Volume 1, Chapter 52: Uncle, do you have a girlfriend?

Seeing her look rather displeased, Xia Chengze hurried over with concern, "Mian, what's wrong?"

Su Mian crossed her arms over her chest and said sullenly, "Why did Jingcheng-ge bring her along? Have their relations improved?"

Lu Yanzhi was also curious. "Yeah, in the past, whenever Jingcheng went anywhere, he only hung out with us. He never dragged Jiang Shuwei along. What's gotten into him today?"

Lu Youyou was acting like a starry-eyed fan, propping up her chin as she said, "I think, if there isn't even a shred of affection, it's impossible to stick together like this. Sister Mian, you're facing a crisis."

Su Mian felt a secret sorrow, lowering her head in utter dejection. "Do I really have no chance left?"

Xia Chengze tried to comfort her from the side, "Don't worry, Mian. They won't last long together. They only came this time to bring Tingting out to play."

Lu Yanzhi thought so too and nodded. "Tingting lost her mother, so everyone in the He family treats her like the apple of their eye, and Jingcheng dotes on her immensely. He must have tolerated his disgust and traveled with Jiang Shuwei purely for Tingting's sake."

With an expression of pure disgust, Xia Chengze said, "If you ask me, Jiang Shuwei is just too scheming. She knows that by sucking up to little Tingting, she can secure her footing in the He family. Tch, what a cheap trick..."

Hearing these words, Su Mian felt even more uneasy inside.

If Su Tingting were to get hurt, would it be Jiang Shuwei's fault?

At this thought, a vicious plan began to take shape in her heart.

Jiang Shuwei was looking after He Tingting as she ate. After eating half a bowl of rice, He Jingcheng went over to Su Mian and the others' private dining room, and didn't come out until he had finished eating and had a bit to drink.

"Tonight, you should squeeze in with your friends. Tingting and I will stay together," Jiang Shuwei suggested after the meal.

He Jingcheng nodded. "I'll share a room with Yanzhi later."

"Why doesn't Uncle sleep with Auntie? Aren't you two husband and wife?" He Tingting asked out of curiosity.

Jiang Shuwei's heart tightened, and she instinctively wanted to cover the little one's mouth.

He Jingcheng was of a suspicious nature; she couldn't have him thinking she was the one who had taught Tingting to ask such a question.

Sure enough, He Jingcheng's gaze fell straight onto Jiang Shuwei's face. "Tingting is still young. You don't understand adult matters."

"Who says I don't?" He Tingting put her hands on her hips in defiance. "Don't you like Auntie? Is that why you won't sleep with her?"

"Tingting, how about I go with you to buy a little lantern later?" Jiang Shuwei didn't dare let the little girl continue. Every single sentence she uttered stepped right into a minefield.

He Jingcheng swept a cool, slender dark gaze across Jiang Shuwei, already certain that she had been whispering nonsense to He Tingting.

Right now, her rush to divert the little one's attention was proof of a guilty conscience.

"Yay, let's go right now!" The moment she heard about toys, He Tingting immediately perked up.

"Take good care of Tingting. It's cold outside, so make sure to put her hat on," He Jingcheng instructed from the side.

"Got it." Jiang Shuwei took the little girl's hand and walked out.

As soon as they stepped out of the restaurant, the cold was so biting it made their fingertips go numb. Jiang Shuwei squatted down to adjust the hat properly on the little one's head and put her little mittens on, making her look like a cute little steamed bun.

"Auntie, this uncle is so handsome. Why don't you stop being with Uncle and go be with him instead..." He Tingting stood at the restaurant entrance and caught sight of Qin Weizhou, who had come out to take a phone call.

Qin Weizhou also saw Jiang Shuwei, but Jiang Shuwei was squatting on the ground with her back to him, unaware that it was him.

Hearing He Tingting's words, Jiang Shuwei turned her head to look.

Qin Weizhou naturally heard what the little girl had said as well, and his eyes deepened slightly.

Amidst the snowy night, their gazes met across the empty space.

"President Qin." Jiang Shuwei always held a deep-seated respect for this man, and she stood up with a smile.

Qin Weizhou reined in his gaze and nodded at her. "Heading back to the hotel?"

"No, I'm taking Tingting for a walk down that street to buy her a toy," Jiang Shuwei answered with a smile.

"Mister, do you have a girlfriend?" He Tingting looked at Qin Weizhou with wide, starry eyes.

She felt that, apart from her uncle, this man was the most handsome uncle she had ever laid eyes on.

Startled, Jiang Shuwei hastily reached out to cover He Tingting's little mouth while sweeping her other arm around her in a tight hug.

"Mmph mph mph..." He Tingting was effectively silenced.

"President Qin, we'll be heading off first. Goodbye." Jiang Shuwei squeezed out an awkward smile and hurried away, carrying He Tingting in her arms.

