【Ohoho, your baby my baby, don’t think I can’t see right through you, mister.】
【Damn, is this really what I signed up for in a baby-watching livestream? Keep it coming, I’m loving it.】
【Sequel to the ship! How are they not kissing yet?】
Jiang Suizhi’s action instantly exploded the livestream’s engagement, turning the comment section into a chorus of screaming fangirls.
Le Qing’s heart was also screaming internally. She shouldn’t have let her guard down—Jiang Suizhi wasn’t even afraid of his own father, let alone a camera. She shoved him away. His loungewear was thin in the spring, and his body radiated heat. Her fingertips tingled as she quickly withdrew her hand.
She couldn’t even imagine the state of the livestream now.
With a stern face, she declared, “No breakfast for you.”
“Who says it’s gone?” Jiang Suizhi twirled the pen he’d used to mark her height on the wall, glancing at the lines beside it before tapping it lightly. “This counts as payment.”
Not just Le Qing, even Yu Shuqi beside them blushed furiously, her heart racing.
It felt like she was sitting in the observation room of a dating show.
So sweet.
After watching Le Qing kick Jiang Suizhi out, Yu Shuqi snapped out of it and followed her into the kitchen to prepare breakfast for the two kids. Her gaze kept drifting to Le Qing’s still-flushed earlobes.
Noticing the five bowls neatly arranged, she finally couldn’t hold back. “I thought Jiang Suizhi wasn’t getting breakfast?”
“The…” Le Qing paused, correcting herself. “Big brother and little sister will make sure he eats.”
Otherwise, he’d just photoshop another meal check-in.
Yu Shuqi smirked. “Oh~”
She stifled a laugh. “No offense, but how are you two not dating yet?”
The audience was probably already forcing them into a relationship in the comments.
【Shuqi, keep talking, you’re speaking for all of us.】
【I wanna know too—how are they NOT dating?!】
【If I didn’t like this man and he treated me like this, I’d break his hands!】
【Yeah, tie him up! Strip him! See if he dares act smug then!】
【The internet is not a lawless land.】
Le Qing’s movements faltered slightly, but she didn’t answer.
She wasn’t a three-year-old—she knew the difference between familial love, friendship, and romance.
She was grateful to Jiang Suizhi and considered him a friend, but she also knew that if it were anyone else—like Lin Shengxi—she wouldn’t have let them repeatedly test her boundaries.
No one knew how deafening her heartbeat had been that day on the mountaintop, watching kites fill the sky, when she called Jiang Suizhi and heard his voice.
But everything she had now was hard-earned.
Whether it was Le Yang, the kids, Grandpa, or Uncle Jiang, their kindness was pure and unchanging.
Jiang Suizhi was different.
She knew that if their relationship ever crossed that line, any fallout could mean losing what they had now.
Even now, she couldn’t shake her habit of “letting things slide.”
She admitted her feelings for Jiang Suizhi but couldn’t promise she’d always be someone he’d love so passionately.
Because love was the most volatile of all emotions.
【If Le Qing doesn’t have feelings for Jiang Suizhi, I’ll eat a hundred cookies!】
【If she didn’t like him, she’d say so outright, not hesitate like this, right?!】
Yu Shuqi, having been in relationships herself, tactfully dropped the subject when she saw Le Qing avoiding it.
Sure enough, after breakfast, the kids forgot their grudge against their uncle and dashed over to his place with his bowl of noodles.
Le Qing and Yu Shuqi packed the kids’ things and got ready to leave.
The PD reminded them, “A new eco-hotel opened in the forest park earlier this year—that’s where we’re headed today. Pack some sportswear for the kids.”
The forest park’s eco-hotel?
Wasn’t that where they’d gone during New Year’s?
At home, Le Qing usually dressed for comfort, but since there’d be outdoor activities, she changed into sportswear and packed extra clothes for the kids.
The two little ones were buzzing with excitement. “Is it the park with the horsies?!”
Le Qing nodded. “Yes.”
