Jin Ye said in a deep voice, "We are still husband and wife, and my grandfather wants to see you."
"This, uh, I'm not very suitable, after all..."
Before Su Ding could finish speaking, Jin Miaomiao interrupted unhappily, "Cousin, why did you call her back?"
Jin Ye shot her a cold glance, and Jin Miaomiao immediately fell silent, startled.
"Okay, okay, Mom, let's go home with Dad to see Great-Grandpa!" Jin Xiaoxi quickly grabbed Su Ding's hand and acted spoiled.
"Xiaoxi, if you miss Mommy, Mommy will come see you later. Be good."
Su Ding still stubbornly refused. This kind of situation, akin to meeting the parents, made their relationship even more unclear.
Jin Ye didn't urge her further but looked at Tang Yiyi, who had a complex expression, and said indifferently, "I'm truly sorry, Miss Tang, but please go back by yourself today."
"Ah?" Tang Yiyi looked up in surprise.
She had come to the hospital early in the morning specifically to run into him and go back together.
And now?
Jin Xiaoxi quickly pulled Su Ding's hand, "Mom, it's perfect, we don't need to take a taxi. Let's go, let's go~"
Su Ding still wanted to decline, but Jin Ye grabbed her wrist and pulled her forward.
Jin Miaomiao followed behind with difficulty, leaning on her crutches.
"Miaomiao..." Tang Yiyi called out to Jin Miaomiao plaintively.
"I can't help it, sigh," Jin Miaomiao said with a grim expression. If she didn't have the surname Jin, she would have probably been left behind by her cousin and the others.
Tang Yiyi pointed at Tang Tang and said, "They're going home, why are you following them?"
Tang Tang understood her words and was immediately a little stunned, looking helplessly at Jin Xiaoxi and Su Ding, not even daring to look at Jin Ye.
Tang Yiyi was in a bad mood, and naturally, she didn't want Tang Ran to go with them.
"You come back with me. Grandpa is still looking for you," Tang Yiyi said with some annoyance, reaching out to pull little Tang Ran's hand.
Su Ding quickly intervened, "She's coming with me."
Tang Yiyi suppressed her impatience and anger, forcing a smile, "Sister Su Ding, Ranran is my sister."
"Brother Jin Ye, my grandpa is looking for her," Tang Yiyi showed Jin Ye a helpless expression. "Sister Su Ding likes Ranran, you can come visit my house next time."
Without hesitation, Jin Ye asked directly, "What does Tang Tang think?"
Little Tang Ran stubbornly held Su Ding's hand, mustered up her courage, and said softly, "I'll go with the pretty aunt."
Before Tang Yiyi could speak, Jin Ye said, "Then let Tang Ran play to her heart's content. I will personally take her back to the Tang residence and hand her over to Grandpa Tang."
"Ah." Tang Yiyi's expression grew even uglier.
Little Tang Ran, afraid that Tang Yiyi would take her away, urged Su Ding by pulling her hand quickly out of the hospital entrance.
In the car, Su Ding sat in the front passenger seat.
Jin Miaomiao, Jin Xiaoxi, and Tang Ran sat in the back, and the atmosphere became awkward for a moment.
"Fasten your seatbelt."
Jin Ye's deep voice broke Su Ding's flustered thoughts.
She slowly fastened her seatbelt and glanced back at the two well-behaved children, receiving a glare from Jin Miaomiao.
Su Ding let out a sigh. Well, she would take it one step at a time.
About half an hour later, the car arrived at the parking lot in the Jin family's back garden.
The group got out of the car and walked straight towards the living room.
At this time, the Jin family's elder was playing chess with Jin Xiao. Upon seeing them return, they were both momentarily stunned.
"Great-Grandpa, Grandpa Xiao."
Jin Xiaoxi stepped forward first and greeted them, his childish voice carrying a hint of joy.
