Wealthy Woof Chapter 91

This kind of pleasantly mild weather is just right for a seaside trip. With only two days, there wasn’t much time for elaborate plans, so Lu Chenghe simply took him to the coast for seafood. After all, with that little foodie, letting him feast by the ocean for two days was more than enough to make him happy.

Watching the little guy barefoot on the sand, building castles like a clueless child, only for his grand construction to collapse before even taking shape, was almost entertaining. Frustrated, he tossed aside his small tools and stomped over in a huff. Lu Chenghe, already anticipating this, put on his sunglasses and shut his eyes.

Zuo Ning plopped onto Lu Chenghe’s sun lounger and snatched his sunglasses away. “I know you weren’t asleep! You were totally peeking at me just now!”

Lu Chenghe chuckled. “That’s right. Watching you fail at something even a kid could do. Look at them, then look at you.”

Following his gaze, Zuo Ning noticed two kids around seven or eight on the other side, diligently sculpting sandcastles. Unlike his own disastrous attempt, they had successfully built sturdy castle walls and even a few basic houses. He glanced back at his mess. Best not to compare.

Without hesitation, he sprawled beside Lu Chenghe with a pout. “I was just messing around. I wasn’t even serious about it! If I actually tried, do you think I wouldn’t be able to do something even little kids can manage? You really underestimate me.”

Lu Chenghe shifted slightly to the side but still voiced his complaint. “Your chair’s right over there. Aren’t you feeling cramped?”

Zuo Ning smugly took up most of the space, lazily stretching out as he yawned. “How could I feel hot? With the sea breeze, the shade from the umbrella, and an icy fruit juice in hand, this is the life. Coastal cities are best visited either in early spring or winter. Any later, and the heat becomes unbearable.”

His voice gradually softened as drowsiness crept in. Within five minutes, he’d gone completely still. Lu Chenghe turned to look, only to find him passed out. Shaking his head, he reached for a large towel and draped it over him.

Typical. Fighting sleep all night, only to crash during the day like a lifeless corpse. He pressed down on the stubborn tuft of hair at the back of Zuo Ning’s head, but it refused to stay flat. Unable to resist, he snapped a photo of the sleeping figure, then idly scrolled through his album. He sorted his pictures—one album for the dog, one for people. Eventually, he stumbled upon an old surveillance screenshot, comparing it to Little Pudding’s current appearance. The pup had definitely grown a bit.

Always right in front of him, changing so gradually that it felt almost imperceptible. Staring at that peaceful sleeping figure, Lu Chenghe sighed softly. Just a little more time. He was still too young.

By the time Zuo Ning woke up, the sun had begun its descent. The sky had lost its bright blue hue, now painted with the warm shades of sunset. Instinctively, he reached out beside him but found nothing, jolting him awake in alarm. When he looked around, he spotted Lu Chenghe sitting unceremoniously on the ground, completely absorbed in building a sandcastle. And in front of him, a magnificent castle was steadily taking shape under his hands.

Zuo Ning couldn’t hold back his amazement and gasped, rushing over barefoot without a second thought. Lu Chenghe reached out to stop him. “I worked hard on this. If you pounce on it, it’s gone.”

Circling the sizable sandcastle, Zuo Ning clicked his tongue in admiration. “This is incredible! Is there anything you can’t do?”

Lu Chenghe’s creation wasn’t just a simple mound of sand. It had sturdy walls, defensive towers, elegant spires, and even intricately crafted staircases. As he prepared to place small flags on top, Zuo Ning eagerly stretched out his hands. “Let me do it!”

Lu Chenghe didn’t argue, handing him a few tiny flags and watching as he carefully planted them on the castle’s peaks. Then, he grabbed the camera. “Want a picture?”

“Yes! Yes! Yes!”

Under the golden glow of the sunset, with a towering sandcastle and a boy whose grin curved his eyes into crescent moons, the moment was perfectly captured in a single photograph.

Later, as Little Pudding sat stubbornly in front of the castle, unwilling to leave, Lu Chenghe sighed. “It’s getting dark. Aren’t you hungry?”