A faint, imperceptible smile touched the corners of Qin Weizhou's lips as he pushed open the door and entered the restaurant.

Jiang Shuwei ran a good ten meters away in one breath.

He Tingting pouted her little mouth, looking at her with a wronged expression.

Jiang Shuwei squatted down, drew a small scarf—already warmed by her pocket—from her coat, and gently wrapped it around the little one, covering up her pouting little mouth as well.

"There, Tingting. Next time you see a handsome guy, you mustn't go around asking about people's privacy, understand?" Jiang Shuwei said, planting a kiss on her cheek.

Only then did He Tingting nod her little head. "I just wanted to make Auntie happy."

"Being with you makes Auntie very happy." Jiang Shuwei felt a sudden sting in her nose. Was she really this pathetic? So pathetic that she needed a child to pity her?

"But Uncle doesn't like you. You won't be happy." He Tingting was already five years old, and she actually saw everything clearly.

Jiang Shuwei froze, unable to stop herself from reaching out to hug her. "Thank you, Tingting. Auntie is all grown up now; honestly, whether other people like me or not doesn't matter to me anymore."

"Really? You won't hide in the bathroom and cry by yourself anymore?" He Tingting blinked her large, dark eyes as she asked.

"I..." The stinging corners of Jiang Shuwei's eyes grew even redder.

So her past moments of vulnerability had all been witnessed by the little one.

"I won't. From now on, I'll only bleed, never cry," Jiang Shuwei declared with a stubborn expression.

"Bleeding hurts, crying doesn't—it just makes snot," He Tingting mused in serious contemplation.

Jiang Shuwei couldn't help but laugh out loud. She took her shopping, bought several toys, and then led her in the direction of the hotel.

Just as they reached the grand entrance of the hotel, Jiang Shuwei saw Su Mian and her entourage arriving as well.

The black overcoat that had previously been draped over her own shoulders was now wrapped around Su Mian.

Jiang Shuwei quickly looked away, a sharp pang of bitterness rising in her chest.

Even clothes had to be shared.

"It's Tingting and Shuwei," Su Mian suddenly spoke up gently, pointing toward the two figures at the hotel entrance.

He Jingcheng and Lu Yanzhi were chatting about work, and it was only at Su Mian's prompt that they raised their heads to look over.

Jiang Shuwei brought He Tingting straight into the hotel, her fingers pressing forcefully against the elevator buttons.

She had no desire to share an elevator ride with them shortly.

However, the elevator was descending far too slowly; by the time the group walked over, the doors finally slid open at a leisurely pace.

Jiang Shuwei had no choice but to take He Tingting's hand and step inside, and He Jingcheng's group naturally followed them in.

Jiang Shuwei pressed herself against the corner of the elevator, while He Tingting looked down, playing with a toy in her hands.

When He Jingcheng entered, Su Mian purposely leaned into his embrace.

From Jiang Shuwei's vantage point, all she could see was the top half of Su Mian's head tucked against He Jingcheng's chest. The corners of her mouth twitched into a bitter smile.

The thought of getting a divorce grew increasingly intense.

When the elevator reached Jiang Shuwei's floor, He Jingcheng stepped out right along with them.

"Jingcheng, we're one short for our game, get upstairs soon," Xia Chengze called out.

"Mmm," He Jingcheng acknowledged.

Jiang Shuwei unlocked the door with her room key.

"Uncle, are you going to play cards? Does that mean you aren't taking me to the hot springs?" He Tingting's mouth drooped into a pout, visibly unhappy.

He Jingcheng paused, only then remembering his promise to take the little girl to the hot springs.

"Then Uncle will go play cards later tonight. Let's take you to the hot springs first, alright?" Naturally, He Jingcheng had to prioritize matters concerning his niece.

"Thank you, Uncle." He Tingting was finally happy again.

"Pack some a change of clothes, let's go," He Jingcheng said to Jiang Shuwei.

Jiang Shuwei fetched a change of clothes along with a bath towel and handed them to He Jingcheng. "I won't go. You take Tingting."

"Auntie..." He Tingting's little face fell.

"Come with us. Tingting is a little girl after all; having you there will make things much more convenient," He Jingcheng said.

Jiang Shuwei had no choice but to agree. The three of them headed downstairs and walked toward the hot spring resort situated behind the hotel.

A scenic walkway had been built along the path. At this hour, not many people were heading to the hot springs—mainly because this ski resort was the exclusive playground of the wealthy, and ordinary people dared not consume casually here.

Along the way, He Tingting skipped and jumped happily, resembling a cute little rabbit.

"Jingcheng, wait up..."

Suddenly, Xia Chengze's voice echoed from behind.

Jiang Shuwei glanced back and discovered that the other four were following them as well. A wave of stifled frustration washed over her; Su Mian's shadow truly seemed to be everywhere.

Su Mian stared fixedly at Jiang Shuwei's back, an expression of strong aversion flashing across her face.