The Vicious Aunt of the Genius Twins Chapter 46

◎The "Neighbor" Male Friend (Part 2)◎

After the cocktail party, Le Qing's bag was stuffed with business cards from all sorts of people—some she hadn’t even had the chance to glance at yet. But now wasn’t the time to sort through them. The two kids were still waiting for her in the hotel room.

"Someone just told me all the jewelry you wore today has been reserved," Lin Jian said as they walked together. "It’s not expensive, but it’s a great start."

"What?" Yu Shuqi, who had tagged along for an autograph, widened her eyes. "All of it? Gone?"

She still had two rings left on her own hands, yet no one had shown any interest, no matter how much she flexed her fingers.

"It might not just be because of me," Le Qing replied rationally. No matter how much she was worth, there were always others who’d go for more cost-effective options.

Some people might have bought her jewelry because Lin Jian was standing nearby, but since those transactions didn’t concern her much, she didn’t dwell on it.

"Honestly, it had nothing to do with me," Lin Jian said innocently. "All the people I know are already in your bag."

She meant the business cards. Le Qing had been chatting so enthusiastically with everyone that no one even paid attention to the jewelry.

"If you ever make it big, remember to give me a boost," Yu Shuqi said, a hint of envy in her voice. "By the way, I saw some commotion near you earlier, but it was blocked. What happened?"

Le Qing slowed her steps, her usual calm demeanor faltering slightly. She felt she should mention it but avoided talking about her own experience.

"I’m sorry," she murmured, pulling out a broken bracelet from her bag. "I didn’t protect it well. Someone snapped it."

Even if it wasn’t her fault, she still felt awful. If she hadn’t been admiring it in the restroom, this wouldn’t have happened.

Yu Shuqi froze.

For some reason, Le Qing looked so helpless and on the verge of tears that it caught her off guard.

"Who did it? Make them pay!" Yu Shuqi snatched the bracelet and examined it. "See, this is what happens with cheap stuff. Once I have more money, I’ll get you a sturdier one. It’s not a big deal—don’t cry over it."

She sounded like she was comforting a child who’d just broken their favorite toy.

Amused by her own thoughts, Yu Shuqi closed the box and shoved it back into Le Qing’s hands. "Even broken, you’re keeping it. Why do you seem so attached to this gift anyway?"

Le Qing didn’t hesitate. "Because I am."

That single word made both Lin Jian and Yu Shuqi stop in their tracks, staring at her in surprise.

The latter hadn’t expected Le Qing to be this upset over a bracelet worth a few thousand yuan. The former, however, recalled how the twins had once mentioned that Le Qing never admitted to liking anything—until now.

"Well, if that’s the case, I’ll have to buy you the expensive one someday," Yu Shuqi said, patting her hand. "Don’t worry, I’ll make sure of it."

Le Qing wasn’t actually fixated on a new bracelet, but she couldn’t suppress a flicker of anticipation.

Maybe she should start earning more money too—enough to give gifts to others in the future.

When they entered the hotel room, the two little bundles of energy immediately crashed into Le Qing’s arms, circling her anxiously. "Auntie, did someone bully you?"

They’d been worried sick in the room, but Uncle Lin hadn’t let them leave.

"No one bullied me," Le Qing reassured them, removing their masks. "Were you scared?"

The twins nodded in unison, their eyes red and puffy from crying, yet they stubbornly insisted they were tough and hadn’t shed a tear.

"Did you two know this would happen?" Lin "Andy Lau" Shengxi—finally able to relax—slumped onto the couch. "The moment I got to your place, these two were saying you’d get bullied."

"Yeah, when they came to find me, I thought it was weird. You never mentioned anything, so how did you subdue that person so quickly?"

Yu Shuqi blinked. "What happened? I feel like I missed everything."

But Le Qing was more puzzled as she looked down at the kids. "You told Uncle Lin I’d be bullied?"

How could they have known in advance?

If she hadn’t overheard those people in the restroom, she wouldn’t have had a clue who that woman was, let alone any intention of engaging with her.

The twins froze mid-sniffle.

In their worry for their auntie, they’d forgotten to keep their superhero identities a secret.

"That lady didn’t look nice," Xiao Lejia declared firmly.

Lin Jian chuckled. "You can read faces now?"

"Yep."

"Then what’s my face say?"

Xiao Lejia tugged at his sister’s little ponytail, forcing the younger twin to step forward and scrutinize Auntie Lin with solemn seriousness. "Auntie Lin is a good person. She worries about Auntie a lot."

