Su Ding followed upstairs and saw Shao Lin directly enter Xiao Xi's room, sitting on the bedside and looking at Xiao Xi tenderly.
Jin Xiao Xi felt someone approaching and his little mouth mumbled as he turned over.
His two little hands naturally reached out and hugged Shao Lin's outstretched arm. "Mom..."
Shao Lin gently stroked Xiao Xi's hair. "Xiao Xi."
Jin Xiao Xi closed his eyes, feeling a warm and pleasant scent drawing him closer, and he instinctively nuzzled towards it.
Shao Lin leaned in and kissed Jin Xiao Xi's forehead.
Her peripheral vision was constantly on Su Ding. Su Ding's face was pale, and the loss in her eyes was impossible to conceal. Shao Lin felt very pleased with her dejected look.
"Xiao Xi, Mommy loves you."
Shao Lin said it deliberately. She had been told by the mysterious person who gave her the蛊虫 (gu worm) that Jin Xiao Xi would become increasingly attached to her scent and want to be close to her.
Now, it seemed to be true...
She was so happy that her mouth couldn't help but stretch into a grin. If she could win over Jin Xiao Xi, Jin Ye would be hers sooner or later!
When Madam Jin saw this scene, her heart was filled with emotion.
She even started to find Su Ding more agreeable. She said coldly, "Just let them, mother and son, have some time alone."
With that, she gestured for Su Ding to leave.
Su Ding was unwilling to leave, her eyes fixed on Jin Xiao Xi on the bed...
Jin Xiao Xi softly called out, "Mom."
Shao Lin gently leaned in. "Yes, Mommy is here."
This scene was blindingly dazzling. Su Ding felt as if her heart was being slowly sliced by a blunt knife, causing her so much pain that she couldn't speak, feeling stifled.
"Let's go!"
Madam Jin grabbed her wrist and pulled her out.
Su Ding was dragged to the door, shook off Madam Jin's hand, and her face turned cold.
"You should go back. Xiao Xi should be fine now, and Linlin can look after him here," Madam Jin said indifferently, then added, "Don't forget your identity. You are not the child's biological mother after all!"
Su Ding's eyes reddened. The grievance and discomfort overwhelmed her, leaving her speechless. She had no grounds to refute.
"Do you want me to ask you to leave?" Madam Jin retorted mercilessly.
"No need. If Xiao Xi needs anything, please contact me. Thank you."
After speaking, Su Ding quickly went downstairs and left.
She walked alone on the small path towards the main gate. The streetlights were dim, and her shadow on the ground was stretched long. The unspeakable exhaustion made her want to cry.
This feeling of being excluded was truly difficult.
Xiao Yuan had informed the film crew that she didn't need to report for duty today. Jiang Jia Yi had sent a message saying she had been picked up and taken home, so she didn't need to worry.
Everything continued naturally, but the oppression in her heart was something she couldn't confide in anyone.
She didn't understand why she had been so melancholic lately.
When she returned home that evening, Su Ding forced herself to be energetic, cooked dinner for Xiao Rui, took care of her after she ate, and then went back to her room to rest after coaxing her to sleep.
In the middle of the night, as she was sleeping soundly, the door opened.
A tall and slender figure quietly walked in, took off his outer clothes, walked to the bedside, and gently kissed her cheek.
In her sleep, Su Ding felt something unusual and suddenly opened her eyes, instinctively swinging her hand.
Her wrist was held firmly. The palm was very warm and strong.
A familiar scent...
Before Su Ding could speak, her lips were taken by the man. He kissed her dominantly, then casually threw off the covers and covered her.
"Mmm... Why did you come back early..."
Her lips felt a little numb from his kissing. Her body was soft and powerless, held captive by the man, her voice turning into a puddle of water, tinged with seductive coaxing.
The man's skin felt a bit cool, and she could feel his vigor.
He pressed against Su Ding longingly, kissing her lips, cheeks, chin, and collarbone, as if wanting to mark her entire body with his presence...
He had no time to answer, only embracing and drawing near her with the desire of his body.
"Ah!"
Su Ding trembled with pain. It had been several days, and she was not used to it.
Shamefully and angrily, she bit the man's shoulder, her hands tightly holding his body, which was pressing down on her, suffocating her, and she let out bursts of gasps.
After being tossed around for an unknown amount of time, she was so exhausted that she lost consciousness.
The man continued to possess and take from her, as if making up for all the lost days. By the time everything subsided, it was already the next day.
A ray of morning sunlight streamed in through the window!
Su Ding opened her eyes. A strong arm was around her waist. She was completely unclothed, and the feeling of skin against skin made her a little dazed.
Her hazy consciousness gradually cleared, and the memories of last night surfaced in her mind.
Her face instantly turned red. She turned her head to see Jin Ye sleeping soundly with his arms around her. His handsome face, still in his slumber, still captivated her.
It was hard to imagine that the handsome man lying beside her was the hooligan who had tormented her half to death last night!
Su Ding carefully lifted his arm, just about to get up, when the man pulled her, drawing her into his embrace.
"Sleep a little longer, sleepy."
A familiar voice, lazy and hoarse, filled with sleepiness and a hint of coaxing.
Su Ding truly felt that he had returned.
The grievances of being neglected in the past few days seemed to vanish instantly. The love that had been suppressed in her heart was quietly surging forth, and the air seemed to be filled with a sweet scent.
She turned and burrowed into the man's embrace.
Her ear pressed against his bare, firm chest, and she could clearly hear his heartbeat, thump-thump-thump...
Warm, safe, and steady.
Su Ding closed her eyes, savoring this long-lost feeling. The feeling of deeply loving someone was so profound, making one sink into it, unable to extricate themselves.
They lingered in bed for a while longer before the alarm clock rang inappropriately.
Su Ding turned off the alarm, and Jin Ye was also woken up.
He rubbed his temples, buried his head further into her embrace, and dozed off for a moment before letting out a long sigh, releasing all his fatigue.
"Good morning."
He said in a low, gentle voice.
Su Ding brushed aside her messy hair, feeling a little shy. "Good morning, it's time to get up."
Jin Ye sat up and began to daydream.
Su Ding quickly put on her clothes. "Xiao Xi was sick yesterday. If you're free in the morning, let's go back and see him."
Jin Ye also started to put on his clothes. "Mm."
After breakfast, they took Su Xiao Rui to kindergarten and then went to the Jin family's house.
Su Ding still felt a bit upset recalling her disappointment last night.
However, she was still worried about Xiao Xi's health. Going to see him in the morning and then rushing to the film set at noon would still be in time.
Upon arriving at the Jin family's house, Madam Jin's face changed instantly when she saw Jin Ye.
"You came back early from your business trip and didn't even say hello to come home first."
Madam Jin glanced at Su Ding with an unfriendly look and pouted, "Xiao Xi is still sleeping. His mother is upstairs with him."
Jin Ye frowned, not understanding the meaning of her words.
Wasn't Su Ding always Xiao Xi's mother? Could it be... Shao Lin had arrived?