After ONS: Trapped by the Cunning Professor

It was the first time Qin Mobai saw Lou Xi bristle like that, which reminded him of the evaluation he just made about her—

A little wildcat.

However, her aloof demeanor lasted only three seconds. After Lou Xi walked away with Qin Mobai, prideful, they had barely taken a few steps when Lou Xi said, "Wasn’t I fierce just now? My aura was at 2.8 meters, crushing Shen Ruozhuo!"

Qin Mobai stifled his laughter and reached out to ruffle Lou Xi’s hair. The role of the villain didn’t suit her.

"In the future, leave these thankless tasks to me. You, my dear wife, can enjoy the leisure," he said.

"No way. I can protect mom and I can also protect you!" Lou Xi declared with determination, as if to prove she was capable of protecting Shen Youran and Qin Mobai. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"I know," Qin Mobai replied earnestly, "but I don’t want a day to come when my wife has to protect me."

Such a scenario would mean he had become vulnerable, unable to protect the ones he loved the most, something he couldn’t bear to see happen.

They walked into the dining room together, where Shen Youran and the others were already seated. As Qin Mobai pulled out a chair for Lou Xi, Shen Ruozhuo and Xi Siwei entered the dining room together.

"Lou Xi, there are a few things I’d like to say to you in everyone’s presence," Shen Ruozhuo approached Lou Xi, her expression softer, shedding the coldness of before.

Lou Xi, puzzled, sat quietly as everyone observed the unfolding scene.

"I was once Qin Mobai’s fiancée, but he chose to be with you. I thought you were the cause, that it was because of you Qin Mobai refused to marry into the Shen Family," Shen Ruozhuo said softly. "I blamed you, resented you. I even thought if you hadn’t appeared, I wouldn’t have lost my place."

Shen Ruozhuo’s words brought an immediate silence to the dining room.

Ji Mushen motioned with his hand for the five servants in the dining room to leave, ensuring no outsiders were present.

"But now that Siwei and I are getting married, the past is the past. I hope you can forgive me, and we can become good sisters," Shen Ruozhuo said sincerely. "I’m sorry, please forgive me."

Shen Ruozhuo’s public apology left Lou Xi utterly unprepared.

She bowed, waiting for Lou Xi’s forgiveness, as if she wouldn’t stop bowing until forgiven.

Lou Xi felt cornered—as if Shen Ruozhuo was forcing her to forgive!

If Lou Xi said, "No, I won’t forgive you," she’d be deemed petty and spiteful in front of the Qin and Shen families.

But accepting Shen Ruozhuo’s apology felt insurmountable to Lou Xi. If "sorry" sufficed, why would there be police in this world?

As Lou Xi vacillated between acceptance and refusal, Qin Mobai spoke, "Let’s talk after dinner."

Qin Mobai was most adept at such torment; as long as Lou Xi didn’t forgive Shen Ruozhuo, she had to stay on edge, knowing Shen Youran wouldn’t spare those who harmed Lou Xi.

Qin Mobai simply played the "bad guy" role more thoroughly, leaving Shen Ruozhuo in a torturous state.

With that, Qin Mobai seated Lou Xi and then sat down himself.

Meanwhile, Shen Ruozhuo stood awkwardly, even her soon-to-be husband didn’t come to her aid.

The contrast between a winner and a loser in life became starkly apparent.