【Ahhhh! Oh my god! What am I seeing!】
【Stop screaming, you’re blocking my screenshot!】
【Don’t go over there, don’t you dare—I want to watch them keep kissing!】
The two kissed, and the netizens were even more excited than the actual participants, because the video barely showed any noticeable movement between them.
In truth, there wasn’t much. This was Le Qing’s first time kissing someone, and it had taken all the courage she could muster.
Moreover, Jiang Suizhi’s reaction gave her the feeling that if she didn’t pull back soon, things might escalate beyond control. So after saying what she did, she quickly put some distance between them.
But Jiang Suizhi remained frozen in place, unmoving. If not for the rise and fall of his chest and the intensity in his eyes, one might have thought he’d been stunned into stillness.
“The crew’s coming,” Le Qing cautiously reminded him.
“Mm.”
Jiang Suizhi raised his hand, his voice rough. “Move forward.”
Le Qing shifted slightly, only for him to grip the saddle and swing himself up behind her in one smooth motion. He settled firmly behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and covering her hands with his as they both took hold of the reins.
Le Qing startled, turning her head. “There are cameras!”
“I see them.”
But he had no intention of caring.
This was the first time he’d ever held someone so completely, so possessively, in his arms. Jiang Suizhi took a deep breath, his gaze lowering to her ear.
For the first time in his life, he felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction—both mentally and physically.
“Didn’t bring my medicine,” he murmured. “If we don’t do this, I won’t be able to go back.”
Another option was to stay on the mountain and let the cold wind sober him up. But now that this person had declared herself his, why shouldn’t he exercise his rights?
Who in their right mind would choose cold wind over holding their wife? Honestly.
By now, Le Qing also realized she’d been a bit reckless. In that impulsive moment, she’d felt like she could let go of her usual caution and trust Jiang Suizhi, which was why she’d made that decision.
But she’d underestimated just how far his condition could push him. Leaving him here alone wasn’t an option.
“What about your horse?” she asked.
Hearing her implicit agreement, Jiang Suizhi rested his chin lightly on her shoulder, his tone lazy and satisfied. “Someone will come to take it back.”
With Lin Shengxi abroad, Jiang Suizhi was the hotel’s actual owner. Who would dare leave the boss’s horse unattended?
Now that their relationship was out in the open, Le Qing didn’t see the need to avoid him too much. So with his hands still over hers, she gently tightened her grip on the reins and turned the horse around, heading back down the mountain.
As they passed the crew’s electric carts, she didn’t so much as glance sideways.
If not for the slight stiffness in her spine—something only Jiang Suizhi could feel—he might have truly believed she was completely unbothered.
He chuckled softly.
To outsiders, Le Qing always seemed unflappable. But every private, vulnerable side of her was reserved only for those closest to her.
That thought filled him with immense satisfaction.
Once they reached the foot of the mountain, Le Qing still had to take the flag back and continue filming. Jiang Suizhi, of course, couldn’t follow her inside, so he had to dismount at the starting point.
Amid the cheers celebrating Le Qing’s victory in the race, Jiang Suizhi withdrew his hand from her waist and leaned down slightly. “I’ll come find you tonight.”
His lips brushed against her ear as he spoke, sending a shiver down her spine.
But Jiang Suizhi quickly swung off the horse after that, and unless someone was watching closely, no one would have noticed what he’d just done.
Except, of course, the viewers who were practically pressing their faces against their screens.
【I knew he wouldn’t behave!】
【I can read lips! He said, “I’ll come find you tonight”!】
【What’s he planning to do? Why at night? What are we, VIPs, not allowed to see?】
【Sweetheart, you might want to sleep with one eye open tonight.】
“Auntie!” An’an was the first to rush over to Le Qing. “Uncle and Auntie said you kissed Uncle Jiang on the mountain!”
Though the show’s guests hadn’t seen the live broadcast, the crowd’s excited chatter made it impossible to miss. The kiss caught on camera had sent everyone into a frenzy, and the guests quickly caught on.
Little Le Jia looked heartbroken. “Why didn’t you take us to kiss too?”
Now he’d have no stories to tell his online friends!
