After hanging up the phone, Jin Ye continued to watch the village entrance.
According to Xu Rong, Xiao Rui would play games with the village children at the entrance in the morning, and the elders would also play mahjong, chat, and watch the children.
As expected, the sounds of children playing could be heard from a distance.
He immediately sat up straight, his gaze searching through the groups of children for Xiao Rui.
"Ah, ah! I won!"
"Gou Dan, give me your cards, hmph~"
A sweet,娇蛮 girl's voice fell, followed by a boy's loud roar, "Gou Dan, hurry up and give them to her, or I'll beat you!"
Jin Ye finally saw Su Xiao Rui in the crowd.
She was wearing a simple floral dress, her fair and cute face looked particularly delicate among the many children, and her smile was bright and endearing.
"It's the young lady!"
The bodyguard recognized her and exclaimed in surprise.
Jin Ye glanced at him coldly, and the bodyguard immediately shut up.
This was his daughter; what business was it of others?
Looking at the girl in the pile of children, his heart felt warm. As expected, his daughter was the cutest.
His icy expression, after half a month, finally turned from gloomy to clear…
Fortunately, the child was fine.
Jin Ye's worried heart finally settled, filled with the joy and sadness of a reunion.
A child as angelic as this was his daughter.
Seeing that Jin Ye's expression had softened considerably, the bodyguard quietly asked, "Mr. Jin, shall we pick up the young lady?"
"No need, let's go back."
Jin Ye withdrew his gaze and let out a long sigh.
He just needed to confirm that the child was safe; next, he had to wait for Su Ding to appear.
"Send people to protect her safety, and make sure they are not discovered."
"Yes."
Jin Ye's previously irritable mood finally eased.
He hoped that by the time he returned from the southern territories, he would receive news that Su Ding had returned.
…
Two days later, Su Ding received a package.
She opened the parcel, and inside was a brocade box, containing an exquisite jade pendant…
It was the same one she had seen at Devil's last time!
Su Ding was very excited. She carefully held the jade pendant back to her room.
She took off the jade pendant around her neck and compared them closely.
The feel and material of both pendants were the same, definitely not a fake or shoddy imitation.
The patterns looked the same at first glance, but upon closer comparison, she realized that when the two jade pendants were held up to the light, the inlaid patterns inside were different!
One was a dragon, and the other was a phoenix.
This meant that the jade pendants were made in two pieces from the beginning, forming a pair.
Su Ding's heart suddenly sped up; it felt as if she were delving deeper into the past secrets her mother was unwilling to discuss.
"Ding dong!"
Her phone beeped, and she quickly checked it. Devil had sent a message!
[Girl, did you receive the jade pendant?]
Su Ding quickly replied: [Yes, when will you see me?]
Devil: [I've been busy lately. I gave you the jade pendant to tell you that I'm not a liar.]
Su Ding: [Then who are you?]
There was a long pause from the other side, making Su Ding anxious.
Devil: [We'll talk when we meet. Take care of yourself.]
Su Ding: [What's your name?]
… The other party had gone offline.
Su Ding was so angry she could spit blood, but seeing the jade pendant in her hand, she helplessly sighed.
She just wanted to see her maternal grandparents and bring her mother's ashes here to fulfill her mother's last wish. Why did it feel so difficult? xxs1
The Ouyang family was too mysterious.
In the following days, Su Ding busied herself with decorating the house.
She hoped that when she brought Xiao Rui over, the little one would like living there.
In the evening, after buying groceries at the supermarket, she drove her small car and passed by that quiet path again.
Suddenly, a car sped past her!
The headlights were blinding, and for a moment, her eyes could barely stay open. When she looked again, the car was already in front of her.
Su Ding stared at the car, her brows furrowing.
This car seemed to be the same one as the old man she had saved that night. What a coincidence.
She always felt that the old man was not simple, and that there were definitely complex and dangerous secrets behind him. She hoped not to encounter such things again in the future.
Meanwhile, in the car ahead, Jin Ye was resting with his eyes narrowed.