“Auntie will ride with us!” Little Le Jia remembered how cool his aunt looked on horseback. “This time, super fast!”
Yu Shuqi blinked. “You can ride?”
“A little.” But Le Qing didn’t make promises. “Kids can’t ride too fast—it’s dangerous.”
“Then Auntie ride!” An’an clapped. “An’an and big brother will cheer!”
“We’ll see.”
Besides their group, the show had invited three other pairs of temporary parents and kids to meet at the hotel. Little Le Jia and Little Le’an were the youngest.
Only now did Le Qing realize how oblivious she’d been.
Her kids’ communication skills and independence were far beyond their peers, yet she’d never noticed anything unusual, completely fooled by the “genius baby” act.
Looking back, it was clearly Jiang Yan’s years of subtle guidance that kept them from going astray.
But how had Jiang Yan gotten involved in the first place?
By the time they arrived, the others were already there. The kids, hand in hand as always, led the way.
This was usually when the parents introduced themselves, and Yu Shuqi, as Little Le Jia’s temporary guardian, prepared to say something.
But before she could step forward, Little Le Jia confidently strode up and started shaking hands.
He went down the line—adults first, then kids.
“Hello, uncles and aunties, big brothers and sisters.” Little Le Jia stood tall, radiating the energy of a tiny diplomat. “I’m Le Jia, this is my sister Le’an, and our auntie and Auntie Shuqi.”
Meanwhile, his sister, no longer able to read minds, hugged her backpack and handed a piece of candy to each person after her brother shook their hand.
Yu Shuqi: “?”
She glanced at Le Qing.
But the latter just massaged her temples, fully resigned, and followed the kids to shake hands too.
【LMAO big bro making sure no one leaves empty-handed.】
【Auntie’s clearly used to this—definitely not the first time.】
【Remember when these two stole the show during Le Qing’s interview? Now we’re seeing it live.】
After the greetings, Le Qing sighed. “With him around, we don’t need to worry about entertainment value.”
Of course—Little Le Jia was now the class monitor in kindergarten, and despite being a newcomer, he’d somehow won over every kid in his class.
During lunch breaks, they would also help the teacher tell stories to the children and lull them to sleep.
This often led to the teacher turning around to find a whole crowd of kids gathered around the two siblings.
Even now, though he was the youngest among them,
the moment the children clustered together, he would raise his voice and organize them: "No pushing! We should be polite and well-behaved—let’s line up and walk together, okay?"
The other flustered intern parents, who had been at a loss earlier, found their hands freed thanks to him.
For a moment, it was hard to tell who the real "parent" was.
Yu Shuqi, who had initially been worried about not being able to take good care of the children, now relaxed completely. Today, she had lucked out with a naturally talented little one—no effort needed, just smooth sailing.
The program team had arranged many activities, one of which required the parents to choose a mode of transportation and take their children to every corner of the forest park to find NPCs placed by the crew. The food they collected would determine what they ate for dinner.
Options included electric scooters, modified bicycles, and even horses.
Seeing the excitement practically overflowing from Little Le'an’s eyes, Le Qing naturally chose to fulfill her wish: "Want to ride a horse?"
"Mm-hmm!"
"Then we’ll pick the horse."
Yu Shuqi had learned horseback riding for a video shoot before, so she chose the same.
Le Qing handed her a child harness she had brought along: "Wear this for extra safety."
Yu Shuqi couldn’t help but feel a little ashamed—she hadn’t prepared nearly as much today and was relying entirely on Le Qing to cover for her.
"Sorry, I didn’t think of that," she apologized sincerely.
"It’s fine," Le Qing replied casually. "Everyone’s a first-timer."
Compared to the other intern parents, who were struggling and even getting frustrated when their kids threw tantrums about switching transportation, Yu Shuqi was doing just fine.
After mounting the horse, Le Qing reached out to take Little Le'an from a staff member: "Thanks."
[Ahhhh! That move just kicked me right in the heart—her legs are longer than my lifespan, so cool!]
