When the Villain Falls Madly in Love with Herself - Chapter 8

After taking the dirty clothes out of her backpack, Jiang Le neatly folded them and handed them to the woman, her face flushed. In a voice barely louder than a mosquito’s buzz, she mumbled, Thank you…

She wasn’t used to interacting with people in this way.

The woman chuckled at Jiang Le’s earnestness, gently took the clothes into her arms, and waved her hand. There’s no need to thank me. It’s all part of my job.

She paused, remembering the main reason for her visit. Oh, right, Miss Jiang. Boss Jiang instructed me to tell you to come downstairs for breakfast as soon as you wake up. She had an urgent matter at the company this morning and couldn’t join you.

Jiang Le nodded, her muscle memory of meals being unavailable after a certain time kicking in. She quickly washed up and, skipping the elevator, dashed down the spiral staircase, her footsteps echoing like a drumbeat.

Aiyo, Miss Jiang, why are you rushing so much? A beautiful woman laughed. You’ll have to wait a bit anyway. Have some cookies to tide you over.

In the next moment, a bag of exquisitely packaged cookies was pressed into Jiang Le’s hand. She stared blankly at the woman’s busy figure in the kitchen.

I didn’t even wake up that late. Why do I have to wait? The thought slipped out before she could stop it. Do I… need to heat it up?

The woman turned with a gentle smile. Boss Jiang? Oh, she eats simply herself, but she specifically told me you’re still growing and need something more nutritious.

Jiang Le’s heart skipped a beat. A strange warmth, mixed with a sense of being cherished and overwhelmed, surged through her.

Breakfast at the Welfare Home was always the same a cold, hard steamed bun, a bland boiled egg, or a wilted fried dough stick, served with a watery bowl of soy milk.

She sat obediently at the massive dining table, her small hands unconsciously clutching the bag of cookies. Her heart thumped like a trapped rabbit, filled with anticipation, yet she forced her face to remain composed, hiding her excitement.

Before long, the woman magically produced several plates and arranged them in a circle around Jiang Le.

Jiang Le stared at the spread, her lips twitching slightly. She hesitantly pointed a small finger at the pile of vibrant green leaves, swallowed hard, and asked in a disbelieving tone, Eat… eat this?

Vegetable salad, elaborately cut but utterly bland-looking fruit, and several overly delicate side dishes. The only thing that piqued her appetite was the slice of toasted bread topped with a soft-boiled egg.

The woman’s smile froze for a moment, her fingers tightening imperceptibly around the tray. Her meticulously crafted nutritious breakfast was being questioned by this little girl—a profound insult to her professional expertise!

Jiang Le clearly heard the woman grinding her teeth inwardly. Seeing the increasingly saccharine smile on her face, her survival instincts kicked into overdrive.

She immediately stabbed a large forkful of salad and stuffed it into her mouth, her cheeks bulging as she chewed rapidly, forcing a bright smile. So… so delicious! she mumbled through a mouthful of food. Hehe, it’s so good!

I’m glad you like it, Aunt He said with a satisfied nod, regaining her composure as a professional nutritionist. My name is He. You can call me Aunt He. Just let me know in advance if there’s anything else you’d like to eat. With that, she turned and gracefully left the dining room.

As soon as Aunt He was out of sight, Jiang Le’s smile collapsed into a bitter, resentful expression. She continued chewing the healthy greens mechanically, her cheeks still puffed out in misery.

She found herself almost longing for the hearty, filling, though rough-tasting, steamed buns and fried dough sticks from the Welfare Home.

For some reason, she found herself thinking about the Skinny Woman again.

She found it strange herself.

Logically, someone who had suffered food deprivation should crave delicious meals even more. But Jiang Le seemed to be the opposite her appetite had waned, and she ate less and less.

Still, driven by hunger, Jiang Le devoured everything on the table, finishing the last drop of milk and hastily concluding her first breakfast here.

Full but aimless, she wandered through the spacious house like a kitten exploring unfamiliar territory. Eventually, the rich floral fragrance drifting from the backyard drew her outside. Pushing open the glass door, she stepped into a meticulously manicured garden.

Jiang Le squatted listlessly beside a flowerbed, unconsciously touching the blooming flowers. As she stared blankly, a cheerful humming drifted from behind her.

