◎That’s My Gift (Part 2)◎
For the safety of the two children, Lin Shengxi first called his older brother, but after hanging up, he felt something was off.
“How did you two know your aunt was about to be bullied?” he asked.
Besides, his sister was there—no one would be so tactless.
But the two little ones didn’t answer his question at all. They had already returned to their room and started packing their small backpacks.
They even thought their aunt would definitely feel cold dressed so lightly, so they worked together to bring the coat they had gifted her.
With hats and scarves neatly arranged by each other, the children stood at the door, looking at him with eager eyes. “Uncle Lin, we’re ready.”
“…”
—
The brand’s cocktail party started early, with a red-carpet signing and photo session in the afternoon. After a quick meal, Le Qing and Lin Jian prepared to head over.
Noticing Le Qing’s worried expression since they left, Lin Jian asked, “What’s wrong?”
Her interview performance had been great, and the online response was positive. The magazine’s sales wouldn’t disappoint—it was a solid start for Le Qing’s career.
Le Qing tucked her phone away. “The kids are coming.”
Lin Jian chuckled. “They really can’t stand being apart from you for even a second. But it’s fine—will the nanny bring them? We can arrange a separate room to take care of them.”
Finding a room in such a large hotel wouldn’t be a problem.
But Le Qing’s concern wasn’t about that. Jiang Suizhi had messaged her earlier, seeking her permission before allowing Lin Shengxi to bring the children—giving her the respect she deserved in this situation.
It was normal for kids to cling to their parents, but not to this extent, especially since she’d already told them she’d return.
Le Qing realized she had underestimated how much they relied on her.
She couldn’t quite describe the emotion swirling inside her.
Yet, the moment she learned she’d see them, an uncontrollable joy surged within her. She was more attached to the children than she’d thought—and that realization unsettled her.
Lin Shengxi sent another message: the kids were already settled in a hotel room, so she didn’t need to rush.
Le Qing still had a packed schedule ahead and couldn’t leave immediately, so she entrusted their care to him for now. Jiang Suizhi had also arranged bodyguards, which put her at ease.
As they neared the venue, even Lin Jian, influenced by the children’s arrival, now felt Le Qing needed extra attention. While the makeup artist touched up Le Qing’s look, Lin Jian carefully instructed, “I still have a shoot later, so I won’t be walking the red carpet with you. Just follow the schedule—pose for brand photos, sign your name, then head inside. A staff member will give you your seat number. I’ll find you after I’m done.”
Several of the models attending tonight were featured in her special edition. To ensure post-event engagement, she planned to capture their standout red-carpet moments—guaranteeing exposure for the next month.
When it came to work, Lin Jian was reliable. Many models skyrocketed to fame after collaborating with her—her portraits had a way of turning into iconic shots.
“Got it,” Le Qing nodded softly. “See you later.”
Lin Jian got out mid-route with her camera, while Le Qing’s car continued straight to the red carpet.
Models in the following cars watched with envy. “Lin Jian got out—she actually rode in the same car as her.”
“So what?” Without cameras or outsiders around, Gu Meng’s expression darkened. “If it weren’t for her, I would’ve been the cover model. I’d be in that car right now, leading the red carpet.”
Models had their own hierarchy, just like celebrities.
With Le Qing’s interview still trending online, hashtags like #LeQingDivineBeauty and #LinJianStunsWithAmateurModelDebut dominated the charts—even her interactions with the kids had spawned multiple tags.
Le Qing’s debut was undeniably successful, while the rest of them remained nameless.
Worse, they had to walk behind her.
If this continued, Le Qing would likely network with Lin Jian inside the venue, securing a smooth career path ahead.
The more Gu Meng thought about it, the angrier she grew—especially remembering how Le Qing had ignored her in the dressing room earlier.
If Le Qing had at least snapped back, Gu Meng wouldn’t feel this stifled.
“There’s always next time,” someone beside her offered, seeing her clenched fists. “It’s not like we’ll never shoot again.”
Gu Meng scoffed. “How is it the same?”
