Chapter 2: I Must Not Be Fooled by the Wicked Aunt Again

After Chen Zhicai rattled off a long explanation on the phone, Su Xingwan finally understood what was going on.

The original owner had no power, no influence, and no money, yet managed to fashion herself into a fake socialite using funds from her grandmother and older sister. In order to squeeze into high society and marry into a wealthy family, she had spent the past year or two deliberately courting the attention of rich heirs, to the point where her reputation in those circles was utterly ruined.

Her standards were particularly high—she disdained the smaller studios and media companies, setting her sights instead on Lunar Entertainment, owned by the Zhao family in the capital.

Little did she know that just as she was picking them, the big company was also picking her. Though she was pretty, there was no shortage of pretty faces in the entertainment industry. Coupled with her arrogant, conceited nature, Lunar Entertainment saw no potential in her. But the original owner was nothing if not persistent—since they wouldn’t sign her, she went straight to the boss himself. Annoyed to the limit, the boss, seeing that she did have some looks, finally gave her a chance: if she could win over the young Master Ye and secure a spot on his variety show, they’d agree to sign her.

The original owner was brimming with confidence, believing she could surely charm the young master. Yet within minutes, she and her gift were both unceremoniously tossed out by his assistant…

After Chen Zhicai finished yelling, he noticed the other side was silent for a long time.

“Hello? Are you still there?”

“I’m here,” Su Xingwan replied.

Strange, Chen Zhicai thought. Normally, Su Xingwan would have already started shouting back at him.

“In any case, since you failed, don’t even think about signing with our company!”

Su Xingwan took a deep breath. “That’s perfect, because I don’t want to sign with your company anymore. Goodbye!”

Without giving him a chance to respond, she hung up.

She thought to herself that the original owner had finally done something right. Thankfully, she hadn’t signed with Lunar Entertainment—otherwise, she’d never be able to get free.

“Wonderful!” Su Xingwan flopped onto the bed in delight.

But soon, worry crept in. With all the trouble the original owner had caused, wouldn’t the uncle of the three little ones come after her and eat her alive?

A chill ran down her spine. She silently made up her mind: before the uncle arrived, maybe she should grab her suitcase and run away.

Su Xingwan got up and quickly packed her things as simply as possible. She had just dragged her suitcase to the door and was about to leave when she glanced back at the two little ones sleeping on the sofa, hesitating…

“…Mommy… Mommy.” In her sleep, little Su Hua began to cry. Su Xingwan’s heart ached, and she hurried over, sitting beside her, stroking her forehead and gently patting her.

Sensing the warmth next to her, Su Hua snuggled closer, her little hands resting on Su Xingwan, her head nestled against Su Xingwan’s chest.

At that moment, Su Luo smacked his lips in his sleep and began muttering, “Hit… hit you, bad auntie…”

Su Xingwan was speechless.

Before long, both little ones had curled up in her arms. She felt a bit awkward but didn’t dare to move, and so she stayed like that until the two children woke up.

They opened their sleepy eyes and, seeing themselves in the arms of the “bad auntie,” instantly snapped awake.

Three pairs of eyes, big and small, stared at each other, the scene frozen in time.

It was little Su Hua’s stomach grumbling that broke the silence.

She looked nervously at her aunt’s gaze and whispered, “…I’m not hungry.”

Before she finished, Su Luo’s stomach rumbled, too.

Immediately after, Su Xingwan’s own stomach growled.

Three pairs of eyes glared at each other.

A trace of embarrassment crossed Su Xingwan’s face. Unable to accept the fact that she’d become the story’s villainous aunt, she’d been lying around for days and neglected the two children. On top of that, she’d never cared for kids before, so she’d been careless—didn’t even realize they were hungry.

“You two wait here. I’ll go make you some noodles!” she announced.

Once Su Xingwan went into the kitchen, the two little ones exchanged glances.

“Brother, the bad auntie is acting really strange today,” Su Hua whispered.

Su Luo frowned. “Don’t trust her. She’s probably up to something, trying to win our trust again.”

Last time, she’d tricked them like this to send their big brother away.

Su Hua’s little face became mournful. “…I don’t want big brother to be sent away.”

“I’ll protect you,” Su Luo reassured her. “I won’t fall for the bad auntie’s tricks again.”

Before long, the savory smell of noodles wafted from the kitchen. The two children swallowed hungrily.

Carrying out two bowls of noodles, Su Xingwan called to them, “Little ones, come eat your noodles!”

Su Hua looked at her brother hesitantly. “I want to go eat.”

“No!” Su Luo stopped her. “Be careful not to fall for her tricks again.”

So, Su Hua stayed put, but her eyes were glued to the steaming noodles on the table, smacking her lips.

They’d eaten nothing but biscuits for days and now craved a hot bowl of noodles made by the “bad auntie.” If only she could eat some, her belly would feel warm and comfortable.

Su Xingwan was puzzled. Both of them were so hungry—why wouldn’t they come over?

She raised her voice, this time gently, “Come on, little ones, it’s time for noodles!”

Su Hua looked at her brother. “Auntie’s calling us to eat again.”

Su Luo shot her a look. “Can’t you control your mouth?”

Su Hua looked even more aggrieved.

At the dining table, Su Xingwan muttered, “Are they still wary of me?”

Then, she deliberately picked up one bowl and, in front of the children, said, “You really don’t want any?”

The two little ones stayed silent.

“If you’re not eating, I’ll finish it all myself,” she said.

She took a satisfied slurp, glancing over to see the children nearly drooling.

No wonder they were the genius children in a CEO novel, she thought. Even now, they could resist.

She upped the ante and polished off her bowl, even drinking the soup, her stomach instantly warmed by the hot meal in the middle of winter.

Setting down her empty bowl, Su Xingwan reached for the children’s bowls.

Seeing the “bad auntie” about to eat their noodles too, the two children panicked.

Noticing their reaction, Su Xingwan smiled.

She set the bowls down, then went over and took both their little hands in hers, immediately feeling how cold they were.

Without hesitation, she pressed her own warm hands, still holding the noodle bowl’s heat, to Su Hua’s cheek.

So cold…

Oh no, are they getting sick from the cold?

No, I need to find them some clothes—can’t let them freeze.

Hearing the “bad auntie’s” thoughts again, Su Hua looked up in confusion, her big eyes blinking.