Su Ding could hardly believe her eyes, yet the soft little body in her arms clearly told her it was real!
She was so excited she could have cried, completely speechless.
Seeing them like this, Sister Zhang confirmed the child hadn't mistaken his mother. Smiling, she picked up the suitcase and said, "Let's go inside and talk."
Only then did Su Ding release Xiao Xi, taking his soft hand. "Xiao Xi, how did you get here?"
She was so happy her nose felt a little sore.
Ever since the wedding, she hadn't had the chance to see Xiao Xi again.
Jin Ye had mentioned Xiao Xi was with Shao Lin, and realizing her awkward position, she hadn't dared to bring it up again.
"Mom, I missed you so much."
Jin Xiao Xi nudged against Su Ding awkwardly, tears welling in his eyes, but he held them back.
Boys shouldn't cry.
Su Ding's heart melted. She joyfully held Xiao Xi, looking at him carefully.
He was thinner than before, and taller.
"Did you come to the Southern Territory with your dad?" Su Ding asked, her heart full of excitement and curiosity.
Upon hearing this, Jin Xiao Xi lowered his little head.
Seeing his reaction, Su Ding curiously stroked the little one's hair. "What's wrong?"
She remembered he had a suitcase and asked in surprise, "Did you and your dad have a fight?"
Jin Xiao Xi hesitated for a moment before saying, "My dad doesn't know I'm in the Southern Territory. I ran away secretly."
"What? He doesn't know you're in the Southern Territory?"
Su Ding grasped the implication of his words and her eyes widened. "You came from Jiangcheng?"
Jin Xiao Xi quickly lowered his head. "Mm."
"By yourself?" Su Ding's expression turned serious.
"...Mm." Jin Xiao Xi secretly glanced at Su Ding, continuing to keep his head down.
He knew it was risky for an adult, but he really couldn't stand staying at home anymore.
He wanted to see his mom, desperately.
Relying on that unreliable dad wouldn't work; he had to take matters into his own hands.
"Do you know how dangerous that is? What if something happened on the way?"
Su Ding felt a chill recalling it. This child was too daring.
From Jiangcheng to the Southern Territory was half of the country. Who knew what kind of people he might encounter on the road? If he were kidnapped by bad people, his family wouldn't even know.
"I know... Mom, please don't be angry..."
Jin Xiao Xi had come to see his mom full of anticipation and enthusiasm. He didn't want his mom to be angry.
Seeing the child's pitiable look, Su Ding couldn't bring herself to lecture him further.
However, the situation was truly serious!
She held Jin Xiao Xi to face her and said sternly, "Have you ever thought about what would happen to your dad and me if something went wrong?"
"I... I have my phone, and the home computer, which tracks my location. If anything happens to me, I can call the police with a single press. And I calculated the time, traveling only during the day..."
Jin Xiao Xi's voice grew softer as he spoke, tugging at Su Ding's hand pitifully.
"Mom, I was wrong. I just missed you. I don't want to lose you in the future, I don't want to never see you again..."
As he spoke, he began to cry.
The pent-up grievances and worries of the past few days finally found an outlet. The little one sobbed in Su Ding's arms, crying uncontrollably. He hadn't cried so freely in a long time.
Su Ding's heart ached, and she couldn't hold back her tears either.
She had thought Xiao Xi would slowly forget her.
She had believed they were just stepmother and stepson.
But seeing Xiao Xi travel across mountains and rivers to find her, giving up everything, she was truly touched.
"Xiao Xi..." She hugged him, crying softly.
Jin Xiao Xi was still sobbing in her arms, his voice choked with tears. "Mom, please don't tell... tell Dad... that I'm here with you, okay?"
"Your dad and grandparents will worry," Su Ding said seriously, wiping away her tears.
"No, I don't want to be separated from you. I want to be with Mom from now on, I don't want Dad anymore. Dad is a big dummy."
Jin Xiao Xi wailed, complaining about his father.
Su Ding really wanted to agree, but she held back and gently patted Xiao Xi's back. "Don't cry, don't cry... good boy."
After crying for a while, Jin Xiao Xi finally stopped.
He curiously surveyed the inside of the house, his tear-filled eyes wide with wonder. "Is this Mom's new home?"
Su Ding nodded. "Yes. Are you hungry? I'll have Auntie make you something to eat."
Jin Xiao Xi obediently nodded. "I'm hungry."
Su Ding smiled gently and spoke to Sister Zhang.
Jin Xiao Xi affectionately hugged her arm, as if afraid she would leave. "Mom, I want to live here, okay~"
Su Ding felt a bit conflicted. Of course, she wanted the child to stay.
But the child's biological father lived nearby, and she had no reason to keep him.
"Mom, please take me in. I came specifically for you," Jin Xiao Xi said, holding her hand and continuing to nuzzle her.
Su Ding already liked Xiao Xi a lot. She hadn't seen him in a long time and missed him dearly.
She could only nod. "You can stay for now. We'll discuss the rest later."
Jin Xiao Xi snorted stubbornly, thinking his dad would surely find out later, and leaned into Su Ding's embrace. "Dad is a big dummy. He believes that bad woman Shao Lin."
"Xiao Xi," Su Ding said, feeling conflicted. But as an elder, she had to instill proper moral values in the child. "You shouldn't speak about your biological mother like that."
Even if what you said was true, you should wait until you're older and can discern right from wrong.
Su Ding had to admit that Xiao Xi's animosity towards Shao Lin was partly her doing.
But this was not good for the child.
"She's not my real mom," Jin Xiao Xi pouted.
Su Ding almost thought she misheard. "Xiao Xi, what did you say?"
Jin Xiao Xi took her hand, his little mouth pursed so much a small oil pot could hang from it, and mumbled, "She's not my real mom. My real mom is someone else."
Seeing Su Ding's astonished and disbelieving eyes, he added, "My dad found out. I overheard him."
Su Ding was stunned into silence for a long time, trying to process this bombshell news.
"Then who saved you?"
She had heard later that Xiao Xi's condition improved after Shao Lin returned.
Jin Xiao Xi tilted his head, thinking for a moment before finally saying, "I don't know. Anyway, my dad said he did a paternity test."
Su Ding didn't know what to say for a while.
Shao Lin was truly calculating.
She had managed to deceive the Jin family for nearly six years, making everyone believe Xiao Xi was her son.
"Then your dad and Shao Lin now..."
As Su Ding spoke halfway, her heart suddenly sank.
She had almost forgotten that Shao Lin was now pregnant with Jin Ye's child.
The video of them getting intimate in the hotel was still saved on Xin Jiaer's phone.
"Mom, Dad definitely won't pay attention to Shao Lin anymore. Can you make up with him?"
Jin Xiao Xi looked at Su Ding's expression cautiously.