Lin Jian rarely worked domestically—one cover a year, even fewer commercial shoots. Gu Meng wasn’t just missing out on a cover; she was losing a year’s worth of exposure and connections. A year was everything for a model.
Seeing her frustration, the other woman lost patience. They were all fair-weather friends—who actually cared?
“Then what? The magazine drops tomorrow. You can’t stop the presses.”
The words struck a chord.
Gu Meng didn’t have that kind of power—but if Le Qing ran into trouble, it could delay the release. A reshoot might even happen.
Then maybe she’d lead the spring brand gala instead.
The car ahead slowed to a stop. Spotlights and a sea of photographers focused on the opening door as a slender leg in sparkling black heels stepped onto the carpet.
From Gu Meng’s angle, she could only see the flawless, bare back and the delicate curve of Le Qing’s waist.
The revealing dress didn’t look vulgar on her—instead, it exuded an untouchable elegance. Even from inside the car, Gu Meng could hear the gasps of photographers and waiting fans, their admiration grating on her ears.
“Quick, we’re next,” someone urged nervously.
Gu Meng forced a smile, ready for her own moment of applause.
But the moment she stepped out, she noticed most lenses were still trained on the figure ahead.
Walking behind Le Qing, she felt like she was chasing an unreachable shadow. Even the cheers were quieter—everyone’s eyes were glued to the woman in front.
Admiring. Mesmerized.
Gu Meng’s composure shattered.
—
Le Qing moved carefully under the barrage of flashing lights and photographers’ shouts. Thankfully, she was used to this—her expression remained flawless, not a single misstep.
At the signing board, the host announced her name. She picked up the pen and wrote two characters.
As the final stroke settled, an odd thought struck her—for the first time, it truly felt like she existed in this world. Standing here wasn’t because of some predetermined plot or protagonist’s luck.
She’d earned it.
"Today is Le Qing's debut appearance—do you know how much attention you're getting right now?" the host asked with a smile.
Le Qing took the microphone, her expression slightly puzzled. She had never paid much attention to online discussions about herself. "I haven’t had the chance to check yet," she admitted.
"Well, you should definitely take a look when you can. People are already calling you the 'Goddess of the New Year' for your looks."
In her previous work, Le Qing had never moved in such high-profile circles. Even when clients praised her appearance, no one had ever labeled her a "goddess," let alone the "Goddess of the New Year." The title felt too grand—she didn’t think she deserved it.
"You’re all too kind," she replied gently. "Thank you for the love, and I hope everyone will support tomorrow’s magazine issue and Lin Jian. She’s the one who made me look good in the photos. Thanks again."
Her response was poised—neither overly humble nor arrogant.
For a newcomer, her attitude was remarkably polished, and the host couldn’t help but respond with genuine warmth. "I hope your career flourishes from here."
Le Qing curved her lips into a soft smile. "Thank you. The same to you."
Her polite use of formal address and soothing voice left the host utterly charmed, watching her walk away with an almost dazed expression.
As Le Qing stepped down from the check-in platform, she paused for a photo in front of the brand’s logo. Hearing someone in the crowd call her name, she felt a sudden wave of unreality.
The feeling of being recognized filled her with an unexpected sense of peace—even hope for the future.
When she first arrived in this world, she had thought: If I can just leave unscathed, I won’t chase fame or fortune. It doesn’t matter if the work is good or bad, hard or easy—as long as I can find a place to belong and live peacefully, that’s enough.
But now, it seemed she could not only walk away unharmed but also keep the right to be a guardian to the children. Even better, she had a career where she was recognized and even held to high expectations.
The future suddenly felt full of promise.
By the time she entered the venue, many guests had already arrived. Those who knew each other were exchanging greetings, while Le Qing quietly took her assigned seat, waiting for Lin Jian.
Her stillness made her stand out amidst the lively chatter.
After a while, she thought she heard someone calling her.
"Le Qing!"
Not an illusion.
She turned and saw a familiar figure weaving through the crowd toward her.
