The next day, as Su Ding and Xiao Xi were having breakfast, Jiang Chu paid a visit.
Jin Xiao Xi, his small face wary, sized up the man before him. “Mom, who is he?”
Su Ding introduced him gently, “This is Uncle Jiang Chu.”
Jiang Chu also frowned, looking at the little boy whose features were strikingly similar to Jin Ye’s.
“This is…”
Before Su Ding could finish, Jin Xiao Xi coolly stood up. “Hello, my name is Jin Zi Xi.”
He held his chin up slightly, standing perfectly straight, exuding an air of complete confidence.
He was an exact miniature version of Jin Ye!
“You are… Jin Ye’s son?” Jiang Chu’s face showed a fleeting displeasure.
“Yes,” Jin Xiao Xi nodded frankly, gesturing to the sofa. “Please, sit.”
Su Ding was charmed by the boy’s demeanor and couldn’t help but chuckle.
Jiang Chu, however, looked somewhat displeased. He slowly walked to the sofa and sat down, scrutinizing the boy.
If it were any other child, he would have praised him for being cute.
But this was Jin Ye’s son, and he got along so well with Su Ding. This fact greatly displeased him.
“Jiang Chu, is there something you need?” Su Ding pulled her son to sit on the other side.
“Nothing, I just came to see if your cold had improved.”
Facing Su Ding, Jiang Chu’s expression softened considerably, his eyes inadvertently revealing tenderness.
Su Ding smiled. “I’m much better now.”
Jiang Chu nodded, gazing at the beautiful woman before him. Her condition seemed to have improved since a few days ago.
“Do you have plans this afternoon? I’d like to invite you to see a movie.”
He looked earnestly into Su Ding’s eyes, his voice clear and pleasant, very gentlemanly.
Su Ding was slightly taken aback and was about to refuse.
Jin Xiao Xi, in a very serious tone, said, “I’m sorry, Uncle Jiang, my mom has plans this afternoon and can’t go to the movies with you.”
He squinted, glaring at the man before him with evident hostility.
Jiang Chu was a sharp individual and naturally understood what the child was thinking.
He remained impassive, nodding with understanding.
“Xiao Xi, when did you arrive?” he asked, tilting his lips slightly into a gentle smile.
“Yesterday,” Jin Xiao Xi replied with a straight face.
Jiang Chu raised an eyebrow, asking curiously, “Why didn’t you go find your dad?”
Jin Xiao Xi knitted his brow. “Finding my mom is the same thing.”
“Your mom?” Jiang Chu looked at Su Ding, his eyes seeking an explanation.
Su Ding said somewhat awkwardly, “The little guy hasn’t changed his address yet.”
Jiang Chu gave a knowing “Oh,” then looked at Jin Xiao Xi and asked, half-jokingly, “Xiao Xi, Auntie Su Ding and your dad have separated. If you keep calling her like this, it might affect Auntie Su’s chances of finding a boyfriend.”
Upon hearing this, Su Ding frowned and was about to interrupt.
Jiang Chu then smiled at her. “It might also cause Mr. Jin to misunderstand.”
Su Ding opened her mouth but said nothing. Jiang Chu was right. Xiao Xi was the bond between her and Jin Ye, and Jiang Chu was the one to loosen it. Even if it was only nominal, it could serve as a buffer.
Jin Xiao Xi became anxious. “You! My mom would never get together with you!”
Jiang Chu smiled faintly, not arguing with him.
Su Ding gently stroked Jin Xiao Xi’s hair, her eyes filled with doting affection. “Be good.”
“Mom,” Jin Xiao Xi pouted, looking at Su Ding, his little heart filled with urgency.
Just then, a tall figure strode quickly into the living room.
“Su Ding.”
Jin Ye’s deep voice resonated, carrying a strong sense of low pressure.
His unfriendly gaze fell on Jiang Chu, his handsome face darkening. “It seems I have a guest, and it’s inconvenient.”
“Oh, it’s Mr. Jin,” Jiang Chu said with a hearty laugh, stepping forward. “Please, come in.”
Jin Ye raised his hand slightly, giving Su Ding a cold look. “No need.”
“Dad!”
Jin Xiao Xi quickly stepped forward, his small face extremely serious.
Jin Ye looked at his son. Father and son’s eyes met, both filled with profound reproach.
Jin Ye: You’re guarding her like this?
Xiao Xi: Why aren’t you chasing Mom back quickly!
Jin Ye looked away first, then turned to Su Ding, implying, “About the night before last…”
“Jin Ye!” Su Ding instantly became nervous.
