◎A Visit◎
Although it was the Lunar New Year holiday, the good weather had drawn quite a few visitors to the forest park. However, the eco-hotel Lin Shengxi had purchased wasn’t yet open for business, so the deeper they drove into the area, the fewer people they saw. By the time they reached the hotel, there was no one around except the staff.
Le Qing couldn’t help but feel as if she had rented out the entire place, especially with all the staff attending exclusively to their needs.
Thanks to the children, she was once again exposed to a lifestyle far beyond her usual experience.
Following Jiang Suizhi’s instructions, Lin Shengxi didn’t let too many staff hover around. "Go about your duties as usual—we’ll manage on our own," he said.
The staff quickly dispersed.
Now, not just the two children but even Le Qing herself felt more at ease.
The hotel was expansive, with greenery and leisure facilities surrounding the buildings. A little further away was an artificial lake, and beyond that lay part of the forest park.
Surrounded by familiar faces, the two little ones had no reservations. Clutching their milk bottles, they dashed off without a second thought.
At their age, they didn’t yet grasp what such an environment represented—their world was simply divided into "fun" and "not fun." Unburdened, they laughed freely, running far ahead before suddenly remembering their aunt was still behind them. They hurried back, their scarves flapping against their faces, each grabbing one of her hands. "Auntie, this place is so cool!" they exclaimed.
At that age, their compliments were always so straightforward.
Even in winter, the sunlight here warmed Le Qing’s spirits, and she followed them with a lighthearted smile, echoing their enthusiasm. "Yeah, super cool."
But unlike in front of the camera, Le Qing had always been a restrained and composed person in real life. She couldn’t match the children’s carefree energy, so she soon lagged behind. Fortunately, Lin Shengxi, brimming with vitality, was there to keep up with them.
Le Qing’s thoughts drifted again. She couldn’t help feeling that what she could offer the children was pitifully little—neither the fullness of familial love nor the emotional support they craved.
She had always been an inadequate guardian.
The smile on her face faded slightly at the thought.
Lin Jian, too, was more inclined toward laziness than activity, having long passed the phase of boundless curiosity. She had brought a camera, casually snapping shots of whatever caught her eye—for herself or for others to see later.
As her lens panned from the distance to closer scenes, she suddenly noticed the distant look in Le Qing’s eyes. Lowering the camera, Lin Jian frowned.
She did appreciate the subtle, story-like aura around Le Qing, but seeing it so often struck her as unusual. "What’s on your mind?" she asked.
"Nothing."
"Nothing?" Lin Jian chuckled. "You might as well have ‘I’m troubled’ written on your face today. And not just today—ever since I’ve known you, you’ve always seemed to carry some weight."
Le Qing parted her lips to respond, but Lin Jian cut her off. "I’m a photographer—I notice micro-expressions. You take pictures too; you should know that."
Now, Le Qing had no excuse left. She sat on a small chair by the lake and smiled faintly. "Well, adults have their burdens. It’s normal."
"True enough," Lin Jian shrugged. "Don’t get me wrong—I know not everyone wants to share their troubles. But since we’re out here to enjoy ourselves, why not try to relax a little? What do you think?"
"Actually…" Le Qing lifted her gaze toward the children sitting on the grass in the distance. "I am happy."
She rarely felt this content.
As for her troubles—perhaps they had simply become second nature, so much so that she hardly noticed them herself.
Was it really that obvious?
This was the first time someone had asked her about her worries, and Le Qing wasn’t sure how to answer.
"Auntie~" The little ones, having rolled around enough on the grass, came running back and eagerly pulled her up. "Uncle Lin says we can ride ponies! Let’s go!"
There was indeed a small equestrian area here. The hotel catered to all ages, so children could ride ponies under staff supervision. With basic protective gear, they didn’t need to handle the horses themselves.
Once the two were suited up, they obediently climbed onto their ponies, letting the staff lead them around.