Le Qing’s barely recovered composure faltered again as she shoved the flag into their hands. “If you want the prize, talk less.”
Fine. Compared to prizes, watching Uncle Jiang and Auntie kiss wasn’t that important.
They could always watch later.
The flag was meant for the children, and under Little Le Jia’s leadership, all the kids went onstage to receive their souvenirs.
Since the children went to bed early, the live broadcast ended for the day, resuming only the next morning.
The crew had some decency—they absolutely would not set up cameras outside Le Qing’s room, no matter how much the audience begged!
Each group of guests had their own room. After bathing her younger sister, Le Qing tucked her into bed. “Do you want a bedtime story tonight?”
“Yes!” Little Le’an clung to her aunt’s hand. “Can you tell the story about kissing Uncle Jiang?”
Le Qing: “…”
Since when were kids this age so nosy?
But she was mistaken about An’an. The little girl wasn’t actually interested in romance or gossip—she was just genuinely curious about how the kiss had happened. She also wanted material for future livestreams with her brother.
“Grandpa and Great-Grandpa said Auntie wouldn’t like Uncle Jiang,” she said, blinking her big eyes. “They said Uncle Jiang is a pig who can’t kiss.”
That sounded exactly like something the elders would say. Le Qing had hardly ever heard them speak well of Jiang Suizhi.
She smoothed her sister’s soft hair and said gently, “Auntie likes Uncle Jiang.”
“Why?”
Le Qing smiled. “Because he’s smart, brave, honest, sincere, and passionate.”
“Then Uncle Jiang is a big hero!”
Those were all words used to describe heroes!
“Yes, he is.”
Seeing her sister struggling to keep her eyes open, Le Qing tucked the blankets around her. “Go to sleep.”
“No.” Little Le’an pouted. “An’an wants to see Uncle Jiang sneak in to kiss Auntie.”
Le Qing was speechless. “Who told you that?”
“Aunt Shushu.”
She said Uncle Jiang would crawl out from under the bed.
An’an thought about it seriously. That did sound like something Uncle Jiang would do.
“He’s not coming,” Le Qing lied without blinking. “But if An’an doesn’t sleep now, she won’t wake up in time tomorrow and won’t get first place.”
The little girl weighed her options.
First place meant prizes and bragging rights with her friends.
But watching Uncle Jiang kiss Auntie didn’t come with any rewards. Besides, she could always kiss Auntie herself—why bother with Uncle Jiang?
Decision made, she sat up, planted a loud kiss on Le Qing’s cheek, then flopped back down, pulling the covers over herself. “An’an is sleeping now. Goodnight, Auntie.”
“Goodnight.”
The child's drowsiness came quickly, and within moments her breathing grew soft and steady. Le Qing gradually slowed the rhythmic patting on the quilt, her gaze drifting to the dim ceiling after the lights were turned off.
Jiang Suizhi was a man of his word—she didn’t even need to wonder how he had figured out which room was hers.
But the unexpected was different from a premeditated wait. The mere thought of him appearing before her at any moment made her heartbeat spiral out of control, laced with a faint trace of trepidation.
Had Elder sister felt this way too?
But judging by the ease between Elder sister and Jiang Yan, their interactions must have been natural.
Would Jiang Suizhi really come to kiss her? An'an was still in the room—she wouldn’t agree to it, nor would she step outside.
Lost in these chaotic thoughts, her phone vibrated softly.
Le Qing picked it up to see a message from Jiang Suizhi: "Open the door."
Her suspended heart plummeted back into place. She pressed her lips together, hesitating for a few seconds before quietly slipping out of bed and tiptoeing to the entrance.
Only a few nightlights and the overhead lamp by the door were left on, casting a muted glow. When she opened the door, the brightness from the hallway behind Jiang Suizhi momentarily stung her eyes.
She squinted slightly. Jiang Suizhi still wore his black windbreaker, though the mask was gone this time. His eyes, lowered and unwavering, locked onto her.
"Mine now?" he asked with a quiet laugh.
Hearing her own words repeated back to her was entirely different from saying them herself.
Le Qing’s grip on the doorknob tightened. "Did you really need to come all this way just to ask three words?"
"Of course not."
