Just like what she promised to her father, Shen Lingqing came home to their place at Imperial Residences. She was greeted by her mother and the huge white tiger at the front door as they waited impatiently for her.
“Mom, you should have waited for me inside. What if you catch a cold out here?” Shen Lingqing removed her outer coat and draped it over her mother’s shoulders before leading her inside their home.
She was aware that none of her siblings were at home right now. Given how busy her Yan Jie and Zi Gege were right now, Shen Lingqing was certain that their schedules were too packed. Meanwhile, Lingtian’s cla.s.ses had just resumed, so he wasn’t home to accompany their mother.
“I just want to welcome you home, Qingqing.” Lu Xinyi then glanced at Qiao Lian who then gave her a polite smile before excusing herself to see her family.
“I hope you aren’t tiring Qiao Lian out these days. Her mother has been complaining to me recently that she barely sees her daughter.” Madam Shen chuckled.
“Mom, you don’t have to remind me of that.” Shen Lingqing sighed.
Now that she was back home, it was only then when she realized how truly exhausted she was. Her muscles were aching, and she couldn’t wait to soak in warm water earlier.
“Alright, alright. Let’s go to the dining area. Your father is waiting for us.” She heard her mother say.
When they arrived in the dining area, they found Shen Yi seated already, with a tablet in his hand. He hadn’t even noticed their presence, given how focused he was at whatever he was reading on the tablet he was holding.
Lu Xinyi released herself from her daughter’s hold and sauntered towards her husband. She then s.n.a.t.c.hed the tablet from his hand and glared at him. Ah, this husband of hers really knew how to annoy her at times!
“What did I tell you and Qingqing about NOT taking your work at home?” She chastised him.
“Sorry, dear. I didn’t know Qingqing would arrive earlier.” Shen Yi ignored his fuming wife and then glanced at their daughter. “Should we start the dinner then?”
As she was reminded that their daughter was there, Lu Xinyi made a mental note to remind her husband of his annoying habits and decided to serve the dishes she especially cooked for Shen Lingqing.
Seeing her favorite dishes being served in front of her, the demon princess’s mood brightened up. She then started to eat heartily, making her mother smile from her eagerness.
“Qingqing, how was your first week at Savory Alley? Do you think you can fix it?”
Shen Lingqing placed the braised pork in her mouth and chewed slowly before answering her mother’s inquiry.
“Nothing I can’t deal with, Mom. I plan to hire a capable team soon.”
“And that includes Liu Jinfei?” Lu Xinyi raised a brow towards her daughter. “I’ve always thought he wanted to work at Oriental Bliss after he graduated, but he chose to become a wandering chef instead.”
“A wandering chef, huh?” Shen Lingqing slowed down her eating and wondered what made Liu Jinfei decide to apply at Savory Alley then… if he preferred to be free from obligations.
“He’s a Silver Leaf graduate after all. It would be such a waste not to recruit him, right?” She commented.
“As long as he wouldn’t put you in a precarious situation,” Shen Yi said nonchalantly.
If it was him, he wouldn’t want Liu Jinfei to get close or be acquainted with his precious daughter. Who knew what the Liu family would do to their Qingqing because of Liu Jinfei’s involvement?
“Anyway, enough about him and work. Just relax and forget about work for tonight, Qingqing. It’s better for you to take a break once in a while.” He brushed off their conversation about the exiled prince of the Liu family.
“I agree.” Lu Xinyi hummed and then smiled at their daughter. “Qingqing, why don’t we take a vacation together once your work at Savory Alley is done?”
“But it would take some time, Mom. Are you sure you could wait?” Shen Lingqing asked. Her father had given her a two-year limit, but she was confident that she would be able to win in less than a year. Still, to wait for a year…?
“Nah, I’m sure you’re capable of doing it, Qingqing. Let Mom plan for our vacation later. What do you think, dear? Would you like to join us?” Lu Xinyi asked her husband.
Shen Yi looked at his wife and then at their daughter, only to shake his head. Even if he wanted to accompany them, there was just too much work that he couldn’t leave for too long in the company.
“No, I think you two should have a girl’s night out and do whatever you want once in a while. Try to call Yuyan if she wants to join you. I’m sure she would be thrilled by the idea.” He suggested.
“That’s a great idea, dear. I’ll mention it later to Xiao Yan when she calls later.” Lu Xinyi seemed pleased. It had been a while since she spent time together with their daughters.
Just as her parents had suggested, Shen Lingqing decided to relax and forget about the stress of her work that night. After her long soak, she donned her nightgown and found the white tiger curled at the end of her bed.
“Xiao Bai, what are you doing here? Are you also worried about me?” She scratched the back of the white tiger’s ears gently, a smile spreading on her lips.
If only she could take him out of their parents’ home… surely, people would be traumatized to see a ferocious tiger as her pet. What they didn’t know was that Xiao Bai was the best bodyguard Shen Lingqing had in her life. She already lost count of how many times this white tiger saved her from being abducted since she was a baby.
“Alright, Xiao Bai. You can sleep here with me.”