Jin Miaomiao tightened her chopsticks and forced a smile. She said weakly to Su Ding, "Sister Su Ding, I was ignorant in the past. Please don't be angry with me. Father has already educated me."
Su Ding was stunned, not knowing what trick Jin Miaomiao was up to this time.
Seeing her father's loving gaze and her grandfather's approving eyes, Jin Miaomiao found the words she had been hesitant to say now came out smoothly.
"I'm very happy you're living at my house. The house fire really had nothing to do with me. I know you don't believe me, so I want to say that I will cooperate with the police investigation and strive to find the real culprit as soon as possible."
Her words, showing maturity and reason, made her seem like a different person from her past self.
Jin Xiaoxi couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow, Auntie, what's wrong with you?"
"Your auntie has become sensible. Xiaoxi, you should learn from your aunt. Distinguish right from wrong and be magnanimous to others. Do you remember?"
Grandpa Jin looked at Xiaoxi kindly, reasoning with him.
Jin Xiaoxi glanced at Su Ding, whose expression was somewhat odd, and obediently nodded, "Oh, I remember."
Now, everyone's gaze turned to Su Ding.
Su Ding pursed her lips, placing her chopsticks by the bowl. Her eyes were a little cold as she quietly looked at Jin Miaomiao.
She paused for a long time, catching sight of Jin Ye's gaze from the corner of her eye.
"Okay, if the arson had nothing to do with you, then all past grievances are wiped clean."
Su Ding's clear and cool voice rang out. It wasn't loud, but it eased Jin Ye's tense heart, a tenderness appearing in his dark eyes.
Upon hearing this, Jin Miaomiao smiled, "Yes! Thank you, Sister Su Ding."
Su Ding didn't meet her gaze, looking away. She suddenly lost her appetite.
A warm, large hand gently covered her cool small hand, squeezing it lightly. A deep, magnetic voice sounded in her ear, "Eat."
Su Ding lowered her head, awkwardly pulling her hand away.
"Oh, right, Sister Su Ding, I'm holding a class reunion tomorrow. It's quite close to where you live, so it might be a bit noisy. I'm telling you in advance."
Jin Miaomiao looked at Su Ding with bright eyes.
Su Ding frowned and said calmly, "Okay, I understand."
"If you have nothing else to do, you should come. You don't have many friends in the Southern Region, so you can hang out with us."
Jin Miaomiao was very enthusiastic, her face showing a sweet smile, truly like a girl next door.
Grandpa Jin smiled and said, "Su Ding, if you're bored staying here, you should go and play with them. I believe you young people will have common topics."
Su Ding nodded, not too enthusiastically, "Mm, okay."
Jin Miaomiao smiled even more happily, picking up serving chopsticks to place a piece of pastry on Su Ding's plate. "Sister Su Ding, this is delicious."
Under Jin Miaomiao's friendly smile, Su Ding felt an indescribable discomfort.
Jin Ye, sensing her unease, took the pastry away. "Let me try it."
"Cousin~" Jin Miaomiao could see Su Ding's resistance to her, but she didn't care. After all, Grandpa and Father knew she had changed.
The meal was exceptionally uncomfortable. After it ended, Su Ding excused herself and returned to the small loft.
"Xiaoxi, you sleep in the main courtyard tonight."
Jin Ye stopped his son, who was about to follow, and said sternly.
Jin Xiaoxi raised his head and let out a sound, then asked confusedly, "But I want to be with Mommy."
"How old are you?" Jin Ye asked seriously.
Jin Xiaoxi pouted unhappily, turned his little head, and pulled Tang Tang along. "Let's go."
Tang Tang looked at Su Ding, then at Xiaoxi, and thought blankly for a moment before following Xiaoxi upstairs.
"Let's go."
After seeing off the two younger ones, Jin Ye gestured with his chin to Su Ding, signaling her to go.
Su Ding frowned, turned, and walked out of the living room. Jin Ye followed, his steps leisurely.
"Don't follow me," she said sullenly.
"I'm taking a walk to aid digestion. Just happening to be going that way."
Jin Ye said frankly, walking beside Su Ding with his long strides, and proactively said, "I've already arranged for someone to renovate your house."
Su Ding paused upon hearing this. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Jin Ye replied lightly.
There was silence again as they walked along the quiet garden path. The streetlights were dim, and the atmosphere was somewhat stagnant.
Su Ding couldn't help but quicken her pace.
Jin Ye's brow furrowed, and he took her hand. "What's the rush?"
Su Ding pulled her hand away, her voice a little cold. "I want to go back and rest. Aren't you going back?"
"You really don't want to be with me?"
Jin Ye's expression turned unpleasant. If he hadn't grabbed her hand, she might have already run away.
Su Ding said expressionlessly, "Mm."
Jin Ye wanted to get angry, but the words stopped at his lips. "Do you have such a big opinion of me?"
"No," Su Ding replied, still with no expression.
Jin Ye felt annoyed, yet also helpless. He pulled her into his embrace with his long arm. "Let's talk properly."
Su Ding could no longer maintain her outward composure.
She pushed against the man in a flustered and embarrassed manner. "What madness is this now?"
"What do you think?"
Jin Ye stubbornly held her in his arms, drawing their distance to an absolute minimum.
He lowered his voice and said, "Don't be stubborn, do you hear me?"
"I'm not," Su Ding said indignantly, a blush coloring her cheeks, her heart racing.
Jin Ye leaned closer to her, his warm breath brushing against her eyes. "Aren't you throwing a childish tantrum right now?"
Su Ding's cheeks burned, and she didn't even dare to look him in the eye.
She took a deep breath, trying to steady her voice. "Okay, I won't throw a tantrum. Mr. Jin, please let go first..."
"Mmm!"
Before she could finish, her lips were captured and invaded with force.
Su Ding startled and instinctively leaned back, but this only drew a tighter embrace from the man and a pressing kiss.
She was forced to tilt her head back, enveloped by the man's domineering presence.
The man's kiss carried a hint of punishment as he gently bit her lips. His large hands cupped her face, his calloused fingers stroking her delicate skin.
"Do you only behave when I do this?"
His husky, teasing, seductive voice echoed in her ear.
Shamefaced and annoyed, Su Ding raised her elbow and sharply jabbed it into the man's firm abdomen. With a muffled groan from him, she quickly pulled away.
"If you dare to act out again, I won't be polite."
She glared at the man in front of her, saying breathlessly.
But Jin Ye clutched his abdomen in pain, his head bowed, his thick brows furrowed, and he gasped for air.
Su Ding felt a pang of unease and tentatively asked, "Are, are you alright?"
Jin Ye's expression was grim as he slightly lifted his head, his eyes squinting in pain, looking quite unwell.
"What's wrong?"
Seeing that he didn't seem to be faking it, Su Ding quickly stepped forward to check on the man's condition.