◎Sense of Mission (Part 2)◎
Annie, who also used to sleep in until she naturally woke up, wasn’t handling the situation much better than the two kids: "You all really don’t take me seriously as a mother, do you?"
Le Qing’s approach was always gentler than Jiang Suizhi’s. The two little ones were still haunted by the shadow of being ruled by work—mentioning it even once more would make them burst into tears.
She quickly reassured them, "It’s the weekend today. We’re taking you out to play. Don’t listen to Uncle’s nonsense."
The crying stopped abruptly. Even the grumpy adult, still groggy from sleep, looked over curiously. The three of them asked in unison, "Out to play?"
Well, now they knew who the kids took after.
"Yes, out to play." Le Qing turned to the "instigator," blinking at him, "Where are we going?"
Jiang Suizhi scowled, "Don’t listen to Uncle’s nonsense."
Still holding a grudge, huh? Le Qing raised an eyebrow, "Fine, then we won’t take Uncle along."
His aloof act lasted all of three seconds before Jiang Suizhi caved, "Uncle wants to go."
The ever-stubborn uncle had Secretary Chen draft a list of fun weekend family activities. Aside from the usual amusement parks, spring had arrived, and there were plenty of outings for a spring excursion.
Considering Annie’s visual impairment, they avoided crowded places.
"There’s a themed anime camping site three hours away by car." Jiang Suizhi handed one of the brochures to the kids, "Want to go?"
The two little ones, who had been bawling their eyes out and condemning their uncle just moments ago, now practically wanted to cling to him. But the moment they got close, he pressed a finger to their foreheads to keep them at bay.
"Talk if you want, but don’t get too close."
"Hmph." Little Le Jia muttered under her breath, "Uncle sticks close to Auntie too."
"Different situations call for different approaches." Jiang Suizhi glanced at his younger sister, "Good morning, An’an."
The little sister blinked her big eyes, "Good morning, Uncle."
Huh? She’d already said good morning—why was Uncle still staring at her?
Puzzled, the little sister peered into her uncle’s eyes before suddenly realizing. She beamed, "Today is also a day Uncle really, really likes Auntie!"
Le Qing, who had been intently studying the itinerary, took a deep breath and glared at Jiang Suizhi, "What nonsense have you been teaching them now?"
Jiang Suizhi feigned innocence, "She’s just being honest. Do I need to teach her that?"
The morning was a chaotic whirlwind as the family set off, bickering and laughing all the way.
Jiang Suizhi kept feeling like he’d forgotten something, but even after arriving at the campsite, it still hadn’t come to him.
Meanwhile, back at the Jiang residence, Old Master Jiang and Jiang Hechang sat by their phones, waiting all morning for a call that never came.
Having learned that the current Le Qing wasn’t the same as their former daughter-in-law, Old Master Jiang felt deeply regretful. He had genuinely adored that well-mannered young woman.
Though he’d heard rumors about his grandson’s less-than-honorable intentions toward her, the old man was convinced it would never work out.
That grandson of his had nothing but a pretty face and a sharp business mind—his temper was far too peculiar. Old Master Jiang couldn’t bear the thought of a sweet girl like Le Qing suffering.
At least, according to Jiang Hechang, the children’s birth mother had also returned, arriving alongside Le Qing—though she now went by Annie?
"Are you sure you’re not senile?" Old Master Jiang grumbled, "Did you even explain the situation properly to Suizhi?"
Ever since returning home, Jiang Hechang had been restless. The guilt over Annie losing her sight because of him kept him awake at night, so he’d ended up bothering his son in the wee hours.
He wanted Annie brought home so the family could have an open, honest conversation—and he could offer a proper apology.
That morning, the entire Jiang household had prepared for their arrival. He and the old man had even dressed up, ready to welcome them.
Yet here it was, nearly noon, and not a single word had come.
"I knew I shouldn’t have teamed up with you," Old Master Jiang huffed, "I’d have gotten to see them by now if I’d gone alone. You’re nothing but dead weight."
Jiang Hechang: "..."
Sometimes, life was just unfair.
Old Master Jiang snatched up his phone, "Useless."
Time to take matters into his own hands.
To avoid tipping them off, he first called Secretary Chen and soon learned where the kids had gone.
"They went on a spring outing," he frowned, "Without you."
Jiang Hechang, stabbed by yet another verbal dagger, replied flatly, "Or you."
The two men exchanged glances.
