◎On Royal Orders to Show Off◎
The little ones didn't see anything wrong with their actions at all. Noticing their aunt still seemed dazed, they proactively asked, "Auntie, need us to feed you?"
The onlookers burst into louder laughter, while Lin Shengxi, never one to miss a chance to stir the pot, chimed in, "Go ahead and feed her. Look how exhausted your auntie is."
After the initial shock, Le Qing finally processed what had just happened. She didn’t even care who had lifted the tablecloth anymore—she just pressed her face straight into the carpet, refusing the kids' offer.
Just end me now. Let no one survive this humiliation.
"Not getting up?" Director Tan asked, barely suppressing his laughter. "The costume team is searching everywhere for the outfit."
"I can't get up," Le Qing muttered in defeat. "How much does this outfit cost? I’ll buy it."
She’d keep it on for now—at least until she managed to scrape her dignity off the floor.
That said, lying there surrounded by so many people was even more awkward than standing up. With the mindset that the worst had already happened and nothing else could faze her, Le Qing slowly crawled to her feet.
She also grabbed the lunchbox cake the three little ones had "offered" her and placed it on the nearby dining table, scanning them with a stern look. "Sit. Down."
Though convinced they’d done a good deed, the kids couldn’t understand why their auntie still seemed so flustered.
"Oh no," Little Le'an whispered to her brother, ducking her head. "We made Auntie lose face."
This time, Le Qing didn’t let their "secret" whispering slide. Deadpan, she said, "You think you’re being quiet?"
Her brother promptly stuffed a bite of food into her mouth. "Eat. More food means more brains."
Leaning against the table, Lin Shengxi raised an eyebrow. "That tone sounds a bit like taking revenge, doesn’t it?"
So what if it was revenge?!
Le Qing buried her face in her lunchbox, sulking.
Good intentions or not—this was unacceptable!
"By the way, weren’t you here to see the kids?" Director Tan suddenly remembered the main agenda. "They’re right here."
Le Qing was well aware of Lin Shengxi and Lin Jian’s interest in the two little ones, so she didn’t interfere, focusing instead on her meal.
Meanwhile, the other two kids looked up curiously, mouths stuffed full. "Mmm? Wha’s up, Unco’ Xi?"
"Nothing much," Lin Shengxi bent down, mimicking her tone. "Uncle Xi just dropped by to see if you’re having fun. And there’s another uncle too."
The "other uncle"—who hadn’t spoken a word since lifting the tablecloth—suddenly became the center of attention.
"Ohhh! The grumpy uncle!" Little Sister Treasure remembered him. He’d been in the car that day when Auntie was taking photos, and he’d even eaten her cookies.
Hearing this, Le Qing paused mid-escape and glanced over. Her gaze froze.
During the shoot, she hadn’t seen who was in the car—the kids had just mentioned another uncle, but she hadn’t paid it much mind.
Yet this man looked familiar. She’d seen him just days ago in a café.
Even with his face obscured, his outfit and build were nearly identical to that day. And he’d laughed when the kids spoke to him then.
Coincidences rarely happened more than twice. A third time? That was deliberate.
If he was Lin Shengxi’s friend tagging along, that wouldn’t be strange. But Lin Shengxi hadn’t been on set the day of the incident—this man had come alone.
And now, this was the third encounter.
With that thought, Le Qing turned and studied the man carefully.
He was even more covered up than Cui Shuo during filming—anyone would think a superstar had arrived. Even now, talking to the crew, he kept his mask and sunglasses on, his expression completely hidden.
Yet something about him made her heart skip a beat.
Someone with Lin Shengxi, who took such an interest in the kids…
"May I ask your name, sir?" she inquired.
Jiang Suizhi pulled his gaze from the children and met her probing eyes.
From his observations, this woman was sharp—and meticulous in certain ways. He’d have to tread carefully. It wasn’t time yet to reveal himself.
"Xie," he answered.
It was his mother’s surname, the one he’d used before returning to the Jiang family.
"Xie," Le Qing repeated, relaxing slightly—though not entirely. "Mr. Xie, I believe I saw you on set a few days ago as well."