[She’s a model, after all! Jiang Suizhi, how dare you!]
[A few hours ago, I thought Le Qing was a gentle sweetheart, but now I’m convinced she’s actually strong-willed at her core.]
[Ever heard of "a gentle blade cuts deepest"?]
The forest paths were well-maintained, with no bumps or potholes, but since there were many tourists during the day, Le Qing didn’t ride too fast. Even so, they attracted a 100% turn rate.
Yu Shuqi kept pace beside her, and the siblings in their arms grew prouder with every admiring glance from passersby.
"That’s right, that’s right—this is my auntie!"
"Thank you! You guys are cool too!"
Le Qing and the little one quickly became photo-op NPCs in the park. Luckily, being on horseback spared her from being pulled down for selfies.
It wasn’t until they reached higher ground that the crowd thinned out. The program team had placed their logo next to each NPC, making them easy to spot.
However, each NPC could only give food to one child.
To ensure they collected enough for all four of them, Le Qing and Yu Shuqi split up—one went left, the other right.
Le Qing, heading right, picked up speed slightly now that there were fewer people, letting Little Le'an enjoy the thrill of riding.
Suddenly, someone on horseback sped past them. Out of the corner of her eye, Le Qing spotted the program’s logo on the rider’s saddle and a basket strapped behind. She quickly called out, "Wait a second!"
The rider pulled the reins and turned around.
Little Le'an recognized him before her aunt could: "Uncle!"
Le Qing froze.
What was he doing here?
Jiang Suizhi, not in work attire, wore a windbreaker, a cap, and a black mask—but the amusement in his eyes was unmistakable when he looked up.
[How did they even recognize him?]
For others, it might’ve been hard, but Le Qing and the little one had seen Jiang Suizhi in a mask many times before.
[Damn, this whole family is made of legs—ahhhh, Jiang Suizhi’s outfit just pierced my heart!]
[At this point, who can tell if he’s a CEO or a model?!]
The man guided his horse closer. "You called for me?"
Snapping out of her daze, Le Qing replied with mixed emotions, "Your side gigs keep expanding."
His voice was muffled under the mask as he chuckled. "On-demand service."
It was the weekend—no work, no obligations. While others enjoyed family time, he had nothing. His wife had left, so was he not allowed to chase after her?
"Fruits and veggies," he tapped the basket behind him. "Same-day delivery."
[LMAO "same-day delivery"—when he passed by Le Yang earlier, he completely ignored the kid’s desperate shouts and just tossed him a carrot!]
[Didn’t you hear him? "Special delivery"—exclusive for one person only.]
[Le Yang: Someone speak up for me.]
[Little Le'an: Also reaping the benefits of her aunt’s charm.]
"Uncle, are you delivering vegetables?" Little Le'an waved her hands excitedly. "Thank you, Uncle!"
"Don’t thank me yet." Jiang Suizhi raised a brow. "Didn’t you hear the director? NPCs need something in return before giving out food."
That was indeed the director’s rule—kids had to perform a talent for the NPCs, which also made for good content.
[I saw it—Le Yang over there was shaking his little hands so hard he nearly dislocated them.]
[Pffft, that kid’s a whole variety show.]
[Childhood HD blackmail material.]
But Little Le'an’s thought process wasn’t as quick as her brother’s. Uncle wanted something in return?
She pondered, then looked up at her aunt.
After a few seconds, she pointed at Jiang Suizhi and declared firmly, "Auntie, kiss him!"
The answer stunned both Le Qing and Jiang Suizhi into silence for a solid few seconds.
[Yeah, kiss him!]
[That’s one hell of a "benefit"—Jiang Suizhi must be thrilled!]
"A bit against the rules," Jiang Suizhi finally said, clicking his tongue. "But not entirely unacceptable."
He met Le Qing’s gaze, smirking. "Care to make a deal?"
Seeing his shamelessness, Le Qing gritted her teeth. "I can give her cookies instead."
