Su Ding was stunned. Before she could speak, the old man suddenly said, "Isn't that obvious? If the young girl had a boyfriend, would her boyfriend feel at ease letting her go to the city alone?"
Upon hearing this, the old woman also smiled knowingly, "That's true."
Su Ding could only force a smile and didn't offer any explanation. As long as she could reach the city safely, that was the key.
Jin Ye raised an eyebrow and glanced at her with a half-smile.
After sitting for a while, when the sun was no longer so scorching, the old man stood up and called out to them, "Let's go. I'm going to the city to sell these baskets. You two can sit behind my electric tricycle. Is that alright?"
"It's fine," Su Ding said quickly.
The old woman busied herself preparing water and dry rations for the old man for the afternoon, reminding him of a few things.
Jin Ye and Su Ding finally had an opportunity for a private conversation.
"Grandpa must know what happened at the manor by now. I just don't know how Grandpa is doing? Why would the people from organization X know we are here?" Su Ding frowned.
Jin Ye said in a low voice, "Don't worry. We'll observe the situation in the city before deciding. Organization X acting so openly, killing their way directly to the manor, seems to be a sign of them moving from the shadows to the open."
Su Ding nodded. "Exactly, I think so too. Perhaps Grandpa has people from organization X around him. They are looking for us now, so we cannot reveal ourselves easily."
As they were talking, a tall and strong young man walked along the small path at the entrance, heading towards them. His gait, build, and demeanor suggested he was not an ordinary person, but rather someone who had undergone special training.
Su Ding and Jin Ye immediately became vigilant.
"Who are you two?"
The man had clearly seen them and walked up to ask directly.
He surveyed Jin Ye with scrutiny but looked at Su Ding with a hint of admiration and lingering interest.
Before Su Ding could answer, the old woman from inside came out, smiling, "Yangyang, why are you here? These young lady and gentleman are just passing by, and my husband is giving them a ride to the city."
"Auntie, my mother sent me to bring you some pickled vegetables. My father took my car, so I figured I'd catch a ride since Uncle hasn't left for the city yet."
The young man held out a jar in his hand, his gaze inadvertently falling on Su Ding's face again.
He had never seen such a beautiful girl before, and for a moment, he couldn't control his eyes. At the same time, he felt a sense of longing and impulse.
Su Ding naturally noticed their gazes and subconsciously looked away.
The old woman clearly saw her nephew's reaction and covered her mouth with a laugh, "You rascal, what are you looking at? Haven't you seen a young lady before? You're making her shy."
The young man's face immediately turned red. He glanced at Su Ding from the corner of his eye and quickly walked towards the old woman.
"Auntie, don't say such things."
With that, he carried the jar and pushed aside the curtain, entering the house.
The old woman called out to Jin Ye and Su Ding in the yard, "Young lady, young man, please wait a moment."
"It's okay," Su Ding nodded.
After they all went inside, Jin Ye suddenly took her hand.
"What are you doing? Someone might see," Su Ding was startled and quickly pushed him away. The old woman had already believed their relationship. If they discovered it was a lie now, it would be very awkward.
"Stay away from him later," Jin Ye said in a deep voice.
Su Ding looked at the expression on his face and knew this man was jealous. She quickly nodded.
Soon, the old man, the old woman, and the young man came out.
"Hello, my name is Zhao Yang. I'm a captain in the provincial capital. I heard from my aunt about your situation. If you need any help, please don't hesitate to ask."
Zhao Yang introduced himself directly to Su Ding, looking at her intently.
Although his words were spoken frankly and naturally, he still appeared visibly nervous and shy, like a grown man who hadn't interacted much with women.
Su Ding subconsciously glanced at Jin Ye and nodded, "Thank you."
Zhao Yang's face immediately lit up with a smile. He took two steps closer, "You're welcome."
Soon, they were about to get into the vehicle.
The old man sat in the driver's seat, with a passenger seat next to him.
The passenger seat was undoubtedly more comfortable than the back, which was piled with baskets. However, Su Ding was a girl, and it was inconvenient to sit with the old man.
"Mr. Jin, you should sit in the front. It's more comfortable there."
Zhao Yang主动 went over and said to Jin Ye.
Jin Ye was a man and understood the meaning behind these words. It was clearly an attempt to have an opportunity to be alone with Su Ding. But he was Su Ding's rightful husband, how could he agree?
Jin Ye immediately shook his head, "We are outsiders. Captain Zhao should sit in the front."
Zhao Yang's brow immediately furrowed. He had already felt that this Jin Ye had ill intentions towards Su Ding, but Auntie told him in the house that Jin Ye was a married man.
A married man, relying on his looks, trying to chat up a young girl?
That's too much!
"Mr. Jin, I presume your wife wouldn't be very happy if her husband was this close to a young girl?"
Zhao Yang said righteously, not hiding anything and being very direct.
These words, however, left Jin Ye speechless for a moment, but backing down was absolutely out of the question.
He shook his head, then looked at Su Ding, his eyes calm. "My wife wouldn't mind. What do you think, Miss Su Ding?"
The words were directly thrown to Su Ding. Su Ding was helpless. What was this darn man doing!
But given the circumstances, she didn't want to embarrass Zhao Yang, nor did she want to wrong her own man. She said innocently and genuinely, "Can both of you gentlemen sit in the back with me? I'm in a hurry to get to the city, so it really doesn't matter where I sit."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yang immediately felt that he had been petty.
Why was he fussing over these minor details and forgetting that Su Ding had something urgent to do in the city? He immediately jumped into the back of the vehicle.
Jin Ye glanced at Su Ding without speaking, then got into the back. His eyes, however, conveyed everything – wait until we get back.
Su Ding blinked and then also jumped into the back.