"Let Me Cheer You Up"
"I turned down many interviews for my year-end return to the country. Coincidentally, the cover shoot is in three days, and there’s an interview the day after. You’ll need to attend with me then."
The next morning, while Le Qing was editing videos of the two little ones, she received a call from Lin Jian.
"Do I have to be interviewed too?" she asked.
She had done some small, casual interviews before, but they were nothing compared to someone of Lin Jian’s caliber.
"Of course. You’re my cover girl," Lin Jian laughed on the other end of the line. "I’m not exaggerating, but after the interview, you’d better brace yourself for a busy workload. Once the new year starts, many brands and magazines will rush to prepare for their spring collections’ exposure. Models who’ve worked with me usually become their top targets—and you? Your image fits perfectly."
So that meant plenty of work opportunities after the new year?
Le Qing quickly calculated the timeline. She trusted Lin Jian completely. Even if she only landed three collaborations through this channel, it would still be more money than she’d ever earned before.
Most brands’ spring collections had a production cycle of about two months, and payment would be deposited upfront once the shoot was done.
The timing was perfect.
"That’s why I said you didn’t need to make any bets with me. You’ll have your own opportunities soon enough," Lin Jian said. "But let’s take things one step at a time. If any deals can be confirmed during the interview, I’ll secure them for you."
Though Lin Jian was famous, she rarely shot commercial campaigns for brands. She valued her freedom and knew that while she could offer fame, she couldn’t guarantee big paychecks.
Le Qing nodded. "Alright, I’ll be ready."
"Oh, one more thing," Lin Jian added. "There’s a cocktail party after the interview. It’ll be formal, so do you still have any of the nice clothes you didn’t sell?"
Le Qing: "..."
She really didn’t.
Back then, she’d been desperate for money and never imagined she’d get such a golden opportunity now. So all her pretty dresses and bags were long gone.
"I’ll rent something," she said.
"Don’t worry," Lin Jian reassured her. "I’ll handle it. I know plenty of designers, and I’ve got your measurements."
Truth be told, Le Qing’s social connections in this world were limited, and she probably wouldn’t have found a decent gown rental on such short notice. So she agreed. "I’ll transfer the rental fee to you later."
Lin Jian chuckled but didn’t confirm or refuse. "See you then."
After hanging up, Le Qing went back to compiling the past few days’ videos.
When her cursor hovered over one particular clip, she paused.
It was from New Year’s Eve, right before midnight, after the livestream ended. The two little ones were carefully arranging their "dumpling army" in neat rows, ready for battle.
"Auntie stands here!" Little Sister Treasure placed the best dumpling Le Qing had made in the middle of her army. "An’an will protect Auntie! Brother, you pretend to be the bad guy!"
Brother pouted, wanting his dumplings to join the good side. "Why can’t I fight the bad guys with you?"
"Auntie says! Auntie, do you want Brother to be the bad guy?"
Both pairs of bright eyes turned to Le Qing, who was still wrapping dumplings. In the video, she looked momentarily confused before picking up the dumpling representing herself and laughing softly. "Then I’ll be the bad guy. You two stand together, okay?"
This solution didn’t satisfy the little heroes. So Le Qing added, "If you defeat me, I’ll give you a present."
The mention of a prize made them forget all about good and evil. They immediately straightened up. "We’re ready!"
Le Qing placed an orange in the center, then lined up a few of her dumplings as the front line, even propping up two chopsticks like barricades. "Alright, come at me."
"Charge! Save the Orange Army!"
The two kids maneuvered their dumplings across the table, making sound effects—"Pew! Bam! Hah!"—as they went. The dumplings left trails of filling in their wake until they finally smashed through the enemy line and triumphantly rescued the orange.
Holding their prize high, they cheered, "We did it!"
"You two are amazing!" Le Qing picked up the dumplings that had flown off the table. "Now it’s time for the award ceremony!"
Brother and Little Sister Treasure sat side by side on the carpet like two eager puppies, eyes sparkling.
Le Qing pulled out two red envelopes from her bag. "Ta-da!"
"Waaah!!!" The two little ones, who had already resigned themselves to not getting red envelopes from their aunt, leaped up and grabbed them. "For us?"
"Yes, for you." Le Qing ruffled their hair gently. "May every year be full of happiness for you."
Though their expressions weren’t visible in the video, Le Qing remembered them clearly.
After the initial joy, their eyes had instantly reddened.
To them, the red envelopes weren’t about the money inside—they didn’t even understand money yet.