Le Qing followed at a safe distance, keeping an eye on them.
Unlike her, both Lin Shengxi and Lin Jian had grown up riding in their family’s private estate. Now, they donned their gear and mounted their horses, flanking her. "Not joining us?" they asked.
Sandwiched between the two horses, Le Qing shook her head lightly. "I’ll just watch the kids."
"Do you know what the children said this morning?" Lin Jian glanced down.
"What?"
"They felt guilty for being ‘children who don’t care about their aunt,’ because their aunt never thinks of herself." Lin Jian raised an eyebrow. "If they see you standing alone while everyone else is riding, they’ll probably feel bad again."
Le Qing paused mid-step, recalling how the two had packed so many things for her that morning—snacks, toys, all for her enjoyment.
She hadn’t realized her behavior could give them such an impression.
"Assuming you’ll be living together long-term, do you plan to keep this up forever?" Lin Jian asked curiously. "I’ve never met anyone so devoid of worldly desires."
"Long-term?" Le Qing repeated.
Lin Jian laughed. "What, are you planning to abandon them someday?"
Le Qing smiled too, her shoulders relaxing slightly, but she didn’t answer.
"Auntie!" The children had circled back, their ponies now led by the staff.
Their aunt still hadn’t mounted a horse, so they wanted to take her with them.
"Ride Annie’s pony!" Little Le’an scooted forward, making room. "She’s very gentle! I’ll take you!"
"No, ride mine! Mine’s black—way cooler than Annie’s!"
Not wanting the children to feel guilty again, Le Qing finally relented. She put on the protective gear and climbed onto another horse brought over by the staff.
Seeing how smoothly she swung herself into the saddle, Lin Shengxi and Lin Jian were surprised. "You know how to ride?"
"I’ve learned before," Le Qing said.
"Ah, right." Lin Shengxi remembered that, given Le Qing’s past free-spirited and indulgent lifestyle, she had probably tried everything worth trying.
He joked, "Could it be that you’ve already done it all and just aren’t interested anymore?"
Seated on the horse, Le Qing met the children’s awed gazes and smiled. "Maybe."
But the truth was, she hadn’t learned riding for leisure—those lessons only taught the basics, and she’d never had the means for such luxuries anyway.
Back when she worked as an extra in film crews, she was often called in as a stunt double. Finding someone who matched the lead actor’s physique and could perform demanding stunts wasn’t easy. The closer the resemblance, the higher the pay.
Le Qing’s appearance made her a perfect fit for stand-in roles, and her modeling background lent her the right poise. But some actors, wary of being overshadowed, avoided using her. To carve out more opportunities, she had to find her own path.
At that time, there was a period drama with many horseback riding scenes, offering high daily wages and long-term collaboration. To secure the job, she specifically learned how to ride.
Half the time, it was just normal trotting, and as long as she didn’t show her face directly, it was fine.
Later, there was an incident where the horse suddenly went out of control, nearly putting her life in danger. It was then that she instinctively learned more—far beyond the casual lessons at riding schools—gaining a more real and intense experience.
Lin Jian grew intrigued. "Want to race?"
Before Le Qing could respond, two chubby little kids squeezed between them, clapping excitedly and forming a tiny cheer squad: "Go, Auntie! Go, Auntie! Auntie is the best!"
Well, now she was put on the spot.
Seeing how eager the children were, she tightened the reins and nodded. "Alright."
Lin Shengxi and the staff led the kids' ponies to the side. Since there were no other tourists at the resort that day, they weren’t limited to the riding arena—the open grassland was free to gallop across.
"Two laps! This is the finish line—first one here wins!" Lin Shengxi shouted at the top of his lungs.
As they prepared, Le Qing suddenly turned her head and asked, "Any stakes?"
"Oh? Want to make a bet?"
Le Qing replied frankly, "Since it’s a race, having something on the line makes it more interesting."
