Su Ding didn't hear Jin Ye's voice. As the gunman turned, she grabbed Xin Jia'er and they both dove to the ground, rolling.
They narrowly dodged the table that was hit, the bullets whizzing past their eyes!
The gunman's mental state was unstable, and without a specific target, he quickly shifted his aim elsewhere.
Jin Ye's suspended heart finally settled, while Jiang Jiayi was staring thoughtfully at Su Ding in front of her.
So this was the woman he cared about...
Pretty enough, brave, and more outstanding than she had imagined.
However, she didn't feel inferior to the woman named Su Ding; in fact, she felt she was even more outstanding.
Soon, the sound of police sirens could be heard from outside, and then the police arrived.
From another direction of the gunman, catching him off guard, they rushed forward and subdued him!
Fortunately, there were no fatalities on the scene, only a few minor injuries, which were promptly sent to the hospital for treatment. The incident finally concluded.
Su Ding pulled the trembling Xin Jia'er up from the ground, "Are you okay?"
Xin Jia'er's face was pale, "I... I'm fine."
Jin Ye strode over, pulling the momentarily stunned Su Ding into his arms, his expression unusually serious.
In front of others, Su Ding felt a little embarrassed.
She patted Jin Ye's back reassuringly and whispered, "It's okay, it's okay." Her gentle tone was like comforting a startled child.
Seeing Jin Ye's expression soften, Su Ding introduced, "This is Xin Jia'er, the bride-to-be I met at the bridal shop."
Jin Ye nodded faintly.
"Mr. Jin, this must be your beloved."
A cheerful and natural voice came from diagonally behind. Jiang Jiayi walked over, hands in her pockets, looking casual and cool. She waved at Su Ding, "Hello, pretty lady."
Su Ding had a good impression of the casually dressed, outgoing, and generous girl. She smiled and greeted her, "Hello, my name is Su Ding."
Jiang Jiayi winked at Xin Jia'er, "Little cutie, were you scared just now?"
Xin Jia'er, not used to being addressed by a girl, was a bit shy, "My name is Xin Jia'er, I'm Miss Su Ding's sister."
Hearing Xin Jia'er introduce herself as her sister every time, Su Ding found the young girl incredibly endearing.
"Yes, my name is Jiang Jiayi. I just returned to the country. Shall we all get together to hang out sometime?"
Jiang Jiayi invited them with practiced familiarity. Perhaps it was her casual attire, or perhaps it was her frank and straightforward personality, but neither Su Ding nor Xin Jia'er felt resistant to her.
"Sure." Xin Jia'er smiled friendly.
Just then, Jiang Lin walked over, "Jiayi, are you alright? Dad has been looking for you."
Jiang Jiayi linked her arm through Jiang Lin's, "Sorry."
Jiang Lin then looked at Jin Ye, "Mr. Jin, I sincerely apologize. There was such a significant oversight at this evening's event, nearly leading to a major problem. We had to let go of an employee a few days ago, and I didn't expect him to seek revenge on society. Sigh..."
Jin Ye knew that anyone hosting an event wouldn't want such an accident to occur. Fortunately, Su Ding was unharmed, and he had no intention of pursuing the matter further.
"Security needs to be tightened in the future," Jin Ye said faintly, preparing to take his leave.
Su Ding saw Xin Jia'er trying to call Xu Lang, but she couldn't get through. She couldn't help but ask, "How about we give you a ride back?"
She actually didn't have high hopes for Xin Jia'er's relationship with Xu Lang, but she was an outsider and couldn't interfere.
Xin Jia'er still held onto a sliver of hope, "I came with Arong. I'll wait for him a little longer. You guys go ahead."
Su Ding sighed, "Alright then."
However, the scene was still chaotic, and Su Ding felt it was unsafe for Xin Jia'er to stay.
Jiang Jiayi, sensing Su Ding's concern, smiled, "Don't worry, Dingding. I'll stay with Jia'er to wait. You and Mr. Jin can go back first."