It was about the gesture. Getting a red envelope meant someone loved and cared for them.
In the days leading up to the New Year, every TV show featured scenes of parents and grandparents giving red envelopes to their children.
They didn’t have parents or grandparents. They only had their aunt.
So they had longed for her red envelopes more than anything else. She was the most important person in their lives.
That was what made them feel like a real family—a sense of security they didn’t even know they needed.
And now that they had it, they couldn’t hold back. They hugged Le Qing tightly. "I love Auntie so, so much!"
"I love even more!"
"I love a hundred times!"
The screen went dark as they blocked the camera, but their voices were clear.
At the time, Le Qing had been flustered by the sudden affection. "Why are you crying after getting red envelopes?"
"Not crying! Eyes are just being bad," Little Le Jia insisted stubbornly.
Little Sister Treasure clung tighter. "Auntie didn’t abandon An’an and Brother."
Le Qing froze. Had they really thought no red envelope meant she didn’t want them?
Once they wiped their tears, the two put their heads together, then suddenly dashed off to their room. "Auntie, wait!"
They returned with two sheets of red craft paper—leftover from art projects.
"What’s this for?"
"Making a red envelope for Auntie!"
They didn’t know how red envelopes were made, but they wanted to give her one too. Since they only had red paper, they folded it clumsily into shape.
Normally, red envelopes contained money, but they remembered how Le Qing had once given Uncle Xie an empty one. So after finishing their lopsided creations, they carefully picked out their favorite candies and tucked them inside.
Proudly, they presented their gifts. "Auntie, be happy every day too!"
"Next New Year, An’an will make a bigger envelope! For more candies! And other things!"
As Le Qing held the mouse, she wondered—how had she felt in that moment?
She was genuinely wondering at that time whether she could actually spend the next New Year with these two children. After all, by any measure, she was their aunt.
So she wanted to try a little harder—to free herself as much as possible from the influence of her original self and secure a chance to keep seeing them in the future.
At the very least, she wanted to prove that she wasn’t alone in this world, that there were people who sincerely wished for her happiness every day.
Her drifting thoughts were abruptly interrupted by two excited exclamations—one big, one small: "Wow!"
The moment Little Le Jia woke up, his first instinct was to go find his aunt. To his surprise, as soon as he stepped out, he saw an incredibly cool rocking car sitting right in the living room. He immediately dragged his still-groggy sister out of bed: "Little Sister Treasure, look! It’s a rocking car!"
That instantly snapped Little Sister Treasure out of her drowsiness.
Since they had slept so soundly the night before, Le Qing had only wiped their faces and hands before letting them rest. Now, their hair stuck up in all directions, especially Little Sister Treasure’s. The little pigtails she’d worn yesterday had solidified into shape, standing straight up—but that didn’t slow her down as she dashed toward the rocking car.
Little Sister Treasure ran up to the car and gently touched it in awe. "Auntie! Did you do magic?"
Otherwise, how else could such a huge gift appear overnight?
"Did you forget?" Le Qing continued with her task. "Uncle Xie promised you yesterday that he’d buy you a rocking car. But two little sleepyheads dozed off before they could see it."
Little Le Jia suddenly felt like he’d lost out on a fortune.
This rocking car was even cooler than the ones they’d seen outside the supermarket! It even had big wings!
And he and his sister had missed out on playing with it all night just because they went to bed early!
His world was shattered!
"Lazy pigs are awake now," Little Le’an declared, scrambling onto the car with her short legs and gripping the handlebars. "I wanna ride!"
Considering how fascinated they were with the car, Le Qing didn’t immediately insist they wash up. "Wait till Auntie sends you the video."
Video?
After two days of pure fun, the kids had completely forgotten about their "career."
And Uncle System hadn’t said much these past two days, so they hadn’t been reminded. If not for their aunt mentioning it, they would’ve totally forgotten.
Luckily, Little Le Jia wasn’t as carefree as his sister. Standing on his tiptoes, he peered at the computer screen. "Will lots of people like us today?"
Le Qing nodded. "Of course."
The boy’s mind immediately expanded with grand business ambitions—his rocking car supermarket was going to grow big and strong!
He’d make sure every kid who couldn’t afford a rocking car got to ride one!
"Then Little Sister can ride first, and I’ll watch the video!"
Le Qing let him be and turned her attention to figuring out how to operate the rocking car. The workers hadn’t tested it the night before, worried about waking the kids, but there was a manual.
Meanwhile, Little Le Jia sat obediently on a small stool, waiting for lots of people to like him.
