shuxun, never resorting to mere sarcasm and detachment. That friend and his rival ended up together in college and were now about to wed.

Because of Qin Miaoyu's account, Lu Qi'an's vigilance toward Tang Shuxun dropped dramatically. He could tell that Qin Miaoyu genuinely disliked Tang Shuxun, with not a shred of other feeling.

"I’ll take you out for lunch later. Gu Xunan recommended a private kitchen to me—he says the food is excellent. Let's give it a try."

"Sure, but wait—Gu Xunan’s recommendation isn’t too expensive, is it?"

That day shopping, Qin Miaoyu had witnessed Gu Xunan’s lavish spending firsthand. Whenever Ji Xuan glanced at something—even for a moment—he wanted to buy it, regardless of the price. Ji Xuan eventually had to issue a strict ban on such behavior, forcing Gu Xunan to rein it in.

"Don’t worry, it's not expensive. And since Gu Xunan referred us, we'll get a special price."

"Alright, let's try it later."

Since Qin Miaoyu didn’t reappear, Tang Shuxun left the Qin house after dinner.

Once he was gone, Qin Shengyi summoned Lu Qi'an to the study.

Qin Miaoyu didn’t know what they discussed, only that Lu Qi'an came out looking grim.

She barely had time to ask what was wrong before Lu Qi'an pulled her toward their room.

"Qin Miaoyu, come to the study—I need to speak with you," Qin Shengyi called, opening the study door.

"Miaoyu, don't go."

Recalling the things Qin Shengyi had just said, Lu Qi'an could guess what he wanted to discuss with Qin Miaoyu. If she was persuaded by him, then he would...

"Qi'an, don't worry. There are things I need to make clear with them," Qin Miaoyu reassured him, shaking off Lu Qi'an’s grip and heading for the study.

Qin Miaoyu had been to the study many times as a child. Back then, her father would read with her there, but at some point, the study became a place for scolding.

She’d always disliked going to the study.