Then, in unison, they stood.
"What are you planning?" Old Master Jiang knew his son’s schemes all too well, "Know your place first."
Jiang Hechang swallowed his frustration, "Can’t I at least watch from afar? Today, we’re in the same boat."
"The boat’s sunk."
Old Master Jiang was merciless.
Still, father and son eventually piled into a car together, arms laden with toys, snacks, and gifts for the two women.
Jiang Hechang had high hopes—since they were all out having fun, their moods must be good. He’d extend a sincere invitation, and after a tiring day, they could all return home for dinner.
He’d even bring Jiang Yan’s portrait.
A complete family reunion.
Old Master Jiang, too, had his own plans—first, trick his son into driving him there. If the girls were amenable, he’d play the peacemaker and bask in the harmony.
If they refused to forgive his son? Well, he’d disown the man without hesitation.
And so, each lost in their own thoughts, they set off.
---
The themed family campsite was a wonderland built around fairy tales. With spring’s lush grass, blue skies, babbling streams, and tiny bridges, plus a safe playground for kids and mushroom-shaped cottages hidden beneath the turf, it was paradise for little ones.
Jiang Suizhi had arranged with the owner to book the place privately but still allowed some visitors in to keep the atmosphere lively. The crowd was just right—not too packed, not too empty. The sunlight and the company made everything perfect.
After setting down their belongings at their campsite, he looked up to see Le Qing snapping photos of the two kids and Annie.
Since Annie couldn’t see, videos were meaningless to her. Le Qing had brought a camera, planning to process the photos later so Annie could feel them—and someday, when her sight returned, see them too.
Noticing this, Jiang Suizhi pulled out his phone and framed the three of them in his shot.
When Le Qing turned to help the "pack mule" organize their things, she caught him aiming his phone at her. Even when discovered, he showed no shame—instead, he blatantly took a few more shots of her face.
Jiang Suizhi pressed the shutter, capturing her under the dappled shade, bathed in sunlight.
Through the lens, their eyes seemed to meet.
Though she’d posed for countless professional photoshoots, this was the first time Le Qing had faced a "photographer" whose gaze felt as deep and intense as ink.
For someone who was always effortlessly composed in front of the camera, she suddenly found herself unsure which foot to step forward with.
Her eyelashes fluttered slightly as she avoided Jiang Suizhi’s gaze, blurting out a teasing remark to make their ensuing conversation feel more natural.
"President Jiang, people usually have to pay to take my picture."
"We’re in wholesale—barely making any profit," Jiang Suizhi chuckled. "Will paying with a person do?"
At this moment, President Jiang was more than happy to take the advice his nephew had given him.
If you want a wife, you can’t afford to care about pride.
Though he used to think Jiang Yan was annoyingly talkative, taking a step back, at least Jiang Yan had a wife.
That was Jiang Yan’s sole redeeming quality.
So his suggestions did carry some credibility.
The thought that Jiang Yan had both a wife and a child by the age of 26, while he himself had neither at that age—and was even mocked by his therapist for his "early love life"—filled Jiang Suizhi with indignation.
Le Qing chose to ignore his shameless behavior but couldn’t help feeling curious about the photos he had taken.
Just the idea of her pictures stored in Jiang Suizhi’s phone, ready for him to flip through anytime, gave her the sense that he was watching her every moment.
Wasn’t it strange to leave photos in someone else’s phone?
Especially when that someone was a suitor.
Noticing her lingering gaze on his phone, Jiang Suizhi casually handed it over. "Want to take a look?"
Le Qing raised a brow. "Aren’t you afraid I’ll delete them?"
"They’re photos of you," he said, unlocking the phone and placing it before her, opening the album. "You have every right to decide their fate."
Even if he was a shameless rogue, he made sure to toe the line of her boundaries.
Jiang Suizhi prided himself on being an ethical scoundrel.
At his words, Le Qing immediately picked up the phone.
But her first instinct wasn’t to delete the photos—it was to see how she looked through his lens. How could he have taken them so earnestly?
This was Jiang Suizhi’s personal phone. Aside from the daily breakfast photos he took for the kids’ records and the absurdly edited discount product images, there wasn’t much else in the album.
Those thumbnails were so glaringly out of place that they were impossible to miss.
Le Qing didn’t enlarge them, but a faint smile tugged at her lips—until she tapped on the most recent photos of herself. In an instant, her amusement vanished.