Little Le'an: "!!!"
Why must you hurt me like this?!
Le Qing poked the little bun on her head. "Cookies or a performance for Uncle?"
Defeated, Little Le'an reluctantly dismounted and danced a full segment of square dance before finally earning the basket of food from her uncle.
Seeing all the delicious treats, Little Le'an instantly forgot her grievances and asked, "Is Uncle going to be on TV too?"
Meaning, was he joining the show?
"No." Jiang Suizhi lifted her back onto Le Qing’s horse. "This time, I’m just an NPC."
As Le Qing fastened the child’s safety harness, she couldn’t help glancing at him. "You came all this way just to deliver a basket?"
He hadn’t even shown his face—she’d assumed the crew had invited him as a guest.
"Mm."
Jiang Suizhi had spent five thousand dollars just to secure a two-minute appearance from the staff.
He asked the girl, "Miss me?"
But his gaze ultimately landed on Le Qing.
Le Qing stared blankly at him but didn’t respond.
Not that Jiang Suizhi was waiting for an answer. Instead, he said softly, "But I’ll wait for you all to go home together."
He wasn’t leaving today—he’d stay at the hotel, waiting until the recording ended tomorrow to take the two kids and Le Qing back.
After speaking, he mounted his horse again, playing his role as a background character to perfection. He waved at them from horseback, "Goodbye."
"Goodbye." Le Qing nudged her horse forward a few steps before glancing back after a few seconds. Jiang Suizhi was still there, unmoving on his horse.
Just as he had once said—he would always follow behind her.
Le Qing lowered her eyes slightly.
By the time dinner ended, the sky had darkened, but the hotel’s grassland was still brightly lit.
Since the hotel had opened earlier in the year, they’d tried various ways to attract visitors—including this program recording as a promotional tactic. Taking advantage of the live broadcast, the hotel had also organized a competition.
Several of the temporary guardians brought the kids over to join in the excitement.
The hotel manager pointed to a large gift box in the center of the field. "Inside is a cash prize of a hundred thousand yuan, along with souvenirs from every scenic spot in our eco-hotel—plush toys, commemorative badges, stamps, standees, painted fans, and more. The first person to reach the mountaintop park on horseback will win this prize."
An'an immediately fixated on the plush toy, gripping her aunt’s hand excitedly. "Auntie, Auntie!"
Her aunt had raced against Aunt Lin and Uncle before!
Her aunt could definitely win!
Most of the guests were just there for fun with their kids, but only Yu Shuqi and Le Qing could actually ride. Yet all the children were eager, their eyes shining with anticipation.
Not wanting to disappoint her own child, Le Qing stood up—only to meet the hopeful gazes of everyone else.
She paused, then bent down to ask An'an, "If we win, can we share the prizes with the other kids? Auntie will buy you the rest of the souvenirs later."
The hundred thousand yuan wasn’t the important part.
An'an and her brother had long learned to share, and they loved playing with the other kids, so they happily agreed.
The other temporary guardians shot her grateful looks. "Win or lose, we’ll handle all your chores and meals tomorrow!"
Mostly, they just wanted to show the kids a good attitude—even if Le Qing leisurely strolled up the mountain, they wouldn’t mind.
"Then I’ll give it a try too," Yu Shuqi said, standing up as well.
The two women each picked a horse. Without the kids in front, Le Qing’s movements were noticeably lighter as she adjusted her posture and position. But then, a familiar figure flashed in her peripheral vision.
She turned her head slightly—who else could it be but Jiang Suizhi?
Their eyes met, but neither spoke.
Le Qing recalled their last race on the grassland, her palms inexplicably damp with sweat. She tightened her grip on the reins.
As everyone prepared, Jiang Suizhi suddenly asked from beside her, "Want to make a bet this time?"
Le Qing curved her lips into a smile. "What do you want?"
Jiang Suizhi didn’t answer, but his sharp eyes locked onto her.
[Photographer, what are you doing just standing there? Zoom in and shoot!]
