◎AAAAA Brother Jiang◎
However, Le Qing wasn’t particularly interested in what a stranger was doing and soon averted her gaze, joking lightly, "Who knows?"
"What?"
"What if it was you who chose me, and not the other way around?"
"That can’t be. Auntie is older than us."
The older one led the two younger ones out, chatting and laughing, while Jiang Suizhi turned his head slightly to glance through the window.
Even if children were naive, they still understood basic kindness and malice. If Le Qing truly matched the rumors from the investigation, and yet these two kids clung to her so much, perhaps someone ought to check if there was an intellectual disability at play.
But Lin Jian had been right about one thing.
This person was indeed complicated.
The café staff had been observing this man for a while—first sitting outside, then coming in without ordering anything. Out of professionalism, an employee finally approached and asked, "Sir, may I get you something?"
Unexpectedly, the moment she got close, the man reacted as if startled, standing up abruptly and putting distance between them. "No, thank you."
With that, he pushed the door open and left.
The employee was baffled. Was he some celebrity’s secret boyfriend trying to avoid attention?
But wasn’t this production a male-led drama without a female lead?
Or was he some high-profile star, acting this skittish?
Outside, Jiang Suizhi adjusted his mask, taking a few deep breaths of cold air before his breathing steadied. Then he pulled out his phone and called Lin Shengxi.
"What’s the order, boss?"
"Keep an eye on Le Qing’s situation. See if she needs any help."
Again?
Lin Shengxi didn’t need to tail her every day—this wasn’t surveillance. But barely a few days had passed since the last idiot tried messing with that family. How could trouble already be brewing again?
When he learned the matter had escalated to the police station, his hair practically stood on end. If anything happened to those two kids, the consequences were unthinkable.
Arriving at the station, Lin Shengxi didn’t run into Le Qing. Instead, he called a contact of his: "What’s going on?"
Lin Shengxi moved in varied circles, and his connections were extensive.
The officer he knew didn’t expect to drop such a bombshell: "Lan Qian, that model with a great public image for charity work? She got reported today for child abuse."
"Abuse?"
The word made Lin Shengxi tense. "Explain."
"What’s to explain? Some people ditch morals for fame. The kid’s only five, used as a prop."
"And what does Le Qing have to do with it?"
"She’s the one who reported it. Just routine questioning. The abused kid doesn’t have anyone else close, so he’s clinging to her. Funny, huh? A stranger’s more trusted than his own foster mom."
Yeah, hilarious.
The same person his investigation had flagged for potential child abuse days ago was now playing the hero.
"But why the entourage?" The officer eyed the towering bodyguards behind him. "People might think you’re here to start trouble."
"Here to back someone up." Lin Shengxi waved it off. "Go on in. Don’t tell Le Qing I’m here."
The officer smirked. "Got it."
"Like hell you do."
But how had Jiang Suizhi known about this?
Did he have other lackeys besides him?
Lin Shengxi scowled, feeling slighted.
When Lan Qian got the call from the police, she panicked briefly but quickly steadied herself.
Her carefully crafted image over the years wasn’t so easily shattered by a few accusations. Besides, after digging into Le Qing post-filming, she’d found nothing remarkable—just some "auntie" persona.
What kind of auntie willingly took on two kids? Probably covering up an unwed pregnancy scandal. So she’d come prepared.
As the reporter, Le Qing could leave after giving her statement. But today, there was a hitch—a little shadow trailing her.
The boy refused to stay with the officers, go home, or return to the orphanage. Clutching the hem of Le Qing’s oversized jacket, he orbited her anxiously, leaving the police no choice.
Even if Lan Qian walked free now, Lan Xu wouldn’t be going back with her.
The two little ones, protective of their new "brother," flanked him and looked up pleadingly. "Auntie, let him come with us. Not the bad lady."
Le Qing was finding it harder and harder to refuse them.
The police saw no issue. "Once the investigation’s done, arrangements will be made—whether returning home or to the orphanage."
So Le Qing agreed to take the boy temporarily.
Outside the station, she ushered the kids into her car. Just as she shut the door, a stranger approached. "Ms. Le Qing, might we talk?"
The man, dressed formally, handed her a business card—a lawyer.
"Something wrong?" Le Qing asked.
"I represent Ms. Lan Qian," he said smoothly. "Shall we discuss this elsewhere?"