Zuo Ning hesitantly scooped some sand along the edge of the walls. “But if we just leave it here… What will happen to it? It’s such a masterpiece, and we can’t take it with us. What a shame. You spent all afternoon on this. Don’t you feel a little heartache?”

Lu Chenghe chuckled and ruffled his hair. “What’s there to be heartbroken about? We took plenty of pictures—proof that it existed. Besides, even if you stayed here all night, the sea breeze will wear it down by morning.”

Zuo Ning knew there was no way to take it with him, so he didn’t throw a tantrum. Still, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of reluctance. It was rare for Lu Chenghe to actually make something with his own hands. Back at home, even getting him to do a puzzle was a struggle. Seeing him put effort into something was a rare sight.

Letting out a sigh, Zuo Ning reluctantly got up from the ground, his face full of heartbreak and reluctance. Seeing this, Lu Chenghe was just been about to suggest some delicious food to distract him when suddenly, Zuo Ning shook off his melancholy and excitedly announced, “Let’s go eat barbecue!”

Lu Chenghe had thought the attachment ran deeper. Turns out, his so-called reluctance lasted a grand total of three seconds. Without another word, he started walking toward the hotel.

Zuo Ning hurried to catch up, pestering him about getting barbecue. Grilled meat and seafood, seasoned with rich cumin and chili—the very thought made his mouth water.

Holidays always pass in the blink of an eye. Even if it was just a simple trip filled with good food and leisure, two days flew by in an instant. Though it wasn’t quite enough to fully indulge, Zuo Ning knew that while Lu Chenghe usually spent his weekends at home, he still handled work matters here and there. These past two days, however, Lu Chenghe had spent every moment with him, never once touching his computer, which was rare. So despite the short time, he was content.

Back at school, something had shifted. Maybe Lu Nianqi had adjusted on his own, because he was back to chatting and joking around like before. However, at some point, strange rumors had begun circulating.

Zuo Ning had sharp hearing, far beyond the average person’s. While eating in the school cafeteria, he often overheard whispers pointing fingers at Lu Nianqi. The gossip claimed he was actually the illegitimate son of an elder in the Lu family, only acknowledged halfway through his life. Supposedly, he had spent his childhood in a poor rural village, struggling in hardship. Because the Lu family didn’t truly value him, even after he was brought back into the fold, they warned him not to use the family name to his advantage in public.

Some went further, insisting that despite having Lu family blood, he still carried the air of a country bumpkin—timid and unworthy of a proper stage. They claimed the Lu family found him embarrassing, recognizing him in name but looking down on him in truth. Otherwise, after all this time at school, someone from the Lu family would have come to see him.

The rumors were absurdly detailed, almost enough to make someone believe them—if Zuo Ning hadn’t known the truth.

What fueled the gossip even more was a literature graduate student who happened to be distantly related to the Lu family. The connection was weak, so distant that even when the previous generation held annual gatherings, his parents could only catch fleeting glimpses of the main family from afar, never exchanging a word.

Curious students asked this graduate student about Lu Nianqi, and for some reason, perhaps out of spite or disinterest, he simply claimed not to know him, nor recognize the name. That was all it took. With that single response, speculation exploded.

Zuo Ning wasn’t sure if the rumors had reached Lu Nianqi’s ears. After all, he only heard them because of his exceptionally sharp hearing. This kind of gossip was always whispered behind backs. No one would be foolish enough to say such things directly to Lu Nianqi. At the very least, he still carried the Lu surname. Offending him outright would only create unnecessary trouble.

With his ears perked, Zuo Ning listened to the increasingly ridiculous speculation while eating, all the while keeping an eye on Lu Nianqi. His staring became so obvious that Lu Nianqi finally paused mid-bite and asked, “Is something wrong with me? Did I put my shirt on backward? Why do you keep looking at me?”

After a brief hesitation, Zuo Ning couldn’t hold back. “Do you know about the rumors?”

Lu Nianqi froze for a second before casually nodding. “Yeah, I know.”

His nonchalant attitude surprised Zuo Ning. “You really don’t care at all?”

“Whether I care or not won’t stop people from talking. Let them say whatever they want. I’m not going to lose anything over it.”

Zuo Ning poked at his food, curiosity still gnawing at him. “But do you have a grudge with that relative from the Lu family? The family hosted a banquet to formally introduce you, right? So why did he say he didn’t know you?”

