"No, the way you are with him now only shows how cruel he was to you back then," Jin Ye said earnestly.
Su Ding heard this and felt a bit dazed, then a warm current flowed through her heart.
Yes, she was no longer alone, struggling to live with her daughter.
She had someone to rely on now.
Su Ding drove, somewhat aimlessly, "Where are we going next?"
Jin Ye pondered for a moment, "Fuxi Road, Jiangcheng Tower."
Su Ding didn't ask what they were going there for, but instead turned the car and drove directly.
Jiangcheng Tower was not far from their current location. They arrived in less than twenty minutes. Su Ding found a parking space, parked the car, and followed Jin Ye inside.
Jiangcheng Tower was in a prime location. Most of the counters in the mall sold well-known domestic and international brands; it was a high-end mall for the wealthy.
However, there was a university town nearby, so many students came to visit.
Su Ding had attended university in this area and had frequented this place during her student days. Back then, Shao Zhenggang treated her quite well and was generous with her allowance.
"Do you want to buy something?"
Jin Ye held Su Ding's hand as they looked at the dazzling array of shops. She asked.
Jin Ye said gently, "To order a wedding dress."
Su Ding was surprised. "Didn't we agree not to announce our relationship publicly and not hold a wedding, as your mother asked?"
Jin Ye turned his head and smiled at her, "Not holding a wedding doesn't mean we can't wear a wedding dress."
Whenever Su Ding saw his smile, her heart would race.
Alright, alright, you're handsome, so you're right.
The wedding dress shop was on the third floor. The two strolled leisurely, and many students dressed as young girls stared at them.
The occasional sound of "So handsome" could be heard.
Su Ding secretly chuckled inwardly. Taking Jin Ye out shopping was indeed a matter of great pride.
Jin Ye remained unfazed throughout, likely accustomed to such admiration.
"I saw your profile; you studied at the University of Finance back then?" Jin Ye initiated a conversation.
"Yes, the campus near Xihu," Su Ding said with a smile. "I used to come here often, but many shops have changed."
"Take me to see your alma mater when you have time," Jin Ye invited. Seeing the female students on the road, he almost regretted not meeting Su Ding sooner and reserving her.
"Okay," Su Ding readily agreed.
When they arrived at the wedding dress shop, Su Ding realized it was truly a large establishment. It seemed to be a French brand, which she vaguely heard was a brand that only had one wedding dress in the world, extremely expensive, yet very beautiful.
It was considered a very happy thing for a woman to wear a wedding dress from this brand once in her life.
As they entered the shop, they saw a young couple selecting wedding dresses. The man was sitting on a small sofa, resting and quietly watching the woman trying on a wedding dress.
"Sir, Madam, is there anything I can help you with?" a shop assistant asked politely.
"We'll take a look first. We'll call you if we need anything," Su Ding replied.
"Okay." The shop assistant then withdrew.
Jin Ye held Su Ding's hand and carefully examined the wedding dresses in the display window, considering which one would suit Su Ding best.
A sense of overwhelming happiness welled up in Su Ding.
Just then, a man's voice suddenly came from behind, "Is... is that Shao Xu?"
Su Ding turned around in confusion. The man who had been sitting on the sofa waiting for his girlfriend to try on a wedding dress was now standing behind her.
The more she looked at his face, the more familiar it seemed.
Jin Ye calmly observed the man who had come to greet them, his gaze slightly cold.
"Don't you remember me? I'm Xu Lang, your classmate from university." Xu Lang smiled at her.
"Xu Lang..." Su Ding heard the name and felt a vague sense of recognition.
"Indeed, after so many years, you've forgotten me." Xu Lang's smile was somewhat forced.
At that moment, a scene suddenly flashed in Su Ding's mind.
During university, someone had publicly confessed to her. That boy was named Xu Lang. After so many years, the once shy and sunny boy had transformed into a mature man.
Seeing that Su Ding seemed to recall something, Xu Lang's smile relaxed.
Su Ding smiled politely, "What a coincidence. Are you getting married?"
Xu Lang's smile faded somewhat. "Yes..." He then looked at Jin Ye beside Su Ding, "And who is this?"
"My boyfriend." Su Ding proactively linked her arm with Jin Ye's.
"Oh, haha, that's good." Xu Lang looked Jin Ye up and down and suddenly remembered a photo he had seen in financial news. He couldn't help but ask, "Are you Mr. Jin?"
"Hello." Jin Ye extended his hand generously. "Jin Ye."
"It really is Mr. Jin. I've heard a lot about you. I'm Xu Lang." Xu Lang shook his hand in awe, a storm of shock churning within him.
He hadn't expected Shao Xu's boyfriend to be from the Jin family, the richest in Jiangcheng. This was simply unbelievable.
If he could use this connection to the Jin family, wouldn't that allow his career to advance further?
Xu Lang quickly said, "Let's have a meal together sometime. How about we exchange WeChat?"
After saying that, perhaps feeling he had been too abrupt, he smiled again and looked at Su Ding, "I apologize. I've been developing my career abroad for so many years. I just returned to the country this year and haven't contacted old classmates for a long time. I plan to organize a class reunion later, which will make it convenient to contact you."
Jin Ye's sense of crisis suddenly intensified.
What did this mean? He was trying to flirt with his wife in front of him, where did that leave him?
He directly raised his arm and pulled Su Ding closer, "I saw a wedding dress over there that I think would suit you very well. Let's go take a look."
Su Ding immediately replied, "Okay, then Xu Lang, we're going ahead. Goodbye."
She wasn't very familiar with this old classmate and felt it unnecessary to add him to her contacts. Just as she was pulling Jin Ye to turn around, she heard a voice from behind:
"Husband, do I look good in this?"
The girl who was trying on a wedding dress inside came out, her voice filled with excitement, calling out to Xu Lang.
Xu Lang paused for two seconds before turning around and glancing at her indifferently, "It's alright."
The girl walked forward and saw Su Ding and Jin Ye, who had just walked out a few steps. She asked, "Who are they? Are they your friends? Are they getting married too?"
A series of questions made Xu Lang somewhat impatient. He nodded perfunctorily.
"Then why didn't you call me out to say hello?" The girl playfully hit his arm and then called out to Su Ding, "Wait a moment."
Su Ding turned back and saw a beautiful girl, likely in her early twenties, wearing a wedding dress, her face flushed and filled with joy.
"You..."
Before Su Ding could greet her, she saw the girl point at her, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Sister Su Ding?" the girl called out softly.
Hearing the name Su Ding, Xu Lang looked over in confusion, "You've mistaken her for someone else. Her name is Shao Xu."
Su Ding, however, frowned and looked closely at the girl.