"Fine, name it."
"If I remember correctly, the commercial we shot will be released soon," Le Qing said with a smile. "I want a work opportunity."
Lin Jian was surprised. She had assumed this woman was indifferent to worldly desires.
"If you’ve looked into me, you’d know that people who work with me rarely lack opportunities," she replied. "So your request isn’t really a demand. With your skills and professionalism, offers will only keep coming."
"That’s not the same," Le Qing shook her head. "This industry relies heavily on connections and timing. I don’t have an agent, so by the time work reaches me, it’ll take much longer. What I want is a recent opportunity—and not just any ordinary one."
Lin Jian studied her expression carefully. "In such a hurry? Short on money?"
"Maybe."
"You’ve already thought through the conditions—seems like you’re pretty confident." Lin Jian straightened up. "I agree, but only if you can beat me first."
With the deal settled, Le Qing adjusted her posture, waiting for the start.
Lin Shengxi grabbed a staff member’s flag and, along with the two kids whose faces were flushed with excitement, counted down in unison: "Three, two, one!"
As the last syllable faded, Lin Jian was still in the relaxed mindset of casual riding when she heard a crisp "Hyah!" beside her—and a figure shot forward like an arrow.
Snapping back to focus, she tugged the reins and gave chase.
Two figures raced across the vast grassland. The two little ones had never seen anything like it, screaming themselves hoarse as they bounced on their ponies, waving wildly: "Auntie is SO COOL!!! GO GO GO!!!"
Lin Jian realized she had underestimated Le Qing’s skill. This woman, usually gentle and unassuming, became a force of pure determination on horseback, her focused expression undeniably striking.
There was a stubbornness to Le Qing—most riding-school students were restrained, cautious, but she rode as if she had nothing to lose.
Even trailing closely behind, Lin Jian could feel that relentless energy radiating from her.
Le Qing wasn’t thinking about anyone around her, nor where Lin Jian was. In this moment, her world consisted only of herself.
She knew all too well that everything had to be fought for. It wasn’t about the opponent—only giving her all mattered. If there was even a sliver of a chance to move forward, she wouldn’t let it slip away.
Jiang Suizhi arrived during the second lap. Honestly, when he first spotted the two figures on horseback, he couldn’t tell who was who—his attention was entirely on the two kids.
The children were so absorbed they didn’t even notice his arrival, swinging their scarves wildly in the air: "Auntie! Auntie!"
Auntie?
Jiang Suizhi blinked and looked up.
He couldn’t reconcile the figure galloping across the field with the soft-spoken Le Qing he knew. But as he focused, the riders did look familiar.
Closer, closer.
Amidst the thunder of hooves, the face of the leading rider finally came into view. Jiang Suizhi’s brow lifted slightly.
Le Qing pulled the reins sharply as she crossed the finish line, the well-trained horse halting instantly. With a smooth turn, she faced her little audience.
To an outsider, the sight was something else entirely.
Unlike yesterday’s flamboyant outfit, today she wore the new clothes she’d picked from "Brother Jiang"—a white V-neck sweater, black wide-leg pants, and a long dark green coat that flared dramatically as she rode, the hem still swaying from her abrupt stop.
Her eyes, still blazing with intensity from the race, swept over them. A few loose strands of hair clung to her cheeks, one even caught at the corner of her lips.
Jiang Suizhi wasn’t the only one stunned—even Lin Shengxi stood frozen, the little flag limp in his hand.
Le Qing was surprised to see an extra person. She brushed the stray hair from her mouth. "Mr. Xie?"
"Mn."
"Xie… Brother, what are you doing here?" Lin Shengxi finally snapped out of it, equally shocked.
Hadn’t he just been at the Jiang family estate? Did he leave right after making an appearance?
Jiang Suizhi replied coolly, "Didn’t you invite me?"
