◎It’s a Bit Late for Puppy Love at This Age (Part 2)◎
Annie.
Le Qing silently repeated the name in her heart, yet unlike before, she couldn’t find even the slightest trace of it in her memories.
Who was that person in her memory?
It felt so real—so real that she could almost feel it herself, as if she had been submerged in overwhelming joy, only to be followed by endless sorrow.
"I’ve told you my name more than once, I’m sure," Annie said. "Is it really that hard to remember?"
"No," Le Qing finally snapped out of her thoughts and stepped forward. "Do you have a Chinese name?"
This time, Annie’s lips seemed to tighten for a fleeting moment—so brief that Le Qing wondered if she had imagined it.
"No," Annie replied softly.
When they returned to the dining room, the chef was already in place.
The moment Le Qing and Annie walked in, all eyes turned toward them.
"Oh my god."
"Annie can pull off this style too?"
"So cool."
"Aunt Annie and Auntie Le Qing look so alike!"
Amidst the chorus of English, Xuxu’s voice was the one Le Qing heard most clearly. She couldn’t help but glance over.
Truthfully, she and Annie didn’t look that similar, but perhaps because they were wearing the same style of clothing, even she had felt a momentary daze.
Annie clearly heard the exclamations too and raised an eyebrow. "That surprising?"
"Very," Lvy said, pulling out chairs for the two of them and making space for them to sit in the center.
One was a first-time guest, the other the guest of honor for the day—yet sitting together, they somehow made everyone else feel like outsiders.
Chelles asked, "Are these Le Qing’s clothes?"
Le Qing nodded. "Yes."
"I feel like Annie wearing them makes her seem infected by your gentleness, but she doesn’t look as soft as you do in them."
What kind of strange adjective was "soft"?
Chelles added, "Annie, you never cease to amaze me. You actually agreed to wear someone else’s clothes."
Le Qing quickly explained, "They’re brand new."
"Obviously," Lvy said. "But their brand only makes one piece per design. How did you manage to get matching sets?"
Le Qing paused. "One piece per design?"
Brother Jiang had said his clothes were all sample pieces.
And some were knockoffs of big brands—could he really replicate them so well that they could pass as the real thing?
That would be way too impressive.
Lvy, recalling the children’s clothes Le Qing had bought before, chuckled. "Don’t tell me these are fake brands too."
Le Qing glanced at Annie, worried she might mind. "But the quality is really good, and they fit perfectly."
"So what?" Annie rested her elbow on the table, relaxed. "I like them. Too bad I can’t see them."
"That’s easy to fix," Chelles said, raising her phone. "I’ll take a photo of you two and edit it so you can ‘feel’ it later."
"Sure."
Before Le Qing could react, Annie leaned toward her, her shoulder lightly pressing against Le Qing’s, smiling at her.
"Three, two, one!" Chelles checked the photo. "You two are seriously photogenic. But looking at this, you really do seem like a perfect match. It’s like fate—could Le Qing actually be Annie’s ‘debt collector’?"
Le Qing wanted a copy of the photo and was about to ask Chelles to send it to her when she heard this and frowned. "What debt collector?"
Since Annie didn’t stop them, everyone started chattering at once, with Chelles the most enthusiastic. "A really powerful fortune-teller from your country once said that Annie has a ‘debt collector’ in her life—someone she owes a debt to. Only when that person appears can she break free from the chains of fate."
Le Qing hadn’t expected Annie, who grew up abroad, to believe in such things. "That sounds a bit mystical."
"Not really," Lvy said mysteriously. "Think about it—Annie used to get a fever every birthday without fail. But this year, not only did she accept your gift, she didn’t even resist the idea. Isn’t that fate?"
Le Qing felt her heart stir at their words. She even wondered if the memories that had flashed through her mind earlier were also part of this so-called fate.
Suddenly, another glass of juice appeared in front of her—pushed over by Annie, who leaned in and whispered, "It’s not fate."
"Then what is it?"
"Do you believe it?" Annie’s sightless eyes seemed to pull whoever looked into them deeper. "I’ve always thought of it as… something lost and found again."
Le Qing’s heart skipped a beat.
"Since they say we look alike," Annie said, her brow lifting slightly, "why don’t you call me ‘sister’?"