"No." She didn’t take the card. "Say what you need to here. I feel safer, and there are people waiting in my car."
The lawyer hesitated but, seeing no bystanders, cut to the chase. "Given your public profiles—and your own modeling ties—we’d prefer to keep this quiet. It’s just family matters, and the child’s too young to understand. We won’t press charges. Let’s pretend today never happened. Agreed?"
Le Qing almost laughed. Smooth talker, reducing child abuse to "family matters."
Her reply was curt. "No."
The lawyer blinked but kept his composure, flipping the card to reveal a handwritten number.
"Both of us are reasonable people," the lawyer said with a smile. "Besides, this is our family's child. Given their young age, their words can't be taken as solid evidence. We were just a bit strict with them, and the child misunderstood. Every child has been disciplined by their parents at some point. If this escalates into a lawsuit, you won’t gain much from it. Coincidentally, we’ve heard you’ve been facing some difficulties lately. If needed, we might be able to lend a hand. There’s no need for us to create trouble for each other—no one benefits from pointless conflict."
But this wasn’t just about "lending a hand." If the sum mentioned were given to Le Qing, it could significantly reduce the "debt" she supposedly owed.
The lawyer extended his business card further. "What do you think?"
Lan Qian was someone who valued her reputation and career prospects dearly. She wouldn’t hesitate to spend a fortune if it meant protecting them. And this wasn’t a small amount—for someone in need of money, it was more than enough.
Meanwhile, the three children remained oblivious to the tension outside, eagerly pressing their faces against the car window to peer out.
"If I needed that kind of money, I wouldn’t be standing here today," Little Le'an repeated, tilting her head in confusion as she looked up at her aunt. "Brother, what does that mean?"
The little one didn’t understand.
But the system did.
It seemed the person outside was negotiating with Le Qing. But if Le Qing were the type to take any money offered, she wouldn’t have clung so tightly to her moral principles—keeping the two children by her side and even cleaning up the mess left behind by someone else.
Outside, Le Qing pushed the card back. "You must have misunderstood me."
She smiled faintly. "I don’t need money."
If she wanted, she could have more than enough right now—even a substantial sum in savings.
"Do you really think you’d win in court?" the lawyer asked.
"I wasn’t sure before, but now I am," Le Qing replied calmly. "A child’s words might be questionable, but as Lan Qian’s lawyer, you’ve spent all this time talking to me without once asking about the child—where they are, how they’re doing, not even mentioning their name. As a lawyer, you should know what that implies."
The lawyer froze.
His primary objective had been to handle this privately, as his client had insisted—Le Qing was supposedly desperate for money, and past issues had been resolved this way.
As for the child? The client hadn’t even brought them up.
"You’ve got the wrong focus," Le Qing said, turning away. "The child is the most important part of this, not me. I’m just a passerby. What’s the point of offering me money?"
With that, she walked around the car and opened the driver’s door. After a brief pause, she added, "Oh, and before the matter is settled, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t contact me again. Otherwise, I’ll report you for harassment—again."
She left no room for further negotiation or excuses, driving off without another word. The lawyer was left standing there, kicking the air in frustration. Weren’t they told Le Qing had no backing? Then why did she speak with such confidence?
Only after Le Qing’s car disappeared from view did Young Master Lin stretch lazily and gesture for his driver to pull up. "Let’s have a chat with him."
The lawyer was still standing there, pondering how to explain this to his client, when a sleek black Range Rover pulled up in front of him. He recognized the luxury vehicle instantly and instinctively straightened up.
The passenger window rolled down, revealing a burly man with an intimidating glare.
The lawyer took an involuntary step back—but then the rear door swung open, revealing a handsome young man lounging inside, a playful smirk on his face.
The lawyer’s eyes widened. "Young Master Lin?"
Lin Shengxi was a familiar face to anyone who frequented the internet, especially those like him who orbited Lan Qian’s world of fashion and entertainment.
Lin Shengxi raised an eyebrow. "Hop in. Let’s talk."
The door was already open for him. The lawyer hesitated but climbed in, only to flinch as the door slammed shut behind him with a loud thud!
The business card was plucked from his hand. Surrounded by Lin Shengxi and several imposing bodyguards, the lawyer suddenly felt a wave of dread.
"One, two, three… seven digits," Lin Shengxi mused, flicking the card between his fingers. "Quite the generous offer."