As the person drew closer, she blinked in surprise. "Yu Shuqi?"
"I’ve been looking for you! Didn’t expect you to be sitting here so quietly. Shouldn’t you be making a splash on your big day?"
Seeing that Lin Jian hadn’t arrived yet, Yu Shuqi took her seat instead, studying Le Qing with an appraising gaze. "Long time no see. You really seem like a different person now."
The last time they’d met was during the shoot at Lin Shengxi’s gathering.
Back then, Le Qing had been the one behind the camera. Now, she was the subject.
"Maybe I am different," Le Qing replied, half-joking.
"It’s a good change. You’re even better now." Yu Shuqi sighed, her tone laced with envy. "I’ve never been this purely jealous of someone’s looks before."
Le Qing had already been showered with compliments all day, and the attention still made her uncomfortable. Eager to shift the topic, she asked, "You were looking for me?"
"Yeah! I knew you’d be here today, so I came to thank you." Yu Shuqi pulled a small box from her clutch—so tiny it must have been the only thing her bag could fit. "This is for you."
A jewelry box.
Le Qing was taken aback. "For me?"
Since coming to this world, she had started receiving gifts from others—starting with Sister Ivy.
Was it possible that life really did turn around after hitting rock bottom?
Yu Shuqi nodded. "I’ve been waiting for this chance. Thank you for the photos you took of me last time."
But Le Qing wasn’t one to accept gifts casually. She pushed the box back. "You already paid me for that. I just did my job."
"This is beyond payment." Yu Shuqi slid it back toward her. "If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t even be here today."
Before, she had just been a small-time influencer reselling luxury goods. No brand would have invited her to an event like this, let alone considered her for endorsements.
"That day after buying your bag, I thought a lot about things," Yu Shuqi admitted. "If I wanted to move forward, I couldn’t stay in my comfort zone. I had to aim higher. So I started trying to shift my career direction, but I had no experience and it was tough to figure out. Then, when you were taking my photos, the way you guided my poses and style—it accidentally helped me find my path."
She straightened up, gesturing at herself. "See? Don’t I look more polished now? Less like a filter-dependent internet personality? Those photos caught the eye of a small-time director, and I landed a minor role in his project. I’m moving into acting now."
Le Qing nodded. "That’s still your own talent at work."
"But you were the catalyst." Yu Shuqi opened the box, revealing a delicate bracelet. "I’m not exactly rolling in cash yet, so it’s not super expensive, but it’s from a real brand. I picked it carefully—it suits you perfectly right now."
The bracelet was indeed beautiful—simple, elegant, and understated. Before the event, Le Qing had researched the brand and recognized this design as one of their more affordable pieces.
Just as she was about to decline again, Yu Shuqi snapped the box shut and shoved it into her hands with a mischievous grin. "Don’t worry, it’s brand new."
Le Qing couldn’t help but laugh.
"Oh, and one more thing..." Yu Shuqi lowered her voice. "I saw what happened with Ye Yun. You handled it perfectly. She’s practically vanished from the internet now. So satisfying."
"Ye Yun?"
"You didn’t know? After that live-stream debate with you, she might as well have quit social media. I’ve been holding a grudge against her way longer than I ever did with you."
"..."
Le Qing didn’t follow online drama, but she was still surprised.
Had her words really made that much of an impact?
With nothing urgent to do, Yu Shuqi settled in for a chat. "Hey, if you’re here alone, where are your two little ones?"
"In the hotel room. I’ll go back to them after this."
"Then let’s meet up later! I’ll get their autographs." Yu Shuqi suddenly leaned closer, squinting. "Are you wearing colored contacts today?"
"No?" Her natural eye color was already light, and the makeup artist had decided it looked fine without enhancements.
"Really?" Yu Shuqi propped her chin on her hand. "I thought I was seeing things. You didn’t just change that one day we met—you keep changing."
"Hmm?" Le Qing didn’t follow.