[I’m getting nervous just watching!]
Since he didn’t speak, Le Qing didn’t press further.
But in the final second of the countdown, Jiang Suizhi heard her voice carried by the wind: "Tell me if you win."
He froze for two seconds, his gaze darkening, before spurring his horse forward to chase after her.
Streetlights lined the path at intervals, making the route visible, but some riders didn’t dare go too fast, while others were just there for the fun. Only a handful surged ahead, with just two leading the pack.
"Wow," some of the guests murmured, stunned by Le Qing’s skill. "No wonder Jiajia and An'an are so obsessed with their aunt’s riding—she’s incredible!"
[Is this a drama filming? These two are going all out!]
[Ahhh, Le Qing is so cool! Give us a fierce rivalry—overtake Jiang Suizhi!]
[Photographer, work harder—keep up!]
The night wind brushed against her face as the sound of hooves around her thinned. Le Qing cast aside all distractions, her focus solely on the finish line.
This time, the only one keeping pace with her was Jiang Suizhi.
She glanced sideways at him, and as if sensing her gaze, he looked back, a faint smile in his eyes before surging ahead.
At that moment, it felt like a string in Le Qing’s mind had been plucked hard. The reckless determination buried deep in her heart surged forth. Gripping the reins tightly, her entire body burned as if her blood were boiling. She smiled wordlessly and pushed her horse even faster.
The mountaintop at night was illuminated only by lights, everything else silent. A flag fluttered at the very peak.
As the rapid drumming of hooves approached, two horses appeared at the finish line simultaneously. Both riders leaned forward, stretching their hands toward the flag in the center.
Last time, they had tied—this time, there had to be a winner.
Le Qing’s eyes stayed fixed on the flag. Just as her fingers brushed against it, she saw Jiang Suizhi’s hand—elegant and well-defined—close around empty air.
The next second, the flag was in her grasp.
They galloped past the finish line before finally slowing to a stop.
Le Qing’s heart pounded so fiercely it nearly deafened her. Clutching the flag, she silently watched the man before her.
Jiang Suizhi’s breathing was equally unsteady. He glanced at the flag and raised a brow. "I lost."
Technically, they had grabbed the flag at the same time—there was no real winner.
And Jiang Suizhi was stronger than Le Qing. If he had truly exerted his strength, she might not have been able to wrest the flag from him, especially with the risk of falling from the horse.
But Jiang Suizhi had deliberately missed.
"Didn’t want to win?" she asked.
Jiang Suizhi knew she had seen through him. "I did."
He chuckled deeply. "But you shouldn’t be something I win."
Openly, without hesitation, he voiced the unspoken wager from before.
Le Qing smiled faintly and pointed the flag at him. "Come here."
Jiang Suizhi urged his horse closer, but the two steeds, still restless from the race, kept shifting uneasily, making it hard to approach.
So he simply let go of the reins, dismounted, and walked to Le Qing’s side.
Le Qing looked down, meeting his upturned gaze—like a wild wolf submitting in reverence. The usual sharpness in his eyes was softened by the warm glow around them, tinted a faint orange.
The crew, who had finally caught up, stopped dead in their tracks at the sight.
[Ahhhh! Le Qing won! Amazing!]
[What’s happening here? This scene is too beautiful!]
On-screen, everyone saw Le Qing raise the flag and press it gently beneath Jiang Suizhi’s chin, tilting his face upward.
The action instantly made Jiang Suizhi's body tense slightly, his gaze deepening. "What?" he murmured.
Le Qing didn’t answer. Instead, she reached up and removed his mask.
Then she leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to his scorching lips.
Neither of them closed their eyes. She held his dark, near-black gaze, feeling the faint tremor that ran through him—yet she kept her lips firmly against his.
"Yours," she whispered.
"What is your wish?" he asked.
"That everyone I love finds peace and gets what they desire."
[Congratulations, Host. The system confirms all your wishes have been fulfilled.]