As he waited, though, something felt off. "Uncle, did you go home for New Year too?"
Uncle System had already answered this question once before—a year ago.
But back then, the kids were only two, their understanding still hazy. Many memories had faded, including the fact that this same uncle had spent the last two New Years with them.
Little Le Jia truly didn’t remember. In his vague recollections, Uncle had always been there.
But now, Uncle spoke less and less.
It left him confused.
Uncle System explained again, "I don’t celebrate New Year."
"Why not?" Little Le Jia frowned. "Isn’t New Year fun?"
He and his sister had a great time.
Uncle System hesitated. How was he supposed to explain? "I’m just data. I’m not like you humans. I don’t have a family, so I don’t celebrate."
What was data?
"Why are you different?" Little Le Jia scratched his head. "You sound like other uncles."
Even though he’d never seen Uncle, he didn’t seem any different from a person.
Plus, Uncle knew so much and had taken care of him and his sister for so long. Uncle was a good guy!
Uncle System sighed. "You’ll understand when you’re older."
"Oh." Little Le Jia thought for a moment, then asked, "Did you get New Year’s money?"
"Adults don’t need New Year’s money."
"But Uncle said you’re not a person?"
"..."
This little rascal.
Uncle System gave up.
But then Little Le Jia suddenly moved, grabbing a handful of candies from the table and placing them in front of him. "Then I’ll give you some!"
Uncle System chuckled. "I’ve never given you any, why are you giving me some? I can’t even take it."
"I thought you celebrated New Year," Little Le Jia said. "If you don’t, then no red envelope for you. But other uncles get them, so you should too."
He meant the other uncle—Uncle Xie.
"Do you like that uncle?" Uncle System asked.
Little Le Jia thought carefully before answering honestly, "He’s kinda scary."
Uncle System: "..."
"But I like him," Little Le Jia added. "He’s a good person."
He chased away bad guys, gave them red envelopes, grilled meat, and even brought them a rocking car.
Uncle System guided him gently, "Remember what I told you? Good people deserve good things."
"Mm-hmm!"
"So if that kind uncle is in trouble, shouldn’t you help him?"
"Of course!"
Originally, Uncle System’s early mission was to ensure the kids grew up healthy under their "wicked aunt’s" care before tackling the issue of saving their uncle. But now, the first step had been unexpectedly resolved by Le Qing’s arrival.
So Uncle System decided to move the plan forward. "Then I’m giving you and Little Sister a new mission."
A mission?
Little Le Jia sat up straighter, suddenly feeling a sense of responsibility. "Okay!"
"That kind uncle is sick. You need to help him," Uncle System said. "And tell Little Sister to watch out for bad people around him. Some might try to hurt him."
Someone would dare bully Uncle Xie?!
Little Le Jia recalled Uncle Xie’s heroic takedown of the bad guy at the supermarket and grew worried. "Can they even beat him?"
Uncle System: "..."
"Uncle System, what’s wrong with Uncle Xie?" Little Le Jia was truly concerned. He didn’t want good people to be sick, but he wasn’t a doctor.
"He has..." Uncle System paused. "A disease where he’ll die if he doesn’t act cool."
Little Le Jia: "?"
What was Uncle System talking about?
"That uncle is very stubborn," Uncle System corrected, realizing he’d slipped up. "Like Little Sister when she’s mad—he needs someone to coax him."
Little Le Jia gasped. "That’s a sickness?"
"His is worse," Uncle System said. "Because he grew up without family, without an aunt. He was alone, and lots of people bullied him. So he needs to be coaxed for a long time."
Ohhh! So Uncle Xie was just a grown-up who needed extra love!
Little Le Jia felt like he’d cracked the code. "I unnerstand now!"
"Just like we agreed," the system reminded. "This is still our little secret, right?"
"Mhm!" Little Le Jia tilted his head thoughtfully. "Uncle System, if I eat candy, can you taste it too?"
The system chuckled. "Still thinking about sharing candy with me?"
"Well..." Little Le Jia said seriously, "I don’t remember much, but I feel like you’ve always been here for me and Little Sister Treasure, just like Auntie Le Qing when she’s not around. So you’re like family too."
He had his own logic: "Uncle should celebrate New Year with us."
Even though he didn’t know why the system had disappeared for the past couple of days, now that it was back, they had to make up for lost time.
The system fell silent for a long moment, only responding after Little Le Jia called out again. "I’m just a system, not your family. Auntie Le Qing is your family."
"Uncle?"