"Yes," Jiang Suizhi nodded. "I was passing by and noticed the three kids whispering in a corner. Stayed a little longer."
He didn’t hide the fact that he’d overheard them that day, which earned a sliver of Le Qing’s trust. If he’d lied, his motives would’ve been questionable.
Jiang Suizhi added, "I happened to record their phone call. If you need it, I can share the audio."
That was a stroke of luck. To help Little Lan Xu break free from Lan Qian’s grasp, every piece of evidence counted.
"That’s perfect," she said, pulling out her phone. "Could we exchange contacts? I’d really appreciate that recording."
Jiang Suizhi nodded—then hesitated as he reached for his phone. "My phone’s dead. I’ll send it through Lin Shengxi."
He couldn’t give her his work number—that’d expose his identity.
His personal number? Absolutely not.
Lin Shengxi, recalling Jiang Suizhi’s ridiculous profile picture, couldn’t hold back a grin. "Yeah, I’ll forward it to you later."
"Sounds good," Le Qing smiled. "Thanks for your help."
The kids’ scenes for the day were done. After dinner, there wasn’t much left to do. Seeing how exhausted Le Qing was—dozing off even on set—Director Tan urged her to rest instead of editing photos.
"These two will be leaving the crew soon," he said. "Since you know each other, spend some time together. This chaotic set isn’t exactly comfortable."
Lin Shengxi, wanting to give Jiang Suizhi space with the kids, suggested, "How about we go out? There’s a café nearby."
The little ones adored playing with Lin Shengxi, so they immediately turned hopeful eyes to their aunt.
Le Qing nodded. "Go ahead if you want."
"Yay!"
Lin Shengxi led the trio ahead, Jiang Suizhi following at a distance, and Le Qing bringing up the rear.
Just as she was about to add "Mr. Xie" as a contact, she noticed Brother Jiang had sent a flood of messages—clothes she’d ordered had arrived, and she could pick them up now.
As she typed a reply, the man’s phone pinged up ahead.
Le Qing instinctively glanced up and saw him check his screen, tapping a few times.
Then—her own phone buzzed with a new message.
"?"
What a coincidence.
She looked down. It was Brother Jiang saying he’d left the items with Sister Wang.
Quickly, she typed, "Thanks."
When she looked up again, the man’s phone stayed silent.
Just a coincidence after all.
Indeed, this person didn’t look like someone who dealt in wholesale at all.
Wait—didn’t he say his phone was dead?
So he just didn’t want to add her on WeChat?
Le Qing chuckled to herself. She was already an aunt to two kids—what could she possibly do to him?
Fine, no adding then.
Unbeknownst to her, Jiang Suizhi, who was sitting ahead, slipped his phone—now set to vibrate—back into his pocket and quietly exhaled in relief.
This area wasn’t particularly lively, and there wasn’t much to do. The only saving grace was that the café was currently reserved for the film crew, offering air conditioning, comfortable sofas, and a relaxed atmosphere.
Le Qing sat at the edge, not wanting to disturb the others, as she listened to Lin Shengxi perform magic tricks for the three kids while flipping through the large plastic bag Sister Wang had handed her.
It really was wholesale—no packaging whatsoever. Two oversized black plastic bags looked utterly plain, almost like they were carrying garbage if not for the contents inside.
Fortunately, the items were of surprisingly good quality.
Seeing that there was still time, Le Qing pulled out two pieces of clothing. The moment she touched the fabric, she paused.
When Brother Jiang had sent her photos to choose the styles, every picture had looked high-quality. But knowing that photos could be misleading, she hadn’t gotten her hopes up too much.
Yet the clothes in her hands now were impeccably made—neat stitching, well-distributed down filling, and a smooth drape that resisted wrinkling. Had they been ironed before delivery? Were wholesale sellers this meticulous nowadays?
She wanted to check the material composition, so she searched for the tags but found none—not even a brand label at the back collar.
"?"
Even for wholesale, wasn’t this a bit unprofessional?