The idea had popped into Annie’s head out of nowhere. She had never considered it before and had been puzzling over the strange connection she felt toward Le Qing.
She had touched Le Qing’s face, studied her photos, yet found no resemblance between them. She couldn’t put a name to the bond they shared—until she heard everyone say how alike they looked.
That was when the word "sister" suddenly came to mind.
And she accepted it almost instantly.
"Don’t even think about it," Lvy cut in. "I had to beg her forever just to get her to call me ‘sister.’ This girl’s even more stubborn than you."
Le Qing protested, "That’s not true."
But then, almost against her will, she found herself looking at Annie. "Really… can I?"
"I always mean what I say," Annie teased. "Say it."
"Sister."
The room erupted in cheers, with Lvy the most indignant. "You actually called her that?! She didn’t even get you a gift!"
Amidst the noise, only Le Qing and Annie remained quiet.
Annie’s playful, teasing expression froze for a moment before settling into something calm yet intense—like the stillness before a storm. Le Qing felt she couldn’t bear the weight of those unfocused eyes and had to look away.
It had all been a spur-of-the-moment impulse.
But she had genuinely wanted to say it. Unlike with Grandpa or Lvy, where she had resisted, the urge had been screaming at her ever since they were in the room earlier—so loud that she hadn’t had time to think before reaching for it.
Le Qing’s lashes fluttered nervously. Just as she was about to change the subject, Annie raised her hand.
Annie’s fingers trailed up Le Qing’s arm before finally resting on top of her head. "I knew it," she murmured. "My instincts were right."
She laughed softly. "Le Qing, somewhere in the past—somewhere I don’t remember—you must have been someone very important to me."
Annie’s memories were full of gaps. Or perhaps her life had been too simple before—so simple that it could be summed up in a glance.
That was why she had always felt like she had lost something, like something was missing. But until now, she had never found an answer.
Of course, this was something only she knew, something only she could slowly uncover.
And now, at last, she felt like the blank spaces in her life had gained a little color.
"Wait for me a little longer. I will remember," she promised.
The warmth on her head felt comforting. Though Annie's hands were always cool to the touch, her voice carried a sense of reassurance that was hard to ignore.
Le Qing had never felt this way about anyone else. In her view, the only person she could truly rely on in this world was herself—only she could give herself security.
Yet, for some reason, she believed Annie's words without question, especially her promises.
"I think I've forgotten something too," Le Qing murmured softly.
"Are you two really that close? What secrets are you whispering about?" Chelles snorted, finding their behavior odd. "If you’re so attached, why not just take her home with you later?"
"No," Lvy was the first to refuse. "I don’t care which sister you are—I was the first to give her a gift. Tonight, Le Qing is already reserved for me. Xuxu, ask your godmother if she wants to come to our place."
"Godmother!" Xuxu, ever the best wingman for his mother, chimed in. "Xuxu wants to sleep with godmother~ Just like with the little siblings!"
Back when the younger siblings were around, godmother never had the chance to sleep with him—she always ended up with Aunt Wang instead.
He had been waiting for this for so long!
"No matter how comfortable a hotel is, it’s never as good as home," Lvy said. "If you have work tomorrow, I’ll have the driver take you. Spend these few days with us—who knows when you’ll visit next?"
Le Qing thought about it and agreed.
She had originally planned to meet up with Lvy after work anyway. Staying at her place would also give her time to arrange a call between her own children and Xuxu.
She nodded. "Alright."
Lvy shot Annie a triumphant look, declaring her victory.
The latter, however, continued eating leisurely, completely ignoring the provocation.
"I don’t think Annie will let you off that easily," Chelles remarked. "Have you forgotten how vindictive she can be?"
Lvy: "..."
Le Qing was still out of the loop. "What?"
Though she wanted to understand the strange reactions she’d been having, she knew it wasn’t something she could figure out overnight. She also hadn’t made any plans to visit Annie’s home.
"Eat," Annie said instead of answering, her voice laced with amusement. "Weren’t you starving?"
She was—famished, in fact.
For the first time that evening, Le Qing finally managed to eat a proper meal in peace.