"They’re all beautiful," Jiang Suizhi said, oblivious to the impending danger, trying to coax her into leaving a few for him. "The ones in the light are especially stunning."
Le Qing stared at the overexposed images where her hair strands were brighter than her face.
All her earlier mental preparations had been for nothing.
Honestly, it wouldn’t hurt to let him keep these photos, she thought expressionlessly. After all, even she couldn’t bear to look at them a second time.
A top-tier model, praised by every photographer as flawless from every angle, had just encountered the first career setback of her life.
"You went through a lot," Le Qing said sincerely.
Jiang Suizhi’s eyes brightened as he inched closer. "It wasn’t too bad."
Le Qing: "Finding angles that make me look this unflattering isn’t easy."
Most photographers couldn’t even manage it.
"..."
President Jiang, who had been halfway through scooting nearer, silently retreated to his original spot.
Not beautiful?
He thought she looked radiant!
His heart had been pounding the whole time he took them.
Le Qing returned the phone and began organizing the kids’ snack bags.
Jiang Suizhi flipped through the photos repeatedly, still convinced she looked lovely—though she clearly disagreed.
He asked, "You’re not deleting them?"
Le Qing smirked. "No, I’ll let you keep them."
Was this his lucky day?
"Look at them often—it’ll cure you," she added.
A remedy for lovesickness.
"Impossible." Since she’d allowed him to keep them, even if she disliked them, Jiang Suizhi would hold onto them—and seize the opportunity.
Right under Le Qing’s watchful eye, he boldly created a separate album for her photos, glancing up with a grin. "Then how about Teacher Le Qing gives me a lesson? Help me take photos you’ll actually like."
Le Qing sensed a trap and refused outright. "Teacher Le Qing doesn’t tutor talentless students."
"Then I’ll just have to make up for it with effort," Jiang Suizhi concluded. "I’ll take more photos."
Unable to resist, Le Qing stuffed a cheese stick into his mouth to shut him up. "Do you really have to photograph me?"
"Of course." His dark eyes sparkled with amusement as he chewed, his voice low and warm. "I want Teacher Le Qing to see how happy she looks too."
Le Qing froze for a second.
When she recalled those photos, setting aside the disastrous composition and lighting, she realized—she had been genuinely smiling in every single one.
It was a version of herself she’d never bothered to notice before.
While she was lost in thought, Jiang Suizhi held out another cheese stick, lightly pressing it to her lips. "Since you’re always so used to watching others be happy, let me be the one to watch yours from now on."
Le Qing instinctively bit down on the cheese stick.
As the creamy sweetness melted in her mouth, she lowered her gaze slightly.
"Thanks."
Whether it was for the snack or his words, she didn’t specify.
Jiang Suizhi rubbed his tingling fingertips again. "Then how about a thank-you gift?"
"What?"
His slender fingers stretched toward her, bathed in the overhead light like a beam of sunshine meant just for her.
"Share some energy, Teacher Le Qing?" He smiled. "I’m running out of battery."
It was a line he’d used to fool kids, yet here he was, recycling it for himself.
But Le Qing noticed the slight tremor in his fingers.
"Where’s your medicine?" she asked.
Jiang Suizhi gazed at her, his smile unwavering. "Right in front of me."
Even though she knew this man was an opportunistic rogue, Le Qing’s mind echoed his earlier words.
For years—long before Annie and the kids—she had drifted on the outskirts of the world, never quite fitting into the warmth of others. Even when she tried to mimic their joy, buying little desserts to taste their happiness, it never stuck.
She had always been an observer of others’ happiness, accustomed to standing on the sidelines.
But now, someone had placed her at the center of his vision, watching her joy instead.
After a long pause, Le Qing slowly reached out her hand.
Just a brief touch, to ease his condition.
That was all, she told herself.
Just as their fingers were about to meet, a tiny hand suddenly shot between them, slapping against Jiang Suizhi’s fingertip.
"Zap!" Little Le Jia, fully immersed in the themed camp’s roleplay, stretched across the table excitedly. "Energy transfer in progress! Zzzzt!"
An'an, right behind his brother, chimed in, "Me too! Me too!"
Jiang Suizhi’s face darkened instantly.
He had been so close—Le Qing’s hand was right there!
His hard-earned chance to touch her, gone!
Watching Le Qing withdraw her hand, he immediately looked up with eyes more eager than the two little ones: "I didn't even get to touch it."