Jiang Suizhi stepped inside, guiding her hand to close the door behind him with barely a sound in the silent room.
A sudden sense of danger prickled at Le Qing. "An'an is asleep in the room," she whispered.
"I know." He had long since memorized both children’s sleeping schedules—otherwise, he wouldn’t have come at this hour.
His hand closed over hers where it still rested on the doorknob, prying her fingers loose one by one before interlacing them with his own. Their warmth seeped into each other, then steadily grew hotter.
Le Qing tilted her head up slightly. The overhead light spilled over Jiang Suizhi, casting deep shadows beneath his eyes—dark enough to swallow her whole. "Did you have to say it now?"
Jiang Suizhi glanced toward the bedroom before leaning in, his voice low. "I should have said it on the mountain. But I was slow to react back then, and you slipped away."
The words "slipped away" pierced Le Qing’s heart like a needle, puncturing the emotions swelling inside her, wrapping her in an inescapable embrace.
"I’m yours now too," Jiang Suizhi murmured, his hands tightening around hers as he pulled her into his arms. "I’ve been yours for a long time."
Le Qing watched the subtle bob of his throat as he spoke, her face burning under the weight of his presence. Instinctively, she tried to lean back. "I get it."
In the next instant, his arm locked around her waist, denying her any retreat.
"Jiang Suizhi!" Le Qing glared at him. "This is the hallway!"
Beyond this door was the corridor, and past that, An'an’s room. How could he be so reckless?
"Hmm." Clearly, he hadn’t come just to exchange a few words. Without so much as a glance elsewhere, he lifted her effortlessly and pushed open the bathroom door beside them.
Le Qing gasped, bracing her hands against his shoulders as he set her down on the counter.
Jiang Suizhi shut the door behind them, sealing away all sound and light from outside.
The bathroom was plunged into near-total darkness, save for a sliver of light creeping in beneath the door.
His voice reverberated softly in the dark, his hands securing her from behind, pulling her flush against him. "No escaping now."
Crushed beneath this suffocating pressure, Le Qing’s heart hammered in her throat. "You—"
"One kiss isn’t enough." His laughter melted into the heat of his lips as they crashed down onto hers.
This was the real him—uncompromising, striking without warning.
Le Qing’s eyes flew wide, but before she could react, his teeth grazed her lip. The man before her was like a wolf finally seizing its prey, his kiss fierce and relentless, leaving no room for resistance.
It was as if she were back on horseback with him, every thought scattering, leaving only instinct to guide her response.
Her fingers dug into the edge of the sink, only for Jiang Suizhi’s hand to cover them, trapping her completely as his tongue delved deeper.
In the darkness, time lost all meaning. All she knew was the hand at her waist, dragging her back every time she tried to retreat.
Tears she hadn’t realized were spilling dampened her lashes, only to be kissed away moments later before his mouth found hers again, delivering another bruising, trembling kiss.
Only now did Le Qing truly understand how terrifying his hunger could be once unleashed.
When she finally managed to speak, her voice was embarrassingly hoarse. "Jiang Suizhi..."
His head dipped to her neck, lips brushing feather-light kisses along her skin before finding the shell of her ear—that spot that always flushed red—and lingering there. "Hmm?"
"Enough." She pushed weakly at his chest.
His answering laugh was just as rough, thick with desire and indulgence. "Fine."
Even so, he didn’t let her go, holding her securely against him.
Le Qing was certain she’d broken into a sweat—her shower had been wasted.
With a soft click, Jiang Suizhi flicked on the bathroom light. The moment his gaze landed on her face, his eyes darkened further. He traced the corner of her eye with his thumb, voice even huskier than before. "Pitiful."
"Made you cry from kissing," he teased.
With her back to the mirror, Le Qing couldn’t see her own reflection, but the red marks on Jiang Suizhi’s neck told her enough.
She knew she must look utterly ruined.
She swatted his hand away. "Whose fault is that?"
Who asked him to kiss her like that?
"Mine," Jiang Suizhi conceded without hesitation, though his satisfaction was unmistakable.
It wasn’t just the kiss—it was knowing she would indulge him, no matter how far he went.