Unlike the gatherings hosted by Lin Shengxi, this one was just a casual affair—eating, drinking, and chatting freely as if they were at home. When it was time to leave, everything felt natural, as if they saw each other every day.
Annie didn’t leave separately as she had arrived. Instead, she followed Le Qing back to her room, watching as she packed her things to leave with Lvy.
She even got into their car.
"You’re not seriously coming to my place, are you?" Lvy sighed. "Will your family even allow it?"
This young lady was delicate—her family doctor checked on her daily, she wasn’t permitted to stay out overnight, and she even wore a heart rate monitor on her wrist so her family could keep track of her health.
Annie, who had drunk quite a bit, leaned back against the seat with her eyes closed, a faint smile on her lips. "I’ll just see you off."
"Riding in my own car to send me home," Lvy rolled her eyes. "I really don’t get you."
"Are you feeling alright?" Le Qing rummaged through her bag and pulled out a box of medicine. "I have some hangover pills here. Take one if you’re not feeling well."
"Don’t just give her anything," Lvy quickly corrected. "Her body is... complicated."
Le Qing: "?"
She hastily put the medicine away, surprised. "Then why does she still go swimming in such cold weather?"
"Exactly," Lvy teased. "The more delicate someone is, the more they court death."
The subject of their discussion chuckled softly. "Don’t listen to her nonsense."
But Le Qing took it to heart and whispered, "You should drink less in the future."
Annie, who had been drifting off, opened her eyes at this. Though she couldn’t see, she still turned her gaze in Le Qing’s direction.
"Mm," she replied, ruffling the other woman’s hair with practiced ease. "I’ll listen to you."
Even blind, her movements were effortless.
Across from them, Lvy was teaching the child to speak in a mix of English and Chinese. Annie listened for a while before suddenly asking, "Do you like London?"
Le Qing answered honestly, "I’m not very familiar with it."
"What about them?" Annie pressed.
"Them?"
"You mean Lvy?"
"Mm," Annie’s voice was soft. "Her child misses yours. There are good schools here too."
Le Qing didn’t quite follow.
"Le Qing," Annie murmured, eyes still closed. "Would you ever consider living abroad?"
Le Qing: "!"
Again, another abrupt question.
Lvy was the first to react, sighing. "You think everyone can just follow your whims? Don’t throw out random suggestions—you must be drunk. She has no family here."
Annie covered her mouth and laughed lightly.
"If you come," she said, "I’d look forward to it. I’d be your family. Sisters should be family."
The identical phrasing made Le Qing’s head spin, blurring the line between reality and illusion once more.
Even after getting out of the car and watching Lvy’s driver take Annie away, she still hadn’t given an answer.
"Don’t overthink it," Lvy said, as if reading her mind. "Her family spoils her too much, so she’s full of bold ideas. If anything makes you uncomfortable, just say so—she won’t mind."
"It’s not that," Le Qing shook her head. "I actually did consider it."
"?" Lvy laughed in disbelief. "Are you two really that in sync? Whatever. If you ever decide to come, we’ll take care of housing, transportation, even the kids’ schooling. It’s no trouble."
The way these wealthy people spoke made it sound like they were discussing a simple meal or a piece of bread. Le Qing knew her own limits. "It’s just a thought. The children’s family is back home—I wouldn’t leave them."
There was a time when she thought that if she ever had to part with her kids, she’d just find a quiet corner to live out the rest of her days.
But things had changed. She didn’t have to leave, so she’d stay with them.
Though perhaps she could visit London more often.
"Can I ask… what was Annie like in the past?" she ventured.
Lvy led her to the guest room, her expression turning serious. "We all like you, but Annie’s special treatment of you has always surprised us. She has many friends, but none she truly holds close to heart."
"Truthfully, even we don’t fully understand her. After her illness, she became a completely different person. But one thing’s certain—she really does see you as someone important."
From Lvy, Le Qing learned bits and pieces about Annie’s past, though nothing too detailed.
She even had a bold thought in her mind—could the other person be like her, someone who had suddenly transmigrated into this world?
But the idea was quickly dismissed. After all, Annie’s experiences were different from hers, and she had memories of the past.
And in all those years, she had never met anyone who resembled Annie. So what was the deal with those sudden memories that had popped into her head?