Le Qing took out her phone and sent Brother Jiang a message: "Brother Jiang, how much for all these clothes?"
The connected sofa was already occupied by Lin Shengxi and the three kids, leaving Le Qing and Jiang Suizhi each on a separate small sofa.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Jiang Suizhi fiddling with his phone again, his fingers hovering over the screen for a long time without typing anything.
After what felt like ages, her phone finally buzzed with a reply: "300."
Oh, great. Three hundred again.
Le Qing felt a twinge of suspicion. While cheap was good, too cheap might not be.
No logos, no tags, yet such high quality for just 300—was he reselling secondhand goods?
Not that she minded; the clothes looked brand new.
But she had her own considerations. What she wore didn’t matter much, but these clothes were New Year’s gifts for the kids—"new" was non-negotiable, even if it cost a bit more.
She politely asked, "Are these clothes brand new?"
AAAAA Brother Jiang: "Yes."
Le Qing: "I don’t mean anything by it, but since there are no tags, I was wondering if exchanges would be possible if they don’t fit?"
Quite the diplomatic way of phrasing it.
AAAAA Brother Jiang: "Exchanges are allowed if they don’t fit. These are factory samples, missing the final labeling step—that’s why they’re so cheap."
So that’s how it worked?
Le Qing, who knew nothing about the garment industry, suddenly understood. "That must be quite the hassle for you."
AAAAA Brother Jiang: "There were also some unwanted sample toys. Packed them in too, as New Year’s gifts for the kids. No charge."
Toys too?!
No wonder the bags were so bulky.
Le Qing opened the other bag, moving aside the top layer of clothes to reveal several cardboard-packed toys underneath—also completely unmarked. But when she opened them, she was speechless again.
These weren’t the cheap plastic toys you’d find in supermarkets for a few dozen yuan. A mini piano, small figurines—who would discard these?
She pulled out the toys, especially the weighty, exquisitely crafted mini piano. Its design, details, and even the sound quality made it indistinguishable from a piece of art.
Just where did Brother Jiang work? Some luxury goods factory that discarded overstock?
The kids, who had been engrossed in Uncle Lin’s magic show, immediately perked up at the sound of the piano from Le Qing’s hands. "Wow!"
Little Le'an climbed onto the table. "Auntie play! Pretty piano!"
Le Qing set the piano down in front of her and pressed the voice message button on her phone. "This is a gift from an uncle. Say thank you to Uncle Jiang."
"Thank you, Uncle Jiang~"
At first, Le Qing hadn’t thought much of it, but hearing "Uncle Jiang" from the kids’ mouths made her realize how oddly serendipitous this was.
Maybe someday, they’d even be calling him Jiang Jia and Jiang An.
After sending the voice message, she absentmindedly tapped a few keys on the piano—its sound was unexpectedly rich for its size.
Little Le'an hopped off the sofa, trying to climb onto her aunt’s lap, but her tiny legs couldn’t quite make it despite her enthusiastic wriggling.
Le Qing laughed softly, scooching over to lift the child like a little radish onto the seat beside her.
As she did, she noticed Jiang Suizhi subtly shifting even closer to the window.
Le Qing was puzzled. This man seemed determined to avoid any proximity to her.
Whatever. She adjusted the child’s position so that the little one now sat between her and Jiang Suizhi.
Oblivious, Little Le'an swung her legs and tugged at her aunt’s hand. "Auntie play!"
"I don’t know how," Le Qing admitted.
Her upbringing hadn’t allowed for extracurriculars like music lessons. Modeling had been a fluke of genetics; photography was self-taught later. As for the rest? She’d always been the audience, never the performer.
But the kids, too young to recognize skill, were insistent. Little Sister Treasure declared, "Auntie played before! Nice! Le'an likes!"
The other two had already propped their chubby hands on the table, ready for a show.
Le Qing had no idea how to recreate her earlier random notes. After a pause, she resorted to the only tune she knew—Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
Back in school, during music class, she’d watched enviously as others practiced. The teacher, noticing her quiet attentiveness, had once shown her how to press the keys for this simple melody.