"You flatter me," the lawyer stammered, sweat forming on his brow. "What did you want to discuss? I have somewhere to be soon."
"Just a casual chat. No need to be nervous." Lin Shengxi tapped the card lightly against the lawyer’s cheek. "Trying to buy someone off, huh? You guys are even bolder than me. Why don’t you repeat what you just said to Le Qing?"
"R-repeat what?" the lawyer stuttered. "I didn’t say anything."
"Really?"
Lin Shengxi grinned, and the bodyguards’ gazes sharpened in unison. The lawyer shrank back, looking utterly helpless.
"I’d love to learn how you operate," Lin Shengxi said. "This is new territory for me. What exactly can a few million accomplish? If it’s not enough, I could chip in some more."
The lawyer’s eyes bulged. "You—you can’t be serious!"
"Oh, so you do recognize a joke?" Lin Shengxi’s expression darkened. "I was considering handing you a mirror. What makes you think you can play the bribery game in front of me?"
Finally, the lawyer understood—this young master was here to back Le Qing.
He didn’t dare utter another word.
Lin Shengxi tucked the business card back into the lawyer’s suit pocket, patting it firmly. "Tell your client to stay put. Let the child’s situation play out as it should. I’ve got plenty of free time these days, and who knows where I might show up next? So they’d better keep their schemes locked tight. Understood?"
Every pat made the lawyer flinch.
Wealthy people were common, but those with both money and power were rare—especially someone like Lin Shengxi, who flaunted his riches online without consequence.
Lan Qian could throw a few million to bury the truth, but Lin Shengxi didn’t even need to spend a dime to make it disappear.
A smart man knew when to fold. The lawyer didn’t need to think twice. "Y-yes, understood."
Lin Shengxi tilted his head. "And if this goes to court, you know what to do, right?"
Though he was on Lan Qian’s payroll, the lawyer had no personal stake in her misdeeds. A clever man would prioritize self-preservation over a paycheck.
The lawyer nodded frantically. "You have my word."
"Good." Lin Shengxi straightened the lawyer’s collar and signaled for the door to be opened. "You’ve had a long day. Get some rest."
Rest? What a joke.
The lawyer stumbled out of the car, the chill wind doing little to cool the panic still coursing through him. He stood frozen in place for half an hour.
Where on earth had Lan Qian gotten the idea that Le Qing had no connections?
No connections?! That display was practically a show of absolute power. No wonder Le Qing had spoken with such certainty.
Well, when disaster loomed, everyone fended for themselves.
At this moment, sitting in the car, Lin Shengxi sent a "mission accomplished" message to Jiang Suizhi before leaning back in his seat with a long, satisfied sigh: "Feels good."
He was really starting to entertain the idea of becoming a domineering CEO now.
With money came confidence, and he could even throw his weight around.
Way more fun than being a rich second-generation heir who still got his ears pulled when he went home.
Recently, Le Qing had been staying at a hotel, so she had no choice but to bring Little Lan Xu back to the set with her.
When she returned, everyone was still there. Though she had already informed the director's team earlier, she still apologized, "Sorry for the delay."
Director Tan glanced at Little Lan Xu beside her and smiled. "You've already finished today's work—how is that a delay?"
The planned shots were done, the selections were made, and the two kids had no other filming tasks for the day. By all accounts, Le Qing had been more efficient than most.
She wasn’t a professional studio staff member, so she didn’t fuss over formalities, handling things swiftly and neatly.
Director Tan added, "Besides, there’s been an unexpected bonus."
Le Qing looked puzzled.
By now, everyone on set knew Le Qing had left with the police earlier, so they were aware of the situation. Cui Shuo, whose mind was usually slow on the uptake, finally caught on. "So that’s why you were being evasive the other day?"
"What?" Le Qing asked.
"The crew would never lack for extras, especially not someone like Lan Xu, a child actor with his own fame. Having him as an extra would only cause more trouble later. Yet Director Tan agreed to let Lan Qian bring him along," Cui Shuo said. "Back then, you even mysteriously told me it might turn out to be a good thing. Turns out, the ‘good thing’ was this."
"Not exactly," Director Tan chuckled, shaking his head. He wasn’t clairvoyant, after all. "I just thought the kid was still young. If he lacked opportunities, we could offer some. If someone with ulterior motives was exploiting him, it’d be better to cut ties early before his path gets harder."
