Jin Ye's eyes glinted with a smile as he raised his hands, indicating he wouldn't speak.
"Hmph!"
Su Ding finally let go, walked around the bed, lifted the covers, and lay down to sleep.
Jin Ye also rolled over and got back into bed. He squeezed into the covers and reached out to embrace her, but the woman grabbed his hand and forcefully placed it in the empty space between them.
"Sleep."
Jin Ye pried her hand away and possessively wrapped his arm around her waist.
Before Su Ding could push him away, he leaned in close to her ear and said in a low voice, "If you keep this up, I'll get hurt."
Such a pitiful tone…
Su Ding gritted her teeth. Fine, she’d make do for one night!
Soon, the two were embracing each other again, gradually drifting into dreamland.
The next morning, when Su Ding opened her eyes, the man beside her was no longer there.
She reached out and touched the covers. The spot was already a bit cool, indicating Jin Ye had woken up and left early.
She glanced at the time and got out of bed.
Just as she finished washing up, she saw a message from Jin Ye on her phone, "Wake up and eat something. I have something to do and won't be back until tomorrow."
Su Ding curved her lips upwards, her mood inexplicably improving.
After breakfast, she took a taxi to the small villa to check on the fire damage.
She had wanted to go yesterday but was worried the two little ones might follow.
When she arrived at the house, she saw renovation workers already busy inside. The outer walls still bore scorch marks from the fire.
"Su Ding," a familiar voice called from behind her.
Su Ding turned around and saw Jiang Chu's car stopping. The man got out of the car and asked anxiously, "What happened at home?"
"There was an accidental fire."
Su Ding didn't intend to tell Jiang Chu the details. Instead, she asked, "Why are you here?"
Jiang Chu sighed, "I've been busy with project matters lately, attending one social engagement after another. I finally have some free time today, so I came to see you."
Su Ding nodded, seeing his tired look, and asked, "Is the project not going smoothly?"
"Yes, there have been some setbacks." Jiang Chu's expression was a little strange.
He really hadn't expected Jin Ye to be so despicable, to specifically investigate his cooperation project in the southern territory, and then deliberately interfere, causing him trouble.
Everyone else thought they had a grudge.
But no one knew they were secretly competing because of a woman.
"Where have you been staying these past few days?" Jiang Chu asked softly, looking at Su Ding's good complexion.
Su Ding's expression stiffened, and she looked away. "The Jin residence."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Chu's eyes widened. "It was Jin Ye forcing you, wasn't it? Someone like him must have planned this."
"Uh, not exactly…" Su Ding still couldn't stand hearing him speak ill of Jin Ye.
Jiang Chu was already resentful that Jin Ye had obstructed his work, preventing him from visiting Su Ding. Now, learning that she was staying at his house,
He suddenly felt an surge of anger. "He's simply too detestable!"
Here he was, holding him back, and there he was, making a move on Su Ding. After Su Ding's house was burned down, he intentionally let her stay at his place, making it easier to make a move on her?
Seeing his sullen expression, Su Ding couldn't help but feel a little displeased.
She didn't think Jin Ye had offended Jiang Chu in any way. Why was Jiang Chu so angry with him?
"Jiang Chu, do you have some misunderstanding about Jin Ye?"
Jiang Chu exhaled with a displeased look. "It's not a misunderstanding; his methods are too despicable. He has Shao Lin in Jiang City giving him a child, and he wants to win you over in the southern territory. Is he enjoying the best of both worlds?"
As soon as he said this, Su Ding's heart sank.
Jiang Chu was right. Jin Ye had Shao Lin in Jiang City giving him a child, and he was being ambiguous with her in the southern territory.
Her once firm resolve had begun to waver after their interactions in the past few days.
Thinking of this, her mood became even heavier.
"Su Ding, why don't you move out? I can find a place for you," Jiang Chu said promptly, seeing Su Ding's changing expression.
Su Ding frowned, thinking of her two children and her heart, which was gradually being won over…
She said in a deep voice, "I will handle it myself."
"...All right, I believe you," Jiang Chu knew he had said enough.
The two had lunch nearby, and Jiang Chu brought up his return to Jiang City.
"I'm returning to Jiang City tonight. There's been some issue with the plot over there, and I need to deal with it."
Su Ding nodded. "Mhm."
Jiang Chu looked at her, seeing no sign of reluctance, and felt a pang of sadness. "It might be a while before I can see you again. Take good care of yourself here."
"Okay, I will. Thank you," Su Ding replied politely.
Her expression remained calm, but inwardly, she kept replaying Jiang Chu's words from earlier.
It seemed she could no longer deceive herself.
Jin Ye had an invisible pull on her. She needed to exert great effort to resist his gentle yet overbearing demeanor; the slightest carelessness and she would be lost in it.
Her mother's last wish, Xiao Rui not yet brought over, Shao Lin's covetous gaze…
Nothing had been resolved yet, yet she had almost fallen into the false sense of warmth in the small pavilion in the southern territory.
Jiang Chu suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness. "Before I leave, I want to ask you a question."
"What?" Su Ding asked calmly.
"Are you… towards me…" Jiang Chu didn't even need to ask; he already knew the answer. But before leaving the southern territory, he had to make things clear.
Su Ding looked at him calmly, her eyes devoid of any extra sparkle.
Jiang Chu put down his chopsticks and looked at Su Ding seriously. "After this period of getting to know each other, I know very clearly that I've fallen for you. So, I want to say…"
He paused, his heart suddenly racing, and his palms began to sweat.
"I hope we can develop our relationship further. I wonder what you think of me?"