"Fair enough," Lin Jian said, suppressing a laugh. "Can’t argue with that."

No one took it seriously—just kids relying on intuition and their love for their aunt. Lin Shengxi joked, "You two were so serious, I almost thought you could predict the future."

The twins refused to elaborate, clinging to Le Qing again.

She gently stroked their heads, but a seed of doubt had been planted.

As she’d said before—too many coincidences stopped feeling like coincidences.

The novel had described the twins as "genius prodigies," but in reality, they didn’t seem exceptionally bright. If anything, their development lagged behind other kids their age—they barely recognized any characters, far from the genius label.

Yet when she thought about it, their luck was uncanny. Before Le Qing took them in, they’d somehow survived on their own, even stumbling upon someone like Lin Jian instead of dangerous strangers.

That in itself was bizarre.

Then there was Meibao. Sometimes, it was like she could read Le Qing’s mind, sensing her nervousness or embarrassment instantly. During the audition, she’d immediately grasped Lan Qian’s intentions.

Was that normal for a sensitive child?

Or was this the twins’ hidden "genius" trait—something she just hadn’t noticed yet?

Maybe this was why everything always worked out for them. She just couldn’t pinpoint the pattern.

The kids’ voices snapped her out of her thoughts. "Auntie, are you cold?"

"Not really," Le Qing said. "There’s heating here."

"But it’s cold outside!" The siblings proudly unfolded the clothes they’d brought. "We packed these for you!"

Le Qing: "..."

"Wait, I’ve seen this outfit in a livestream!" Yu Shuqi cackled like a rooster. "So it’s real! Let’s see how it pairs with your evening gown!"

Before Le Qing could refuse, Lin Jian pulled out her camera. "I think it’s a great idea. You’re trending tonight—this’ll just add to the buzz."

Le Qing had to admit, the idea was tempting.

Originally, she’d just wanted to make a lot of money. But after tonight, she realized she could aim even higher.

Surrounded by warm smiles and playful encouragement, she felt lighthearted—like she could afford to be a little reckless.

So under everyone's encouragement, she gave up her original coat and put on the one the children had brought, helplessly letting Lin Jian laugh and take photos of her.

Soon, there was a knock at the door.

Lin Shengxi called out, "Who is it?"

Jiang Suizhi's voice came through, "Me."

The others suddenly remembered, "Oh right, don’t you two still need to go to the police station?"

Only Le Qing and Jiang Suizhi knew about the matter concerning the children. She let go of the two kids and said, "Could you take the children back later? We’ll head over there first."

Given Jiang Suizhi’s current image, it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to appear in the same frame as the children.

"Don’t worry," Lin Shengxi nodded. "Since my brother is going with you, I won’t join. We’ll leave after you."

"Mm."

After quietly instructing the children, Le Qing finally went to open the door.

"Le Qing, don’t worry about the bracelet incident," Yu Shuqi called from behind. "I’m fine!"

Standing at the door, Jiang Suizhi caught the keyword and glanced inside, spotting an unfamiliar face.

Once the door closed again, he asked thoughtfully, "Was the bracelet a gift from that person?"

"Mm."

Hearing the upward lilt in her tone, Jiang Suizhi glanced sideways and noticed that Le Qing seemed a little different today.

After a few seconds, he realized—her eyes were faintly red, and there was a faint scent of alcohol on her. No wonder, she had been chatting and clinking glasses all evening; she must have had quite a bit to drink.

He guessed, "You must be in a good mood now."

"What?"

"Nothing." His gaze fell on her outfit, and he felt he should remind her. "So you’re planning to wear this to the police station?"

Even during the New Year when there were hardly any people around, her ears would turn red for half the day.

Le Qing looked down at herself and smiled. "This is fine."

She truly didn’t care much about others’ opinions, and right now, she was indeed in a great mood.

Seeing this, Jiang Suizhi didn’t press further.

In fact, he found it more comfortable to interact with Le Qing like this—at least she was relaxed. It seemed that after drinking, she revealed a more genuine side of herself.

Once in the car, Le Qing got her first real glimpse of Jiang Suizhi’s wealth. The car he drove as "Mr. Xie" had already seemed expensive, though understated.

But this one, complete with a chauffeur, was on another level. The interior was luxurious, every detail exuding the scent of money.

Suddenly, a black velvet box appeared before her.

She looked up, puzzled.

"A gift," Jiang Suizhi said. "The last one broke, didn’t it?"

It broke, and so…

You actually bought me a new one?

