When they reached a quiet, less crowded spot, Su Ding gently put Jin Xiaoxi down.
Jin Xiaoxi sat on the steps, a little nervous, "Auntie, do you dislike me now?"
Su Ding raised an eyebrow, her smile soft, "How could I?"
Jin Xiaoxi lowered his head, his eyes slightly moist, and softly replied with an "Oh."
He had originally thought that he liked the motherly feeling his aunt exuded and wanted more opportunities to interact with her. However, he hadn't considered whether his aunt was willing to accept him.
Seeing the child's dejected expression, Su Ding sighed softly and pulled him into a hug, "First, tell Auntie your name, so we can formally get acquainted, okay?"
Jin Xiaoxi nodded, "My name is Jin Zixi, I'm five years old, and I'm in the middle class at Huangyao Kindergarten."
Su Ding patted his small shoulder with a smile, "Xiaoxi, darling, can you tell Auntie how you got here? You said your dad is Jin Ye, the boss of Huangqi Group?"
Jin Xiaoxi lifted his tear-filled face, looking at Su Ding with a wronged expression.
He held Su Ding's hand with his small hand, "Auntie, I asked the driver to bring me here. I didn't tell my dad. My dad is the Mr. Jin you're talking about."
Su Ding's brow furrowed. How could Jin Ye be a father? He didn't even know his child had skipped school and come to the film set.
Jin Xiaoxi looked at Su Ding earnestly, "Auntie, I'll ask my dad to give you many, many work opportunities. Can you like me a little more?"
Su Ding opened her mouth, "Sweetheart, who taught you to say that? Auntie likes you for who you are, not for any favors from your dad. Auntie doesn't need you to ask your dad for anything on her behalf."
She suddenly remembered the black gold card Jin Xiaoxi had given her yesterday and now understood.
Perhaps Jin Ye had initially intended to exploit her, and if he now knew his son was drawn to her...
She absolutely couldn't fall into a trap!
Su Ding thought for a moment, then said seriously, "Xiaoxi, Auntie really likes you, and I promise to spend time with you when I have a chance, but there's one condition you have to agree to."
Jin Xiaoxi looked at her quizzically.
Su Ding said with a stern expression, "Don't let your dad know we're contacting each other privately."
After speaking, she felt as though she might be suspected of abducting the child, so she explained, "Xiaoxi, Auntie and your dad are in a superior-subordinate relationship at the company. If we're too close privately, it's bound to make people think things..."
Jin Xiaoxi was not an ordinary child and immediately nodded, "Auntie, I understand."
Su Ding was finally satisfied. She pulled the child into her arms and affectionately nuzzled his head.
She marveled inwardly at the coincidence – how much Jin Ye's son resembled her own child.
Jin Xiaoxi felt immense joy and clung to Su Ding, relishing the warmth of a mother.
If only she were his mother...
Soon, it was Su Ding's turn to perform, and Xiao Yuan came to call her.
Su Ding stood up and patted Jin Xiaoxi's hand, "Sweetheart, Auntie has to go to work now. Can you go back to kindergarten first? Auntie promises to find time to play with you."
Jin Xiaoxi looked at Su Ding with reluctance.
Su Ding smiled and leaned in to whisper in his ear, "Don't forget our little secret, okay? Don't let your dad know. Auntie will call you tonight."
Jin Xiaoxi's face lit up with a smile. He nodded emphatically, "Okay!"
Su Ding watched as Jin Xiaoxi got into a nearby car before feeling at ease and returning to her filming.
After filming, on the way back, Xiao Yuan finally had time to question her.
"Dingding, who was that child just now? They looked exactly like Xiao Rui," Xiao Yuan asked, her brow furrowed as she recalled the child.
"A friend's child. Don't ask," Su Ding said, trying to brush it off. She didn't want to reveal that Jin Xiaoxi was Jin Ye's son, fearing Xiao Yuan might start speculating wildly.
Xiao Yuan wasn't about to let it go easily. "You didn't happen to have twins, did you?"
Su Ding shot her an exasperated look. "Do you think I wouldn't know what I gave birth to?"
Xiao Yuan persisted, "Then tell me, why does that child look so much like Xiao Rui? It's normal for people to resemble each other, but these two are exactly the same!"
Su Ding had also found it strange, but remembering that Xiaoxi's father was Jin Ye, she hadn't thought much of it.
However, now that she was being questioned, she couldn't explain it. Xiaoxi and Xiao Rui did indeed look excessively alike. If she weren't Xiao Rui's mother, she would have suspected they were twins.
Su Ding frowned. "It must just be a coincidence..."
As she spoke, Jin Ye's stern, serious face suddenly flashed in her mind. She felt a jolt, as if struck by electricity, and her body stiffened abruptly, her expression changing!