Years later, her fingers moved hesitantly, note by note, piecing together the familiar lullaby.
"What’s this?" Little Le'an asked, tilting her head. It sounded familiar, but she couldn’t place it. She waved her hands excitedly. "Shiny shiny star-star~"
Le Qing’s eyes crinkled as she sang along with the piano, gently correcting: "Twinkle, twinkle, little star~"
"How I wonder what you are."
The café, already quiet, held only the soft chime of the piano, Le Qing’s humming, and the child’s off-key but delighted attempts to follow. Even the two grown men fell silent.
Jiang Suizhi, pressed against the armrest, relaxed his grip—the tension in his knuckles fading unnoticed.
Le Qing's freshly washed face appeared almost dazzlingly pale under the light. She leaned slightly closer to the child as she spoke to him, her lips curved in a faint yet piercing smile.
Jiang Suizhi averted his gaze, only to see her guiding Little Le'an's tiny hands to press the keys of a small piano one by one, her patience unwavering.
For now, she was a competent mother.
He thought to himself.
If the children were under his care, they wouldn’t experience such tender moments.
Perhaps he could reach an agreement with Le Qing. If she was willing to continue raising the two children, he could provide all the financial support and educational resources they needed. The children could stay by her side, while he… as long as their safety and growth were ensured, he could simply visit them occasionally, just like this.
That might be the best outcome.
"So, what do you think?" Lin Shengxi probed cautiously on their way back. "Brother, I feel like Le Qing has really changed a lot. Maybe there’s some misunderstanding about the things we investigated. The kids seem to rely on her quite a bit."
Jiang Suizhi tapped on his phone, replaying the voice recording of Le Qing prompting the children to say "thank you" in front of him earlier.
The children’s clear voices echoed in the car once again. He listened to it over and over before finally responding, "Hmm."
"If you try to take the kids back, she might not agree," Lin Shengxi analyzed. "After all, they’re her own children. How could she just stand by and let them go? If she wanted to, she could’ve used them to gain advantages from you long ago."
Prompted by Lin Shengxi’s words, Jiang Suizhi suddenly asked, "You said she’s in dire need of money?"
"Yeah," Lin Shengxi nodded. "I saw her selling off her luxury items to others with my own eyes—right outside my family’s estate. And look, she even added your wholesale account."
She was short on money, yet she hired a nanny for the children.
Jiang Suizhi pressed further, "Was she close to your circle in the past?"
Lin Shengxi coughed awkwardly, reluctant to revisit the past. "Not really. Back then, most people didn’t like her, so…"
"Don’t you find it strange?" Jiang Suizhi turned off his phone screen and murmured.
"What’s strange?"
"The person you knew in the past was someone who chased after power and wealth, indulging in extravagance." Jiang Suizhi looked out the window. "With that kind of personality, knowing full well who the children’s father was, why didn’t she just come forward? She could’ve gotten a lot more money that way."
Jiang Yan was already dead. Whether Jiang Hechang wanted to preserve the Jiang family’s bloodline or keep the children’s existence a secret, Le Qing could’ve secured a hefty sum by bringing them to the Jiangs.
Yet she’d rather sell her own luxuries than do so, which meant the children were important to her—she didn’t want them entangled with the Jiang family.
But this contradicted the Le Qing that Lin Shengxi had described from the past.
It was strange. Strange enough to make Jiang Suizhi wonder if he’d found the wrong person.
Lin Shengxi had no idea what he was thinking. "So, what if Le Qing refuses to let the kids return? Legally speaking, you’re just their uncle."
Jiang Suizhi hummed in acknowledgment. "We’ll see."
"Should I drop you off now?"
Jiang Suizhi turned his gaze away from the window. "Take me to Jiang Hechang’s place."
"..."
Lin Shengxi grumbled inwardly. Even if his own relationship with his father was strained, he’d never address him so formally. Jiang Suizhi, on the other hand, didn’t bother with such niceties.
"By the way, Brother," Lin Shengxi gripped the steering wheel, feigning nonchalance. "My dad told me to learn from you, but lately, you’ve just had me doing paparazzi work, playing assistant and chauffeur. What am I supposed to tell him when he asks about my progress?"