"I…"

"It’s already bought." Jiang Suizhi anticipated her reaction and cut her off. "I picked it specifically for you. It suits you—couldn’t give it to anyone else."

But the box bore the logo of that high-end brand. Le Qing’s only prior experience with the extravagance of the wealthy was when Ivy had casually tossed her a card. She worried that opening the box might reveal something like "a car."

Jiang Suizhi said, "I thought we could consider each other friends by now?"

"Huh?" The topic shifted too quickly, and Le Qing couldn’t quite follow his train of thought. She answered dumbly, "I guess… we are?"

If she wanted to continue being the children’s aunt, she’d have to interact with Jiang Suizhi often anyway.

Besides, Le Qing felt Jiang Suizhi wasn’t like the domineering CEOs she’d read about in novels. She couldn’t quite put it into words—it was the way he’d been so carefree while horseback riding, or how he’d suddenly let go of her hand in the restroom.

A CEO who didn’t play by the rules.

But also one who was surprisingly easy to get along with.

"Then a gift shouldn’t be a big deal," Jiang Suizhi said. "Consider it to help you settle your nerves."

Le Qing asked cautiously, "How much did it cost?"

"…"

Here we go.

Fortunately, CEO Jiang had already consulted the talkative Mr. Qian for some advice.

Though the situation wasn’t exactly the same.

Mr. Qian had reacted as if he’d seen an alien. "CEO Jiang, as far as I know, when you give a gift, the recipient usually thinks the more expensive, the better."

After a long silence, Jiang Suizhi said, "Not necessarily."

Some people only bought clearance-sale items even for themselves—definitely not in the "ordinary person" category.

"Ah…" Mr. Qian understood.

So this was a classic rags-to-riches scenario.

"She definitely won’t accept it, so just shove it at her. Don’t give her time to hesitate. Tell her: 'I order you to take it.' Push once, push twice, but never a third time. Once she senses your unwavering resolve, she’ll take it."

Even now, Jiang Suizhi felt there was a slight flaw in this approach.

Imagining himself saying those words, he could almost feel Le Qing’s restraining hands around his neck.

Admittedly, she had been a little fierce back then.

Lost in thought, CEO Jiang’s neck began to itch. His gaze dropped to Le Qing’s wrist, where a small mole stood out prominently.

The shrewd CEO decided to take the latter half of Mr. Qian’s advice.

"Since it’s a gift, the brand gave a discount. For them, it’s also a form of investment." Having spent so long in wholesale, Jiang Suizhi had developed "experience" in making things seem like freebies. "It didn’t cost much. As long as you don’t mind."

Now Le Qing felt less burdened. She took the box. "Even if it were a five-dollar plastic bracelet, I wouldn’t mind."

With a click, she opened the box—and froze.

She didn’t care much for material things, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t be captivated. The bracelet inside was so stunning it was impossible to look away.

In the past, she’d felt unworthy of anything beautiful. But now, someone had chosen this specifically for her.

Did that mean, in someone else’s eyes, she deserved something this exquisite?

Noticing her prolonged silence, Jiang Suizhi couldn’t tell if she liked it or not. Back when he’d casually gifted Jiang Yan an Ultraman figure, the kid had been overjoyed.

"Don’t like it?" he asked.

"No." Le Qing closed the box and said sincerely, "I love it. Thank you."

Then she turned and studied her "new friend" carefully.

Like with Yu Shuqi, she didn’t want to accept gifts without reciprocating. Especially since Jiang Suizhi had helped her today—it was only right to return the gesture.

At the banquet, it had been crowded and chaotic, and this was her first time seeing Jiang Suizhi’s real appearance since morning. The difference was so stark she hadn’t gotten a proper look at him.

The backseat light was on, but dim.

Unlike her, bundled in a bizarre down jacket, Jiang Suizhi wore a meticulously pressed suit. His glasses reflected the light, casting shadows across his sharp profile.

Maybe it was the outfit and glasses, but they gave him an air of stern restraint—a stark contrast to the carefree man from before.

So… what kind of gift should she give him in return?

She was still lost in thought when he suddenly turned his head, eyebrows slightly raised. "What are you looking at?"

It was impossible for him to pretend not to notice—she had been staring for far too long.

"Nothing." Realizing her rudeness, Le Qing quickly averted her gaze.

Truth be told, she had no experience giving gifts to others, and the thought made her uneasy.

By the time they finished giving statements at the police station, it was already late at night. Gu Meng was detained for intentional harm and property damage, while Le Qing and Jiang Suizhi returned to their original hotel.