Visiting the Jiangs was merely a formality. Now that he was in charge, he no longer bothered with pointless socializing like Jiang Hechang. Showing up for the New Year, declaring it a family reunion, and deferring other guests to another day—simple and effective.
Networking was unavoidable, but unlike his father, he refused to engage in meaningless interactions that only made him seem easy to manipulate.
"I…" Lin Shengxi swallowed his frustration and took the blame. "I just didn’t expect you so soon."
Le Qing didn’t mind. Compared to her, the Lin siblings were clearly much closer to this "Mr. Xie."
Lin Jian arrived shortly after, having slowed to a leisurely pace once she realized she’d lost. "You won. I’ll keep my word."
Jiang Suizhi asked, "You were racing?"
"Yeah," Lin Jian dismounted. "I didn’t expect her to be this good. Most people who just ride for fun at clubs never reach this level."
Le Qing demurred, "Just luck."
"But it’s your luck," Lin Jian peeled off her gloves. "I lost, so I’ll make the call as promised."
"Much appreciated."
This piqued Jiang Suizhi’s curiosity. Le Qing meticulously calculated every cent with him—clothes, New Year’s gifts—so why was she suddenly making bets and demands with Lin Jian?
Was his approach wrong?
"Watching this makes me itch for a race too," Lin Shengxi said eagerly. "How about a bet with me? A car? A house?"
He had someone to foot the bill anyway!
"..."
Could he not treat such stakes like they were bargaining for a bag of rice?
The two little ones were still immersed in the awe of how cool their aunt was, and when they heard about a car, they got even more excited: "We want a rocking horse! The kind that plays music!"
The ones at the supermarket entrance cost five bucks a ride—if they had that kind of car, they wouldn’t need to spend money at the supermarket anymore!
Lin Shengxi: "?"
Le Qing: "…"
She couldn’t help but chuckle.
"What’s wrong?" Little Le Jia thought her request was too much and pursed her lips. "Then… can it be one that doesn’t sing?"
"Sure." Lin Shengxi felt a pang of heartache that the kids had no idea just how valuable his car was. "I’ll give you a hundred singing ones!"
"One is enough~" Little Le’an, ever the sensible one, said, "We don’t have space at home."
"Silly." Little Le Jia tapped her head. "We can put all the rocking horses downstairs! The other kids can ride them, and we’ll get five bucks each! A hundred times five is…"
Wait, how much was that again?
Truly the son of a tycoon—already scheming ways to get rich.
A hundred was a bit excessive, but Le Qing thought running a couple more laps to win the kids a rocking horse was worth it.
She was about to nod when she noticed the man in the hoodie and baseball cap—Mr. Xie—walking over to the horse Lin Jian had ridden earlier. "How about a bet with me instead?"
The Lin siblings both turned in surprise. "Bro?"
Even Le Qing was taken aback. What could she possibly bet with Mr. Xie?
"How about betting with me?" Jiang Suizhi patted the horse lightly, tilting his head slightly as he spoke. "I can give you the car too."
His instincts told him that the person on horseback earlier was the real Le Qing.
Beyond that, he had to admit that for a moment, he’d been provoked. Over the years, to secure his position, he’d forced himself to become mature and composed, hiding behind a façade until he’d nearly forgotten who he really was.
But in that instant, something in Le Qing’s gaze had jolted him—a thrill that sent shivers down his spine.
He wanted to test himself against someone like that, because no one around him had ever given him that kind of rush.
Le Qing, still on horseback, thought for a few seconds. "The car is Lin Shengxi’s bet. It doesn’t count."
Jiang Suizhi turned, hooking his mask with a finger as he laughed. "Then what do you want to bet?"
"Haven’t thought of it yet." Le Qing adjusted her direction. "But if Mr. Xie wants to race, we can leave the bet open—just a single condition. If I win, you agree to mine. If you win, I agree to yours. As long as it doesn’t cross any moral lines, how’s that?"
