With half a month left until the New Year, Gu Susu’s design and production of the “Ethereal Ancient Charm” series of fashion was nearing completion.
Ai Yiwei’s fetal paternity test report had already been delivered to her. The report showed a DNA similarity of 99.999%, confirming it was indeed Qin Tianlang’s child.
Gu Susu showed the report to Qin Tianyi, who glanced at the results and told her, “Keep it with you for now. We’ll tell them when the time is right.”
Ai Yiwei, on the other hand, kept urging her to act quickly. Gu Susu told Ai Yiwei that she needed to wait for the right moment, but Ai Yiwei’s pregnancy wouldn't wait. Although her pregnancy wasn't showing yet, it wouldn't be long before people noticed.
Gu Susu herself didn’t know when Qin Tianyi considered the “right moment” to be, but she felt he was correct. Even with the paternity report in hand, she couldn’t act rashly. Jin Meiyao was no pushover, and the old lady was an exceptionally shrewd person.
She was anxious too, hoping that Ai Yiwei’s matter would be resolved soon so she could escape with her child. The more she felt this way, the more she needed to remain calm.
To persuade her to help sooner, Ai Yiwei had provided her with the planned destination and the escape route for her and the child, which she had reviewed.
Gu Susu had secretly searched online for the place Ai Yiwei mentioned. It was a small town deep in the mountains, with inconvenient transportation. Hiding in such a place would indeed make her difficult to find.
To prevent being deceived by Ai Yiwei again, she had also thoroughly investigated. The escape route Ai Yiwei had provided, which bypassed everyone, was feasible.
Therefore, she had been quietly planning how to live with Xiao Xingxing after leaving, until he grew up.
After her release from prison, she had no other desires than to find a quiet place and live a peaceful life with her child. It felt like her future was already laid out.
However, the Ai family still wouldn't let her go, dragging her back into these disputes. She only wished for a swift release.
As she walked out of the studio that day, night had already fallen. A cold wind blew, and she pulled her coat tighter, searching for the Qin family’s car to pick her up.
In the darkness, the city lights had come on, brilliant and dazzling, captivating the eye.
She remembered her first time leaving the orphanage and coming to this big city. She had also been captivated by such enchanting nights, which seemed like an eternal paradise compared to the orphanage in the small town.
Later, she realized that behind the towering buildings and the dazzling city lights, there was much unseen darkness.
She was only momentarily distracted before spotting the luxurious Qin family car coming to pick her up. Just as she was about to walk towards it, another black sedan slowly pulled up beside her.
Ai Shunan rolled down the window and said to her, “I’ll have my assistant speak to the Qin family’s driver. It’s been a while since we father and daughter have seen each other, and we need to talk.”
Gu Susu’s expression changed drastically. She looked at Ai Shunan in stunned silence. He wouldn’t come to her without a reason; there must be something unpleasant.
Ai Shunan’s assistant quickly got out of the car and walked towards the luxury car parked by the roadside, speaking to the Qin family’s driver.
The driver, sitting in the car, looked towards them. Seeing Gu Susu nod at him, he drove away first.
Gu Susu sat quietly in the car, her back very straight beside Ai Shunan, ready to be lectured at any moment.
Ai Shunan broke the silence with the stern authority of a father, saying, “After marrying Qin Tianyi, why haven’t you come home much? Don’t you care about that child anymore?”
“I visited the child twice, but you weren’t home either time,” Gu Susu replied, her heart pounding, afraid he had already sensed something.
Ai Shunan glanced at her, still with that look of wondering how he could have such a daughter. Fortunately, this daughter was still somewhat useful. He said calmly, “I see that child will be starting kindergarten next year. If you can help me with something at the Qin family, I’ll send him to a prestigious kindergarten for the best education.”
“What do you want me to do?” Gu Susu thought that if Ai Shunan was willing to spend tens of thousands of yuan a month for Xiao Xingxing’s tuition at a prestigious kindergarten, whatever he wanted her to do probably wouldn’t be easy.
Ai Shunan looked down at the jade bracelet on her wrist and said, “You’ve been doing quite well at the Qin family lately, haven’t you? Ai Yiwei told me this jade bracelet is a family heirloom of the Qin family.”
Gu Susu pulled down the sleeve of her coat, covering the jade bracelet, and said vaguely, “I don’t understand jade or emeralds.”
“Since the Qin family’s old lady passed this jade bracelet to you, she must trust you quite a bit. Help me get a document from the Qin family’s old lady. Give it to me after you get it, and don’t tell anyone about this,” Ai Shunan said in a flat tone, as if asking her to fetch an ordinary document.
Gu Susu asked, “What document? How would I know where the Qin family’s old lady keeps it?”
Ai Shunan glanced at her and said dismissively, “It’s a document concerning the quality inspection of the Yujiang Villa. As for where the Qin family’s old lady keeps it, I don’t know either, so you’ll have to find a way.”
“Quality inspection document? Is there a problem with the house materials or construction?” Gu Susu couldn’t help but ask.
Ai Shunan raised an eyebrow, slightly taken aback, and said, “You wouldn’t understand even if I told you. As long as you find that document for me, you can live your life as a young madam, and I will ensure that child receives the best education.”
Gu Susu pursed her lips and nodded. Whether she could find the document he mentioned was another matter, but for now, she couldn’t arouse his suspicion.
She wasn’t interested in his promise of a prestigious kindergarten. A child’s best education was parental companionship.
Xiao Xingxing already lacked fatherly love and had been separated from his mother by the Ai family. No amount of education could compensate for the emotional void in a child’s heart.
Seeing her nod, Ai Shunan didn’t even bother to glance at her again and had his assistant drive her back to the Qin residence.
At the entrance of the Qin family mansion, she looked at Ai Shunan’s indifferent expression as he rolled up the car window and felt a sense of calm. Fatherly love was something she could never reach.
She should have given up long ago, no longer hoping for it.
At least since being taken in by the Ai family, she had lived cautiously and fearfully, as if a heavy stone was pressing on her, making it difficult to breathe.
She watched the black sedan gradually drive away, then withdrew her gaze, lifted her head, and refused to let tears fall.
“You’re crying? You’re not happy after seeing Ai Shunan?”
She didn’t know when Qin Tianyi had appeared. She quickly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and said, “No, the wind just blew, and some sand got into my eyes.”
“Is that so? Let me see.” He walked closer to her, his height of over 1.8 meters towering over her. He lifted her chin from above and pretended to blow the sand out of her eyes.
His breath was so close, his gentleness made her afraid. She couldn’t help but retreat a step, pushing him away. “It’s fine now, the sand has already come out. Have you had dinner? I’m so tired today, I’m hungry.”
Saying this, she took his arm of her own accord and naturally walked inside with him.