"Yes, there's something I've never told you," Shao Zheng Gang sighed with guilt. "Before your mother left, she wished for you to find your maternal grandfather and uncle, and bring her ashes home."
Su Ding remembered this and couldn't help but ask, "Why haven't Grandpa and Uncle looked for Mom all these years?"
Shao Zheng Gang became even more self-reproachful, "It's all my fault..."
Back then, Su Qin fell in love with him and married him against her family's wishes. She became pregnant, and her father, furious, disowned her.
The two families had no further contact.
Until one year, Su Fu suddenly came to find Su Qin and gifted her the businesses he had worked hard to build in Jiangcheng. Then, he took his family and left.
After that, there was no more news.
Even when Shao Zheng Gang had asked Su Qin later, Su Qin remained silent, never mentioning her parents or brother.
"I don't know their whereabouts either. I sent people to look before, but there was no news, so I gave up."
Shao Zheng Gang sighed, "Your grandfather was truly angry back then, saying he would completely cut ties."
Su Ding glanced at him, thinking to herself: Grandpa's persistence back then was right.
"I think your mother must have known where they were, but didn't go find them. Alas," Shao Zheng Gang said, putting down his chopsticks. "It's all my fault from back then..."
"That's enough," Su Ding felt annoyed by his apologies.
Such apologies were useless.
After the meal, Shao Zheng Gang wanted Su Ding to stay for a while longer, but Su Ding was unwilling to linger.
"Oh, right, if you know Shao Lin's whereabouts, notify me."
Shao Zheng Gang asked confusedly, "Didn't Mr. Jin capture her?"
Su Ding then realized he probably didn't know about this yet.
"She escaped, and we're looking for her."
After speaking, she stood up directly and walked towards the main door. "No need to see me out."
Shao Zheng Gang watched her departing back and sighed softly.
...
When Su Ding returned home, she opened her laptop and started searching online.
She intended to start by investigating the symbols on the wooden box's texture, as the wooden box her mother left her was very special.
If she could really find her maternal grandfather and uncle, her mother would be very happy.
It was just difficult to find them at the moment.
Just then, her WeChat suddenly pinged. It was Shao Lin.
Previously, Shao Lin had threatened her and sent her a video from five years ago via WeChat. After that, she hadn't logged in again.
When Su Ding told her about Xiao Xi's illness, she found that it had been deleted.
And now...
Friday evening, I'll be waiting for you at the H.O venue. - Shao Lin
Su Ding quickly replied: Xiao Xi is sick.
The message appeared with a red exclamation mark. She had been deleted again.
Su Ding was anxious, but she had finally found a clue. She immediately called Jin Ye to tell him.
"She's coming for you," Jin Ye said directly.
"As long as it can save Xiao Xi, I'll do whatever she wants."
Su Ding had no other choice. She said, "Xiao Xi is her biological son after all. She shouldn't just stand by and do nothing. She just wants to use this opportunity to deal with me."
Her revenge against Shao Lin and Wang Mei Lan had all been realized before.
Shao Lin hated her to the bone.
Jin Ye was still worried but, thinking this was the only chance to catch Shao Lin, he didn't want to give it up easily.
"It's okay, with you protecting me, I'll be fine," Su Ding comforted, but she still felt a sense of unease.
She gently stroked her swollen belly, patting it to soothe the baby inside.
After hanging up the phone, Jin Ye's expression turned grim.
"Even if we have to dig three feet into the ground, we must find Shao Lin!"
Luo Zhu, seeing Jin Ye's terrifying expression, felt his legs tremble and quickly agreed.
Jin Ye pushed open the door and drove directly to the hospital.
When he saw his mother, who was looking after Xiao Xi in the ward, his stern expression softened slightly, but he still lowered his voice and said, "Mother, please come out for a moment."
Zhao Qin's tears began to flow again when she saw Jin Ye.
She never imagined that her grandson was fine just when he left, and now, in such a short time, he had become like this.
The mother and son went to the adjacent ward. Zhao Qin couldn't control herself and hit Jin Ye twice. "How could you be so heartless!"
"They say it's better to have a stepmother than a stepfather. That saying is really true! Why did you take Xiao Xi to celebrate that woman's birthday... *sniffle*... my poor Xiao Xi..."
Zhao Qin accused and cried, "What kind of bewitching potion did Su Ding pour into you? Your only son is almost killed by her!"
Jin Ye silently endured his mother's scolding for a moment before finally explaining, "It wasn't Su Ding. Since Xiao Xi fell ill some time ago, the root of the illness was planted then."
"That doesn't mean she didn't do it!"
Zhao Qin said angrily, "She's not the child's biological mother after all. She dislikes Lin Lin so much, how could she genuinely love Xiao Xi!"