Turning her head, she saw a woman in a deep blue velvet gown gracefully watering the flowers with a brass watering can. The woman’s neatly coiled hair, the perfectly pressed folds of her dress, and her every movement exuded a serene and composed elegance.

If not for the loose skin on the back of her hands and the faint wrinkles betraying her age, one would never guess her true age from her silhouette alone.

As if sensing Jiang Le’s gaze, the woman paused her watering, her eyes settling on Jiang Le with a perfectly measured smile. She approached with graceful steps. You must be the young lady Boss Jiang brought back yesterday. I’m Lin Qingyu, the estate manager.

Jiang Le stood up, returning a slightly stiff smile. Hello, I’m Jiang Le.

They exchanged greetings, but a subtle silence settled between them.

Jiang Le crouched down again, but her legs soon began to tingle. The awkward silence left her feeling uneasy. She casually tapped the small white flower she had touched earlier, feigning nonchalance. What… kind of flower is this?

Lin Qingyu slowly set down the watering can and glanced sideways. Her smile deepened slightly, carrying an almost imperceptible hint of deeper meaning. It’s a tú mí. I planted all the other flowers in this garden, but this patch of tú mí was planted by Boss Jiang himself.

Dew-kissed pale petals, as delicate as silk, lay softly between Jiang Le’s fingers. The tender yellow stamens complemented her amber-colored irises, which glowed warmly in the sunlight.

Lin Qingyu gazed into Jiang Le’s clear, crystalline eyes, as if seeing into her very soul. For a moment, she was lost in thought.

Jiang Le, who knew nothing about flowers, forced a dry laugh under Lin Qingyu’s intense gaze. Heh… it’s really quite beautiful.

Sensing Jiang Le’s discomfort, Lin Qingyu quickly averted her eyes, regaining her composed demeanor as a housekeeper. With understanding, she gestured toward an elegant white pavilion nestled behind the flower bushes. There are chairs over there, Miss. Why don’t you sit down?

Jiang Le, feeling as if she’d been granted a reprieve, practically fled into the pavilion. Once seated, she fidgeted nervously, twisting her fingers.

During Lin Qingyu’s brief moment of distraction, Jiang Le had clearly heard the two words that had surfaced in her mind

So alike.

Alike what? Alike whom?

The question pricked at her heart like a tiny thorn. Just as she was lost in thought, a cup of steaming tea was gently placed on the stone table before her. The delicate aroma of the tea instantly pulled her wandering thoughts back to the present.

Jiang Le looked up at Lin Qingyu, who maintained her composed smile, and asked the question that had been troubling her for a while, Manager Lin, am I Boss Jiang’s illegitimate daughter? Her voice was soft, carrying the bluntness characteristic of a child.

Lin Qingyu stumbled, nearly dropping the delicate teacup in her hand. She managed a wry smile and replied, How could you even ask that? Aside from the fact that Boss Jiang has never had a public partner, at her age, she’d be old enough to be your grandmother.

Jiang Le muttered to herself, No public partner? That’s exactly why I thought I might be her illegitimate daughter—or granddaughter. And that would explain why she abandoned me at the Welfare Home. That’s how it always happens in the dramas I’ve seen on TV through other people’s windows.

After hearing Lin Qingyu’s thoughts and her earlier words, Jiang Le was now eighty to ninety percent certain.

Fate, my foot! she thought bitterly. It’s bl00d ties, plain and simple. They’re just trying to placate me because I’m young. Jiang Le silently grumbled, her little mind already staging elaborate scenarios of a wealthy family reunion.

Not bad at all, she thought gleefully.

Lin Qingyu watched Jiang Le’s expression shift unpredictably, finally settling into an inexplicable look of amusement. She couldn’t fathom why Boss Jiang being her grandmother was so funny.

Children’s minds were always whimsical and unfathomable.

But Lin Qingyu refused to allow anyone to be so carefree and amused while she was working. She gracefully set down her teacup and fixed Jiang Le with a steady gaze. Miss Jiang Le, tomorrow is Monday, and you need to report to your new school. You can’t sleep in like you did today. I will personally wake you up tomorrow morning.

Jiang Le froze, tilting her head to look at the sky in confusion. If she remembered correctly, it was only around seven o’clock after dinner. May I ask what time classes start at this new school?