Having noticed some red flags during the audition, Director Tan would have kept an eye on the mother and son even without Le Qing’s involvement, ready to step in if something seemed off.
"But you beat me to it," Director Tan said, tapping her shoulder with the script. "Guess parents really do understand kids best. You did well. If you need anything, we’re here to help."
He added, "We also have footage from the audition that day."
Even without that evidence, Lan Qian likely wouldn’t be able to keep custody of the child now. But more proof never hurt.
"Thank you."
"Don’t mention it."
Though the crew had no issues, Le Qing only realized back at the hotel that she had originally booked a two-bedroom suite, intending for Sister Wang to share with the two kids. Now, with an extra child, the sleeping arrangements felt cramped.
"Sister Wang, after putting the kids to bed, you can take my room," Le Qing said, carrying her laptop to the living room. "I’ll sleep on the sofa."
"That’s unacceptable!"
Sister Wang had never heard of an employer taking the sofa while the nanny got the bedroom.
"Miss Le Qing, you take the room. I’ll sleep on the sofa—I can keep an eye on the kids too."
"I still have work to finish," Le Qing gestured to her laptop. "It’s more convenient here. You’ll need your energy tomorrow looking after three kids."
"I’m tough—I can sleep anywhere," Sister Wang said, amused. "You’re the first employer I’ve met like this."
Le Qing smiled faintly.
She never really saw Sister Wang as just a nanny. Having been an ordinary person herself, she didn’t feel superior even now. To her, Sister Wang was more like a guest helping with the kids, so she naturally wanted her to be comfortable.
Little Le’an stood at the bedroom door, hugging her pillow, and asked curiously, "Why not all sleep together?"
"It’s too crowded," Le Qing explained. "You and your brother share a bed."
"Auntie, sleep with us! I’ll squeeze in!" The little girl couldn’t bear the thought of her aunt sleeping on the sofa—she’d seen it before, and it looked uncomfortable.
"No, you’re a little hero now. You need good sleep so you can be the hero Director Tan wants tomorrow."
"Then Auntie, me, and sister sleep together," Little Le Jia declared, taking charge. "Brother and Auntie Wang sleep in the other room."
"Right!" Sister Wang smacked her forehead. "I overcomplicated it. This way, everyone gets a bed. Miss Le Qing, no need to suffer."
Hearing her brother’s brilliant idea, the little girl turned to Lan Xu for encouragement. "Brother Lan Xu, you’re a big kid—you’re not scared to sleep with Auntie Wang, right?"
Little Lan Xu was very mature. He was already grateful to be taken in by his aunt and didn’t want to cause more trouble, so he hugged his pillow and climbed down. "I’ll be fine. I used to sleep alone anyway."
Before Le Qing could protest further, the other two kids had already dashed into her room with their pillows.
Yes!
When they saw their aunt’s suitcase in that room earlier, they’d worried she wouldn’t listen to their bedtime stories tonight!
Seeing the kids had everything figured out, Le Qing didn’t argue. "Alright, you go to bed first. I’ll join you after work."
She wasn’t making excuses—she had promised the crew, and even if they hadn’t pressured her, finishing early would benefit her later. Tomorrow, she could shoot more scenes.
The kids, excited about their new friend, weren’t sleepy yet. After arranging their pillows, they huddled around Le Qing. "We’ll stay with Auntie!"
"I can’t play with you right now," Le Qing said.
"We’ll play by ourselves," they said, holding their talking pen and the little toys they’d bought at the supermarket and carried everywhere since. "We won’t disturb you."
Just like at home, they loved being near their aunt.
Le Qing was used to it—she’d even developed the ability to focus on work with kids around.
She checked the time and set an alarm. "You can play for half an hour. When the alarm goes off, it’s bedtime."
"Okay!"
Sister Wang saw this and said, "I’ll take this chance to run out and buy a few more things. We have an extra child now."
Since they hadn’t prepared, Little Lan Xu had been using spare toiletries meant for the other kids.
"Can you still buy things at this hour?" Le Qing asked.
"Yes, there’s a big supermarket nearby—it shouldn’t be closed yet. I already asked a friend to bring some extra stuff when I realized we had another child."
