Chapter Seven: She Gathered Courage and Kissed Jiang Runlang’s Lips Gently

Lin Yinxi danced with great enthusiasm, executing each move to perfection—sensual, fiery, and full of vitality. She was young, a junior in college, and with her flawless figure paired with her sweet, radiant smile, she shone like a little sun, illuminating the entire stage with brilliance.

In comparison, the other mothers in the audience seemed to fade into the background.

Shen Suining couldn’t help but sigh inwardly; Lin Yinxi had truly grown into a captivating center of attention.

How laughable it was—just over two years ago, Lin Yinxi had been a timid little girl, so shy that even calling her “senior” made her voice tremble.

Now, Lin Yinxi had become the focal point in the eyes of her husband and daughter.

Shen Suining averted her gaze, letting her eyes drift from the stage down to the audience.

In the front row reserved for leaders right below the stage, she spotted a familiar silhouette.

Jiang Runlang.

He sat at the very center of the leadership seats.

In that moment, Shen Suining immediately understood—the sponsor of this parent-child event was none other than Jiang Runlang.

It made sense for him to sponsor an event at his daughter’s kindergarten.

But at this moment, another thought crossed Shen Suining’s mind.

Perhaps this event was more about Lin Yinxi than it was about the kindergarten.

Just then, Shen Suining saw little Jiang Jiang suddenly leap up in front of Jiang Runlang.

The girl seemed to be kneeling on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck and speaking loudly.

Despite the distance across the audience, Shen Suining could hear Jiang Jiang’s words clearly:

“Daddy! Mommy is so beautiful! When her performance is over, I want to bring her flowers! Daddy, hurry and give me the flowers you prepared!”

A ringing buzz filled Shen Suining’s ears, drowning out all other sounds.

Amid the hum, she caught snippets of conversation from other parents and children in the audience.

“Wow! Is that Jiang Jiang’s mom? Jiang Jiang kept telling me her mom is pretty, but I never believed it!”

“I knew the woman who picked up Jiang Jiang before was too fat and unfashionable to be her mom!”

“Are you guys stupid? Jiang Jiang already said that was just her nanny!”

“So that’s Mrs. Jiang! No wonder Young Master Jiang keeps her hidden. If I had such a beautiful wife, I wouldn’t want others to see her either!”

“Have you noticed how Young Master Jiang’s eyes never leave his wife? Tsk tsk, that love in his gaze is impossible to hide!”

Shen Suining could no longer make out what else they were saying.

She watched as Jiang Jiang burst onto the stage clutching a bouquet of roses so large it nearly engulfed her small frame. Running so fast, she nearly tripped several times.

Fortunately, Jiang Runlang followed closely behind, catching her each time she stumbled.

Thus, Jiang Jiang and the bouquet ended up safely in Jiang Runlang’s arms.

Jiang Runlang looked at Lin Yinxi with deep affection and took slow, deliberate steps toward her.

Lin Yinxi’s cheeks were flushed from her performance, and she was still breathing hard. Her cheerleading uniform clung tightly to her full chest, rising and falling with each breath.

Shen Suining saw clearly that as Jiang Runlang drew nearer, the curves of Lin Yinxi’s chest moved even more visibly.

She also noticed Jiang Runlang’s gaze lingering on Lin Yinxi’s bosom for half a second.

Her hands clenched involuntarily.

So, without her knowledge, Jiang Runlang and Lin Yinxi had already reached this stage of intimacy.

Jiang Runlang, holding Jiang Jiang and the roses, approached Lin Yinxi, and Jiang Jiang, as if presenting a precious treasure, held out the bouquet to her.

“Mom! You look so beautiful today! Daddy and I are both completely enchanted by you!” she exclaimed.

As Lin Yinxi accepted the roses, Jiang Jiang threw her arms around her and planted a heavy kiss on her cheek.

The “smack” echoed through the auditorium, reaching every corner.

Lin Yinxi raised her hand to tenderly stroke Jiang Jiang’s head, then lifted her eyes—accentuated by delicate false lashes—toward Jiang Runlang, her gaze sultry and tender.

Jiang Runlang smiled warmly back at her, his look an unspoken encouragement. She had his silent approval.

At this moment, in this setting, whatever she did, Jiang Runlang would indulge.

With this thought, Lin Yinxi no longer held back.

She stepped forward, placed a hand on Jiang Runlang’s neck, rose on her toes, and pressed a brief kiss to the corner of his lips.

After just one second, she withdrew, cheeks flushed with shyness, waving the bouquet teasingly in front of him.

“Thank you, I really like it,” she said.

Jiang Runlang’s clear voice responded, “I’m glad you do.”

With her words fading, Jiang Runlang reached out his hand and took Lin Yinxi’s, leading her off the stage.

Shen Suining watched everything on stage without blinking, her heart pierced by dozens of sharp knives simultaneously, bloodied and aching to the point of numbness.

How could she not understand Jiang Jiang’s meaning?

In front of all the kindergarten teachers, classmates, and parents at this event, Jiang Jiang had loudly called Lin Yinxi “Mom.”

From now on, Lin Yinxi was her mother.

And she—who had carried her for ten months, given birth to her, raised her, and cared for her devotedly for four years—would never again be recognized as Jiang Jiang’s mother.

Only now did Shen Suining realize with a jolt that Jiang Jiang’s feelings toward her were not merely disdain.

She hated her, even despised her.

The little girl, in her own way, was driving her out of her life.

But Shen Suining didn’t understand why.

Why would Jiang Jiang treat her this way?

All she knew now was that everything was done with Jiang Runlang’s tacit consent.

That realization chilled Shen Suining’s heart completely.

Her hand was gently enveloped in a warm palm. Tilting her head, she met the deep, ancient well-like eyes of Jiang Jun.

He seemed somewhat surprised and raised an eyebrow at her before leaning in to whisper in her ear, “You did well. You didn’t cry. I’ll reward you later.”

Surprised, Shen Suining touched her face—it was dry.

She realized that the pain had reached its peak, so much so that even the desire to cry had vanished.

Before she could ponder further, Jiang Jun had already picked up Jiang Yinuo, took Shen Suining’s hand, and headed toward the rear exit of the auditorium.

Wei Jianqi hurried after them, running ahead to open the door.

Since the performance on stage had ended and the music had stopped, their movement naturally drew the attention of others in the audience.

Jiang Jiang, still kneeling on Jiang Runlang’s lap, turned her curious gaze in their direction.

By chance, the light from the open door fell upon Shen Suining’s profile, revealing her clearly to Jiang Jiang.

Jiang Jiang gasped and immediately stood up from Jiang Runlang’s lap, exclaiming, “No way!”