It was only then that she suddenly remembered that during a wilderness filming trip abroad, she had saved a kidnapped girl…
“Xiaojia?” Su Ding asked, confused.
“Yes! Sister Suding, you still remember me!” Xin Jia’er said happily, stepping forward and taking Su Ding’s hand. “I didn’t expect to meet you in the country.”
Su Ding smiled, “Yes, me too.”
She remembered that after rescuing Xin Jia’er and handing her over to the police, Xin Jia’er had added her contact information and often chatted with her.
However, she was very busy with work and also taking care of Su Xiaorui, so her replies were somewhat perfunctory.
After that, Xin Jia’er reduced the frequency of contacting her. One time, when Su Ding’s phone was stolen and she got a new number, they lost contact completely.
Xin Jia’er held her hand as if they had never been estranged. “Sister, you didn’t reply to my messages later, so I knew you had changed your phone.”
Su Ding smiled apologetically, “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, it’s okay. Sister is busy with work, I know. I didn’t expect us to be so fated,” Xin Jia’er smiled innocently, her smile seemingly infectious. “Ah, right, this is my fiancé, Xu Lang.”
Xu Lang looked at his fiancée greeting enthusiastically the goddess he had a crush on in the past, feeling a slight awkwardness.
“We know each other. These are my university classmates,” Xu Lang introduced.
“Oh, really!” Xin Jia’er’s eyes widened in surprise, she grabbed Xu Lang’s wrist and tugged excitedly. “This is too much of a coincidence!”
Su Ding also didn’t expect such a twist of fate, “Congratulations to you both.”
Xin Jia’er quickly nodded, “Yes, yes! Is Sister getting married too? Brother-in-law is so handsome.”
Xin Jia’er glanced at Jin Ye, then didn’t dare to look again. He was so cool and handsome.
Even more handsome than her husband, Xu Lang.
Jin Ye nodded at her and naturally put his arm around Su Ding’s shoulder.
Su Ding smiled shyly, “Thank you.”
“When is your wedding? Ours is on the fifth of next month.” Xin Jia’er, seeing their sweet demeanor, also took Xu Lang’s arm.
Xu Lang’s expression showed a flicker of impatience, but he quickly concealed it.
“… We haven’t decided on a date yet.” Su Ding paused for a second, then quickly replied.
Jin Ye frowned at this answer.
Xin Jia’er, not noticing anything unusual, smiled and said, “Then Sister, please come to my wedding. Sister is also Lang Ge’s classmate, what a coincidence.”
Saying that, she opened her phone, “Sister, scan me and add me on WeChat.”
At this moment, Xu Lang’s eyes suddenly lit up as he stared at Su Ding.
Seeing that the other party had already handed over their phone, Su Ding had no choice but to take out her phone and scan the code to add them. “Then we’ll talk later. We have something to do.”
Xin Jia’er nodded, “Okay, bye-bye.”
She didn’t notice at all that her husband was looking at the departing Su Ding and Jin Ye with a profound gaze.
Su Ding pulled Jin Ye out of the bridal shop and let out a sigh of relief.
Jin Ye pulled her into his arms, lowered his head, kissed her forehead, and said in a voice so gentle it could drown her, “You’ve been wronged.”
Su Ding knew he was referring to her inability to state their wedding date just now. She shook her head, “It’s okay.”
This wasn’t something he could decide.
After all, it was his mother, and Su Ding didn’t want to go against his entire family.
Su Ding didn’t dwell on the topic. “Alright, let’s go. We have to go to the Shao family’s tonight.”
Jin Ye nodded, “Mm.”
On the way back, Su Ding asked Jin Ye to drive while she closed her eyes and rested.
She was about to return to the place she hated the most, and her mood was heavy and oppressive, with a hidden fear.
That place held all her emotions, and the traces of her mother.
She knew that Shao Zhenggang calling her back this time wasn’t just to return her mother’s belongings, but she still decided to go.
Even if she had companies to take over and scandals to face, deep down, she still held onto the happy memories of a family of four before Shao Lin entered their lives.
When they arrived at the Shao family’s residence, Jin Ye held Su Ding’s hand as they walked to the main entrance, squeezing her sweaty hand. “It’s okay.”
Su Ding took a deep breath and forced a smile, “Okay.”
When the doorbell rang, Aunt Chen, a domestic helper, came to open the door. Her eyes widened in surprise upon seeing her, “Young Miss! You’re back!”
Immediately after, Aunt Chen turned around and called into the living room, “Sir, the Young Miss is back.”
Su Ding had been raised by Aunt Chen, so she had some affection for her. She stepped forward and hugged Aunt Chen, “Aunt Chen, thank you for your hard work.”
Aunt Chen wiped away her tears and led her inside.
Upon entering the living room, Shao Zhenggang was about to welcome them, but his excited expression froze and turned cold when he saw Su Ding and Jin Ye holding hands.
“Sit down, dinner will be ready soon.”
“No need. Just give me my mother’s belongings, and I’ll leave immediately,” Su Ding said directly.
Shao Zhenggang’s face changed instantly, but he quickly suppressed his anger, lowered his posture, and bowed his head. “Xiaoxu, it’s been five years, and this is your first time home. Let Dad make it up to you properly.”
“I don’t need it,” Su Ding showed no mercy, her heart feeling as if it were being cut by a knife.
She had lived alone for many years, and she had dreamed of such an apology countless times. But when it finally appeared before her, she only felt an indescribable heaviness and pain.
Shao Zhenggang seemed accustomed to her sharp retorts and no longer showed anger. He took a step forward and said solemnly, “I’m sorry, Xiaoxu.”
As soon as these three words were spoken, Su Ding could no longer hold back her tears and began to sob.
Her vision blurred. She hated her soft heart, hated that she couldn’t hold firm, hated that she was so weak, but she just couldn’t stop herself.
She sneered, “Your wife was attempting suicide yesterday, ruining my reputation in front of the media reporters. And you apologize to me? Does she know about this?”
“I’ve already contacted a lawyer and drafted divorce papers. It was Dad’s fault for bringing her home back then…” Shao Zhenggang was suddenly interrupted by Shao Lin, who came out of the room:
“Dad, what are you talking about!”
Shao Lin quickly walked out, her face changing instantly when she saw Jin Ye. She immediately stepped forward and grabbed Shao Zhenggang’s hand. “Dad, you really don’t want Mom anymore? Mom is just sick, you can’t drive her away.”
Shao Lin said, looking at Jin Ye with teary eyes, “Mom just found out about Sister and Brother Jin Ye’s engagement, and she’s been stimulated… How could I snatch what Sister likes?”
Shao Zhenggang felt that his younger daughter had been wronged after hearing this.
Linlin had been dating Jin Ye for so many years without getting married, and as soon as his eldest daughter returned, Jin Ye immediately abandoned Linlin. If he didn’t believe his eldest daughter was seeking revenge, he wouldn’t believe it.
“Xiaoxu, marriage is not a matter of impulse, it’s a lifetime of happiness. Linlin knew Mr. Jin first, you can’t…” Shao Zhenggang’s words were not finished, but the meaning was very clear.
Su Ding’s tears had not yet fallen, but she was deeply hurt by these words.
She raised her tear-filled eyes and asked word by word, “So, you mean I should back out?”