Impressed by her thoughtfulness, Le Qing nodded. "I’ll reimburse you later. See if you can find pajamas or clothes that fit him too."
"Got it."
In truth, once Sister Wang went downstairs, she first approached a black car parked nearby. Someone inside handed her several large bags filled with daily necessities—not just for Lan Xu, but also extras for the other two kids.
The driver told her, "President Jiang said to let him know if you need anything else. I’ll be stationed near the film set for the time being."
"Got it."
Today’s incident had been unexpected, and since President Jiang was also present, Sister Wang had reported the situation for the next few days to the other boss after Le Qing returned from the police station with the three kids.
She had prepared thoroughly, but she hadn’t expected President Jiang to act so efficiently—he had everything delivered that very night.
It seemed this President Jiang was quite thoughtful and thorough.
Meanwhile, inside the room, the three little ones sat on the carpet playing, keeping their voices hushed.
They absolutely couldn’t disturb their aunt—she needed to work and earn money.
Little Le’an introduced her new toy to the older brother who had just joined them: "This one—you press it, and the candy jumps out! You can catch it with your mouth!"
Little Lan Xu was intrigued but a little lost. He was usually occupied with various study courses and rarely had time for toys. Even back at the orphanage, he hadn’t seen many.
"Like this!" Little Le’an sprawled on the carpet to demonstrate.
Little Le Jia cooperatively pressed the button on the jumping candy machine, and a piece of candy instantly popped out. Little Le’an wriggled frantically on the carpet, twisting this way and that.
Finally, she caught the candy with her hands, tore open the wrapper in a flash, and popped it into her mouth. "See? Like this!"
"I get it now!" Lan Xu copied her posture, lying flat on the carpet. "Ready!"
Little Le Jia pressed the button again. At five years old, Lan Xu was a bit more coordinated—he immediately sprang up and caught the candy in his mouth.
He actually succeeded.
The siblings clapped like delighted seals.
"Brother Lan Xu is amazing!"
"My turn! Teach me!"
After finishing an edit, Le Qing glanced over at the "battlefield" and was stunned to see two kids sprawled on the floor, mouths wide open, ready to catch candy, while Lan Xu directed them like a little commander.
At his signal, the two "puppies" pounced, scrambling across the carpet in search of candy.
"…?" Le Qing froze when she saw the "toy" and interrupted their game. "When did this get here?"
Little Le Jia mimed carrying a backpack. "From the bag!"
Only then did Le Qing remember their bulging backpack—so this was what they’d stuffed inside. "When did the contents turn into candy?"
This was one of the three toys Little Le’an had picked out during their supermarket trip.
But since she couldn’t read, she had wandered into the wrong section and chosen a pet toy—a freeze-dried treat dispenser.
Originally, it was filled with freeze-dried snacks for cats and dogs to paw at and eat. Le Qing hadn’t planned to buy it, but the two little ones had been even more excited when they heard it was for pets, staring at her with pleading eyes.
In the end, Le Qing had relented and bought it for them, but for safety reasons, she had emptied out the freeze-dried treats.
The kids knew the original contents weren’t edible, and once they realized they couldn’t shake anything out, they lost interest. So when had this new version appeared?
"Sister Wang made it," Little Le’an said, hugging the dispenser tightly. "This one’s edible."
Edible, yes.
But… it was a little absurd.
Lan Xu adored his aunt and wanted to share everything he liked with her. He pushed the toy toward her. "Auntie, play!"
"I don’t—"
Before Le Qing could finish, all three kids dropped to the floor in perfect unison, eyes sparkling as they stared at her, clearly eager. They really loved this toy.
For a brief moment, a mischievous urge bubbled up inside Le Qing, and her fingers itched to join in.
She flexed her hand. "Just one press."
"Auntie, hurry!"
Le Qing tentatively pressed the button, and a tiny candy shot out. The kids immediately scrambled after it, crawling on their hands and knees across the carpet, little bottoms wiggling in the air.
Le Qing let go, her eyes crinkling with amusement.
"Found it!" Little Le’an waved the candy triumphantly. "Mine!"
Le Qing chuckled. "Yes, yours. Brush your teeth after eating it."
Sucking on her candy, Little Le’an stood up contentedly and patted her hands before positioning herself in front of the dispenser. "Okay, Auntie’s turn now!"
Le Qing blinked.
What did she mean, Auntie’s turn?
