Jin Ye saw that she refused to speak and attributed it to prenatal anxiety, so he didn't ask further.
Su Ding snuggled for a moment, then looked up, gently kissed Jin Ye's lips, and gazed into his eyes with a look of deep affection and attachment, yet filled with complex emotions.
"Husband, I love you."
She said softly, her long lashes fluttering, revealing her restless heart.
Jin Ye smiled warmly, "I love you too. Don't worry, I'll bear any burdens for you. You just need to be happy."
Su Ding hummed, pushing him away slightly, "Go and rest."
"Alright," Jin Ye ruffled her hair, got up, and went to sleep in the adjacent room.
All night long, Su Ding was plagued by nightmares. She returned to the night five years ago, to that dark, mysterious room where she was pinned down and brutally violated by a stranger, losing her virginity.
The man in the dream was indistinguishable. Sometimes tall, sometimes thin, his features blurred and distorted, twisting into a menacing grimace. He shouted in an extremely eerie and oppressive voice: "Su Ding, give me back my daughter. The daughter is mine..."
She was covered in cold sweat, panting and trembling uncontrollably, clutching Xiao Rui and desperately trying to escape.
Just as she was about to break free, she unexpectedly ran into Jin Ye.
Terrified, she screamed for help, "Jin Ye, save me!"
But Jin Ye stared at her with cold indifference, his eyes filled with hatred and disgust. His thin lips parted, uttering the most heartless words:
"Get out! Someone like you is not worthy of being my Jin Ye's woman!"
Behind him, a tall and beautiful woman gradually emerged, Jiang Jiayi. She proudly and arrogantly linked her arm with Jin Ye's, pulling along Jin Xiaoxi.
They were the true, rightful family.
Su Ding couldn't believe it, shaking her head frantically, "No, that's wrong, it's not like this... I was forced to do it back then..."
"Daddy!"
At this moment, Xiao Rui slipped from her grasp and ran into Jin Ye's embrace. She turned her small face and said, "Mommy, I want Daddy!"
"No, Xiao Rui, you are mine—"
Su Ding cried out in despair and suddenly woke from her dream, panting heavily, her heart pounding uncontrollably.
"Mommy, what's wrong?" Su Xiaorui rubbed her eyes and tugged at her arm.
Su Ding blinked for a few seconds, gazing at Su Xiaorui before her, a wave of joy at finding what she thought was lost washed over her. Instinctively, she pulled her daughter into a tight hug.
"Mommy, Mommy..."
Su Ding didn't respond, just continued to breathe heavily, trying to regain her composure.
After a while, she finally released Su Xiaorui, "I'm sorry, Xiaorui, you were scared."
Su Xiaorui raised her small hand, gently touching her mother's sweat-drenched face, and said with concern, "Mommy, don't be scared, you had a bad dream."
Su Ding nodded, glanced at the clock, it was two in the morning.
She comforted her daughter to go back to sleep, then picked up her phone. First, she deleted all the chat records Shao Lin had sent her, then browsed Weibo for a while.
It wasn't until past five in the morning that she finally drifted off to sleep.
When she woke again, the maid told her that Jin Ye had already gone to the company, and Su Xiaorui was in her bedroom studying with her tutor.
She got up, ate breakfast, and then called Xin Jia'er, wanting to ask about her situation. But after calling for a long time, her phone was turned off, which made her feel strange.
Could she have been tricked back by that scumbag Xu Lang?
Su Ding knew that although Xin Jia'er said she was fine, she was deeply hurt and unwilling to express it.
This girl was so naive. Moreover, this was her only relationship, and she had even thought they were heading towards marriage. Such an unexpected event was a devastating blow.
The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she became, so she called Xue Zhi Qiao.
Yesterday, Xue Zhi Qiao had driven her home, and there had been no further contact. If he had successfully sent her home, then Xin Jia'er was likely safe...
Su Ding called Xue Zhi Qiao. His phone connected, but he still didn't answer for a long time.
...
Twilight Bar.
The dark private room was filled with the pungent smell of alcohol, and a faint scent of lust and decadence, sealed tight, allowing no light to enter.
On the king-size bed, a man and woman lay naked, embracing each other.
The man's internal clock woke him on time. He rubbed his aching temples and opened his eyes, feeling a moment of confusion and blankness. But in the next second, his heart suddenly sank!
He turned his head, and beside him lay a long-haired, naked girl.
She was petite, covered by a fine, silky duvet, revealing delicate, rounded shoulders. This scene, to an ordinary man, would undoubtedly be incredibly alluring and blood-rushing!
But Xue Zhi Qiao was utterly dumbfounded. He slapped his head hard, trying to recall the events of the previous night.
He had let the driver leave. Midway, he remembered Xin Jia'er's phone was broken, and he worried she might be targeted by the scumbag again and have no way to call for help, so he turned back to find her.
Thus, following Xin Jia'er into the bar, he watched her get drunk, cry, and curse the scumbag. He couldn't help but become intrigued.
He had acted in many idol dramas, but this was his first time seeing a girl who had truly been heartbroken.
Xin Jia'er's tears flowed endlessly, yet she couldn't escape the attention of the bar regulars.
Just as she was being propositioned by a sleazy man, Xue Zhi Qiao couldn't help but step forward.
"Hey!" He put his arm around Xin Jia'er's shoulder, asserting his claim.
The sleazy man looked up, saw Xue Zhi Qiao's tall stature and expensive designer clothes, and immediately sighed in disappointment. His lecherous gaze swept over Xin Jia'er's cup, and he left in frustration.
Seeing that Xin Jia'er's face was flushed and she was unsteady from drinking, Xue Zhi Qiao helped her to a suite upstairs in the bar.
As soon as he put her on the bed and was about to leave, Xin Jia'er suddenly sprang up from the bed, held onto his waist, and vomited.
The foul liquid splattered all over his legs and feet, turning Xue Zhi Qiao's face completely pale!
"Damn it!"
He couldn't help but curse, pushed Xin Jia'er away, and walked towards the bathroom.
Fortunately, the suite was well-equipped. He threw his clothes into the washing machine, took a shower, and came out wearing a bathrobe.
At that moment, he saw a scene that made his nose bleed...
Xin Jia'er had stripped herself naked and kept saying she was hot, her voice like a little cat's, softly moaning.
...
Perhaps it was his male nature, held back for over twenty years, or perhaps Xin Jia'er was clingy and insistent on overpowering him. In any case, the two of them, in a daze, ended up making love.
Xue Zhi Qiao's expression was gloomy, and he felt a heavy heart.
He felt like he had done something wrong, yet he didn't know how to make amends or resolve it. Just as he hesitated whether to wake Xin Jia'er, his eyes fell on the bloodstain on the bed...
She, too, was a first-timer.
Xue Zhi Qiao became even more flustered, his heart pounding with panic. He even felt like fleeing.
If she woke up, what would he say?
Just then, Su Ding's call came again. He hesitated to answer and threw his phone far away.
This was also the first time he had actively avoided Su Ding's call.