Su Ding said lightly, "The literal meaning."
Jin Ye was silent for a moment. Although he was shocked, he was more willing to believe this truth.
As long as it had nothing to do with Su Ding.
"That night, did you help Miao Miao into the room?" Jin Ye asked, still very confused about this.
"No, I only stayed for a short while before leaving."
Jin Ye frowned and looked at her, "Those people, and Miao Miao, all said they saw you helping them into the room..."
"I didn't!"
Su Ding's normally calm face showed a hint of anger. "Don't you believe me?"
Jin Ye said seriously, "No, I just don't understand..."
"If my phone hadn't fallen into the sea, I would really want you to hear what she said. Jin Miao Miao has encountered an ungrateful wretch."
As Su Ding spoke, she suddenly remembered her earring and quickly touched her ear.
It was empty.
She sighed inwardly. She had wanted to keep the evidence, but things didn't go as planned.
Seeing Jin Ye in thought, his handsome and cold face appeared familiar in her eyes, and the grievances in her heart gradually dissipated.
But the slap from last time was still a pain in her heart.
"If it was her, I..." Jin Ye's eyes held some apology, but his heart was genuinely overjoyed.
Su Ding snorted coldly, "Do you remember that day?"
Jin Ye knew she was referring to that morning when he questioned her angrily and even laid hands on her...
He remembered it and felt a pang of pain and regret.
"I was impulsive that day, I'm sorry. Miao Miao, she," Jin Ye's voice sank to the extreme, "had a really terrible time."
Su Ding saw that he wasn't faking it and frowned, "She was really raped?"
"Yes, by four people." Jin Ye did not hide anything from Su Ding.
His voice was filled with sorrow, and his brows were unconsciously furrowed with ferocity. "If it was Tang Yiyi, I will make her pay double!"
Su Ding rarely saw Jin Ye like this, and she was silent for a moment.
Recalling how annoying Jin Miao Miao had been by repeatedly provoking her, but being raped by four men...
She couldn't articulate what she felt.
In her eyes, Jin Miao Miao was an unkillable cockroach, but a woman experiencing such a thing was truly a pain worse than death.
"That day, I spoke carelessly."
She bit her lip and admitted her mistake in a low voice, "I thought she was causing trouble again, for her sister Tang Yiyi."
It had to be said that Tang Yiyi truly had no heart.
What kind of ungrateful wretch could cruelly harm their best friend like this.
"Su Ding."
Jin Ye was somewhat moved, grateful for Su Ding's magnanimity.
He stood up and walked towards the stone where Su Ding was sitting. Just as he was about to sit down, he saw the woman look up at him, "What are you doing?"
Jin Ye had originally wanted to get closer and hug her.
But after being asked this, his tensed face suddenly became a little strange. He said in a deep voice, "Let's switch places."
With that, he sat next to Su Ding.
Their bodies were almost touching, and the sound of the waves crashing on the beach outside created a unique atmosphere.
"I wonder how long we can last?" Su Ding said somewhat wistfully.
Jin Ye turned to look at her.
Su Ding explained, "Without a boat, we can't last long."
"This should be an island near the Southern Territory. Grandpa and Uncle Xiao will find us."
Jin Ye comforted her. Seeing her wrapped in tattered clothes and her sallow complexion, he knew she hadn't had a good time these past few days.
Su Ding pursed her lips, "Let's hope so."
Time flowed by unknowingly, and the sky gradually darkened.
The campfire flickered under the fine wind, and the temperature suddenly dropped. Su Ding rubbed her arms and yawned, leaning against the stone.
"Sleep."
Jin Ye reached out and pulled her into his arms. His broad chest radiated warmth.
"Ah!" Su Ding was dizzy. Unthinkingly, she was pressed into the man's embrace. She rationally wanted to struggle, but...
It was so warm.
She felt herself falling into it, especially the familiar scent of the man, which finally settled her lonely and uneasy heart.
"Just for warmth," she said softly, her voice hoarse.
She squinted her eyes, without the restraint and feigned distance of the day, and gently hugged the man's waist back.