Annie clearly didn’t speak Chinese.
Meanwhile, the moment Annie returned home, she was immediately surrounded by the butler and the doctor.
“We’ve told you to drink less, but you never listen,” her father stood in the center, his tone stern. “What happened today?”
Annie pulled out the heart rate monitor bracelet that had been tucked in her bag, along with her silenced phone, which showed multiple missed calls.
“You even took off the bracelet?”
“Mhm.”
“Do you have any idea how dangerous that is? You can’t keep acting so recklessly! Your health—”
“Father,” Annie interrupted him. “There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”
Seeing that she was unharmed, her father dismissed the others. “What is it?”
“I want to return to China,” Annie said.
“What?”
“I met a child I really like. I want her to become part of my family.” Annie had never been one to hide her thoughts—she spoke bluntly, completely unfazed by how outrageous her words might sound. “Father, I’ve lived under your protection for so many years, never knowing what I truly wanted. This is the first time.”
“What child?” Her father frowned. “If you like her, just bring her home. It’s not like we can’t afford it.”
“I mean, I want her to be my family,” Annie emphasized again. “Just mine.”
At the same time, in a neighboring city, Jiang Suizhi was just about to sleep when he received a call from Secretary Chen.
“President Jiang, our people can no longer get close to Miss Le Qing,” Secretary Chen said cautiously.
Jiang Suizhi had developed a habit—no matter where he was, he always kept bodyguards nearby.
Le Qing was working alone in London, and before he left, he had assigned a few people to follow her.
His brows furrowed. “Reason.”
“Miss Le Qing packed her luggage and left the hotel with someone else,” Secretary Chen explained. “It was the person who adopted Lan Xu back in China, along with another unfamiliar woman. The place they’re staying is heavily guarded—it’s a private estate with too much security. Our cars can’t get in.”
They couldn’t even approach the area without being noticed and turned away. They had completely lost track of her.
In the past, Jiang Suizhi had investigated every person around Le Qing, so he knew the identity of this “Lvy.” He guessed that Le Qing might have been invited over by her.
The security at that person’s home was something Jiang Suizhi trusted. “Just follow her when she leaves. No need to keep watch otherwise.”
“Understood.” Secretary Chen hesitated. “Should we look into that unfamiliar woman?”
Now that President Jiang had taken over the company here, his connections and access to information were far broader than before. Investigating someone would be easy.
Jiang Suizhi suppressed the terrifying urge to clear away every single person around Le Qing. He lowered his gaze to his hands. “No.”
If she found out, she’d be angry.
But while he could control his thoughts, some reactions were beyond his restraint. Jiang Suizhi felt that his once-unshakable self-control was now being tested daily.
And he was constantly teetering on the edge of failure.
Not only did he want to touch her—he wanted to see her.
President Jiang had never dealt with anything like this before, but he had a vague sense that it wasn’t a good sign. So he reopened the chat with his therapist.
“If, aside from possessiveness, other thoughts arise about that specific person… what stage does that indicate?”
The therapist, ever attentive to his VIP client, replied almost instantly. “That depends on the specifics. Things like dependency or subconscious avoidance are normal. Could you give an example?”
Jiang Suizhi typed impassively.
“Heartbeat becomes erratic when seeing them.”
“Care about their every move.”
“Even when together, still want to keep watching.”
“Constantly want to meet them.”
Therapist: “…Are you really 26 years old?”
Jiang Suizhi: “?”
The therapist consoled himself—this patient was a special case. In the past, not even a male mosquito could get close to him. He needed careful guidance.
Therapist: “President Jiang, while it’s a bit late for puppy love at your age…”
Therapist: “You are, in fact, in love. Unless the other person is a man.”
Jiang Suizhi’s fingers trembled slightly, as if he’d been exposed and had nowhere to hide. He reflexively tried to justify his own despicable behavior. “What if it’s a man?”
“Then nothing.”
Knowing that the patient was likely trapped in denial, the therapist mercilessly tore away the last shred of his dignity, forcing him to face reality.
“If it’s a man, then you’re just gay.”
Jiang Suizhi: “……”
(Note: The last line is a personal note from the author about taking leave for a birthday celebration, so it’s not part of the story translation.)