Unable to resist, he pressed a gentle kiss to the tip of her nose. "You’ll get used to it."
Get used to it?
Le Qing glared, but her reddened eyes only made him want to tease her more. Jiang Suizhi covered them with his hand. "I’ll go easier next time."
His gaze dropped to her swollen lips, then he murmured, "Are you scared?"
Scared of his possessiveness, of him losing control and leaving her even more disheveled—or worse.
But after meeting her and knowing she was already his, he truly couldn’t remain so indifferent and restrained.
He longed to meld her into his very bones, to possess her completely.
After a long pause, just as he was about to lower his hand, those crimson lips parted softly.
"Jiang Suizhi."
Le Qing’s voice was gentle: "I like being loved with reckless passion."
So she wasn’t afraid.
When she chose him, she had already prepared herself for everything.
Hearing this, Jiang Suizhi unconsciously licked his lips, his arm tightening around her waist as suppressed desire flared up once more.
He lowered his hand again, pulling her closer until their eyes met, tilting her chin up.
Then he kissed her—hard, demanding, forcing her to surrender to him.
---
The next morning, when Le Qing woke up, she was met with An’an’s curious big eyes.
"Auntie, did you eat chili?" An’an asked, lying on the bed.
Still half-asleep, Le Qing was confused: "Huh?"
"Your lips look like you ate really spicy food!"
An’an pinched her own lips, remembering that only when she and her brother ate something extremely spicy would their lips look like that!
Le Qing: "!"
She jolted awake and rushed to the bathroom. It wasn’t as exaggerated as An’an made it seem, but there was definitely a faint swelling.
All because of Jiang Suizhi!
He promised to be gentle, but each time was rougher than the last! In the end, she had to forcibly kick him out.
For the rest of the day, Le Qing had to wear a mask while filming the show, claiming she had a cold.
Yu Shuqi hesitated, only speaking up near the end of the recording in a hushed voice: "Did President Jiang visit your room last night?"
Le Qing played dumb: "What?"
"He said he was going to see you, and now you’re wearing a mask for a ‘cold.’" Yu Shuqi patted her shoulder. "I bet you two will be trending again today."
Le Qing: "..."
She swore she wouldn’t give Jiang Suizhi another chance for at least a week!
Since she had arrived at the filming location in the production team’s car, she now had to find her own way back. Knowing Jiang Suizhi was waiting outside, she took the two kids to meet him.
Unexpectedly, Le Yang was there too.
"Mom’s back!" The two little ones excitedly rushed over, showing off the prizes they had won in the past two days. "Look, Mom!"
"I saw your livestream," Le Yang said, holding one child’s hand in each of hers. Her gaze flickered meaningfully between Le Qing and Jiang Suizhi before asking pointedly, "An’an, did you sleep well last night?"
The little girl nodded: "Very well!"
Le Yang: "Didn’t hear any mice?"
Mice?
Little Le’an gasped: "There were mice in the room?!"
An’an had slept too soundly to hear anything.
"Auntie!" she asked worriedly, "Did the mice bite you?"
Le Qing immediately understood her elder sister was teasing her, but with those closest to her, she didn’t bother hiding it. She just tugged lightly at her mask: "They did."
"Then Auntie needs a shot!" Little Le’an circled her anxiously. "Did it hurt?"
"It didn’t, and it’s already healed," Le Qing said pointedly. "I won’t let the mice in next time."
Leaning against the car, Jiang Suizhi chuckled: "Who said mice only come through the door?"
He raised a brow. "They can dig holes too."
The only response he got was the sound of Le Qing slamming the car door shut. Just as he was about to get in from the other side, his phone rang—it was Jiang Hechang.
He answered: "What?"
"Come back for dinner tonight," Jiang Hechang’s voice sounded off. "There’s something we need to discuss in person. Bring the girls and the kids."
Jiang Suizhi tapped his fingers lightly against his phone case: "Mm."
Three hours later, two cars pulled into the Jiang family estate one after the other.
Just as Le Qing was about to get out, Jiang Suizhi suddenly held her hand back. His eyes flicked to where Le Yang stood with the two children. "Let them go first."
Remembering the last time they had stepped out of the elevator to a grand spectacle, Le Qing decided selling out her elder sister occasionally wasn’t so bad.
