Mother is loving, daughter is filial — filial piety makes you strong Blessings from Su Su +1+1+1...

“Heh heh heh, Madam, I like them handsome and tall. Ideally, someone like the boss…”

“Mom!”

Su Su was listening intently, subconsciously matching the Little Secretary’s description with suitable candidates in her mind, when Dongfang Zhixia’s sharp cry suddenly rang out from outside the villa.

Her train of thought was interrupted at once. Su Su came back to her senses and looked toward the doorway, where her daughter was standing—though she had no idea when she had arrived.

“Zhixia, you’re back?” Su Su asked.

Dongfang Zhixia’s chest rose and fell several times before she quickly calmed down. She seemed not to have heard what the two of them had been discussing just now. She merely nodded.

“Mm. I had to deal with something at school, so I came back. By the way, Mom, what were you two talking about?”

The Little Secretary had still been sitting there shyly, but the moment she heard the President’s voice, she jolted. Her clear, intelligent eyes instantly turned cloudy.

Her smooth brain began developing wrinkles.

Damn it… I’m going to have to use my brain!

The Little Secretary immediately shut her mouth and began slurping her instant noodles with all her might. At the same time, she kept repeating silently in her heart:

The young miss can’t see me. The young miss can’t see me. The young miss can’t see me…

She desperately wished she could find somewhere to hide.

In fact, that was exactly what the Little Secretary tried to do. She wriggled frantically, trying to burrow into the sofa. Unfortunately, she seemed to have forgotten that she was one very large lump.

After writhing around for ages, she had only managed to shift herself a tiny distance, while making the sofa look even more chaotic.

If she weren’t afraid of being noticed, the Little Secretary would have already fled the scene. She would have crawled away if necessary.

She absolutely could not let the young miss catch her.

Unfortunately, no matter how clever a hamster was, how clever could it really be?

From the moment she entered, Dongfang Zhixia’s eyes had never left the Little Secretary. Every one of the Little Secretary’s guilty reactions had been seen by her—and carefully remembered.

“Oh, it’s nothing. We were just…”

“Ahem, Madam, could you get me some milk? I’m a little thirsty.”

Before Su Su could finish speaking, the Little Secretary hurriedly coughed twice and softly asked Su Su to get her some milk.

The milk was less than a hand’s breadth away from her.

Dongfang Zhixia: “…”

Su Su: “…”

Child, it was fine to feel guilty, but… could you please avoid making it quite so obvious?

Since I already agreed to help you, of course I won’t betray you. Of course I’ll keep your secret. But… how am I supposed to cover for you when you’ve already given yourself away before I even started?

Acting like this, Zhixia can tell at a glance that the two of us weren’t telling the truth, can’t she?

The corner of Su Su’s eye twitched almost imperceptibly as she tried to figure out how to smooth things over for the Little Secretary.

Dongfang Zhixia walked over, picked up the milk beside the Little Secretary, and handed it to her. Then she reached out and patted her on the head.

“Mengmeng, I’ll be going out for a while. Stay home and behave yourself while I’m gone.”

Little Secretary took the milk and drank a couple of sips, still nervously wondering whether Madam would tell her young mistress about the person she had just said she liked.

But as she listened, something seemed off.

“Huh? Miss, you’re going out?”

“Yeah, I have something to take care of.” Dongfang Zhixia patted her little head, her gaze softening considerably.

“I want to go too.” Little Secretary blinked.

Dongfang Zhixia nodded, then firmly refused. “No, you can’t come. You’re not well enough yet. Stay home and recover properly.”

“Please, Miss…” Little Secretary pleaded pitifully.

“I’ll bring you something tasty when I get back.” Dongfang Zhixia still wouldn’t budge.

“I don’t want that. Miss, I want to go with you…” Little Secretary pouted, unwilling to give up. Since childhood, she had never been apart from Dongfang Zhixia.