Even if it did cross a line, Jiang Suizhi wouldn’t have minded agreeing. Besides, he doubted Le Qing would ask for anything unreasonable.
Without even putting on protective gear, he swung onto the horse. Behind his black-framed glasses, his eyes met Le Qing’s, brimming with amusement. "Deal."
Suddenly stripped of his chance to compete, Lin Shengxi could only silently pick up the flag again. "Then count mine in too. If you win, I’ll still give the rocking horses to the kids."
One race was easy. Two wouldn’t be a problem either. But Lin Shengxi had a feeling racing against his brother wouldn’t be simple. If Le Qing got tired, it wouldn’t be fair for him to jump in afterward. Better to just let it go.
"Ready…!"
"Auntie! Auntie, you can do it! Auntie’s the best! We’ll ride the rocking horse together!"
"Uncle, nooo!"
Le Qing couldn’t suppress her laughter.
Jiang Suizhi: "…"
He lowered his gaze at the two little troublemakers. "Say that again."
The kids blinked in confusion. What kind of weird request was this?
But obediently, they repeated: "Uncle, nooo!"
"You really think kids can read between the lines?" Lin Jian gloated.
"…Never mind." Jiang Suizhi consoled himself—he’d have plenty of chances to hear the kids cheer for him in the future.
"Enough talking. Three, two, one—go!"
The two horses shot forward like arrows, leaving Lin Shengxi coughing in their dust. "Ugh, since when did my brother get so playful? Acting on a whim like this."
He didn’t even have the heart to race anymore.
Lin Jian raised her camera. "After all this time by his side, you still don’t get it?"
"Get what?"
She focused the lens on the two riders, quietly marveling at their presence. "If he hadn’t returned to…"
Glancing at the kids, who weren’t paying attention, she finished, "This is who he was always meant to be."
Untamed.
Out on the field, Le Qing had initially planned to race Mr. Xie the same way she had with Lin Jian. But as she focused on pushing herself, a low, commanding voice cut through the air beside her.
The rapid hoofbeats never faded, staying unnervingly close. She couldn’t resist stealing a glance—only to find him perfectly aligned with her.
The wind whipped fiercely, tearing off Mr. Xie’s hoodie and baseball cap. Without any protective gear, he exuded a raw, unrestrained energy. The pressure he radiated far surpassed Lin Jian’s, forcing Le Qing to dig even deeper.
The thrill of fighting neck-and-neck electrified her. It was in moments like these that she felt truly alive—like she had a reason to push forward.
She didn’t know her limits, but rising to the challenge had always been her way.
Leaning even lower, she urged her horse faster. "Hyah!"
Jiang Suizhi heard her and instantly matched her pace.
He’d taken medication beforehand to avoid a repeat of yesterday’s episode, yet now his hands and feet itched—not with discomfort, but with a long-lost, bone-deep exhilaration.
Their relentless back-and-forth left Lin Shengxi gaping. "Damn, they’re insane?"
He’d already seen how skilled Le Qing was, but Jiang Suizhi’s dominance was innate. He’d never imagined anyone could keep up with him, let alone push him this hard.
"Feels like we’re on the grasslands," he muttered, sitting up straighter. "I’ve never seen anyone ride like this before."
Lin Jian finally captured the shot she wanted—the two riders, even more striking than their horses, sweat glistening under the sun, their eyes blazing with determination. Satisfied, she murmured, "That’s why I said they’re alike."
By the second lap, neither showed signs of stopping. They raced a third, forgetting the bet entirely, driven purely by instinct. Only when the staff frantically waved them down did they finally slow to a halt.
Le Qing didn’t even care who won. She just felt—alive.
All the unspoken frustrations since coming into this world, the nameless anxieties—everything melted away in this moment of pure, unfiltered freedom.
Gripping the reins, she turned—just as Jiang Suizhi straightened beside her, adjusting his glasses.
The two locked eyes, still on horseback.