After all, this was the Jiang family's event, so Jiang Jiayi offering to look after Xin Jia'er was certainly a good thing.
"Then we'll be leaving. Goodbye."
"Bye-bye." Jiang Jiayi waved at them with a smile.
As Su Ding and Jin Ye exited the hotel, Su Ding's phone began to buzz.
Jin Ye answered the call; it was his mother.
"Are you so blinded by that woman that you've forgotten about this family? Tell me, how long has it been since you last visited? Have you abandoned your parents?" Jin's mother's loud, accusatory voice exploded in his ear.
Jin Ye's brows furrowed tightly.
Ever since he married Su Ding, his mother had changed, losing all her former composure and grace.
He knew his mother couldn't accept the reality, but it had been so long, and the fuss had gone on long enough.
Every time he brought Su Ding home, his mother would respond with sarcastic remarks.
He felt powerless and could only let things take their course.
"Mother, what is it?" he asked in a low voice, and Jin's mother finally stopped her accusations.
"Xiao Xi has been vomiting and having diarrhea since this evening, and now he has a fever and won't stop crying. Come back quickly," Jin's mother said angrily, her voice choked with tears. "Bring that woman with you. Xiao Xi wants to see her!"
The call ended there, and Jin Ye's heart leaped.
Upon hearing that Xiao Xi was sick, Su Ding rushed towards the car, "Let's go quickly."
Jin Ye followed closely behind.
Starting the car, they both wore grim expressions, staring at the road ahead, their hearts burning with anxiety.
How could Xiao Xi suddenly fall ill like this?
With the weather getting colder, perhaps he caught a chill because his blankets weren't covering him properly, leading to these reactions?
Su Ding clenched her fists, secretly cursing herself for not paying enough attention to Xiao Xi.
He had wanted to live with her so badly, to have his parents with him, but she had stubbornly insisted on Xiao Xi staying at his father's house to avoid seeing Jin's mother.
Thinking of Xiao Xi's distressed crying, Su Ding's heart felt as if it were being pricked by needles, and tears welled up uncontrollably.
She had been too selfish.
Xiao Xi, such an innocent and lovely child, she should have cherished, loved, and accompanied him.
Finally, the car arrived at the Jin residence.
Su Ding pulled open the car door and rushed inside.
Jin Ye also walked quickly, worried that something was seriously wrong with his son, especially since Xiao Xi had always been healthy and rarely got sick.
As soon as the door opened, Su Ding headed upstairs; Xiao Xi's room was on the upper floor.
When she reached the doorway, the door was ajar. She could faintly hear Xiao Xi's low crying, his mumbling "I want Mama," and Jin's mother inside, saying tenderly, "He's coming soon, darling..."
Su Ding could no longer hold back, pushed the door open, and stepped inside.
"Xiao Xi."
She rushed to the bedside and looked at Xiao Xi's pale little face, streaked with tears. Her own eyes instantly welled up with sadness, and she, too, began to cry.
Jin's mother glared at her with disgust upon seeing her, but she eventually moved aside.
Jin Xiao Xi opened his tear-filled eyes. Seeing Su Ding, his eyes were filled with disbelief, "Mama..."
He softly called out, and tears streamed down his face.
Jin Xiao Xi lifted his small hands, which were hidden under the covers, and reached out to hug Su Ding. Su Ding, heartbroken, lunged forward and embraced the child.
"Don't be scared, Xiao Xi, Mama's here," Su Ding's tears slid onto Xiao Xi's face. The mother and son's tears mingled, as if their hearts were growing even closer.
"Mama, my tummy hurts. Don't leave, stay with me, okay?" Xiao Xi pleaded in a weak, hoarse voice. His pitiable appearance would move anyone to tears.
"Okay, okay, Mama will stay with you, Mama will always be by your side."
Su Ding wiped away her tears and placed her hand on Xiao Xi's forehead. It was still burning hot. She looked at Jin's mother, "Did he drink the medicine?"
Jin's mother retorted unhappily, "What kind of question is that? He's my grandson. Do you think I wouldn't give Xiao Xi his medicine?"