“I’ll increase your allowance.” After a moment of silence, Dongfang Zhixia resorted to that move. If even that didn’t work… then she would have no choice but to take her along. Sigh…

“Miss, when are you leaving? Hurry up and go—come back soon. Bye-bye.”

Little Secretary immediately let go, blinked, and waved goodbye to Dongfang Zhixia.

Dongfang Zhixia: “…”

Su Su: “…”

Little Secretary blinked. “Madam, Miss, why are you both staring at me like that?”

She reached up and rubbed at her face with her little paws. Confusion appeared in her normally bright-eyed expression… There didn’t seem to be anything on her face, so why were they looking at her like that?

How strange…

Su Su: “…”

Dongfang Zhixia: “…”

At that moment, both mother and daughter suddenly understood. In that instant, Su Su’s maternal instincts were laid bare—no wonder she had always felt that her daughter had such strong maternal energy.

When you spent every day looking after a child, how could you not become motherly? Well… it was nice that she was so innocent.

More than ten minutes later, word came from the Dongfang family’s logistics department. It was confirmed: they had identified the flight routes of the Shen and Lin families. The mother and daughter prepared to leave.

“Zhixia, how about… bringing Mengmeng home so we can look after her?” Su Su asked uncertainly.

Dongfang Zhixia shook her head. “No need. There are only a few people at school, and bringing her home would only make things more restrictive.”

Of course, there was something Dongfang Zhixia didn’t say aloud. During the days she would be away from home, that certain fool would probably be overjoyed—stuffing herself with little cakes, drinks, and all sorts of things…

When Dongfang Zhixia was home, she kept a close watch over her and wouldn’t let her eat unhealthy food. Anything too greasy was off-limits too.

But once she was gone… wouldn’t that be like a holiday for Little Secretary?

Dongfang Zhixia: “…”

After living together for so many years, she naturally understood her that well. Not to mention the temptation of extra allowance—of course she would be happy.

The mother and daughter got into the car leaving the villa. Behind them, they could faintly hear Little Secretary waving them off.

“Miss, Madam, goodbye! Bye-bye! Come back soon, okay… hehehe.”

Little Secretary watched the car gradually disappear into the distance. A shrewd smile spread across her baby-fat cheeks, and she broke into a grin.

“With Miss gone, all the little cakes at home are mine now. Hehe…”

For the first time, an expression known as “evil” appeared on Little Secretary’s face. Well… evil, but not entirely evil—the kind of look that only made people want to give her cheeks a good pinch.

Of course, we’re talking about her face here: those soft, chubby cheeks with their adorable baby fat.

The kind that looked like they’d make her cry for ages if someone punched her once.

Before Dongfang Zhixia and Su Su left, the nanny who was to look after Little Secretary had already arrived. The two only got in the car after confirming that the nanny was there.

After all… what had just happened was still fresh in their minds. Who knew what might happen if they left Little Secretary alone in the villa again? They might end up accidentally starving her to death.

Sigh…

This child.

On the way to the Dongfang family’s private airport, inside the car—

“Mom, what were you talking about with Mengmeng just now?” Dongfang Zhixia spoke first, breaking the silence in the car.

Su Su: “…”

Of course. She knew it. It wasn’t that Zhixia had forgotten—she had merely been waiting for the right moment to ask.

“It was nothing. Mengmeng was just telling me about the foods she likes and making recommendations…” Su Su said with a smile.

Dongfang Zhixia’s face turned cold. “Do you really think that can fool me?”

Su Su: “…”

My daughter, couldn’t you be just a little—just a tiny bit—more tactful? You’re so forceful, you’ll scare all the boys away.

Even as her mother, Su Su sometimes felt powerless when facing her daughter. Zhixia was simply too capable—and, at the same time, far too domineering. What boy wouldn’t be intimidated?

If Ye Cheng hadn’t vanished so suddenly, Su Su would have assumed he had run away because he was scared of her daughter.

