Su Ding left the Shao family, walking towards her car while on the phone.
"Zhang Hou, how is it over there?"
"Miss Su, we followed that car to a hotel. However, those people don't seem to be from Jiangcheng, and they don't appear to be forcing her. Zhang Xiaoya has already gone up with them. Should we follow?"
Zhang Hou said in a low voice from inside the car, looking at the opulent hotel ahead.
Su Ding frowned upon hearing this.
Not seeming to be coerced, and from outside the city, where did Zhang Xiaoya meet them?
She thought for a moment and said, "Wait a moment."
As she said that, Su Ding hung up and called Zhang Xiaoya.
The phone rang several times before finally connecting.
"Hello, Sister Ding?" Zhang Xiaoya's voice was soft and gentle, with a slight panting sound, unsure if it was from nervousness or something else.
"Mmm, do you have time now? Let's grab a meal together?" Su Ding probed.
"I'm so sorry, I, I have plans with friends, and it's not convenient right now... Can we do it another day?" Zhang Xiaoya apologized.
"...Alright, then you go ahead."
Su Ding considered Zhang Xiaoya's voice on the phone. Although she sounded a bit nervous, she didn't seem to be threatened, and Su Ding felt a little relieved.
Perhaps everyone has their secrets.
Then, Su Ding notified Zhang Hou to stop the surveillance and return.
Upon receiving the order, Zhang Hou immediately led his men away.
Just as Su Ding was about to reach her car, she saw a man standing by the car from afar, looking down at his phone.
Upon seeing who it was, Su Ding froze. She hadn't expected him to come.
"Jin Ye!"
Su Ding ran towards him.
Her face was smiling, and she also looked puzzled. "Why are you here?"
Jin Ye first looked Su Ding up and down, ensuring she hadn't been wronged. Then, he casually slung an arm around her shoulder.
"My mom called this afternoon and told me about today's events. I was planning to find you at the shop after work, but then the manager said you had gone out. I guessed you might come here."
Hearing this, Su Ding's happy expression became a little subdued.
Thinking about this matter made her feel very troubled. She knew Jin Ye would eventually find out, but she hadn't expected it to be so soon.
"Are you here to..."
Su Ding looked up at Jin Ye and asked.
Was he here to tell her not to let her family cause trouble?
Jin Ye seemed to guess her thoughts. He ruffled her hair and said, "I know this wasn't your intention. I originally wanted to come help you vent your anger, but halfway there, I thought, since you didn't call me to tell me, you might have your own plan..."
Therefore, Jin Ye waited for her outside the gate of the Shao family residence instead of barging in.
Hearing Jin Ye's words, Su Ding felt a warmth in her heart. She curved her lips, linked her arm with Jin Ye's, and joked, "I've already resolved it. Mr. Jin, I'll definitely call you next time I need to vent."
Jin Ye let out a low laugh, "Alright."
The two got into the car. Su Ding sat in the driver's seat, and Jin Ye sat in the passenger seat.
"No overtime today?"
"Mmm, my work is almost ready. I'll be going on a business trip tomorrow. So I'm getting off early today to spend time with you and the kids."
Su Ding knew Jin Ye was going on a business trip the next day, and a strong sense of reluctance welled up in her heart.
Since they returned from the Southern Territory, they had been almost inseparable. They had hardly been apart, and their relationship had been more stable than ever.
Now that Jin Ye was leaving her for a long time, she felt unaccustomed to it.
"How soon will you be back?" Su Ding turned her head to look at Jin Ye, her eyes showing affection.
Jin Ye had been very busy with work these past few days, and she had also been busy with the shop and dealing with the Shao family. They hadn't had a chance to spend quality time together. Now, she regretted it.
"The soonest is two weeks, the latest is a month."
Jin Ye said, then quickly added, "I'll return as soon as possible, don't worry."
Su Ding knew that Jin Ye's position, although seemingly glorious, also carried a lot of pressure. Huang Qi Group had reached its current status thanks to Jin Ye, the decision-maker and leader, who personally handled matters and dedicated himself to the company.
Seeing Jin Ye's commitment, she naturally understood him.
"I'll take you tomorrow."
Jin Ye hummed in response. Not wanting the atmosphere to become sorrowful with parting, he changed the subject, "If you encounter any difficult matters, you must tell me. Don't try to handle it all yourself."
"Got it."
Su Ding smiled.
She knew Jin Ye was referring to Shao Chunrong's presumptuous visit to the Jin family today. Jin Ye was aware of the disharmonious relationship between her and the Shao family, but perhaps the family ties made it difficult for her, so Jin Ye's intention was clear: he could intervene.