Yu Shuqi pointed at her eyes. "When you talked about the kids just now, your expression shifted. That day at the café, you looked like you’d been dragged into babysitting against your will. But today? You seem like their real mother. You’re not, are you? It’s okay, we’re all in the industry—I get it."
"What exactly do you 'get'?" Le Qing laughed. "I really am their aunt."
"Alright, alright." Yu Shuqi shrugged, feigning disappointment at the lack of gossip, though she also seemed relieved. "That’s actually better. Now that you’re debuting, if people dug up some scandal about you having secret kids—whether they believed it or not—it’d still cause trouble."
What on earth is all this? Le Qing really didn’t need to worry about such things.
She let out a helpless laugh and was just about to speak when Lin Jian’s voice interrupted from behind: "I thought you’d be bored here alone, so I rushed over. Looks like you’ve got company."
"Lin Jian!" Yu Shuqi immediately stood up. "Sorry, I took your seat for a bit to chat with her."
"No problem." Lin Jian lazily draped an arm over the back of Le Qing’s chair. "The more you chat, the better. I was starting to think she didn’t have any friends."
Yu Shuqi almost admitted she and Le Qing weren’t exactly friends, but a glance at Le Qing’s unchallenging expression made her swallow the words with a touch of slyness. She waved instead. "Well, I’ll head back now. Call me later if you need to find the kids?"
"Sure."
Only after Yu Shuqi left did Lin Jian sit down, noticing the box in Le Qing’s hand. "You even got a gift?"
"Yeah." Le Qing’s lips curled into a faint, unconscious smile. "A bracelet."
It was rare for her to share personal details, so Lin Jian understood immediately. "Seems you really like it."
Le Qing gently stroked the box. "Mhm."
This wasn’t just Yu Shuqi’s gift to mark a new chapter—it was also a gift for Le Qing herself, a step toward embracing a life beyond her past complacency. She wanted to try moving forward.
She picked up the box. "I’m going to the restroom."
"Alright, go ahead."
As Le Qing walked away, Lin Jian replayed the conversation she’d overheard earlier.
An unmarried mother?
Well, at this point, it made sense not to bring it up openly.
Though she doubted Le Qing would mind either way.
Meanwhile, Le Qing entered the restroom and opened the box, carefully examining the bracelet inside.
She hadn’t dared to stare too long in public, afraid of seeming overly emotional.
Under the brighter restroom lights, the delicate diamonds on the bracelet sparkled brilliantly—absolutely stunning.
After admiring it for a while, she couldn’t resist slipping it onto her wrist. It matched the brand’s aesthetic perfectly.
So beautiful that she almost pulled out her phone to take a picture, wanting to preserve it like the clothes from the kids and the card from Sister Lvy—kept as cherished mementos.
In a corner of the banquet hall, two little ones—one in a princess dress, the other in a tiny suit, both wearing rabbit and fox masks—were sneakily hiding. "Uncle Lin, that’s the lady!"
Lin Shengxi rubbed his temples. "You’re sure?"
He’d assumed the kids were just making excuses to see their aunt, but they’d zeroed in on someone, adamant that this person meant to bully Le Qing.
With so many media outlets at the event and Jiang Suizhi’s imminent arrival, the children absolutely couldn’t be photographed with him.
So Lin Shengxi had scrambled to find them temporary outfits—thankfully, "Brother Jiang" had spares—and two small masks to sneak them in.
If phones weren’t discouraged right now, he’d have texted a warning already.
"Listen," he said firmly. "After we warn your aunt, we go straight back and wait for her, okay?"
The kids pressed their lips together, clearly reluctant.
"If you don’t agree, Uncle won’t take you. We can’t disrupt her work."
Finally, they nodded grudgingly. "Fine."
Lin Shengxi had already looked into it: the person the kids pointed out was Gu Meng, one of the models collaborating with his sister. But given Le Qing’s homebody tendencies and focus on the kids, today was likely their first meeting.
As a straight-laced guy, Lin Shengxi couldn’t fathom why these two would clash.
"Alright, your aunt went to the restroom. We’ll sneak over—An'an, you go in, deliver the message, and come right out."