"Aren’t we going straight home?" she asked.

Jiang Suizhi paused as he stepped out of the car, glancing back to find her expression completely unreadable—clearly unaware of the implications of her words.

But then again, they were practically family now.

"I need to change clothes," he said. "Wait for me at the car from this morning."

Le Qing was confused but obediently headed to the vehicle.

Within minutes, Jiang Suizhi reappeared in the same outfit he’d worn that morning, and Le Qing understood—he was reverting to his usual self.

Thinking about it, Jiang Suizhi really had it tough.

He was already doing more than enough as a father.

Jiang Suizhi took the wheel on the way back.

He hadn’t been drinking, but Le Qing’s emotions had been on a rollercoaster all day, more turbulent than when she first arrived in this world. Now, in the quiet confines of the car, the alcohol’s effects finally crept up on her.

She wasn’t exactly dizzy, but her mind and body felt disconnected, and she didn’t want to think too hard.

After days of tension, she just needed a moment to breathe.

So she stared blankly at the road ahead, lost in a daze.

"Do you remember what I mentioned this morning?" Jiang Suizhi suddenly asked. "About the death anniversary."

It took Le Qing a few sluggish seconds to recall—he had said he would take the child to visit his older brother.

"I remember," she nodded.

"The family will be there in the morning, so you two can’t go that day," Jiang Suizhi explained, having already arranged everything that afternoon. "Would the day before work for you?"

As an outsider, Le Qing had no say. "Whatever you decide."

The car fell silent for a moment before Jiang Suizhi asked, "Have you visited him these past few years?"

According to Jiang Hechang, Le Qing had disappeared after taking the money and going abroad. No one could find her. On the anniversary, Jiang Yan’s gravesite was heavily guarded—not even a mosquito could slip through—and she had never been seen there.

So everyone assumed she had never gone.

But based on recent investigations, she had returned three years ago and had been living quietly in the city. There was no way she hadn’t heard about the major changes in the Jiang family.

Le Qing wanted to answer, but she had no idea whether the original owner had visited or not.

Besides, even if she had gone, wouldn’t it have been to see Jiang Suizhi? Why would she visit his brother?

So she shook her head. "No."

"Why not?"

Le Qing half-closed her eyes and countered, "Did any of you actually want me there?"

They did.

Every member of the Jiang family did.

Some were just waiting for her to show up so they could seize an opportunity, while Jiang Suizhi simply wanted Jiang Yan to see the woman he had once loved one last time.

But from Le Qing’s tone, she seemed aware of the consequences of appearing—so she chose to stay away.

Smart, as always.

"I’ll resolve this soon," he said firmly.

"?"

Resolve what?

Le Qing blinked, but her eyelids felt too heavy, and she gave up after three seconds. She rarely drank, and the rare occasion had left her more intoxicated than expected.

Fumbling for the sobering pills she’d prepared, she realized she had no water to wash them down.

"What kind of medicine is that?"

"Sobering pills." Without hesitation, Le Qing dry-swallowed the pill.

Noticing her struggle, Jiang Suizhi frowned and pulled an unopened bottle of water from the center console, handing it to her.

When she had the child with her, she always carried a water bottle. But today, without the kid, she hadn’t prepared anything—and hadn’t even asked for help.

"Most cars keep water stocked," he said. "Next time, just tell me if you need something."

Le Qing washed down the lingering bitterness in her throat and smiled faintly. "I finally have a friend."

Her voice was so soft Jiang Suizhi almost missed it. "What?"

"Nothing." She recapped the bottle and leaned back. "This is already more than enough."

Once people gained something, they always wanted more.

And with greed came disappointment. To avoid that, she chose contentment.

Having a friend, receiving a gift—she was grateful for that much.

But sometimes, words unheard the first time became crystal clear upon reflection. Jiang Suizhi pieced together her earlier statement and understood.

She had finally made a friend and didn’t want to impose.

Was that why she had been so upset about the broken bracelet earlier?

He glanced at the woman leaning slightly against the seat, once again seeing the same lonely, helpless figure from the restroom.

"Friends can make requests," he said.

Le Qing turned her head toward him, amused. "Says who?"

"Says me."

Her smile deepened. "You remind me of someone."

"Who?"

Back then, "Brother Jiang" had insisted she pick out clothes with the same words. But Le Qing didn’t know his real name.