Lin Qingyu’s eyebrow arched slightly, her voice dropping to a devilish whisper. Boss Jiang mentioned your excellent grades, so I arranged for you to transfer to Municipal First Primary School, the best in the city. Their academic standards are rigorous, and morning reading begins precisely at seven o’clock.

Watching Jiang Le’s eyes widen in shock, Lin Qingyu added with satisfaction, Moreover, Municipal First Primary School is quite far from the estate. Therefore, Miss Jiang Le, you must— she paused deliberately—wake up promptly at six o’clock tomorrow morning. I trust you will cooperate and not linger in bed. Otherwise…

Seeing Jiang Le’s stunned expression, as if struck by a bolt from the blue, Lin Qingyu finally stood up, satisfied. She resumed humming her cheerful tune and gracefully exited the pavilion.

It’s good to have a child around to keep things interesting at home.

Jiang Le slammed her head against the cold stone tabletop with a thud, her face ashen. Her previous special school had been as strict as a military camp, but at least classes started at the standard time of 830 AM!

Six o’clock! It wouldn’t even be fully light yet!

Meanwhile, having finished her company affairs, Jiang Congyue’s thoughts lingered on the little troublemaker at home. She instructed her driver to take her home immediately.

As soon as she entered, she saw Jiang Le slumped listlessly on the living room sofa like a frost-wilted eggplant.

Jiang Congyue’s brow furrowed slightly as she cast an inquiring glance at Lin Qingyu, her eyes carrying a silent reproach.

Composing herself, she hurried over and sat beside Jiang Le, taking her small hand. What’s wrong, my Lele? she asked gently. Who upset you? You seem so down.

Jiang Le shook her head. Nothing. Though she claimed nothing was wrong, her face betrayed the opposite—as if the sky were about to fall.

Jiang Congyue’s lips curved into a smile at the sight of Jiang Le’s pout. She’s just seeking attention, she thought. She casually handed her hat to Lin Qingyu, then took Jiang Le’s hands, her voice tinged with mystery and coaxing. Come, let me show you what I brought back.

Hand in hand, they entered the front hall, where a woman carried in two medium-sized boxes. Jiang Congyue gestured for her to open them.

Jiang Le, her mind buzzing with questions, climbed onto a stool and carefully opened the first box. She had imagined all sorts of possibilities new clothes, toys, books… the usual tricks of her former adoptive parents.

But she could never have guessed what lay inside a brand-new, gleaming sausage grill. She whipped her head around to stare at Jiang Congyue.

Opening the second box revealed neatly stacked rows of various sausages, meatballs, and fish balls.

How could she have known?

Jiang Le fixed Jiang Congyue with a piercing gaze, scrutinizing her smiling eyes. Another coincidence? How could there be so many perfectly timed coincidences in the world?

Do you like it? It’s a toy I bought for you, Jiang Congyue said, as if oblivious to Jiang Le’s suspicion. She began operating the grill, skillfully placing several sausages on the rollers. The sizzling sound of oil and the mouthwatering aroma of caramelized meat instantly filled the air.

The aroma instantly awakened her memories—that tantalizing scent of grilled sausage she had always longed for but never tasted. Jiang Le felt a deep pit open in her heart, sending a wave of tingling numbness through her.

Aunt He mentioned this morning that you don’t like vegetable salads. I thought, ‘Kids will be kids,’ and figured you’d probably crave something like this. Jiang Congyue placed the freshly grilled sausage on a plate and handed it to Jiang Le, adding, But it’s quite rich, so just have a taste. Don’t overindulge.

Alarm bells screamed in Jiang Le’s mind. This woman was terrifying. More than those players with Systems and clear objectives, she knew exactly how to strike at Jiang Le’s vulnerabilities.

It was as if Jiang Congyue could see into the deepest recesses of her heart, perceiving her unspoken desires and regrets. In her presence, Jiang Le felt like an exhibit under a spotlight, stripped of all secrets.

The familiar aroma filled her nostrils. She took a small bite and found it far more delicious than she had ever imagined.

Jiang Congyue reached out and gently stroked Jiang Le’s cheek. Why are you crying while eating? Is it really that good?

It’s hot! Jiang Le yelped, jerking her head away from Jiang Congyue’s hand like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. She retorted in a small voice, tinged with embarrassment at being exposed. After a moment, she added in an even quieter tone, It’s delicious. Thank you.

