Chapter 17: I Am Their Aunt

On the children’s side of the table, each child was dressed like a little young master or princess, sitting around together. Only Xiao Suhua and Xiao Suoluo stood out in their powder-blue down jackets, but the other children didn’t seem to notice.

The brother and sister stared at the food on the table in front of them, swallowing instinctively. The dishes looked delicious. Yet, they didn’t start eating; instead, their eyes turned toward the adults’ table where Auntie sat…

They really wanted to share with Auntie.

“Why aren’t you two eating?” a little girl in a white princess dress asked.

Among the children at this table, only Xiao Suhua and Xiao Suoluo were the youngest, still needing adult care as toddlers.

Suddenly, a five-year-old boy burst out laughing, pointing at them. “I’ve got it! They don’t know how to use chopsticks yet!”

“Do they need us to feed them?” another older child asked.

The five-year-old boy scratched his cheek, blushing. “They still need adults to feed them!”

Provoked, Xiao Suoluo retorted defiantly, “Who said we need adults to feed us? We can eat by ourselves!”

With his brother backing him up, the socially anxious Xiao Suhua also said, “Yes, we can eat by ourselves. We don’t need Auntie to feed us!”

“Then eat by yourselves! You’re just sitting there talking nonsense.”

“Exactly!”

The little girl in the white dress stopped them, “Liu Yu, they’re still younger siblings. You have to be kind to them!”

Liu Yu rolled his eyes at the girl but said nothing.

“Fine, we’ll eat!” the two little ones said bluntly.

Seeing that they really could eat by themselves—and noticing they dropped fewer grains of rice than he did—Liu Yu subconsciously picked up the grains of rice at the edge of his own bowl.

The children at this table ate quickly; many who finished early ran over to their parents’ sides.

“Mom!”

Having finished, Liu Yu threw himself into his mother’s arms.

Zhou Zhu held him, laughing teasingly, “Really, you’re all grown up, and yet you still know how to act spoiled!”

“Zhou Zhu, that’s your son, right?” someone said admiringly.

Zhou Zhu smiled and nodded. “Yes, you haven’t met my son yet, have you? His name is Liu Yu, and he’s already five.”

Everyone gazed at her son, showering him with compliments.

“So this is the little young master you kept talking about? He’s so handsome!”

“He looks so clever; he’s bound to be a top student someday.”

Hearing the praise, Zhou Zhu’s vanity flared.

“He’s won quite a few awards in kindergarten. His teachers love him and always praise him for being capable and the hardworking little bee of the class.”

“Really? So popular at such a young age, he’ll definitely charm many little girls when he grows up.”

Zhou Zhu smiled from ear to ear. “It’s a shame my husband is busy with overtime recently, or I would have brought him here today.”

“That’s okay. Your husband’s a leader at a big company; being busy is normal.”

After finishing, the two little ones scampered over to Auntie’s side.

Seeing them approach, Su Xingwan gently tapped their little noses and asked kindly, “You’re done so quickly? Are you full?”

The two nodded eagerly.

“Auntie, aren’t we great?”

Su Xingwan praised them warmly, “Very great!”

The two little ones smiled happily.

Everyone’s attention shifted to Su Xingwan’s side.

No one had really examined the two children closely before, but now, on closer look, the little ones were rosy-cheeked and utterly adorable.

Though a bit thin, their features were delicate, like works of art molded by the Creator, stunningly beautiful, as if favored by fate itself.

At the same time, a question arose in their minds: If these children are so beautiful, then Su Xingwan’s benefactor must be a handsome man, right? Otherwise, just by Su Xingwan’s looks alone, she couldn’t have given birth to such gorgeous toddlers.

Everyone was mesmerized by the children.

Some adults, tempted by their plump rosy cheeks, wanted to pinch them.

Seeing this, Zhou Zhu’s expression darkened slightly.

Liu Yu, displeased with the adults who had just praised him, now fixed his gaze on the two little brats.

“Su Xingwan, are these twins? The brother and sister look so alike.”

Su Xingwan smiled and replied, “Yes, they are twins.”

To be precise, they were actually triplets.

“Wow! Twins! Su Xingwan, you’re so lucky.”

“Yes, how did you manage to have such beautiful children?”

Some mothers and soon-to-be mothers wished they could have such pretty kids themselves.

Compared to the fake compliments just given to Zhou Zhu and her son, the praise for Su Xingwan’s children seemed far more genuine; the sparkle in their eyes showed true affection.

Su Xingwan explained, “They’re not my children. I’m their auntie. They’re my sister’s kids.”

Everyone was stunned.

Not… not her children???

All eyes turned toward the two little ones.

Xiao Suoluo said, “We’re Auntie’s children!”

Xiao Suhua said innocently, “She’s our Auntie, the best Auntie in the world.”

Everyone: So they really are her nieces and nephew.

That means they had made a huge misunderstanding???

Su Xingwan wasn’t being kept by some wealthy benefactor at all!!!

A trace of awkwardness appeared on everyone’s faces.

They remembered hearing about her having an older sister who married early and was also very beautiful.

Who had started the rumor about Su Xingwan being supported by a benefactor? That was slandering an unmarried young lady’s reputation!

But then another question arose.

How to explain her recent downfall and bankruptcy?

The Su Xingwan they thought they knew suddenly became a stranger.

She used to be outgoing, wanting everyone to notice her, always proud and arrogant. Now she was completely low-key, wanting to disappear from everyone’s sight.

In fact, many found her insufferable before, though no one said it openly. They disliked her for her arrogance and haughtiness, thinking everyone wanted to cling to her.

But now, Su Xingwan had completely changed.

No one knew what she had been through to become like this.

Yet, this new version of her was much more pleasant to be around, lacking her former overbearing arrogance.

Zhang Qiaoqiao, who knew her best, now showed a flicker of puzzlement in her eyes.

Meanwhile, the adults at the table continued their conversations, many adding Su Xingwan on WeChat.

The children were sent to the play area specially prepared by Senior Fang.

Senior Fang noticed Su Xingwan’s gaze lingering on the two little ones and smiled, “Don’t worry, Junior Sister Su, it’s very safe there. There are dedicated staff to take care of them. Nothing will happen.”

Hearing this, Su Xingwan withdrew her gaze.

“Thank you, Senior Fang.”