Until now, Le Qing had always seen Mr. Xie as a vague figure. His deliberate disguises made him seem unreal every time they met, and even when their eyes locked, the shadows beneath his hat brim dulled the intensity of his gaze.
But this time, Mr. Xie’s hat was blown away by the wind. Even with his glasses on, Le Qing could clearly see the sharpness in his eyes. The look of someone who had just ridden a horse was poorly concealed—filled with a fierce, almost predatory aggression.
That makes sense, she thought.
Only someone like him could have raced her the way he just did.
Suddenly, the aggression in the man’s eyes melted into a lazy smile. "You won," he said.
"Won?"
Le Qing could hardly believe it. She knew the odds hadn’t been in her favor.
"Yeah, you won." Jiang Suizhi took the hat handed to him by a staff member who had jogged over. "A race is decided by the result, isn’t it?"
"I wasn’t paying attention."
"Anyone would think you two were professional jockeys," Lin Shengxi remarked as he led the two little ones’ ponies over. "But honestly, I didn’t see who crossed the line first. Did you?"
Jiang Suizhi replied casually, "She did."
"Yeah," Lin Jian nodded. "I saw it too. Le Qing crossed first."
In truth, this wasn’t a professional race—the two of them had reached the line almost simultaneously, and even they couldn’t tell who was ahead.
But since Jiang Suizhi said so, it meant he’d already made up his mind. Lin Jian didn’t mind playing along.
"Auntie won!" The two little ones had already jumped off their ponies, eager to hug their amazing auntie, mimicking the galloping motion. "Auntie’s so cool! Clip-clop! Zoom zoom!"
To them, it was just fast and exciting—they didn’t understand the details.
But the winner was a hero!
And Uncle Xie looked so strong, yet Auntie beat him! So cool!
Le Qing dismounted, her legs wobbling uncontrollably.
Luckily, a hand steadied her elbow just in time.
"Thanks."
Was it Mr. Xie?
Le Qing still hadn’t forgotten how, the day before, this man had even curled his pinky finger when handing her a band-aid, as if afraid to touch her.
Was he no longer afraid now?
Jiang Suizhi asked, "Steady?"
"Yeah."
The hand withdrew without hesitation.
"Did you really have to go that hard?" Lin Shengxi sighed. "It’s just a rocking horse. Even if you lost, I’d have bought it for you. The way you were riding just now, people would’ve thought you were opening a rocking horse club in your neighborhood."
"I wasn’t paying attention," Le Qing said innocently. "I just sped up when I saw him going faster."
"Why compete with him? He’s always been fast."
Jiang Suizhi: "..."
His tone turned icy. "Did your mouth skip etiquette classes?"
Lin Shengxi immediately shut up.
Le Qing tried to hold it in but failed, tilting her head to stifle a laugh.
Then she felt the man’s gaze sweep over her and quickly composed herself.
"What about you?" Jiang Suizhi asked. "Thought of a condition yet?"
The laziness in his eyes hadn’t fully faded, but compared to before, there was now a relaxed ease similar to Lin Shengxi’s.
Le Qing thought for a long time before shaking her head. As she removed her gloves, she said, "Not yet. I’ll let you know when I think of one."
They still hadn’t even exchanged contact info.
So she added, "I’ll go to your place, or ask Lin Shengxi to pass it on."
"Pfft!"
Lin Shengxi couldn’t hold back this time.
The wholesaler had layered his disguises so thick, and now he couldn’t switch them fast enough!
"Come to my place," Jiang Suizhi said, completely unbothered by his own predicament. Registering another account would just make him worry about missing messages on one of them.
Besides, he was practically living in that new house every day now.
Lin Jian mused, "The way you two talk—it’s like you skipped a few steps in familiarity."
The two little ones didn’t understand the adults’ conversation. "Auntie, what are you talking about? Are we going to Uncle’s house?"