Jiang Suizhi removed his sunglasses, mask, and hat, smoothing his hair before putting on a pair of glasses. The moment the frames settled, his demeanor shifted into that of a composed businessman—even in casual wear, his presence exuded authority.
As he neatly packed away his disguise, he replied, "Tell him you’ve been doing great."
"Huh?"
Doing great as a paparazzo?
Jiang Suizhi continued, "Communication is your forte. You have a wide network, and you see things through to the end. You’ve handled every task flawlessly. That’s commendable."
"What does that have to do with being a boss?"
Jiang Suizhi arched a brow. "When the time comes for you to become one, you’ll naturally understand."
"Huh?"
"You’re not lacking in ability," Jiang Suizhi said. "Your father just thinks you’re still immature. He’s tempering your resolve."
Was that a compliment?
Lin Shengxi straightened his back. "I’ve always thought I was pretty capable."
Jiang Suizhi didn’t elaborate further.
In some ways, Lin Shengxi was far more accomplished than he’d ever been. Growing up in their circles, people like him absorbed skills effortlessly through exposure—vision, connections, communication, and charisma.
Every one of these traits was something the younger Jiang Suizhi had struggled to match.
So, the most he could teach Lin Shengxi was to recognize his own strengths and future aspirations—not how to navigate the corporate world.
By the time they arrived at the old estate, it was already late. Jiang Suizhi headed straight to Jiang Hechang’s study on the third floor.
As expected, the door was left ajar.
"I heard you’ve been spending a lot of time with that Lin family kid," Jiang Hechang’s voice rang out before Jiang Suizhi even stepped inside.
Expression unchanging, Jiang Suizhi entered, closed the door behind him, and took a seat on the sofa by the bookshelf. "Hmm."
"That boy will never amount to anything," Jiang Hechang frowned. "Always mingling with those low-tier internet celebrities, tarnishing his own reputation."
Jiang Suizhi countered, "Did you call me here just to say this?"
"Can’t I voice my opinion?" Jiang Hechang stood and approached him. "I’m your father. Look at how you’ve acted these past few years—hardly fulfilling your duties as a son. You refuse to come home, storm off at the slightest disagreement. Do you take me for a fool just because you’re my only remaining son?"
At that, Jiang Suizhi’s brow twitched imperceptibly. "What else can you do about it?"
"You—!"
Jiang Hechang was seething.
His two sons—one, Jiang Yan, had seemed mild-mannered but was stubborn to the core, rebelling late by secretly dating outside their social class. The other, Jiang Suizhi, didn’t even bother pretending, openly defying him at every turn.
Neither took after him, and it infuriated him.
He glared at Jiang Suizhi. "The three-year mourning period for your brother is almost over."
"And?"
"What do you mean ‘and’? I expect you to come home that day!"
Was that all? Did he really need to summon him just for this?
Jiang Suizhi suppressed a sigh and stood to leave, but then paused. "You investigated Jiang Yan’s girlfriend back then, didn’t you?"
Jiang Hechang’s expression stiffened before he looked away. "What of it?"
"What was her family background like?"
"Why are you so interested in her?" Jiang Hechang snapped. "She’s part of the past. She has nothing to do with the Jiang family anymore."
"At the very least, I should know what kind of person could have loved Jiang Yan so deeply yet vanished without a trace now that the three-year mourning period is almost over—especially since Jiang Yan was still thinking of her before he died."
At the mention of this, Jiang Hechang's expression darkened. "Just an ordinary woman."
"Does she have no family?"
"None. Her parents died long ago."
So no siblings either?
"I've looked into her," Jiang Suizhi said, stepping closer to his father. "There's no trace of her past. Did you have a hand in that?"
"Jiang Suizhi." Jiang Hechang nearly raised his hand to strike him. "A woman with no parents, no background—a few million was enough to buy her silence. Why would I need to meddle further?"
Instead of backing down, Jiang Suizhi took another step forward. "Why are you so defensive?"