Jin Miaomiao sat beside him, very excited, finally going home!
"Cousin, Yi Yi jie will be so happy to see you!"
"Mm."
Jin Ye replied faintly, not hearing a word.
He had fantasized many times about bringing Su Ding and the children back to see his grandfather, but now he was returning alone, and he felt an indescribable melancholy.
Upon returning to the old house, the servants hurried to report.
"Grandfather, Uncle, I'm back."
Jin Ye strode into the living room and greeted the two elders on the sofa.
Grandpa Jin's usually stern face broke into a smile, his wrinkles deepening. "It's good that you're back. Come and sit."
Jin Ye nodded and sat beside his grandfather.
Grandpa Jin asked about Jin Ye's parents, then stopped.
He had heard about his grandson's romantic life, but as an elder, he had nothing to say about a child's romantic affairs.
Jin Xiao also smiled kindly, "Xiao Ye, Miao Miao must have caused you a lot of trouble in Jiangcheng."
"Uncle exaggerates," Jin Ye said calmly, pursing his lips.
Jin Miaomiao nestled against Jin Xiao's shoulder. "Dad, how could I have caused trouble? I'm very well-behaved."
Grandpa Jin chuckled dotingly. "Yes, Miao Miao is good."
Jin Miaomiao winked playfully. "Grandpa is right!"
The family chatted about household matters. It was getting late, so Jin Xiao helped Grandpa to rest.
"Uncle, I'll do it."
Jin Ye stepped forward and touched his grandfather's arm, suddenly noticing a bruise mark!
He frowned suddenly and asked in a deep voice, "Grandfather, what happened here?"
The bruise was fading, but it still escaped his notice.
Who would hurt Grandpa?
Grandpa Jin, however, abruptly withdrew his arm. "I bumped into something last time."
"Grandfather," Jin Ye's face turned somewhat grim.
He had been unwilling to leave the old man alone in the southern territories, but his grandfather insisted on staying, and there was nothing he could do. Fortunately, his uncle's family was taking care of him here.
But now, how could he have been injured for no reason?
Jin Xiao stepped forward, exchanged a glance with his grandfather, and slowly explained.
"Ah, we encountered a minor car accident last time, and Father was bumped, that's why…"
He patted Jin Ye's shoulder. "Xiao Ye, don't worry. The doctor has examined him, and there's no serious harm."
"Yes, I didn't tell you because I was afraid you'd worry. It's getting late, you should get some rest. Let your Uncle Xiao take care of me."
Grandpa Jin waved his hand and returned to his room, leaning on his cane.
Jin Ye looked at their retreating backs, feeling that they were trying to fob him off, but he couldn't pry further.
He sighed and decided to let it go.
Wasn't he also keeping his car accident a secret from his grandfather and them this time?
Perhaps it was true.
In the room, Grandpa Jin sat down, his expression solemn.
"It's good that Xiao Ye didn't press further."
Jin Xiao breathed a sigh of relief and took out ointment from the cabinet to apply to the old man.
Grandpa Jin's eyes were complex. "Every time I see Xiao Ye, I'm reminded of that child."
"Father," Jin Xiao stopped his actions, his eyes also filled with helplessness.
Grandpa Jin was silent for a moment, shook his head, and sighed, "It seems I am truly old. I was never so sentimental before."
"Don't say that, Father. Xiao Ye rarely comes back, so it's natural to think of the past."
Jin Xiao thought for a moment. "Why don't we call him back more often? Then you won't have to worry and miss him."
Grandpa Jin waved his hand. "No, let him live his life peacefully in Jiangcheng."
Jin Xiao opened his mouth but ultimately buried his true thoughts in his heart.
"Has the Ouyang family contacted you again this time?"
Grandpa Jin glanced at Jin Xiao, his aged and clouded eyes revealing a profound depth.
Jin Xiao shook his head. "Perhaps after we sent their people back last time, they understood our attitude."
Grandpa Jin closed his eyes and gave a deep hum.
He was not what he used to be. If it weren't for that girl last time, something might have really happened.
Oh well, let's take it one step at a time.