"But why don’t you try eating one?" the system suggested. "Maybe I’ll get to taste it too. Pick your favorite one."
Little Le Jia immediately grabbed his beloved chocolate candy and popped it into his mouth. "How is it, Uncle?"
"Mmm, I can taste it," the system replied warmly. "Very sweet. Thank you."
"You’re welcome~" Convinced, Little Le Jia dug through the rest of the candies. "I have more flavors—let’s share again!"
Before he could pick another, a hand gently stopped him. "Le Jia."
He looked up, startled, to see Auntie Le Qing’s stern expression and immediately felt guilty.
"No eating before brushing your teeth," Le Qing scolded, plucking the candy from his hand. "And no snacks before breakfast. Go wash up."
Little Le Jia stuck out his tongue. "Okay~"
Then he whispered to the system, "Uncle, I’ll share with you after I drink my milk!"
The system replied playfully, "Go on. After milk, it’s time for your rocking horse ride."
But it turned out to be wishful thinking—even after Little Le Jia finished washing up and helped Little Sister Treasure with hers, Le Qing was still circling the rocking horse, baffled.
She examined it closely but couldn’t get it to work.
Little Sister Treasure toddled over with her empty milk bottle and raised a hand. "I know! Auntie didn’t put in a coin!"
"Household rocking horses don’t need coins," Le Qing argued.
"Huh?"
Little Sister Treasure didn’t understand.
Meanwhile, Little Le Jia was stunned—his entire rocking horse business was ruined!
No coins needed?!
"Never mind, I’ll make your milk first," Le Qing decided, resolving to ask Mr. Xie for the workers’ contact info later to check if something had gone wrong during installation.
After preparing milk and noodles for the kids, she left them eating at the table and headed across the hall.
Mr. Xie had said she could knock if she needed anything since they didn’t exchange numbers.
Jiang Suizhi, who could afford to arrive at the Jiang family estate a little later today, was currently organizing his new place. Supplies delivered earlier were still scattered around. When he pulled out the pot from the top of the pile, he hesitated.
He used to cook for himself, but after returning to the Jiang family, work kept him too busy, and his routine fell apart. Gradually, he stopped cooking altogether.
This pot had been bought specifically for that 400,000-yuan dumpling incident—dumplings that were still sitting in his freezer.
For a moment, he considered making breakfast.
But the dumplings the kids had made were... not great. Aside from the few sturdy ones Le Qing had wrapped, the rest had dissolved into a sad soup.
Well, skipping breakfast wouldn’t kill him.
Jiang Suizhi disliked intrusions into his personal space, so aside from scheduled cleaning, no maids were allowed in his home. When the doorbell rang, his first thought was that he’d imagined it.
Honestly, it had been ages since anyone rang his doorbell. Before the Lin siblings, he’d had no friends—and even they weren’t allowed inside.
As for the Jiang family? Out of the question.
So it wasn’t until the second ring that he snapped out of his surprise, set the pot down, and went to answer.
Seeing Le Qing, he quickly grabbed the mask and glasses by the door and put them on.
Le Qing had almost given up, assuming no one was home, when the door finally opened.
"Mr. Xie—" She paused, taking in his appearance. "Are you heading out?"
Jiang Suizhi: "Mhm."
Without his usual cap, his hair looked soft and slightly messy, making him seem less sharp than usual.
Le Qing blinked. "In pajamas...?"
"..."
Unfazed, Jiang Suizhi replied, "Taking out the trash."
Then, smoothly changing the subject, "Did you need something?"
"Right," Le Qing explained. "So I wanted to check if I did something wrong."
Jiang Suizhi nodded. "Let me take a look."
"But weren’t you going to take out the trash?" Le Qing offered. "I can help with that."
His apartment was practically empty—what trash?
The only "trash" was that failed dumpling soup!
He stepped out and shut the door behind him. "Haven’t packed it yet. Later."
Fair enough.
Back at Le Qing’s place, the two little ones sat obediently at the table, each with a bowl of beautifully arranged noodles topped with a perfectly fried egg.
After several meals of subpar food, Jiang Suizhi felt an irrational urge to spank someone—preferably Jiang Yan’s kids.
Jiang Yan’s sins, repaid by his own children!
The kids, used to Uncle Xie’s visits by now, greeted him cheerfully. "Good morning, Uncle Xie~"
"Morning."
...Fine. Maybe cursing Jiang Yan in his head would suffice.
Noticing Jiang Suizhi’s gaze, Le Qing suddenly realized she’d dragged him over without considering whether he’d eaten.