He had suspected this for a long time. If Jiang Hechang had been able to track down Le Qing back then, it meant Jiang Yan's protection hadn't been foolproof. If his father could find her, why couldn't he?
But now, even with the combined resources of the Jiang and Lin families, he couldn't uncover anything about Le Qing from three years ago. There had to be a reason.
The two men stood locked in a silent standoff. Staring into eyes that bore a resemblance to his eldest son's, Jiang Hechang was the first to turn away. "Your brother has been dead for almost three years."
Jiang Suizhi said nothing.
Jiang Hechang continued, "Whatever your reasons or motives, let this matter rest."
"Do you really think that's possible?" Jiang Suizhi scoffed. "Before I was forced to call you 'Father,' I called Jiang Yan 'Brother' first."
He turned to leave, his hand on the doorknob, when a quiet sigh came from behind him. "You're the only son I have left."
Jiang Suizhi's fingers stilled. Slowly, he turned back. "What did you say?"
The room was so silent a pin drop could be heard. After what felt like an eternity, Jiang Hechang sat down in his chair without facing him. "Your brother's death was suspicious."
"So you knew." Jiang Suizhi's lips curled mockingly. "And yet you did nothing."
Jiang Hechang had grown accustomed to his younger son's sharp tongue. Perhaps he had exhausted his anger, because now he only sounded weary. "Precisely because it was suspicious, you mustn't dig further."
"Why?"
"Why do you think I made sure no one could trace that woman and her child?"
At this, Jiang Suizhi's expression shifted. He strode back to the desk. "Her child? You knew she was pregnant?"
"Yes," Jiang Hechang replied coolly. "If I hadn't, I wouldn't have given her so much money."
"Why didn't you tell Jiang Yan?"
"Tell Jiang Yan?" Jiang Hechang spun his chair around, looking up with a bitter laugh. "And then what? That child wasn't even born yet. Your brother hadn't secured his position. If I'd told him, more than just him would be dead now!"
Jiang Suizhi snapped, "If you hadn't sent them away, Jiang Yan wouldn't have gone after them!"
"True, he wouldn't have. But he could have died on his way to work, on a business trip—"
"Jiang Hechang!" Jiang Suizhi slammed his hands on the desk, cutting him off. "Stop making excuses for your selfishness and cowardice. Even if the worst had happened, at least they would have died together as a family. Instead, they're separated forever, never having seen each other again!"
Jiang Hechang fell silent for several seconds before letting out a hollow laugh. "And so the retribution has come, hasn't it?"
His eldest son dead, his younger son at odds with him.
Now, he couldn't even find the ones responsible for Jiang Yan's death—cornered into this position.
He had thought that before his own death, he could at least do one more thing for his sons.
At least ensure Jiang Suizhi's safety.
But he had underestimated this estranged son—his boldness, his defiance.
"Don't look for them," Jiang Hechang said, shoulders slumping. "If you find them, others will too. At least until we uncover who's behind this, leave them be."
After Jiang Yan's death, he had spent considerable effort erasing all traces of that woman and child. It was an agreement he had made with her.
Did he not long to know his grandchild? To see how tall they'd grown, what they looked like?
Now that he had stepped back from the company, his days were filled with thoughts of his son and the family he had never met.
All these years, he had tried to mold Jiang Yan into a strong, unshakable heir—someone who could stand against any threat.
Yet now, he realized he hadn't even been able to protect his own son.
Jiang Suizhi took a deep breath. "Have you considered what would happen if someone else found them before I did?"
Jiang Hechang's eyes widened slightly.
"That's why I said you only see what you want to see," Jiang Suizhi said scornfully. "Arrogant to the end."
With that, he turned and walked out.
The study fell into silence once more.
Jiang Hechang slowly rose and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. Minutes later, he watched a car pull out of the garage. It had been a long time since he had ridden in one without fear.
---
The next afternoon, to prevent the children from sneaking meat into their lunchboxes again, Le Qing went to pick up the meals herself. Just as she collected the food, her phone rang—an unfamiliar local number.
Handing the meals to Sister Wang, she answered. The voice on the other end was polite. "Is this Ms. Le Qing?"