Inside the elevator, the two little ones clutched their small bags excitedly, already deciding which gifts to give their grandpas.
The doors opened on the familiar floor.
Le Qing instinctively lowered her head, bracing herself in case the elders had prepared another surprise party for the kids.
But after a long moment, there was no sound. Instead, she felt Jiang Suizhi tense beside her.
She finally looked up.
The spacious dining room wasn’t decorated extravagantly this time. The elders sat around silently.
But the colored lights around Jiang Yan’s memorial photo flickered on and off—controlled by a man sitting beneath the portrait, toying with the switch.
Hearing the noise, the man stood. He wore a white shirt and black slacks, tall and long-limbed.
His pale fingers set the switch down as he turned slowly.
A pair of gold-rimmed glasses framed his eyes—dark but soft, his features resembling Jiang Suizhi’s, yet his entire presence exuded gentleness, a faint smile on his lips.
A perfect match to the face in the photo surrounded by flickering lights.
The children reacted first. Little Le Jia dashed forward: "Dad!"
Jiang Yan stepped around the table, bending just in time to catch the stumbling children before they fell. "What’s the rush? What if you trip? Didn’t I always tell you to be steady?"
It was really System Uncle—no, Dad’s voice!
"Dad!" Little Le Jia’s voice wobbled. He touched his father’s face, finally able to confirm the one who had always been by his side looked exactly like this. Dad had been protecting him all along!
"Dad’s back!" His lips trembled as if he might burst into tears.
"Boys don’t cry," Jiang Yan pinched his nose lightly. "Look at your sister—she’s being brave. She’s not crying."
"Sister cries too," An’an clung to her father’s neck. "But sister waits for brother to finish crying first, so Dad doesn’t have to comfort both at once."
Jiang Yan laughed softly, but his gaze never left the woman by the elevator.
His throat moved as he set the children down and straightened, walking toward her.
"Sorry," he murmured. "I didn’t protect you well enough."
Le Yang finally found her voice. She smiled. "You’re back."
"Mn." Jiang Yan’s lips curved as he pulled her into a tender embrace. "I’m back."
All these years, he had never imagined returning. Protecting the children and his brother had been his only wish—even after Le Yang regained her sight, he hadn’t dared hope.
But when he vanished from the children’s side, panic set in. He regretted not saying goodbye—not to Le Yang, not to the kids, not to anyone who mattered.
Then, when that long-forgotten mechanical voice spoke again, he finally understood.
He wanted the people he loved to have their wishes fulfilled.
Fortunately, the wish of those who loved him was also for him to return to their side.
Every single one of them was indispensable.
Le Qing met this man face-to-face for the first time—someone who had always existed in everyone’s words—and he was far more mature than she had imagined.
Jiang Suizhi always claimed he would become like Jiang Yan, but in reality, the two were nothing alike.
"Le Qing." Jiang Yan spotted her as well and reached out his hand. "Thank you for your hard work these past few days."
"You're welcome." Just as Le Qing extended her hand, someone intercepted it midway.
Jiang Suizhi frowned. "Don’t you have your own wife? Why are you touching mine?"
The smile at the corner of Jiang Yan’s lips faded slightly.
Without a single word of greeting between the brothers, he walked past Le Yang and Le Qing, stepping up to his younger brother and beckoning him with a curl of his finger.
Jiang Suizhi leaned against the elevator entrance but didn’t move forward.
He thought that even though Jiang Yan was a bit nagging and annoying, at least he was back now. That meant he wouldn’t have to work himself to death like a beast of burden anymore and could spare more time to spend with his wife.
So he figured he ought to be a little nicer to Jiang Yan.
But to his surprise, as soon as Jiang Yan reached him, he rolled up his sleeves.
Jiang Suizhi: "?"
Le Qing blinked and quietly took half a step back.
Jiang Yan smiled faintly, then curled his fingers and rapped them against his brother’s head. "Playing stepdad, huh? I’ll teach you to play stepdad! Stepdad, my foot!"
Jiang Suizhi was stunned for several seconds before his face darkened with a muttered curse. "Damn."
There was no way he could hit back.
