Chapter 161: The Girl from Sixteen Years Ago Is Her

Meanwhile, outside the villa—

Lu Qing'er was looking at Li Beijue with a shy and timid expression, looking as if she had something to say but was holding back.

Li Beijue stared at her for a few seconds, then suddenly spoke: "Miss Lu Qing'er."

Lu Qing'er's expression brightened, and she hurriedly replied: "Mr. Li, you are too polite; just calling me Qing'er is fine."

Li Beijue's gaze flickered for a moment; he neither agreed nor refused, and continued to ask: "I wonder if you have some time? I have some questions I would like to ask you."

"Yes! Of course I do! It is my honor that Mr. Li has questions for me." Lu Qing'er answered without hesitation, her expression somewhat excited.

What could Li Beijue want to ask her?

When did he start noticing her?

Could it be a few years ago, at the wedding banquet when he married Jiang Baobao, that he noticed her?

And even remembered her name?

Lu Qing'er felt a bit smug; she hadn't expected to be able to get so close to Li Beijue.

"Let's go, my car is right over there."

Li Beijue turned and pointed to the car parked not far away, signaling for Lu Qing'er to follow him.

Lu Qing'er hurriedly followed, and just as she stood in front of the car, she saw Li Beijue reach out to open the door for her.

"Mr. Li..." Lu Qing'er was somewhat flattered.

"Get in." Li Beijue said indifferently, then turned and sat in the driver's seat.

Lu Qing'er immediately became even more distracted, obediently getting in and sitting down, her hands so nervous she didn't know where to put them.

Now, Li Beijue was personally driving her out!

She wondered if that woman Jiang Baobao had ever received this kind of treatment before?

Lu Qing'er subconsciously compared herself to Jiang Baobao in her heart, unable to help but feel a bit triumphant.

Not long after, the car stopped in front of a cafe that looked very elegantly decorated.

Lu Qing'er got out of the car very ladylike and obediently followed by Li Beijue's side.

The two found a quiet spot to sit down, and only then did she ask in confusion: "I wonder what Mr. Li has to ask me?"

Li Beijue's gaze flickered for a moment, and after thinking for two seconds, he asked: "I wonder, Miss Lu, did you previously attend Huating?"

Li Beijue asked slowly; although the information already showed it very clearly, he still wanted to confirm it in person.

Lu Qing'er indeed nodded without hesitation: "I did attend there, Mr. Li... why did you suddenly think to ask this?"

A dark light flashed in the depths of Li Beijue's eyes; he did not want to expose his purpose too obviously for the time being.

He thought for two seconds before asking: "I have recently been looking for a designer named Zhen Zhen to custom-make a special piece of jewelry, but I just happened to learn that the designer once gifted a necklace design to the Xia family, and the style was very unique..."

Li Beijue deliberately paused for a moment, leaving his words unfinished.

"Designer? Zhen Zhen? Necklace design?!" Lu Qing'er was stunned for a long while, thinking for a long time before she finally understood, suddenly enlightened.

Without the slightest suspicion, she replied: "There is such a matter, but the design that designer Zhen Zhen gifted was lost long ago, and the style of the necklace wasn't particularly ornate; it was just a magnolia flower shape, looking a bit more elegant."

"Magnolia flower?" Li Beijue's gaze flickered for a moment, and he pretended to ask casually: "I wonder what material that necklace was made of?"

"It was just two pieces of white jade selected by the family, and we found a craftsman to carve it."

Lu Qing'er answered clearly, without the slightest suspicion.

But then she asked in confusion: "Is Mr. Li looking for that designer's contact information? I'm afraid I'll have to go back and ask my mother..."

"That works too." Li Beijue nodded indifferently, then found an excuse, explaining: "My grandfather is very interested in this designer's work. That necklace... is Mrs. Lu wearing it?"

Li Beijue asked the final question calmly.

Lu Qing'er shook her head instantly: "My mother gave that necklace to me; she didn't keep it to wear herself."

"I see..."

Li Beijue instantly felt reassured, and the look in his eyes as he watched the person opposite him changed slightly.

The little girl from back then was her!

But it seems she hasn't recognized him yet...

Li Beijue didn't want to scare her, so he didn't bring up the matter again.

The two chatted casually about other topics, and then he used the excuse of having official business at the company to send Lu Qing'er back.

"Mr. Li, thank you for treating me to coffee and sending me home."

Lu Qing'er hadn't expected that she would be able to enjoy the treatment of being personally picked up and dropped off by Li Beijue; as she got out of the car, she looked at him with some reluctance.

Li Beijue's gaze flickered for a moment; listening to Lu Qing'er's gentle tone, he instantly thought of the way that girl had softly comforted him sixteen years ago.

"Go on back. I had a very happy time chatting with you today. If there is time later, we will find another opportunity to meet."

"Really? You... will you ask me out again later?" Lu Qing'er's expression suddenly became joyful.

"Mm." Li Beijue looked at her expression and nodded indifferently.

Lu Qing'er immediately replied excitedly: "Whenever Mr. Li asks me out, I will have time!"

"Good, then wait for me to call you." Li Beijue agreed, then drove away.

Lu Qing'er stood where she was, watching him go, an undisguised look of triumph appearing on her face.

Li Beijue actually wanted to ask her out again!

She knew it, she was not one bit worse than that bitch Jiang Baobao!

Li Beijue had finally opened his eyes and knew who the most excellent woman was!

On the other side—

After settling Old Madam Jiang and Jiang Chenghao, Jiang Baobao went straight home, a stifling feeling of frustration stuck in her chest.

It wasn't until school let out and she heard the three little ones noisily coming through the door that she felt much more at ease.

"Mommy! You're home so early today!"

As soon as Mobai entered the door and saw Jiang Baobao sitting in the living room, he immediately smiled and went over to her.

Jiang Baobao had been quite busy lately, so she could only occasionally pick them up from school.

The three little ones were very understanding and had never once raised any complaints.

Jiang Baobao smiled, and just as she was about to speak, she heard Tiantian say loudly, "Mommy! Let me take you to the back to see the flowers! Grandpa Zheng brought me and my brothers to plant them before!"

"Alright, let's go see the flowers!" Jiang Baobao felt instantly energized as she looked at the little girl's smiling face.

The three of them immediately went to the back garden together, laughing and talking.

A small area had been specifically expanded there for the three little ones to plant the things they liked.

"Mommy! Look! The flowers haven't bloomed yet!"

Tiantian squatted in front of the flower bed, excitedly pointing her finger at a pale pink flower bud.

Jiang Baobao smiled and replied, "They still need to wait a while to bloom. You three must take good care of them so they can bloom into beautiful flowers!"

No sooner had she finished speaking than she suddenly heard footsteps coming from behind her.

Jiang Baobao turned her head instinctively, and upon seeing who was standing behind her, her face instantly turned cold.

Li Beijue had actually returned?

What?

Is he looking for trouble again?

【Author's Note】

To prevent everyone from feeling annoyed, the author provides a friendly reminder: Lu Qing'er is here to let the male lead know as soon as possible that the little girl from back then was the female lead; she is not here to disgust everyone.

Rest assured, her plot will not exceed 20,000 words in total. Please don't scold the author; I'm running away with a pot on my head.