The Jin family elder's face instantly lit up with a smile, the wrinkles on his aged, weathered face deepening. "Xiaoxi is back."
He stood up, holding his cane, and then saw Su Ding beside Jin Ye.
For a moment, he paused his movement, narrowed his eyes, and looked at Su Ding with a scrutinizing gaze.
"You are..." Grandpa Jin found her familiar.
Su Ding also recognized the elder before her, the same one she had saved earlier when she was being pursued.
"Hello, my name is Su Ding."
Grandpa Jin stared at her for another moment. "You're the woman who saved me last time? You are Su Ding?"
Su Ding nodded. "Yes, elder."
After an initial moment of surprise, her expression remained calm.
Jin Xiao also quickly recovered and smiled, "Thank you so much for your help last time, Miss Su. I didn't expect you to be Xiao Ye's partner."
"Dad," Jin Miaomiao disliked her father's good attitude towards Su Ding.
"Miaomiao," Jin Xiao stepped forward to support her. "What did the doctor say?"
Jin Miaomiao cast a displeased glance at Su Ding and said stubbornly, "I won't die, I just need some rest."
Jin Xiao frowned but ultimately said nothing more.
As an outsider, Su Ding felt a bit awkward facing this situation. "Mr. Jin, I came today specifically to bring Xiaoxi, and I apologize for not seeing you sooner. He has been staying at my place these past few days."
"Great-Grandpa, I wanted to come, it's not Mommy's fault," Jin Xiaoxi quickly said.
Grandpa Jin's wise eyes saw through the situation. It seemed his grandson and great-grandson were quite protective of this girl.
And this girl faced them with neither humility nor arrogance.
This reminded him of the time he was being chased in his car, and it was she who helped him to safety.
"That's fine. Xiaoxi has been troubling you these days, we should be the ones to apologize."
Grandpa Jin said in a gentle tone, pointing to the sofa, "Sit down first."
Su Ding's feet felt rooted to the floor. She quickly thought of reasons to leave.
Unexpectedly, her arm was grasped by a man and she was forcibly pulled over.
She couldn't help but look up and glare at Jin Ye. Jin Ye's expression was calm, but his heart was filled with many questions.
Su Ding had saved his grandfather?
As everyone sat on the sofa, Su Ding nervously fidgeted with her fingertips, unsure of what to say.
"It's already noon, you should stay for a meal."
Grandpa Jin spoke, "What's going on between you and Xiao Ye now? Since you're back in the Southern Territory, why didn't you come back together?"
After all, he was over fifty and could see that there was still affection between the two.
Moreover, what couple in the world didn't have quarrels? And Su Ding didn't seem like the type of person Miaomiao described.
"We..." Su Ding opened her mouth, but didn't know where to start.
Her scandals were visible to anyone who cared to investigate online, and she knew that explanations were futile.
Furthermore, Shao Lin was already pregnant.
Even if Shao Lin had deceived the Jin family about Xiaoxi's parentage back then, it would be difficult for the Jin family to abandon the child in her womb...
"Grandpa, let's not talk about these things for now."
Jin Ye interrupted in a low voice, glanced at Su Ding, and said, "I will handle everything."
Grandpa Jin looked at the two of them and didn't ask any further questions. He then asked, "I heard you're living alone outside?"
"Yes," Su Ding answered honestly.
"If you're not comfortable staying outside, you can move back home."
Grandpa Jin's attitude was quite amiable, mainly because his initial impression was good.
Su Ding was skilled and kind, and his grandson liked her. She seemed more genuine than those superficially virtuous young ladies from prominent families.
Su Ding pursed her lips and simply said, "I don't need to for now, but I'm very grateful for Mr. Jin's kindness."
Her words were a bit distant and polite.
Jin Ye suppressed his displeasure and was about to speak when Jin Miaomiao coolly chimed in, "How can she meet with other men if she's at home?"
"Jin Miaomiao!" Jin Ye's face darkened, his voice as cold as ice.