Chapter 302: Cutting Through Thorns and Thistles

Jiang Muye believed every word his aunt said.

Just the weekly allowance his aunt gave him was an astonishing amount.

A few weeks of saved-up allowance was more than enough for a betrothal gift to the Leng Family, let alone anything else.

"Aunt, I'm perfectly capable of handling the betrothal gift myself. You don't need to worry about it. When the time comes, all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the wedding banquet." Jiang Muye spoke to his aunt with complete confidence.

His aunt was deeply moved when she heard this. "My nephew has really grown up. Though, I've been keeping an eye on the company you built. The Jiang Corporation's stock has been soaring rapidly lately. I'm very gratified."

His aunt had always thought Jiang Muye was a promising prospect.

Even though they were related by blood, she felt she was a good judge of character. After all, he was flesh and blood of the Jiang family.

Especially since Jiang Muye had been good-natured and honest since childhood.

But even she had never imagined that Jiang Muye would achieve so much at such a young age.

And without any support from her, he had cut through every obstacle and carved out a world of his own.

As for taking over Chen Enterprise in the future, there was no need to even mention it. He would surely make Chen Enterprise flourish.

Her efforts hadn't been in vain. Back then, she had overcome every obstacle to support Jiang Muye's rise and make him the future heir of the Chen Clan.

"I'll help too!" Leng Ruoli added shyly from the side.

Jiang Muye dotingly flicked her nose and said, "Alright, you can be my virtuous helper and assist me."

Leng Ruoli lowered her little face shyly.

It was only when Father Jiang urged everyone to eat that the topic finally ended.

After the meal, Jiang Muye went to the bathroom.

When he came out, he was surprised to find Leng Ruoli sitting between his aunt and Mother Jiang, the three of them looking through a thick photo album together.

Leng Ruoli burst out laughing.

When Jiang Muye saw this, a bad premonition rose in his heart.

Could it be…

"Mom, you're digging up my old secrets!" Jiang Muye immediately rushed over and, without another word, moved to confiscate the album.

But how could Mother Jiang possibly hand it over? She clutched the album and refused to let go. "I'm just sharing photos. How is that digging up your old secrets? Besides, it's good for her to know you inside and out."

Jiang Muye's face turned red. "No! Just give it to me~"

To him, this was black history. How could he let Leng Ruoli see it?

It was practically stripping him bare, not giving him any face at all.

"Why don't you sit down and look with us? I haven't finished yet, and I want to keep looking." Leng Ruoli gazed at Jiang Muye with pleading eyes.

Jiang Muye was helpless. "There's nothing worth seeing."

"That's not true. It's very entertaining." Leng Ruoli added another blow.

Jiang Muye's face was burning. He glared at Mother Jiang. "See, this is all your fault."

"I just wanted to let her see what you were like as a child. What's wrong with that? It's a good chance for you to reminisce about your childhood too." Mother Jiang chuckled.

His aunt even pulled Jiang Muye over and told him to sit down beside them. "That's right, hurry up and sit down. Let's all look together. Don't be so stingy. I haven't finished looking either!"

Jiang Muye had no way out. Seeing how eagerly Leng Ruoli was staring, he figured he might as well let them finish. After all, he was wise and magnificent enough that he wouldn't be ruined.

It shouldn't affect his image in Leng Ruoli's heart, right?

"Fine, fine, fine. Go ahead and look." Jiang Muye waved his hand, putting on an air of magnanimity. "It's not like there's anything from my past I'm afraid of people seeing."

Mother Jiang smiled and turned to the next page.

But when Jiang Muye caught a glimpse, he panicked. "No, not this one!"

He never imagined the slap in the face would come so quickly!

The photo showed him with two pigtails, the kind with pink hair flowers, a red dot on his forehead, and his cheeks painted with red blush like a monkey's butt.

And that wasn't all. Below, he was wearing a floral dress.

Jiang Muye's eyes went wide.

He didn't even remember this photo being kept. His mom's stash was way too big!

Leng Ruoli smiled sweetly. "You're so pretty."

"Don't use 'pretty' to describe me. I'm a man." Jiang Muye touched his nose, deeply embarrassed.

His aunt laughed and said, "Our Muye really is pretty. Look at how delicate those features are. When I took him out as a child, Dazhuang from next door even said he wanted to marry him!"

"Bah, that guy must be blind!" Jiang Muye grew irritable.

"Can I have this photo? I really like it." Leng Ruoli smiled and asked Auntie Zhang, but Jiang Muye answered first. "No!"

He was even planning to destroy the evidence. How could he let Leng Ruoli take it!

He'd burn them all in a bit!

However, Mother Jiang generously said to Leng Ruoli, "Of course you can. You're family now, so of course you can have it."

Leng Ruoli smiled brightly. "Thank you, Auntie."

"Could you guys ask the person involved for his opinion?" Jiang Muye said miserably.

His lifelong reputation was completely ruined.

Especially when he saw Leng Ruoli happily tucking that photo away, Jiang Muye's gaze grew even more resentful.

Mother Jiang continued to the next photo.

Jiang Muye took one look and became glum. "Mom, this is too much."

This photo was way too revealing! Was this the kind of content you could see without paying!

"Oh my, there's even a nude photo of you!" His aunt teased with a laugh.

"Give it here!" Jiang Muye moved to snatch the photo.

This photo was of him as a child, naked and blowing bubbles.

It was so humiliating!

How could his mom photograph everything! He was her own son. Didn't she consider that her son would face Social Death one day!

Leng Ruoli took one look, and her little face grew hot too.

After Jiang Muye snatched the photo away, he quickly stuffed it into his pocket.

He had assumed the following photos would be a bit more clean-cut, but it turned out each one was more explosive than the last. There were all kinds of ugly photos, and Jiang Muye wanted to tear the entire album apart.

"Mom, couldn't you have taken nicer photos of me as a kid? Why did you photograph every image-destroying moment!" Jiang Muye complained.

"Who says? You were so cute." Mother Jiang chuckled.

Jiang Muye wanted to cry but had no tears. If she had at least included some genuinely cute photos, he wouldn't say anything, but what was cute about a photo of him dressed as Ruhua with a scissors-hand pose?

The most important thing was, what was going on with the corner of his mouth in the photo!

Had he inherited the essence of the Evil God with the Crooked Mouth!

"Mom, you're something else. You'll show anything." Jiang Muye shook his head and sighed.

"That's right." Mother Jiang looked smug.

Jiang Muye was emo: How is my mom proud of herself? Mom, I wasn't complimenting you!

Leng Ruoli said with a charming smile, "Looking at the album is great. I wasn't part of your childhood, but now I feel like I'm right there."

When Jiang Muye saw Leng Ruoli smile at him, he went from feeling dejected to instantly enlivened.

My girlfriend is the best~ Only my mom bullies me.

His aunt laughed and said, "If the two of you had known each other as children, you'd be childhood sweethearts."

"When I was little, I was already…" Leng Ruoli began instinctively, but then she felt a faint swelling in her mind, a muddled haze, and the image she had originally held suddenly blurred.

Then it vanished, never to return.

Leng Ruoli was bewildered, slightly dazed.