Jin Ye looked down at the woman's face, feeling both heartache and helplessness.
"Okay, just for warmth."
Although trapped on a deserted island, he didn't feel anxious. Instead, he felt a rare sense of relaxation.
Being here made one's mind feel peaceful.
Holding Su Ding, Jin Ye also closed his eyes and fell asleep quickly.
...
Southern Territory.
Since Jin Miao Miao learned that Su Ding had fallen into the sea, her spirits had greatly improved under Tang Yiyi's companionship, which relieved Jin Xiao.
The search and rescue efforts continued.
It was already the fourth day, and there was still no news of Jin Ye and Su Ding. Jin Xiao Xi had keenly sensed that something was wrong.
That day, he secretly went to the yacht with Tang Tang.
The yacht was now guarded by Jin Xiao's men and docked at the pier.
"You two, go play somewhere else."
The security guard at the gate pointed at them and waved them away impatiently.
Jin Xiao Xi was not afraid. He directly took out his phone and called Jin Xiao, "Grandpa Xiao, Tang Tang and I are at the pier now. Tell the security guards to let us go up."
Jin Xiao had just returned home and said worriedly, "Why are you going there?"
"Grandpa Xiao, Dad and Mom disappeared on the yacht, right?"
Jin Xiao Xi spoke directly, "Don't hide it from me anymore. I know everything now, and I want to help find Mom and Dad."
Jin Xiao had a headache. Why were the big ones and the small ones so troublesome.
"Grandpa Xiao, just let us go up."
Jin Xiao Xi pleaded. He didn't believe they were really in trouble and that they could definitely be found.
Jin Xiao glanced at the time. It was already evening.
"I've already returned home. How about this, I'll take you to look tomorrow. The yacht won't be setting out tonight."
He hesitated for a moment before finally compromising.
Since Jin Xiao Xi knew the truth, there was no need to conceal it.
It was understandable that Jin Ye was in trouble and his son was worried and wanted to participate in the search. Moreover, Xiao Xi was a bit precocious...
"Little Xi, it's so beautiful here~"
Tang Tang looked at the luxurious and huge yacht in front of her and couldn't help but exclaim, pulling him along.
Jin Xiao Xi had thought he could catch up with Jin Xiao's search and rescue, but he didn't expect to be late, so he could only wait until tomorrow.
However, since he was here, he might as well go up and take a look. Maybe he could find a clue.
"Grandpa Xiao, we'll just go up and see, and then we'll come down."
Jin Xiao Xi discussed with Jin Xiao. Jin Xiao had always indulged the children. Since the two children could escape their families and come to the seaside, it was better to humor him. Otherwise, sneaking onto the yacht would have worse consequences.
"Okay, but you must have a security guard to lead you. After you've seen it, have him send you back."
Jin Xiao said, and then reminded them, "Don't sneak out from the adults in the future. Discuss it beforehand. What if you encounter danger?"
"Okay, okay, I remember. Thank you, Grandpa Xiao."
Jin Xiao Xi and Tang Tang, led by the security guard, boarded the yacht.
The two of them toured many areas, from the different sections of the main hall, and then went up to the deck. "Where did Mom fall from?"
"Young master, it's over here."
The security guard led them over and pointed to a certain spot, "Witnesses said she fell from here."
Jin Xiao Xi was short and couldn't see the sea scenery clearly. He stood on tiptoe and looked down. Below was the vast blue sea, bottomless, with fish swimming around.
The sea he once yearned for now seemed terrifyingly engulfing.
For anyone, how terrifying it must have been at the moment of falling. The possibility of survival was likely zero.
Jin Xiao Xi's nose instantly turned sour. He gripped tightly with his small hands, unable to speak through his sobs.
This clear and direct feeling caused the remaining belief in his heart to crumble. A person was so insignificant in the vast ocean, and reality was starkly revealed before him.
"You're saying Mom fell overboard accidentally?"
Jin Xiao Xi, with a nasal voice, suppressed his tears and looked at the security guard.