Jiang Chu frowned slightly. Seeing Su Ding’s expression, he had a premonition that there was a secret between them.
Jin Ye said coldly, “If I had known Mr. Jiang was here, I wouldn’t have come.”
With that, he turned and left indifferently.
Seeing Jin Ye’s departing expression and then looking at Jiang Chu, Su Ding followed without thinking.
“Jin Ye!”
She caught up to him outside the door and saw him standing by his car, looking at her coldly. “Miss Su, is there something?”
Su Ding was instantly rendered speechless.
She didn't even know what she was thinking; seeing Jin Ye’s icy expression just now, she had followed him out unconsciously.
“Uh, regarding what happened that night, I hope you’ll keep it a secret.”
Su Ding looked up, gazing earnestly at the man before her, her expression serious.
Jin Ye looked down at her, closing the distance step by step. “Didn’t I tell you not to flirt with other men?”
Su Ding’s expression became oddly embarrassed.
His words were very ambiguous, making her feel an uncomfortable awkwardness.
“Jiang Chu and I are just friends,” she explained.
Jin Ye scoffed. “And what about him towards you?”
Su Ding furrowed her brow. “He hasn’t made any inappropriate moves. You’re overthinking it.”
“Foolish,” Jin Ye retorted mercilessly. “Xiao Xi is watching you. You’d better behave yourself.”
Su Ding couldn’t help but retort, “Xiao Xi isn’t as petty as you.”
Jin Ye’s face turned cold. “You say I’m petty?”
Su Ding pursed her lips and turned her face away. “In short, don’t spread rumors about our relationship.”
“Our relationship?” Jin Ye suddenly lifted her chin and lowered his voice.
Su Ding’s clear, cool eyes gazed at him, filled with stubbornness and defiance. “Let go of me!”
Her skin was fair, without a single blemish or visible pore.
Jin Ye lowered his body, his unique cool aura wafting onto her face, making her cheeks suddenly flush.
“Who’s petty?” His deep, magnetic voice was like a taunt.
“You,” Su Ding looked up and said firmly.
After speaking, she quickly stepped back a few paces. “Alright, you should go back.”
Seeing her cheeks slightly flushed and her feigned composure, Jin Ye let out a low chuckle from his throat.
“Good performance today.”
With that, he seemingly in a good mood, strode away, his car disappearing in an instant.
Su Ding was bewildered. What performance?
Following him out?
Meanwhile, in the living room, Jin Xiao Xi and Jiang Chu were exchanging glares filled with animosity.
“Don’t you dare have any ideas about my mom!” Jin Xiao Xi squinted, warning him imperiously.
“You should find your biological mother instead of meddling in other people’s private affairs.”
Jiang Chu replied indifferently. The child, so similar to Jin Ye, was truly not cute at all.
“She’s my dad’s, so give up,” Jin Xiao Xi continued to assert his claim.
“Then we’ll see who she chooses in the end.”
Jiang Chu confidently raised his head, looking down at the little brat. “Little one, when your Auntie Su Ding and I have a child, you’re welcome to visit our home.”
“My dad is taller and handsomer than you, and soon my dad will win my mom over. We’ll see!” Jin Xiao Xi exclaimed angrily.
Just as he finished speaking, he heard Su Ding’s voice. “Oh, really?”
Su Ding’s face was stern, clearly displeased.
Let Jin Ye win her over?
Hearing such words from Xiao Xi’s mouth made her feel a suffocating discomfort.
She knew Jin Ye was the biological father, and it was normal for the child to be close to him, but hearing this made her feel somewhat like a tool.
She was merely a target for his father.
“Mom, I…” Jin Xiao Xi saw Su Ding’s expression change and his heart skipped a beat.
Jiang Chu walked over and said gently, “It seems it’s inconvenient for you today, so I’ll take my leave. You get some rest.”
Su Ding was in a bit of a bad mood and replied with a faint “Mm.”
After that, only Jin Xiao Xi and Su Ding were left in the living room.
“Mom,” Jin Xiao Xi called out softly, tentatively reaching for Su Ding’s hand.
Su Ding didn’t look at him, her emotions somewhat lost. Her gaze fell into the void, and she paused for a moment.
Then, she forced a smile and stroked his hair.
“Be good, Xiao Xi. Mom is going upstairs to rest for a bit. You can watch TV.”
Jin Xiao Xi was still quite sensitive. He knew his words might have hurt his mother.
But he didn’t know how to explain.
“Mom…” he called out weakly, his eyes misting over.