She turned to see the other two kids already sprawled on the floor again, eyes gleaming with anticipation. They had even cleared a spot for her, waiting for her to join the puppy brigade.
"…"
She never should’ve given in to that one press!
"I have to work," Le Qing said, forcing composure as she turned away. "Break time’s over."
Little Le’an leaned in, peering up at her. "Auntie’s scared of losing face!"
Why would playing a game make her lose face?
The child was utterly baffled.
Le Qing’s face flushed—how did this kid always see right through her?
Worse, Little Le’an wouldn’t let it go, poking her own dimpled cheek and giggling. "Auntie’s shy~"
"Okay, yes, Auntie’s shy," Le Qing surrendered, nodding before quickly realizing how ridiculous she sounded. She pinched the little troublemaker’s cheek. "Stop laughing."
A child’s skin was soft and smooth, delightful to pinch.
And those dimples were irresistible.
Le Qing couldn’t help poking them, which only made the little one laugh harder.
The other two kids watched enviously—Lan Xu because his mother never got this close, and Little Le Jia because his aunt had never pinched his cheeks.
At most, she patted his head!
A competitive spark ignited in Little Le Jia. He took a deep breath, puffed out his cheeks, and thrust his face toward his aunt. "Pinch me too!"
Now his face was rounder than his sister’s!
Each word made him exhale slightly, and he had to suck in another breath afterward.
How could Le Qing resist? She promptly poked his cheek, deflating his little balloon.
Now both younger kids were satisfied, leaving only one who wanted to join but hesitated.
To his surprise, his aunt looked past the other two and smiled at him. "You too?"
Lan Xu didn’t hesitate—he immediately scooted forward.
After thoroughly ruffling all three kids, Le Qing finally withdrew her hand, satisfied. "Alright, I really need to get back to work now."
The children, still buzzing with excitement, obediently returned to the carpet and switched to another game.
But now that they’d bonded even more with their aunt, they just wanted to stay close. So instead of the dispenser, they grabbed their dolls and started playing house, gradually wearing themselves out.
Little Le’an hugged her doll, her head drooping as she mumbled, "I’ll be the baby. Baby’s sleepy… time for bed."
The other two yawned in unison, infected by her drowsiness.
But their aunt had said half an hour wasn’t up yet, so they’d just stay nearby to keep her company.
Before long, all three had curled up on the carpet at Le Qing’s feet and dozed off.
Sister Wang quietly opened the door and stepped inside, pausing in surprise at the sight that greeted her in the entryway.
Thinking about the work requested by another boss, she felt this scene could serve as better proof, so she took out her phone and snapped a photo. With her arms full of bags, she had to set them down for a moment, which was when Le Qing finally noticed the commotion.
"You're back?" Le Qing released the mouse and stood up. "Let me help—hmm?"
That was when she spotted three children sleeping by her feet.
The hotel was warm, and the plush carpet made for a cozy spot—they were sound asleep.
"Just leave them there for now," Le Qing said. "Let's put the kids to bed first, then we can tidy up. My bad, I was too focused on editing the photos."
"Kids are like that sometimes—they can fall asleep even while using the bathroom," Sister Wang said, carrying Little Lan Xu back to the room.
When she returned, she saw Le Qing already holding the second child. The little one, disturbed from sleep, let out a soft whimper, causing Le Qing to instinctively turn her head.
She cradled the child’s neck and head, pressing them gently against her, then brushed her cheek against the little one’s forehead. "It’s okay, let’s go back to sleep."
Hearing her voice, the child in her arms settled back into a peaceful slumber.
When Le Qing came out, she was surprised by how much Sister Wang had bought. "Does the supermarket really carry this much stuff?"
"Some of it was brought by a friend earlier," Sister Wang explained, pulling out a few sets of clothes she had prepared for Little Lan Xu.
Le Qing glanced at them—they were warm, stylish, and looked to be of good quality.
"Your friend went through a lot of trouble," Le Qing said, taking out her phone. "How much? I’ll transfer the money to you."
Sister Wang hesitated. "Three hundred."
"Three hundred?"
For several sets of clothes of this quality—and so stylish too—just three hundred???
"Yes," Sister Wang cleared her throat. "My friend has connections. We often get clothes from him—he does wholesale, so not only are the prices factory-direct, but the quality is excellent."