An'an gave a solemn nod, accepting the mission.
"What about me?" Little Le Jia asked.
"You stand guard at the—" Before Lin Shengxi could finish, Gu Meng strode toward the restroom.
No way. This couldn’t be happening.
"Change of plans! You go alert Lin Jian." He pointed urgently. "Go, go!"
The kids split up, An'an’s little legs pumping like windmills as she raced to protect her aunt.
Lin Shengxi signaled a bodyguard to tail the boy discreetly while hurrying after the girl—only to realize he couldn’t even keep up with her.
Little Le Jia sprinted head down, nearly crashing into a solid figure. His nose throbbed from the mask’s impact, but he barely paused, muttering, "Sorry," without looking up.
"Le Jia?"
At the familiar voice, he skidded to a halt and turned, eyes widening. "Uncle Xie!"
"What are you doing here?"
Having witnessed Uncle Xie take down bad guys before, Little Le Jia instantly deemed him more reliable than Lin Jian. Without hesitation, he switched targets. "Uncle Xie, someone’s bullying Auntie."
His grammar was off, but the urgency was clear.
Jiang Suizhi frowned. "What?"
"Uncle Xie, I need to tell Lin Jian first." Though he trusted Uncle Xie, he had to fulfill Lin Shengxi’s request. "We have to help Auntie!"
Inside the restroom, Le Qing remained blissfully unaware of the chaos outside. She was still admiring her bracelet when a mocking voice cut through the quiet.
"I thought it’d be something valuable, the way you’re treasuring it. Guess you’ve never had the finer things."
Le Qing glanced up, unsurprised by the face she saw. Without a word, she carefully removed the bracelet, placed it back in the box, and turned to leave.
But the other woman blocked the door, locking it.
Le Qing’s brow furrowed. So this was directed at her.
Oddly, she didn’t feel rushed anymore. Leaning casually against the sink, she said, "Even if something happens to me today and the magazine flops, you still won’t land Lin Jian’s cover."
Gu Meng stiffened, caught off guard by her bluntness—and the fact that Le Qing knew her motive. "What nonsense are you spouting?"
Le Qing smiled. "Why else would you lock us in here? We’ve never met. If you just wanted to put me in my place, you’d have plenty of chances later. But you took a risk now because the stakes are higher, right? The only thing tying to your interests at this moment is tomorrow’s magazine."
Her lips curled slightly. "Though frankly, you’re being too hasty."
Gu Meng dropped the act, sneering. "If it weren’t for you, that spot would’ve been mine."
"Earlier, I wasn’t sure. But now I am." Le Qing’s voice stayed calm. "Even without me, it wouldn’t be you. Lin Jian would never pick someone like you for the cover."
Given Lin Jian’s past hints and probes, she knew that much.
"Who knows until it happens?" Gu Meng stepped closer. "You have to fight for what you want."
Le Qing didn’t move, her gaze steady and unreadable.
That look from Gu Meng once again gave Le Qing the illusion that she wasn’t even in her line of sight, instantly filling her with rage. She pulled out the temporary fabric pins she had taken from the costume designer earlier for emergency dress alterations and aimed them at Le Qing’s arm.
Of course, she wouldn’t take too big a risk. As long as she had an excuse to make something happen to Le Qing tonight, delaying tomorrow’s release—even if an investigation later cleared her name—the damage would already be done.
There were no cameras in the restroom. After using the pins, she could easily dispose of the evidence—just flush them down the toilet.
Seeing her movements, Le Qing immediately understood what the other woman intended to do. She had seen plenty of celebrities in the industry pull stunts for the sake of trending on social media. Gu Meng wanted to frame her by injecting something into her.
Her eyes darkened. The moment Gu Meng reached for her, Le Qing lifted her skirt and kicked out, swiftly grabbing the wrist of the hand holding the pin while twisting the other arm behind Gu Meng’s back, locking her in place.
Gu Meng hadn’t expected her to have such skills. “Let me go!”