Ironically, when she first uncovered Jiang Suizhi’s identity, she had wondered if he was "Brother Jiang." But after seeing the man’s profile picture and username, she dismissed the idea—their personalities and behavior didn’t match.

She couldn’t reconcile the image of Jiang Suizhi with someone who posted "liquidation sale" ads on social media. Plus, their WeChat IDs were different, so she dropped the suspicion.

Le Qing said, "He also had the surname Jiang."

Jiang Suizhi’s gaze dipped imperceptibly.

That would be Jiang Yan.

Someone actually thought they resembled each other.

He chuckled, but a few seconds later, he removed the glasses he always wore.

"I’ll make sure it’s easier from now on," Jiang Suizhi said quietly. "You can visit whenever you want."

The medicine’s drowsiness was setting in, and Le Qing’s thoughts grew hazy. "Visit who?"

"My brother."

She didn’t understand why he was so insistent on her meeting his brother, but she was too exhausted to argue. Rubbing her eyes to stay awake, she mustered a rational reply. "Probably better if I don’t."

Out of the corner of his eye, Jiang Suizhi caught the glimmer at the edge of her lashes.

He froze.

Was she crying?

Did she care so much that she couldn’t bear to face him?

Words lodged in Jiang Suizhi’s throat, but he didn’t know how to voice them. So he let the topic of Jiang Yan drop.

He suddenly felt like an idiot for bringing it up again and again.

All it did was make everyone miserable.

He fell silent, and Le Qing, grateful for the quiet, soon succumbed to sleep.

When the car stopped, Jiang Suizhi realized she had dozed off.

The person was frowning even in sleep, as if resting uneasily. Though the car had air conditioning, she still hugged her arms tightly—a posture of complete defensiveness.

Jiang Suizhi, who had some knowledge of psychological issues due to his own struggles, observed this.

It was already late, and if she slept longer in the car, she’d return home even later. So, Jiang Suizhi called out softly, "Le Qing."

Perhaps due to the medication and alcohol, Le Qing was deep in sleep.

Jiang Suizhi raised his voice slightly and gently patted her arm. "Le Qing."

The moment he spoke, she jolted awake, her eyes snapping open, her brows still tightly knit.

The last time he’d seen her wake was on set, her gaze drowsy and dazed. But now, her eyes held unease and fear.

Jiang Suizhi softened his voice. "It’s just me."

By then, Le Qing had shaken off the remnants of her nightmare. Recognizing her surroundings, she pressed a hand to her forehead, grounding herself in the reality of this new world.

She took another sip of water. "Sorry, I dozed off."

Jiang Suizhi nodded. "We’re here."

They walked to the elevator in silence, one weary, the other preoccupied.

Only when they stepped out and she turned toward her apartment did Jiang Suizhi suddenly speak. "I’m sorry."

"Huh?"

He placed the forgotten suitcase beside her and met her eyes. "I won’t mention him again."

Who?

His brother?

Before Le Qing could process it, Jiang Suizhi tilted his chin slightly. "Get some rest."

Watching the door close behind him, she still couldn’t piece together his meaning.

Did he think she didn’t want to hear about it?

After a moment, she sent him a message to clarify: "That’s not what I meant. You can talk about him if you want."

Now the guilt weighed heavier. She’d have to put more thought into the gift.

But she had no clue about luxury brands.

Then it hit her—someone who could help.

Sister Lvy and Chelles had mentioned that "Brother Jiang" specialized in high-end replicas. If so, he’d know all about popular brands, and his replicas likely mirrored mainstream tastes.

She wasn’t planning to buy a fake, but she could ask for his opinion.

So she opened Brother Jiang’s WeChat and typed out a message.

Meanwhile, just two doors away, Jiang Suizhi sat on his sofa, sipping water. He’d seen Le Qing’s message on his work account. Though inexperienced in romance, he understood that loss was something people least wanted to confront.

His fingers hovered, unsure how to respond.

Guilt gnawed at him, mixed with irritation.

Le Qing still loved Jiang Yan.

He was sure of it.

Then his personal phone lit up.

His pulse skipped. After a pause, he picked it up and opened the message.

Le Qing: "Brother Jiang, do you have pictures of the men’s luxury accessories you’ve replicated before?"

Jiang Suizhi: "?"

He closed his eyes briefly, then reopened them, making sure he’d read correctly.

AAAAA Wholesale Brother Jiang: "Yeah, what for?"

Le Qing: "I want to give a neighbor a gift and need some references."

AAAAA Wholesale Brother Jiang: "How old is your friend? I’ll suggest based on age."