"Yes. Who is this?"
"I'm calling from the orphanage," the person said. "Given the recent uproar over Lan Qian and the child, many families have expressed interest in adoption. Since the boy has been staying with you, we thought it might be best to bring him in for evaluation. If a suitable family is found, it would be for his benefit. What do you think?"
Le Qing hadn't been following the news closely due to work, but she had received a call from the police. Lan Qian and her lawyer had settled their dispute, resulting in her losing custody. The child's future was still being discussed.
Little Lan Xu had made it clear he didn't want to return to the orphanage. But if a good family wanted to adopt him, that would be ideal.
So Le Qing decided to take him there to assess the situation.
Unexpectedly, the two little ones insisted on coming along. "We're going too!"
Le Qing patiently explained, "Auntie is just handling some business. You can stay here with Aunt Wang."
"We can help with business!" Little Le Jia held his sister's hand. "Big business!"
He and his sister could help their brother figure out who was nice and who wasn't! That way, he could get a good mom!
"Let them go," Director Tan said. "Today's filming is done. Just make it quick—we have one more day of shooting before you can all go home."
Le Qing thought to herself that what the children considered a big deal was nothing more than wanting to accompany their brother. If she didn’t let them go, they might be too restless to stay put anyway, so she reluctantly agreed to take them along after they finished eating.
Unexpectedly, after returning to the hotel to pack a few things and heading out with the kids, she ran into Lin Shengxi, who happened to be passing by.
"Hey~"
Le Qing raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Lin, what are you doing here?"
"Just chasing stars," Lin Shengxi tapped the steering wheel twice. "Haven’t seen the kids post any videos lately, so I thought I’d drop by. You know how it is—us rich kids have nothing better to do."
Le Qing nodded, but her gaze involuntarily drifted toward the dark backseat, where no one was visible.
Noticing her glance, Lin Shengxi chuckled. "Looking for my friend, the one surnamed Xie? He’s a busy man—always working. The backseat’s just my bodyguards. But if you want to see him, I can give him a call."
"No need," Le Qing waved her hand. "But we have something to do today, so the kids might be back late."
Lin Shengxi: "What’s the matter? Need any help?"
"Not really—"
Before she could finish, the three little ones immediately betrayed her: "We’re going to find a new mommy for Brother Lan Xu!"
"A new mommy?" Lin Shengxi nodded in understanding. "Then I might actually be able to help. That orphanage isn’t something you can handle alone."
Le Qing frowned. "Why not?"
"I’ll explain on the way."
Though puzzled, Le Qing didn’t press further after Lin Shengxi repeatedly insisted he was just a good Samaritan. Still, seeing the actual bodyguards trailing behind him left her momentarily speechless.
Meanwhile, Lin Shengxi, driving behind them, hummed cheerfully after finishing his phone call with Le Qing about the orphanage’s situation. He then dialed his client again. "Brother, we’re following them."
Having an insider sure was convenient—Le Qing’s every move could be tracked in real time. Though Lin Shengxi thought Jiang Suizhi was meddling a bit too much. Lan Xu wasn’t even his brother’s child, so why bother with who adopted him?
Still, it was true—if Le Qing went alone, she’d likely face some trouble.
This woman had guts.
"Can you handle it?" Jiang Suizhi asked.
"Of course. Bullying people with power is my specialty."
Lin Shengxi couldn’t help but laugh. "Brother, are you sending us to be Le Qing’s bodyguards? Planning to bring her back too?"
The only response was the cold tone of a hang-up.
Lin Shengxi clicked his tongue.
Still, he had to admit his brother had a sense of loyalty—even his wife cared so much.
---
Upon arriving at the orphanage, Le Qing asked Sister Wang to stay in the car with the kids while she went inside first. Lin Shengxi, however, didn’t get out immediately. Instead, he waved at her from the car. "You go ahead. I’ll join you later."
Though confused, Le Qing let him be. Once inside the office, she quickly realized the director hadn’t been exaggerating.
There were indeed many families who had already submitted applications—some even celebrities and influential figures.
