Jin Ye frowned upon seeing his mother's anger, recalling that she had just returned from the hospital a few days prior and the doctor had advised her against getting angry frequently. He felt conflicted.
"Mother has already made concessions, accepting this sudden news and this daughter-in-law. But isn't it cruel to force Mother to accept her from the bottom of her heart?"
Mother Jin's eyes welled up with tears, a sense of grievance evident. "Can't you all give me some time? I never said I would never accept her."
Towards the end, she even choked up.
Seeing Jin Ye's struggling expression and Mother Jin's tearful state, Su Ding ultimately couldn't bear it. They were all his family, why must it turn into this?
"Alright, I agree," Su Ding said, looking at Mother Jin with utmost sincerity. "I will not disclose our relationship to others before I gain your approval."
Mother Jin's reproachful gaze softened slightly, and she turned to her son. "And you?"
Jin Ye felt he had wronged Su Ding, but considering this was his own mother, he had no choice but to compromise. "What's the deadline?"
Gaining his mother's approval was too abstract. If his mother continued to disagree, they would be in a passive position, and he couldn't let Su Ding endure such hardship indefinitely.
Mother Jin's eyes widened in anger, tears surging again. "Do you distrust Mother that much?"
She angrily wiped her tears, her eyes filled with a sense of injustice.
Jin Ye remained silent for a few seconds. "Mom, that's not what I meant."
"Fine, if you want a deadline, Mother will give you one," Mother Jin stated, looking steadily at Su Ding. "Within a year, I want to hear news of her expecting a grandson."
Su Ding clenched her fists, her eyes shooting a cold glance at Mother Jin.
Startled by that look, Mother Jin detested this woman even more. All her gentleness was a pretense; at her core, she was full of scheming and malice!
She lifted her head and said to Jin Ye, "Mother is also thinking for her. If she doesn't give the Jin family a grandson, her position won't be secure."
Su Ding narrowed her eyes, a hint of danger flashing within them.
Using pregnancy as leverage, this woman truly had a way with things, yet on the surface, her words seemed reasonable…
Suddenly, Jin Ye gently grasped her clenched fist, giving her a reassuring look before saying, "Alright, we agree."
There would be time later. For now, it was important to pacify his mother. The matter of having a child would happen naturally.
If his mother remained obstinate later, he would find a solution.
Mother Jin clearly hadn't expected her son to agree so readily. She glanced at Jin Ye, then nodded with satisfaction. "Good, then I'll state the second point."
Su Ding looked at her, her gaze cold.
Mother Jin also met Su Ding's gaze, her chin held high. "I heard you have another daughter at home, is that right?"
Su Ding's expression remained unchanged as she answered truthfully, "Yes."
"Your daughter is not of Jin family blood. I will not allow her to enter our home," Mother Jin said without any emotion.
Upon hearing this, Su Ding stood up directly from the sofa. "I'm sorry, I, can't, do, that."
With that, she turned to leave.
Jin Ye quickly reached out and stopped her, turning to his mother with a hint of displeasure in his voice. "Mother."
Mother Jin was equally furious. "You're willing to marry a woman with a child, but I'm not willing to accept a granddaughter with no blood relation!"
Jin Ye thought of Su Xiaorui's adorable little face, so similar to Jin Xiaoxi's. If his mother saw her, she wouldn't be so heartless.
He said solemnly, "I will absolutely not agree to this matter."
Jin Ye tightened his grip on Su Ding's hand, his hold firm and warm, and whispered, "Let's go."
Mother Jin, enraged, stood up. "You are not allowed to leave!"
Father Jin, seeing the tense atmosphere, frowned. "We'll discuss this later. Is it appropriate to always threaten to leave?"
Mother Jin was about to say more, but Father Jin's stern gaze silenced her.
"Mom—"
Jin Xiaoxi came bounding downstairs, rushing directly to hug Su Ding.
Su Ding, embraced by the little child, lifted the excited and joyous child. Her stern expression finally softened. "Xiaoxi."
Jin Xiaoxi's eyes sparkled, full of longing and happiness.
Mother Jin, seeing their intimacy, felt a strong sense of resistance, feeling闷闷 (mēn mēn -闷闷不乐, gloomy, dejected) and a bit jealous, uncomfortable.
What sort of spell had this woman cast on her son and grandson!
Mother Jin remarked sarcastically, "Xiaoxi, have you finished all your homework?"
Jin Xiaoxi, nestled in Su Ding's arms, replied in a childlike voice, "Finished, Grandma."
After speaking, he hugged Su Ding's neck tightly, looked at the adults present, and said happily, "Grandma, I'll have a Mommy from now on. Thank you, Grandpa, Grandma, and Daddy."
The child's words completely silenced Mother Jin.
Jin Ye gently stroked his son's head. "Good boy, come down and let Mommy rest."
Jin Xiaoxi obediently got off Su Ding, holding her hand tightly and guiding her to sit on the sofa. His expression was very eager.
"When are Mommy and Daddy going to have the wedding?" Jin Xiaoxi asked Jin Ye obediently, leaning against Su Ding.
Jin Ye cast a somewhat apologetic glance at Su Ding and remained silent.
Su Ding gently pinched Xiaoxi's cheek. "We'll see after we're done with things."
Mother Jin's expression finally softened. She waved to her grandson. "Xiaoxi, come here. Grandma will peel an orange for you."
Jin Xiaoxi was somewhat reluctant but still went to sit beside his grandmother.
At this moment, Jin Ye's phone rang.
He stood up to take the call outside. The living room sofa was suddenly left with only Father Jin, Mother Jin, and Xiaoxi. The atmosphere was quiet and somewhat awkward.
"Mom, try this. The orange is very sweet."
Jin Xiaoxi peeled an orange and trotted over to feed Su Ding. "Is it good?"
Su Ding looked at Jin Xiaoxi with full of tenderness. "Hmm, sweet and sour."
Jin Xiaoxi was overjoyed. "Then I'll keep peeling for Mommy."
Mother Jin felt a pang of sourness in her heart. Her own grandson was showing such affection to this woman for no reason, which she found unbearable.
"Good grandson, your mother is an adult. She can peel for herself."
Su Ding looked up at Mother Jin, hearing the ill intent in her words, but she didn't care. "Xiaoxi is also peeling an orange for Grandma, right?"
Jin Xiaoxi looked at his grandparents and shyly stuck out his tongue.
He had been so focused on his mother that he forgot about his grandparents. He quickly broke the orange in his hand in half and offered it to Father Jin and Mother Jin. "Grandpa, Grandma, eat."
Anything peeled by a good grandson tasted sweet.
Mother Jin's face finally broke into a smile, and Father Jin also looked at Su Ding with admiration.
Before long, Jin Ye returned, his steps hurried and his expression grim.
"I have to go out now for something."
Seeing his state, Su Ding stood up. "I'll go with you."
Jin Ye had the same intention. Leaving Su Ding at home would only make both of them uncomfortable. It was better to take her with him, although this matter… was very tricky.
"What's so urgent? Dinner is almost ready," Mother Jin said with displeasure.
Although she had been at odds with her son over Su Ding recently, she still wanted to mend their mother-son relationship. This was a rare opportunity for them to have a meal together.
"...Company matters," Jin Ye said, his expression somewhat off.
Just then, Father Jin suddenly looked up, holding his phone up, and said very sternly, "What is going on here?"