Jin Ye placed the cup on the bedside table, but his gaze unintentionally fell upon the half-open drawer. A piece of paper inside bore the title "Parentage Test."
His brow twitched, and his eyes involuntarily drifted inward.
Jin Xiao Xi... Su Xiao Rui.
The water in the bathroom was still pattering. He reached out and took the paper.
...No relation.
Jin Ye's confusion deepened. Why would Su Ding conduct a parentage test on her child and Xiao Xi?
Was it merely because they looked alike?
Did she not know who her daughter's biological father was?
He recalled the information his secretary had found: Su Ding had studied in China and then suddenly went abroad five years ago.
It seemed she had no close relatives or friends around her…
Lost in thought, he walked out, intending to retrieve his phone.
Upon picking up the phone, he saw missed calls. He dialed back, hoping it was about the little girl.
"Mr. Jin, we've confirmed the car that took Miss Su Ding's daughter did indeed pass through Xiangxin Avenue. Estimating the time, it coincided with the landslide incident…"
Jin Ye's brow furrowed unconsciously. "Did you find out who was behind it?"
"We're still investigating, but we also found something else: Miss Su Ding's original name is Shao Xu, and she is also Mr. Shao's daughter."
"Five years ago, Mr. Shao's first wife passed away. He soon remarried Miss Shao Lin's mother, who is now Mrs. Shao. It was reportedly quite unpleasant at the time."
"The following year, Miss Su Ding gave birth and went abroad. She only returned this year…"
After hanging up, Jin Ye sat on the sofa, his mind in turmoil.
He never expected Su Ding and Shao Lin to be sisters, and that there seemed to be some past entanglement between them.
When Su Ding emerged, she saw Jin Ye lost in thought. She wasn't in the mood to ask anything. "You should go back."
Jin Ye noticed she had changed into clean clothes and appeared to be heading out.
"Where are you going?" he asked, getting up and walking over.
"To see an acquaintance. You should go back," Su Ding replied while putting on her shoes. Her expression was haggard, and though her voice sounded calm, her sorrow was hard to conceal.
"I'll drive you…"
Before he could finish, Su Ding stood up and interrupted, "No need."
Jin Ye frowned, feeling as if she had transformed, as if she had lost her spirit.
Su Ding looked at him with a distant gaze. "Thank you for accompanying me today. I think we can end things here."
"What do you mean by that?" Jin Ye's heart tightened, feeling a sense of unease.
"Mr. Jin, my meaning is quite clear. Some emotions generated by hormonal fluctuations were irrational. I think we should avoid further contact."
Su Ding looked up, meeting his gaze directly.
"My feud with Shao Lin is complicated, and I will handle it my way. As for you and me, we should never have been together."
"You had Xiao Xi with Shao Lin, and your mother also considers her your future partner. This is the fundamental reason for our divergence."
Su Ding opened the door, gesturing for Jin Ye to leave.
Jin Ye walked over, took her shoulder, and tried to patiently say, "I know you're not in a stable emotional state right now, and I don't want to argue with you."
Su Ding pushed his hand away, clearly resistant.
Jin Ye, however, forcibly held her. "I've already sent people to investigate the disappearance of your daughter. You don't need to refuse me."
"As you wish," Su Ding said coldly, then walked out herself. "You should go home quickly."
Jin Ye felt displeased by her attitude. "Where are you going?"
Su Ding clenched her fist and looked up. "You'll know tomorrow. It's inconvenient for me to tell you now."
With that, she turned and left directly.
Jin Ye had no choice but to close the door and follow her out, entering the elevator together.
Su Ding stood straight, her gaze fixed forward, her eyes conveying determination and fearlessness.
Upon exiting the elevator, she quickly walked away.
Jin Ye watched her receding figure, his gaze darkening further.
…
Su Ding, wearing sunglasses, entered a discreet cafe to wait.
She took out another phone from her bag and copied two sets of the materials Fu Qing had sent her a few days ago regarding Wang Meilan's infidelity.
One copy was sent to the media, and the other was sent to Jin Ye's mother's phone.
Then, she made another call.
Shortly after, a middle-aged man in a suit and tie approached.
"Are you Miss Su Ding?"
"Yes, hello. You've brought all the materials, haven't you?" Su Ding shook his hand.
"Are you really going to act now?" the middle-aged man asked in surprise. It wasn't the predetermined time yet.
They had met abroad and started collaborating on projects. When he returned to the country, he had followed her instructions and applied for a position at Shao Group.
Within three years, he had successfully acquired half of Shao Group's shares, becoming the second-largest shareholder, only after Shao Zheng Gang.
Of course, the true controlling shareholder behind the scenes was Su Ding.
"The plan has changed. You'll need to arrange a shareholders' meeting at the company in the next few days. I will attend personally to elect a new chairman," Su Ding said calmly, taking a sip of tea.
"The shares we hold…" he hesitated.
"Are sufficient," Su Ding replied, her eyes filled with determination.
Dealing with Wang Meilan had been easier than she expected. In just a few months, she had transferred the stocks she held to Fu Qing.
If Wang Meilan knew that Su Ding had become the chairman of Shao Group, partly thanks to her own contribution, she would likely faint from anger.
The thought of this scenario brought Su Ding immense satisfaction!
The man asked no further questions. As long as he received his due compensation, he didn't care who benefited in the end.
They discussed a few more work-related matters, and the man then departed.
Su Ding sat for a while longer before taking a taxi to the police station to inquire about the case's progress.
…
After leaving the police station, Su Ding looked up at the blue sky, feeling a heavy weight on her chest, making it difficult to breathe.
Tomorrow would bring a fierce battle.
She took a taxi to the cemetery and sat by her mother's tombstone, her heart aching as she looked at her mother's picture.
It was evident that no one had visited this place for a long time.
Dust covered the tombstone, and in the bleak wind, it looked lonely and desolate.
The last time she was here was when her mother was buried. She had cried until she fainted and was sent to the hospital, where she discovered she was pregnant.
Since learning of her pregnancy, she had been struggling daily with hatred, enduring her days.
It was only with Xiao Rui's appearance that her life had gained some light, but she had lost her in just a few short years.
Mom, Xiao Rui, I'll be with you soon. Wait for me to avenge you, okay?
"Rumble…"
As if to mirror her mood, the heavens suddenly unleashed a torrential downpour, drenching her.