"So many?" She was taken aback.
"Mostly because of the online buzz," the director explained. "He was a child star before, and now that Lan Qian’s been taken by the police, even more people are paying attention to him. Adopting him comes with plenty of benefits."
Not only would it boost their reputation, but it might also bring more celebrity influence in the future.
No wonder so many were lining up.
Le Qing smiled but didn’t comment.
After what happened with Lan Qian, she knew most people’s true motives. If she didn’t vet them carefully, she’d just be throwing the child into another den of wolves.
"We’ve selected a few suitable families," the director continued when she didn’t respond. "Take a look—their backgrounds and parental qualifications are top-tier."
Le Qing flipped through the files of the chosen families—some were celebrity couples, others wealthy elites.
Keeping her expression neutral, she deliberately asked, "No more… ordinary options?"
The director smiled. "There are, of course. But compared to these families, ordinary ones just don’t measure up. These parents can provide not only a stable upbringing but also broaden the child’s horizons."
Le Qing pointed at one file. "This family already has three healthy children. They don’t have a need for another."
Then at another. "This couple has been rumored to be on the verge of separation for a long time. Did you not do a background check?"
The director’s smile stiffened, but she maintained her composure. "Appearances can be deceiving. We’re still in the preliminary screening phase. Ultimately, it’ll come down to mutual selection between parents and child."
"Before coming here, I did some research on your orphanage," Le Qing said, pulling out a prepared document. "It’s quite famous—every child is well-behaved, good-looking, and obedient. And every adoptive family is far above middle-class. I also heard you have requirements: no unattractive children, no children with disabilities."
The director immediately denied it. "Who’s spreading such nonsense?"
It was Little Lan Xu, of course. The child had been reluctant to even mention the orphanage, so Le Qing had done her homework—even consulting Lin Shengxi for extra details.
Now, her suspicions were confirmed.
The orphanage played favorites, catering only to the rich and powerful. That way, they could curry favor with both sides, boosting their reputation and raking in donations. If the families were genuinely good, fine—but cases like Lan Xu’s were likely not rare.
"Miss Le Qing, the child’s guardianship has been revoked. Legally, it’s now in our hands, so the arrangements are ours to make," the director said, her tone turning sharp. "We informed you out of gratitude for your care, but that doesn’t mean you can slander us."
Le Qing remained unruffled. "I’m not making accusations yet. But I’ve already reported the situation to the relevant authorities. If there’s nothing wrong here, a few days of investigation shouldn’t be an issue. The families interested in adoption won’t mind waiting. Once the results come in, we can discuss adoption again. How does that sound?"
"The authorities?" The director smirked. "Fine by me. But if nothing turns up, Miss Le Qing, you’ll have to answer for our losses—financial and reputational. It won’t be a small sum."
Le Qing smiled. "That confident?"
"Miss Le Qing, given that you’ve cared for Lan Xu these past few days, we’re grateful. If things go smoothly and the child is adopted, those families would surely reward you handsomely. But if you make a scene, you’ll walk away with nothing. Think carefully."
As soon as the words were spoken, a lazy, carefree voice drifted in from the doorway: "How much gratitude money are we talking about? I spent the whole day tagging along—mind sharing a cut with me?"
Le Qing didn’t turn around, but the director was visibly startled, especially when he noticed the burly bodyguards trailing behind Lin Shengxi. "Young Master Lin?"
The director, accustomed to dealing with high society, immediately recognized him.
"What brings you here?"
"Just here to see what exactly you want my Le-jie to 'think clearly' about," Lin Shengxi said, plopping down casually beside Le Qing. "And how ugly you’re planning to make this."
"..."
The director’s smug expression instantly twisted into one of panic.
How on earth did Le Qing manage to bring him along?!
Le Qing was startled by the sudden "Le-jie" address and turned her head. "You finished handling your business?"
"What business?"
"Then why didn’t you come in with me earlier?"
"Ah..." Lin Shengxi crossed his legs, grinning. "Makes the grand entrance more satisfying."
Especially when he had permission to show off.
Le Qing: "..."