Biting into the sausage, Jiang Le realized with horror that Jiang Congyue understood her even better than those so-called Strategists. She could see through all Jiang Le’s emotions and inner desires, leaving her feeling like an exhibit on display before Jiang Congyue, with nowhere to hide.

Yet, to her dismay, she discovered a forbidden sense of dependence stirring within her for this mysterious and dangerous woman.

Jiang Congyue ignored Jiang Le’s occasional glances, poking a few meatballs into her bowl.

Aren’t you going to eat? Jiang Le pushed the bowl forward.

Jiang Congyue chuckled softly, the fine lines at the corners of her eyes crinkling as if her entire being had grown younger. Weren’t you waiting for me to ask?

Waiting for me to ask you? Jiang Le repeated, utterly bewildered by the logic.

Jiang Congyue lowered her gaze. This is a gift for you, something that belongs to you. Since it’s yours, you have to invite me to share it.

Belongs to.

The words struck Jiang Le’s muddled thoughts like a bolt of lightning. In her relatively short life, belonging had always been an extravagant and illusory concept.

Even at the Welfare Home, the worn-out items bearing her name could be snatched away or discarded at any moment. The things that truly belonged to her were pitifully few.

Jiang Le’s mind swam. An almost obsessive impulse drove her to yank Jiang Congyue’s hand downward, leap off the stool, and drag her toward the second floor.

They raced back to Jiang Le’s territory on the second floor, where she finally stopped, breathless, at the bedroom door.

She pointed at the massive, plush bed, her eyes shining with an almost stubborn certainty. This! Does this belong to me?

Jiang Congyue looked at her without hesitation and nodded firmly. Yes, it absolutely belongs to you.

Jiang Le pulled her toward the bathroom. Does this belong to me?

Jiang Congyue nodded again. Yes.

She pointed to the enormous wardrobe. Does this belong to me?

It belongs to you.

She gestured to the sun-drenched balcony. Does this belong to me?

It belongs to you.

She even pointed to an inconspicuous decorative vase at the end of the hallway. This too? Does this belong to me?

Yes, it belongs to you.

For every question, Jiang Congyue answered with unwavering certainty. Jiang Le seemed to be performing a sacred ritual of confirmation, her eyes growing brighter and her heart pounding harder with each affirmation.

After pointing out every item on the second floor, Jiang Le finally stopped, panting. Her amber eyes, trembling with emotion, locked onto Jiang Congyue’s loving and patient face as she gripped her hand tightly.

Tilting her head back, she mustered all her strength to ask the most important question that had been swirling in the depths of her heart And you? What about you?

Jiang Congyue had been waiting for this question.

With her other pale yet warm hand, she gently cupped the crown of Jiang Le’s soft hair. The smile in her eyes spread like spring water, gentle yet profound.

Leaning down slightly, she met Jiang Le’s gaze, her voice as soft as a feather brushing against the heart, yet as firm as bedrock, carrying clearly to Jiang Le’s ears I belong to you, Guardian.

This declaration struck Jiang Le’s chest like a stone thrown into a still lake, sending massive ripples through her heart.

However, before the warmth of this declaration could fully envelop her, Jiang Congyue’s next action was like a bucket of ice water, unexpectedly drenching her.

Jiang Congyue casually picked up an ordinary white porcelain cup from the table. With a black marker, she forcefully wrote two clear characters on the outer wall Lele.

The handwriting, childlike in its clumsiness, radiated an unmistakable sense of possessiveness.

Jiang Congyue’s thumb gently traced over the name with an equally resolute motion.

Jiang Le, her voice remained gentle, yet it pierced Jiang Le’s heart like a finely sharpened needle. What you did was wrong.

She paused, each word striking Jiang Le’s suddenly taut heartstrings with deliberate precision. No one writes their own name on their teacup at home.

The air seemed to freeze.

The color drained completely from Jiang Le’s face. She stared blankly at the cup, now smooth and unmarked after the name had been erased, then abruptly looked up at Jiang Congyue.

The brilliant light that had just ignited in her amber eyes flickered and died like a candle snuffed out by a sudden gust of wind.

She hastily lowered her head, overwhelmed by confusion and a sharp, humiliating sense of having her carefully constructed facade publicly stripped away.

Why did she say I was wrong? No one else would have cared. Does Jiang Congyue despise me…?

Jiang Congyue 24