Being this strong-willed really wasn’t a good thing…

In a sense, Dongfang Zhixia’s domineering personality was inherited from Su Su. Su Su herself was also strong-willed; one only had to look at how decisively she had forbidden Dongfang Zhan from taking any further part in matters concerning Ye Cheng.

Her gentleness and thoughtfulness only went so far. Once Su Su made up her mind, there was practically no room left for discussion.

But the problem was… Su Su was soft on the outside and tough within. By the time it reached President, it had turned into tough on the outside and tough on the inside.

Su Su: “…”

Probably only that boy could put up with her. Sigh…

Su Su silently sighed to herself. Ye Cheng’s image surfaced in her mind, and she could only pray that they would find him soon. Otherwise, in the future…

Sigh…

…

Meanwhile, in the far northwest.

Black, twisted words appeared above Ye Cheng’s head again.

[Prayer from Su Su +1 +1 +1…]

Ye Cheng: “???”

“What the heck is going on?”

…

Back in the car, the conversation continued.

“Zhixia, don’t blame your mother. I promised Mengmeng I wouldn’t tell anyone about this. Don’t make things difficult for me,” Su Su said with a sigh, still holding firmly to her principles.

Dongfang Zhixia gave a cold snort. “Oh… so in your eyes, I’m an outsider. Fine. From now on, we’ll each live our own lives.”

Su Su: “???”

One sentence. Game over.

In an instant, every explanation and excuse Su Su had prepared was wiped from her mind.

How did that hat get put on so quickly...?

Su Su: “...”

The good news was that her daughter was very capable.

The bad news was that she was a little too capable...

“Ahem. That’s not what I meant, either. Mengmeng isn’t here anyway, so it’s fine for Mom to tell you—but you can’t tell anyone else, okay? Otherwise, Mom will be breaking her promise.”

Su Su looped her arm through Dongfang Zhixia’s, speaking in a pitiful tone as she leaned her soft body against her.

“Fine, fine. I promise I won’t tell anyone, all right?” Dongfang Zhixia said somewhat impatiently, while Su Su simply smiled, still clinging to her arm.

“It’s about how I just asked Mengmeng who she likes. Zhixia, let me tell you—at first, that girl wouldn’t say a thing. But Mom managed to trick it out of her.”

Su Su’s lips curled upward, her tone faintly smug.

Dongfang Zhixia: “...”

Sigh... that idiot. If she likes someone, then she likes someone—why does she have to tell everyone about it?!

Dongfang Zhixia’s resentment +1 +1 +1...

Little Secretary’s allowance -1 -1 -1...

The President’s temper was inversely proportional to Little Secretary’s allowance. At this rate, it wouldn’t be long before Little Secretary’s allowance hit zero!

Dongfang Zhixia had already heard their earlier conversation clearly. She just... needed to confirm it once more.

At the same time, she prayed that a certain idiot wouldn’t say too much. Otherwise...

“That girl likes all sorts of people. She used to watch TV dramas all day, falling for a different oppa every day...” Dongfang Zhixia said casually.

The expression on Su Su’s face turned rather comical. “Zhixia, this time is different. It seems Mengmeng has fallen for an actual, specific person this time. Want to know? If you do, beg Mom, and Mom will tell—”

“Driver, stop the car!” Dongfang Zhixia said coldly, while shoving her mother toward the door.

Su Su: “...”

“Hey, hey, I’m just kidding. I’ll tell you already.” Su Su gave her a wounded look, feeling that if she delayed any longer, she would really be kicked out of the car.

Sigh... She was becoming more and more filial, wasn’t she?

“Tall, handsome, and something about... a boss? I think that was it. I can understand the first two, but what does ‘boss’ mean?” Confusion appeared in Su Su’s eyes.

Dongfang Zhixia: “...”

The heart she had been holding in suspense finally died...

You bastard, just you wait. This isn’t over. Just you wait! (gritting her teeth)