"Mr. Xie, have you had breakfast yet?" she asked. "If you don’t mind, I can make you a portion too."
"No need. I don’t usually eat breakfast," Jiang Suizhi said, rolling up his sleeves to inspect the rocking horse manual.
Meanwhile, Little Le Jia, slurping his noodles, heard the system sigh. "This uncle never eats on time. His health will keep getting worse until he’s sick all the time, visiting doctors constantly."
The little boy froze.
Doctors meant shots. He and Little Sister Treasure had gotten them before—they hurt so much! Terrifying.
So he set down his kiddie chopsticks, slid off his chair, and marched over to Uncle Xie. With all the gravity a child could muster, he patted Jiang Suizhi’s shoulder.
Jiang Suizhi flinched in surprise, turning to meet the familiar, determined gaze.
"That’s a bad habit!" Little Le Jia declared, hands on hips. "No breakfast means tummy aches! Do you want to see a doctor? They’ll give you shots!"
Jiang Suizhi opened his mouth to defend himself.
"Yeah! Shots hurt!" Little Sister Treasure chimed in from the table. "Uncle has to fix bad habits!"
"I’m perfectly healthy," Jiang Suizhi argued. "Adults can skip breakfast."
The kids weren’t buying it. "Auntie Le Qing is an adult, and she eats breakfast!"
Then Little Le Jia remembered what the system had said—Uncle Xie was even more stubborn than Little Sister Treasure, and he’d been bullied as a kid, so he needed coaxing.
Tilting his head, he asked, "Uncle, do you need us to cheer you up?"
Jiang Suizhi was uncharacteristically stunned for a moment. "What?"
"Lots of kids need coaxing to eat," said Little Le Jia. "I’ve coaxed my sister before—let me coax you."
Though she knew she shouldn’t, Le Qing couldn’t help covering her lips with a quiet laugh.
Jiang Suizhi turned his face away. "I don’t need coaxing."
"But Uncle doesn’t eat breakfast," Little Le Jia tilted his head. "Why?"
"Because—"
Why did kids have so many questions?!
"See? Uncle doesn’t know," Little Le Jia decided he’d convinced him. "Then Uncle should eat breakfast first. How about this—if Uncle eats breakfast, I’ll give Uncle a reward, okay?"
Okay? Not okay!
Jiang Suizhi stood up and glanced down at him. "What reward?"
"Let Uncle ride the rocking horse first!" This was the best gift Little Le Jia could think of at the moment—even he and his sister hadn’t gotten to ride it yet.
"Okay!" Little Sister Treasure had no objections. She also thought skipping meals was very wrong. Climbing down from her chair, she added, "If Uncle eats properly, An’an will let Uncle ride."
Jiang Suizhi replied coolly, "I don’t like rocking horses."
Who are you trying to fool? No sincerity at all.
Who doesn’t like rocking horses?!
Little Sister Treasure was shocked and helpless.
Luckily, Little Le Jia had a solution. He tugged at Jiang Suizhi’s sleeve.
Jiang Suizhi glanced down—for now, he could tolerate this minor contact—and followed as the boy led him a few steps forward to a corner where a height chart was marked on the wall.
Little Le Jia stood under it first, raising a hand to measure his own height. "Uncle, come here."
Jiang Suizhi raised an eyebrow but stepped over.
"Stand here," Little Le Jia directed.
"Mm." Though his morning had been thrown into chaos by these two little troublemakers, Jiang Suizhi found his mood oddly pleasant. "And then?"
Now Little Le Jia was confident—this was how his aunt usually encouraged him and his sister.
He looked up. "If you don’t eat breakfast, you won’t grow ta—"
Huh???
How was Uncle Xie so tall?!
Seeing the child’s utterly shocked and wounded expression, Jiang Suizhi smirked. "Won’t grow what?"
"Auntie!" Little Le Jia had completely lost his appetite now. He dashed over to Le Qing. "How come Uncle didn’t eat breakfast and still grew so tall?!"
Le Qing was baffled.
How would she know?!
"Maybe he’s an exception. Maybe he ate a lot when he was little," she said vaguely.
Standing by the height chart, Jiang Suizhi straightened his posture slightly.
"No!" Little Le Jia grew even more indignant. "I want to be tall too! I won’t eat either!"
Le Qing: "?"
She immediately shot a glare at the culprit, her eyes full of disbelief and reproach.
Jiang Suizhi, who had just puffed out his chest while adjusting his collar—looking rather pleased with himself—"..."
Meeting her gaze, he silently hunched his shoulders again.