However, Su Ding still preferred to resolve it herself.
"Let's not talk about them. I'm planning to hire a lawyer for Si Wei to reclaim her property. What do you think?"
"Why suddenly hire a lawyer?"
Jin Ye was unaware of the kindergarten incident last time, nor did he understand Wang Siwei's family situation.
Su Ding then recounted the previous events.
After hearing about Wang Siwei's mother choosing boyfriends over her own son, Jin Ye's brows furrowed deeply.
Initially, he had some reservations about Wang Siwei.
After all, Wang Siwei was Wang Yan's son, and Wang Yan was... Su Ding's... Jin Ye wished he could skin Wang Yan alive and certainly wouldn't have a good impression of his son.
However, Wang Siwei was too young, and he had a good relationship with Xiao Xi and Xiao Rui, so Jin Ye had turned a blind eye, not wanting to fuss over a child.
But now, hearing that Wang Siwei had become an unwanted child, he felt a pang of sympathy.
"If this is his wish, in my opinion, let him have it."
Jin Ye said solemnly, "If he doesn't seize the opportunity now, that man will eventually swallow all the property. Then Wang Siwei's situation will only become more difficult."
Su Ding nodded, "I thought the same. Then I'll proceed with it."
Afterward, the two chatted about other things, and the atmosphere on the road was quite warm.
Meanwhile.
Zhang Xiaoya was led into an unfamiliar room and waited quietly.
No one knew how nervous and scared she was at that moment, but she had no choice. She could only do this.
This afternoon, while she was washing dishes at Ting Xia, she received a call from the hospital. Her mother's surgery fee was due, along with medical and accommodation expenses, totaling five hundred thousand yuan.
Five hundred thousand... Where could she get it from!
The store manager was a good person, but she couldn't bring herself to ask Su Ding. She already owed Su Ding too much.
Just as she was in distress, a call came.
It was from a man.
He said his name was Zhang Ming, someone who used to liaise with Zhao Chun, and a subordinate of the man who had assaulted her that night.
Zhang Ming said: Zhao Chun had been arrested by the police and was in custody. From now on, he would deal with her directly. The man wanted to maintain a long-term relationship with her, offering fifty thousand yuan a month, which would enable her to pay her mother's medical expenses. But she had to keep it a secret and not mention the man to anyone.
Zhang Xiaoya wanted to refuse instinctively upon hearing this.
But thinking of her mother suffering in the hospital, she couldn't refuse. If she had the money, she could even hire better doctors to treat her mother. Her mother was the only family she had in this world.
She was sacrificing her dignity, but in return, she was saving her mother's life.
She accepted the deal.
The night was very long.
Zhang Xiaoya didn't know why her benefactor had chosen her. Although she was somewhat attractive, she wasn't the most beautiful. Moreover, for fifty thousand yuan a month, many young girls would eagerly step forward.
However, she didn't care much about the reason; as long as there was money, it was enough.
As she was lost in her thoughts, the door to the luxurious suite opened, and a tall male figure walked in.
When the man reached behind her, Zhang Xiaoya's heart was about to leap out of her chest.
Faintly, she sensed a chill from the man and a faint smell of tobacco, just like that night...
The curtains were not fully drawn, and moonlight streamed through, filled with an air of mystery.
The man clasped her shoulders, slowly turned her around, looked down at her face, and a satisfied smile played on his thin lips.
Zhang Xiaoya lowered her head.
She tried to calm her breathing and ease her nervousness. For some reason, she felt the man was looking through her, as if seeing someone else.
"Let's begin."
Suddenly, the man's deep voice sounded in her ear.
Zhang Xiaoya was startled. When her eyes met the man's lust-filled eyes, she hesitated, then bit her lip, a flicker of determination in her gaze.
She awkwardly stood on her tiptoes and kissed him.
Slowly, she didn't know how things progressed. All she remembered was the man's handsome face in the moonlight, as if she had seen it somewhere before...
As she was shattered by the forceful encounters, the man's suppressed voice echoed in her ears.
"Everything is mine, everything is mine!"
"Jin... Ye..."
In the end, Zhang Xiaoya couldn't hear clearly. Exhausted, she simply fell asleep.
The next day, five hundred thousand yuan was transferred to her account.
Zhang Xiaoya immediately took a taxi to the hospital, paid her mother's medical bills, hired a caregiver, and arranged for nutritious meals.
As she walked out of the hospital, her heart felt empty, yet also strangely settled.