Le Qing’s eyes lit up. "Would it be possible to ask your friend to help me and the kids get clothes too? I’m willing to pay a bit more for the service."
Even with a markup, it would still be cheaper than buying elsewhere—great value for the price.
"Well…" Sister Wang laughed nervously. "I’ll have to ask my friend first."
"Of course."
Le Qing understood. After all, doing this too often wouldn’t leave much profit for the middleman, which was why she was willing to pay extra. "Thank you."
After putting away the purchases, Le Qing returned to the couch to finish her remaining work, while Sister Wang went back to her room to proceed with her daily report.
After jotting down the miscellaneous details, she sent the two photos she had taken earlier to General Manager Jiang.
Jiang Suizhi’s brow twitched slightly when he saw them—today’s report even came with pictures.
At first glance, the atmosphere was heartwarming, like a cozy family scene. Even he felt a sense of calm just looking at it.
His gaze lingered on Le Qing in the second look.
Over the past few days, he had seen many sides of Le Qing—whether through reports or in person—but never like this.
Dressed in a white sweater, her hair loosely draped over her shoulders, the warm lighting of the hotel softened her features, making her seem gentler than usual.
A person’s true habits and demeanor were most visible when they were focused, and Jiang Suizhi had always believed this. Only now did he feel he was catching a glimpse of the real Le Qing.
So real that it almost felt… unreal.
Because this was a scene Jiang Suizhi had never experienced, nor had he ever dared to imagine.
He wasn’t even sure if he could provide the same sense of security for the children if they were under his care.
The next photo was closer, showing only Le Qing’s profile and her actions.
Even through the screen, her tenderness was palpable.
So this was the kind of person Jiang Yan had fallen for.
Jiang Suizhi wasn’t surprised—this was just normal taste.
In that case, he would have to be even more considerate in his interactions with Le Qing from now on.
Soon, he received another message from Sister Wang: "General Manager Jiang, there’s one more thing."
"Go on."
"After bringing over the things you provided earlier, Le Qing asked a few questions. I gave a casual explanation, but I might have oversold it a bit."
She hadn’t expected Le Qing to be so thrifty!
Sister Wang typed rapidly: "Should I turn her down?"
After all, there was a chance they’d have to keep bothering General Manager Jiang for more purchases in the future.
For a moment, Jiang Suizhi was at a loss for words.
One person dared to claim the clothes cost three hundred, and the other actually believed it.
But then again, this gave him a legitimate way to provide for the two children without raising unnecessary suspicion. According to the investigation report, while Le Qing treated the children well and provided what an average family could,
compared to the kids in Jiang Suizhi’s social circle, the difference was staggering. Some of them wore clothes that could cover a year’s living expenses for Le Qing’s household.
Having grown up rough himself, Jiang Suizhi didn’t mind, but these were Jiang Yan’s children.
They deserved the best within his means.
He’d just have to put in a little extra effort to cover his tracks.
Jiang Suizhi: "No need."
Sister Wang: "Then should I tell Le Qing that she can just let me know if she needs anything in the future, and I’ll pass it on to you?"
After a few seconds of thought, Jiang Suizhi typed slowly: "No need for the extra step. Just give her my personal contact directly."
Sister Wang glanced at her own avatar—a vibrant "Flowers of Wealth"—then at Jiang Suizhi’s icy, aloof silhouette against a mountain backdrop, paired with an indecipherable English username: "I can do that, but General Manager, your account doesn’t exactly look like my ‘wholesale friend.’"
Jiang Suizhi: "…"
He quickly opened a browser and started searching:
Characteristics of wholesale work.
Common WeChat avatars for 45-year-olds.
Meanwhile, in the living room, Le Qing, who had just finished up and was about to shut down her laptop for the night, heard Sister Wang call out softly.
Sister Wang, looking inexplicably amused, leaned against the doorframe and whispered, "Miss Le Qing, my friend said you can just add him directly. He handles all kinds of wholesale and even does purchasing services—guaranteed quality. You can reach out anytime."
Le Qing picked up her phone and saw the contact Sister Wang had forwarded.
This guy does everything?
She clicked on the profile—the avatar was a white background with bold red-and-black-outlined text: Bargains Here!
Username: AAAAA Wholesale Brother Jiang.
Very professional.
Tap. Add friend.
Brother Jiang really does cover all the bases.
