Su Ding’s body trembled violently. “What did you say?”
Jin Ye nodded. “That’s right. The police checked, and Xiao Rui was not among those in this accident.”
“Then where is Xiao Rui?” Tears streamed down Su Ding’s face in agitation.
“We haven’t found her yet, but you have to know that as long as it’s not confirmed that Xiao Rui is gone, there’s a chance to find her.”
“Yes! Yes!”
Su Ding nodded continuously, her mind conjuring images of Xiao Rui running into her arms.
Jin Ye felt a pang of sympathy and said gently, “I will use all my connections and do my utmost to find Xiao Rui’s whereabouts.”
“Thank you!” Su Ding looked at him with tears in her eyes.
Jin Ye picked up the household registration booklet and said resolutely, “Let’s go. Xiao Rui will be my daughter from now on. My daughter, Jin Ye’s daughter, will never be in trouble.”
Su Ding hesitated for a few seconds, then looked up. “Okay.”
As long as she could find Xiao Rui, marrying Jin Ye was acceptable. The Jin family’s connections were far wider than hers, greatly increasing the probability of finding Xiao Rui.
Moreover, marrying Jin Ye would infuriate Shao Lin, so this outcome wasn't a total loss.
She stood up and looked at Jin Ye. “You keep your word.”
Jin Ye nodded solemnly.
The two got into the car, and the driver headed towards the Civil Affairs Bureau. Su Ding was finally feeling nervous.
“How did you get my household registration booklet?”
“I asked Mr. Shao for it,” Jin Ye replied.
Su Ding let out a cold laugh. “Didn’t he ask you what you needed it for?”
Seeing her expression, Jin Ye reached out and held her hand. Her hand was very cold and thin.
“I said it was for personal matters.”
“No wonder. He wouldn’t cross-examine you,” Su Ding said with a faint smile, attempting to pull her hand away, only to find Jin Ye holding it very tightly.
Jin Ye remained silent and said in a low voice, “Close your eyes and sleep.”
Su Ding still wanted to pull her hand away, but seeing him close his eyes, she relented.
With her other hand, she took out her phone and scrolled through the day’s news, feeling a sense of elation.
Although the heat of the news had been deliberately suppressed, it had already spread through the business circles.
There were even reporters crowding the entrance of the Shao family’s house. In the videos, Shao Lin, wearing a mask and sunglasses, kept pushing the cameras away.
The humiliation of the past was now being repaid in full.
Shao Lin, did you want to be Mrs. Jin?
Su Ding sneered, glancing at the hand Jin Ye was holding tightly, savoring the triumph of a victor.
Upon arriving at the Civil Affairs Bureau, they followed the procedures and soon emerged with their red marriage certificates.
Jin Ye’s expression remained unchanged, but the usual frown on his brow had smoothed out.
Su Ding’s heart pounded, her fingers clutching the marriage certificate, still finding it hard to believe.
Married?
She was married just like that, a married woman now?
She lowered her head, about to look up and confirm Jin Ye’s promise again, when the tall man in front of her embraced her waist and kissed her.
“Mmmph… Jin Ye!”
Su Ding’s eyes welled up with tears of shame, her face flushed.
Jin Ye released her, his voice hoarse. “Give me one day. I’ll explain everything to my family and announce our marriage to the media soon.”
Immediately after, a bank card was placed into Su Ding’s palm. “This is an unlimited credit card. Buy whatever you want directly.”
Su Ding was about to speak again, but Jin Ye interrupted her.
“Xiao Xi and I are your family now. You won’t be alone anymore,” Jin Ye said, looking into her eyes with determination.
Su Ding’s heart was filled with emotion, turning into tears, rendering her speechless.
She married him to achieve her goals.
And he was willing to be manipulated by her.
“I…” Su Ding opened her mouth, but her voice was hoarse, her eyes red-rimmed.
“Good girl, you don’t need to say anything. I will help you with whatever you want to do, and I’ll go along with you,” Jin Ye said, patting her head and taking her hand as they returned to the car.
“I’ll take you home. Wait for my news.”
Jin Ye had the driver drop Su Ding off first, then he turned back and headed to the Jin residence.
At that moment, Mr. Jin was reading the newspaper, and Mrs. Jin sat on the sofa with a stern expression, the atmosphere extremely tense.
“Xiao Ye, tell us, what exactly is going on? Did Mrs. Shao really do something so inappropriate?” Mrs. Jin asked as soon as she saw Jin Ye.
“The news is clear enough, I presume it’s true,” Jin Ye said calmly, then turned to his parents. “I have something to inform you both today.”
Jin Ye rarely spoke to them in this manner, so both Mr. and Mrs. Jin looked up at him.
“I am married to Su Ding.”
Jin Ye placed the marriage certificate on the coffee table. Seeing their disbelieving expressions, he added, “I made this marriage decision myself. I hope Father and Mother will not interfere anymore.”
Mrs. Jin’s face changed. “You didn’t even consult us, how improper! And you married that crazy woman? Do you want to infuriate us to death?”
Although Mr. Jin’s expression was displeased, he managed to suppress it.
Jin Ye’s expression remained unchanged. After his mother finished her angry tirade, he said, “I recall Grandpa once promised me that whatever I decided would be honored. Have Father and Mother forgotten?”
The Jin family patriarch was the absolute authority in the Jin family. He had been a formidable figure in his prime, and after retiring, he had lived in seclusion in a small town, buying a manor to live in.
Unless Xiao Xi was sent back, he would not concern himself with any other matters.
“Grandpa’s words are as good as gold. Do Father and Mother want me to go against Grandpa’s words? And Mother, don’t you want Xiao Xi to choose her own mother?”
“If it weren’t for Su Ding, I wouldn’t get married.”
Jin Ye said these words in a deep voice and then fell silent. This was also one of the rare times he had spoken so much at once.
Mr. Jin did not particularly care about his daughter-in-law’s background; he was merely displeased with the fait accompli. Now that his own father had been invoked, he found it difficult to object further.
Mrs. Jin’s face flushed with anger, but thinking of Shao Lin’s mother’s scandalous behavior, marrying her would surely bring disgrace to the Jin family.
And with her son still unmarried, and Xiao Xi being so old, they didn’t fancy any other women. Choosing that crazy woman… was truly unacceptable!
Just then, Shao Lin’s call came through.