Su Ding and Liang Tian left the crowd.
Liang Tian's daughter followed them timidly, not daring to speak.
"Liang Tian, this is for you. I have something to do and need to leave first."
Su Ding handed a portion of the youtang gao she bought to Liang Tian, but Liang Tian still looked worried.
Liang Tian was silent for a long time before saying hoarsely, "Thank you..."
Tears even welled up in her eyes as she spoke.
Su Ding was a little flustered and quickly comforted her, "It's alright, she was actually targeting me, it has nothing to do with you."
Liang Tian sniffled and looked at Su Ding with tear-filled eyes.
The guilt in her heart deepened.
They were two people with no connection, yet fate arranged for them to meet again.
This was her chance to atone, wasn't it?
"Su Ding, I have something I need to tell you..." Liang Tian grabbed Su Ding's hand and said, choked with emotion.
Su Ding was a little confused, but out of politeness, she nodded.
"Go ahead," she felt that what Liang Tian was about to say might be the reason for her strange emotions.
Liang Tian's lips trembled, and she took a deep breath.
If Su Ding got angry upon hearing this, she would have to accept it. After all, she was the one who had made the mistake.
"Su Ding, right when you were getting mar—"
"Sis!"
A familiar voice called out, interrupting Liang Tian.
Xie Shanshan walked out from a nearby milk tea shop, holding three cups of milk tea and waving at them.
Su Ding saw that although Xie Shanshan looked pale, she seemed to be in good spirits. Su Ding greeted her as well.
"Xiao Xu... why are you together?" Xie Shanshan looked at Su Ding, still a little uneasy.
It wasn't hostility, but gratitude mixed with awkwardness.
Her gaze towards Su Ding held more shame and a conflict between wanting to show goodwill and not daring to.
Su Ding smiled faintly, "We met while buying youtang gao."
Liang Tian's words were interrupted, and she no longer had the courage to speak. Moreover, the current situation was not suitable for discussing that matter.
Her face turned red, and she pursed her lips.
She would find another opportunity to talk about it. Besides, this matter wouldn't be resolved by a simple apology.
She needed to find evidence of those people who contacted her in the past to clear Su Ding's name and truly atone.
"Sis, are you okay?"
Xie Shanshan noticed Liang Tian's slightly off expression and asked curiously.
Liang Tian naturally couldn't say anything. She shook her head, her mind preoccupied.
Just then, Liang Tian's daughter wiped away her tears and said plaintively, "Auntie Shanshan, just now..."
The little girl recounted what had happened.
Xie Shanshan's face turned red with anger, and she clenched her fists, exclaiming, "How can that woman do that? That's extortion! Xiao Xu, you shouldn't have given her money! His shoes got dirty, they could have been washed for much less! It's too much!"
"Alright Shanshan, it's over now, it's fine," Liang Tian said softly, then looked at Su Ding with a composed smile. "Thank you. I'll return the money to you later. You have things to do, so you should go ahead."
Xie Shanshan didn't say anything more. Facing Su Ding, she felt a bit awkward.
This time, Su Ding must have helped Liang Tian because she was her sister, and Xie Shanshan felt grateful but too embarrassed to express it.
Seeing Su Ding about to leave, she quickly offered the milk tea in her hand.
"Xiao Xu, here, take this milk tea..."
Su Ding looked at the milk tea, then at Xie Shanshan, her eyes showing surprise. She then smiled, "It's fine, you guys drink it. I have something to do. I'll treat you to a meal next time."
With that, she waved and left.
Xie Shanshan watched her retreating figure with an ineffable feeling.
Liang Tian clenched her fist, as if she had made an important decision. "Shanshan, don't you have a classmate who can retrieve old call records and messages? Give me his contact information."
"Huh? Sis, what are you going to do?" Xie Shanshan was a bit confused.
Liang Tian didn't reply, but in her heart, she softly said: Atonement.
...
Su Ding returned to the car and handed the youtang gao to Shao Zhengang.
Shao Zhengang held the youtang gao, which emitted a familiar aroma, and felt a surge of emotions. "When you were little, every time I drove down this street, I would bring you youtang gao."
Su Ding drove herself, her eyes fixed on the road ahead.
She didn't say anything, but her heart couldn't help but recall the happy days when their family was together.
Time flowed by in silence.
Soon, they arrived at Shao Zhengang's residence. A servant came out to wheel him in.
"Master, Young Master Jun is here," the servant reported.
Shao Zhengang was startled. Why would Xiao Jun be here? Was he trying to borrow money again?
He instinctively looked at Su Ding and was about to explain, "Xiao Xu, I didn't know he..."
Just then, Shao Jun, dressed in fashionable brand-name suits, walked out arrogantly, a dissolute smile on his face.
"Second Uncle, you're finally back. I was wondering where you went."
"Oh, Shao Xu, what a rare guest!"
Su Ding's expression immediately turned cold. "Did you investigate my whereabouts?"