Le Qing felt an inexplicable embarrassment, as if caught in the act, her ears turning red as she stood up and feigned nonchalance. "Your medicine is here—touch that instead."
Then, she said to Little Le Jia, "Give your uncle a hug. It’ll transfer more energy."
Little Le Jia’s eyes lit up like high-beam headlights: "Really?!"
Jiang Suizhi: "..."
Jiang Yan, your son is done for.
Annie stood behind them with her arms crossed. To communicate better with the children, she had bought a portable translator. At this moment, she raised an eyebrow lightly and asked, "What did he want to touch?"
Now fully aware of Annie’s mischievous tendencies, Le Qing refused to give her any gossip material. "No idea."
Annie chuckled. "Liar."
Le Qing’s ears burned even redder.
How could she tell she was lying when she couldn’t even see her?!
"You haven’t noticed?" Annie tapped her head lightly. "Your tone sounds like you’re pouting when you lie."
Le Qing vehemently denied it. "No way!"
"A double negative is a confirmation." Annie leaned closer, whispering teasingly by her ear, "Better be careful~"
Careful of what?
Le Qing had a hunch she was being teased again.
The situation wasn’t in her favor, so she quickly changed the subject. "Why did you all come over?"
"Oh." Annie finally remembered the actual reason. "Someone said there’s a parent-child event today. Since I’m not very mobile, I came to fetch you."
Parent-child event?
Little Le'an clung to her aunt’s leg. "Auntie! There’s a super big ball! And prizes if we win!"
Clearly, the little ones were excited.
"Alright, let’s go take a look."
Today’s event was specially arranged by the venue’s owner for their VIP guest, ensuring the sponsor’s children would have a blast. A carefully planned interactive game had been prepared.
The handful of families already seated at the sidelines widened their eyes when Le Qing’s group appeared.
What kind of family was this?!
Every single one of them was stunningly good-looking!
A few kids even recognized the two little ones: "Le Jia and Le'an! And the pretty auntie!"
They often saw videos of these adorable children on their phones!
Little Le Jia, sitting on a small chair in the front row with his sister, slowly stood up, straightened his collar, and waved. "That’s right, it’s us!"
The crowd burst into applause.
Le Qing covered her face in secondhand embarrassment—her socially fearless little one was always front and center.
The first game was a teamwork challenge to push an enormous fabric ball to the finish line. The first family to succeed would win a small sun trophy. Each family could send one parent.
For twin families like the siblings, both children could participate.
So, two parents and two balls were allowed.
Le Qing and her sister pushed one ball, while Jiang Suizhi and Little Le Jia pushed the other.
"Auntie and sister, don’t worry." Little Le Jia stood confidently beside his uncle. He thought the ball was a bit too big, and since his sister and aunt might not have as much strength, he declared with conviction, "Uncle already transferred energy to me. We’ll definitely win."
He believed in his hero uncle.
Le Qing agreed—Jiang Suizhi, with his tall stature and long legs, had the advantage over all the other parents. She nodded. "Do your best."
Then she glanced at Jiang Suizhi. "You too."
The prize was an oversized bunny plushie.
No wonder the kids were so excited. Le Qing admitted, "It’s actually pretty cute."
Jiang Suizhi, who had originally planned to just go through the motions and let the kids have fun, perked up at her rare expression of liking something.
Big Brother Jiang’s sense of duty instantly kicked in.
At the referee’s whistle, all the families began rolling their giant balls forward at top speed.
Le Qing and An'an were the steady, coordinated type, making smooth and safe progress.
Suddenly, something whizzed past them, and the spectators erupted in gasps.
While Le Qing was still focused on pushing the ball, she heard Little Le Jia’s frantic shouting.
"Uncle! Uncle!"
"My shoe! My shoe fell off!"
"?" She peeked out and saw Little Le Jia being held mid-air by Jiang Suizhi, who had gripped the back of his clothes. The little one’s legs flailed wildly like helicopter blades.
Jiang Suizhi, with one hand holding the child and the other pushing the ball, left everyone far behind—including Little Le Jia’s lost shoe.
The next moment, a patch of grass near a small mushroom-shaped hut rustled, and an old man wearing a "grass hat" stealthily picked up the shoe. Waving his cane, he sprinted after them with surprising agility. "Damn you, Jiang Suizhi! Let go of my great-grandson!"
Le Qing: "..."
Big Brother Jiang: This insatiable competitive streak of mine.