"You want to?" Jiang Suizhi asked.
"Hmm..." Little Le Jia thought seriously. "Yes. We’ve never been to someone else’s house before."
The last time they went to Uncle Lin’s place was because Auntie was visiting, but they didn’t know Uncle Lin back then, so it didn’t count.
"Friends!" An An grabbed her auntie’s hand. "Auntie, don’t you visit your friends’ houses?"
In picture books and cartoons, kids were always playing at their friends’ places.
"Auntie, we should... return the... um... favor?"
Lin Jian supplied, "Reciprocate."
"Yeah, yeah!"
The talking pen had taught them that.
"Uncle and Auntie, come visit!" The siblings were now determined to teach their auntie proper manners. Little Le Jia said solemnly, "Auntie should visit friends too."
Suddenly, under the scrutiny of so many pairs of eyes, Le Qing felt uneasy.
Since when were they friends?
Her friends... at the moment, there was only the recently acknowledged Ivy and that strangely fast-bonding Annie.
But they were both abroad, so she didn’t feel much pressure.
As for Lin Jian and Lin Shengxi, she assumed their closeness was because they’d eventually connect with the kids’ father. She wouldn’t dare call them friends.
To Le Qing, friendship wasn’t as simple as the kids’ relationship with Xuxu—just playing together happily meant being friends.
She... had never had friends.
The word "friend" carried weight for her, something she didn’t dare claim lightly.
It wasn’t others’ fault—she just felt she had nothing to offer in a friendship.
Before Le Qing could figure out how to respond, Lin Jian said, "The house is a mess these past couple of days, full of uncles and grandpas. It’d be boring anyway."
Le Qing unconsciously turned to listen more intently.
But the child beside her gave her away. "Auntie, are you nervous?"
Le Qing flustered. "What?"
The little girl lifted her auntie’s hand. "Auntie’s palm is sweaty, and you’re squeezing An An’s hand tight. I do that too."
When she was scared or nervous, she’d hold her brother’s hand the same way.
"Why are you nervous?" Lin Jian found it amusing. "It’s not like we’re banning you from coming."
"No, I..."
Le Qing was at a loss for words.
"What I mean is, my brother and I have to go back every night these past couple of days for New Year’s stuff," Lin Jian said breezily. "Once that’s over, we’ll return to our own place. You’re all welcome then. Forget my brother’s place—it’s too chaotic. Mine’s quiet, no disturbances. The kids can play however they want."
She’d already planned everything out.
"Who says my place is chaotic?" Lin Shengxi protested. "I never bring people to my own house, okay? You’re all welcome anytime!"
Lin Jian smacked the back of his head. "That’s why! You! Used! My name! To bring people to the estate!"
The guilty Lin Shengxi dodged, clutching his head. "At least I didn’t let them bother you!"
While the siblings were still bickering, Jiang Suizhi, who had been leaning against the nearby tree, finally recovered from the lingering tingling sensation of having helped someone earlier. His voice was hoarse as he spoke up, "Excuse me."
His gloves were still on, and he was idly fiddling with the buttons, neither fastening nor unfastening them.
The siblings paused their squabble. "Bro, what did you say?"
Jiang Suizhi pointed at the two kids. "They said."
Then he pointed at himself. "Go to my place. As guests. Right across the hall."
Word by word.
After speaking, he lifted his eyelids and raised a brow. "What's it to you?"
The siblings: "..."
Le Qing, the protagonist who had been completely sidelined in this conversation, raised a hand. "Um, friend—"
Shouldn’t this be his decision whether to go or not?
Why did it feel like he was being railroaded into this?
Jiang Suizhi took off his gloves, crossed his arms, and smirked. "Forty-thousand-dollar dumplings, a hundred rides on the coin-operated rocking horse..."
"Friend."
Le Qing declared firmly, "I’ll definitely drop by another day."
Le Qing: Friend. A friend for life!