Lu Nianqi shook his head. “I’ve never even met that guy before. It doesn’t matter. The truth will always be the truth, and lies can’t become real. Once the gossip dies down, it’ll be forgotten.”

Zuo Ning laughed. “It’s probably because you’ve been studying here without acknowledging his great presence. He must’ve been thinking, ‘You, who only rejoined the Lu family recently, dared to come to my school without paying respects? Well, since you didn’t bother to greet me, I’ll just pretend I don’t know you. Hmph!’”

Seeing Zuo Ning’s playful impersonation, Lu Nianqi chuckled. Just as the two were joking around, the previously lively cafeteria suddenly grew quiet. Instinctively, Zuo Ning looked around and spotted a tall, strikingly handsome young man surrounded by a small entourage, heading toward the ordering counter.

Many students were glancing between that guy and their own table, clearly curious. Nudging Lu Nianqi, Zuo Ning whispered, “Hey, hey, is that him?”

Lu Nianqi didn’t look over directly, but he still caught sight of the newcomer out of the corner of his eye. Keeping his voice low, he confirmed, “Yeah, that’s him.” Then, with a hint of curiosity, he asked, “You haven’t met him before either?”

Zuo Ning shrugged. “The Lu family is huge. Isn’t it normal that I don’t know everyone? I only recognize the eldest, the fourth, and you. As for the others, I’ve only met a few elders. I’ve barely interacted with anyone of the same generation as Lu Chenghe.”

Watching as the guy walked straight past them—his back rigid, gaze unwavering, expression utterly blank—Zuo Ning couldn’t help but find him insufferably arrogant. It wasn’t the natural elegance he was used to from the Lu family, but rather the kind of pride that simply rubbed people the wrong way. Curling his lips in mild disdain, he withdrew his gaze.

After ordering his food, the newcomer headed upstairs with his entourage, not sparing them so much as a glance. Every fiber of his being exuded an air of superiority, as if to say, ‘My pure bloodline is far above mingling with trash like you.’

Zuo Ning had expected some kind of confrontation, maybe a little tension, but nothing happened. Just like that, the scene dissolved anticlimactically. He wasn’t the only one disappointed; the bystanders who had been hoping for some drama were likely feeling just as let down. Figuring Lu Chenghe was probably eating at this time, he pulled out his phone and sent him a message.

Lu Chenghe was in the middle of a small meeting at his office. Seeing the notification and glancing at the time, he dismissed the others for lunch. After a brief thought, he replied.

When the response arrived, Zuo Ning grinned and turned his phone toward Lu Nianqi. “Look! If anyone’s truly unrecognized, it’s him. Lu Chenghe doesn’t even know who he is.”

Lu Nianqi chuckled at that. But before he could say anything, Lu Chenghe’s call came through.

Zuo Ning quickly answered. He had initially planned to share the gossip, but remembering that the subject of it was sitting right next to him, he pivoted. “Nothing much, just ran into someone at school who practically has his nose stuck in the air. I’ll tell you all about it when I get home. Mm-hmm, I’m eating now. Only one class this afternoon. The last two scenes wrap up today. I have no clue when we’ll finish, but if you get off work early, come pick me up! I want the deluxe jianbing set, extra fillings!”

Lu Nianqi watched as Zuo Ning happily chatted away, fingers idly poking at his food, his face lighting up every now and then with laughter. Even a blind man could see it. The unmistakable glow of someone deeply in love.

At first, when Lu Nianqi realized that something was unusual about his second brother’s relationship, he was stunned. It had already surprised him that his eldest brother had chosen a male partner, and now his second brother as well? He hadn’t expected it at all.

But as he observed their interactions more and more, he found that aside from Lu Ning, any attempt to imagine another woman standing beside his second brother just felt strangely off.

Watching as the trees, barren after a long winter, slowly sprouted fresh green leaves, Lu Nianqi suddenly thought—maybe he wanted to fall in love, too.

 

Author’s Note: Lu Nianqi’s conflict scenes will come later. There will be some focus on them, but the main story will continue to revolve around the sweet daily life of the protagonists~

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