“Who’s the crazy one here?” Le Qing scoffed. “As if.”
After an incident where she’d been framed by an actress in a hotel, she had spent her downtime on set learning a few self-defense moves from the martial arts coordinators—just in case. Now, it had actually come in handy. Though, after so long without practice, her strength wasn’t what it used to be.
To better restrain Gu Meng, Le Qing had to use her teeth to pull the pin from the other woman’s grip.
Just then, urgent knocking came from the door. “Le Qing? Are you in there? Are you okay?”
Lin Shengxi?
Le Qing couldn’t free her hands to open the door, and with the pin clenched between her teeth, she couldn’t speak either. She could only drag Gu Meng toward the entrance step by step.
Before she could reach it, a deep voice suddenly sounded from outside. “Step back.”
Jiang Suizhi was here too?
Before Le Qing could react, a loud bang echoed as the restroom door was kicked open from the outside.
Le Qing: “…”
Only Lin Jian stood at the entrance, but someone nearby asked nervously, “Sis, do you see anything? Is everything okay?”
Taking in the scene inside, Lin Jian fell silent for three seconds. “Someone else is in trouble.”
As soon as she spoke, several heads popped out beside her—An’an in her mask, a visibly tense Lin Shengxi, and the bespectaceless, impeccably suited CEO Jiang.
Like Lin Jian, the others froze at the sight.
Jiang Suizhi was the first to recover. He turned to Lin Shengxi and instructed, “Take the kids away first. We’ll handle this. Keep the media out.”
“Got it.” Lin Shengxi snapped out of it, scooping up the two loudly protesting children and hurrying off.
It wasn’t just the people outside who were stunned—Le Qing hadn’t expected such speed and… violence. That door… wasn’t it expensive?
So were the shoes that kicked it in.
In the split second she was distracted, Gu Meng broke free and scrambled back in panic, spotting the box Le Qing had left on the sink—something Le Qing treasured deeply.
By the time Le Qing turned around, the bracelet inside had already been snatched out.
She lunged forward, trying to kick the bracelet from Gu Meng’s hand, but it was too late. The chain snapped with a sharp twang.
At that sound, something in Le Qing’s mind—a tightly wound string—suddenly snapped.
Her pupils constricted. After standing frozen for two seconds, her expression turned icy as she strode forward, one hand seizing the broken bracelet while the other slammed Gu Meng against the sink.
The people at the door no longer cared that this was the women’s restroom. Between Le Qing’s high heels and the pin still in her mouth, the situation was too dangerous.
“Le Qing!”
The moment Lin Jian called out, someone was already stepping forward, gripping Le Qing’s wrist.
Le Qing frowned, turning to snap back—only for a pair of slender, well-manicured fingers, adorned with an expensive diamond-studded watch, to reach for her lips.
The pin she had been holding between her teeth was plucked away by the impeccably dressed man in gold-rimmed glasses.
“Let go,” Jiang Suizhi said.
“No.” Le Qing’s voice was hoarse. “That was my gift.”
Jiang Suizhi paused, momentarily taken aback.
The woman who was always unshakable, whose eyes had burned with the same reckless determination as when she rode a horse, now looked slightly red-rimmed—fragile yet stubborn.
“It was a gift from someone,” Le Qing repeated.
Jiang Suizhi’s hand trembled faintly again.
“Lin Jian,” he called.
Lin Jian, who had been about to step in: “?”
Jiang Suizhi: “Close the door.”
Le Qing: “…”
Lin Jian: “???”
Glancing at the growing crowd drawn by the commotion, she suddenly understood what he meant.
She’d forgotten—before returning to the Jiang family, this man had always been unreasonable and untamed.
Lin Jian stepped out, pulling the broken door shut behind her to block everyone’s view, then leaned against it casually.
Inside the restroom, Jiang Suizhi glanced at the pin he’d taken from Le Qing’s mouth, then slowly released her wrist. Behind his glasses, his dark eyes held a faint chill.
“Don’t hurt yourself,” he said softly.
