Chapter 8: Get lost! Don't come here and embarrass Jiangjiang.

Jiang Jiang’s sudden movement naturally left Jiang Runlang and Lin Yinxi filled with confusion.

Lin Yinxi hurriedly steadied the child’s small frame and asked, "Jiang Jiang, what’s wrong?"

Jiang Jiang looked up at Lin Yinxi, her small face etched with hesitation, unsure of how to put it into words. After a moment of faltering, she leaned toward Jiang Runlang’s ear and whispered, "Daddy, I think I just saw Mommy."

Hearing this, Jiang Runlang’s brow furrowed slightly as he turned to look toward the rear exit of the auditorium. Lin Yinxi followed his gaze, but the door had already been closed, and there was nothing left to see.

The deputy director, who was seated on the other side of Jiang Runlang, noticed this and quickly explained, "It must have been our director who just came in."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Runlang’s expression soured. He had invested in today’s parent-child event, so, logically, it should have been the director accompanying him, not this deputy. Though he hadn’t minded much when the deputy explained that the director was away on urgent business, the realization that the director had arrived without even bothering to greet him left him in a foul mood.

Especially given what Jiang Jiang had whispered—that she thought she saw her mother. Putting the deputy’s words together with Jiang Jiang’s, it seemed clear that the director had just accompanied Shen Suining inside. The thought made Jiang Runlang’s expression grow even more grim.

The deputy director observed the change in Jiang Runlang’s face and realized he had spoken out of turn, wishing he could slap his own mouth. What a mess—if the director found out he had offended the eldest son of the Jiang family, whether he could keep his position as deputy director would be highly uncertain.

Lin Yinxi, failing to understand why Jiang Runlang had suddenly become so angry, was too afraid to ask, fearing it was because of her secret kiss on the stage earlier. Trembling inwardly, she remained silent.

Oblivious to Lin Yinxi’s shrinking demeanor, Jiang Runlang patted Jiang Jiang’s back, signaling her to climb down from his lap. He then pulled out his phone and sent a message to Shen Suining.

At that moment, Shen Suining had already been led away from the auditorium by Jiang Ji. When her phone chimed, she could have ignored it, but feeling uncomfortable with Jiang Ji still holding her hand, she used the excuse of checking for a message from a teacher to pull away.

Stepping aside, she unlocked her phone and saw the message from Jiang Runlang: "Get lost! Don't come here to embarrass Jiang Jiang!"

The cold, heartless command struck like a blade against her already numbed heart.

***

So, they knew she was here. They knew, and yet they still chose to act that way.

Shen Suining’s fingers tightened around her phone. After a long moment, she typed a response: "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm in Ruicheng."

After sending the message, she tucked her phone into her bag and turned around, only to collide straight into Jiang Ji’s chest. The impact stung her nose, and her eyes finally welled up with tears.

Jiang Ji tilted her chin up with his hand and said, "Crying over that scum and his mistress? Are you really that pathetic?"

A sudden, nameless fire ignited within Shen Suining. Forgetting that they were still at the kindergarten and currently being shown around by Wei Jianqi, she shoved Jiang Ji hard and snapped, "Are you blind? You’re the one who hurt me!"

She wouldn't admit it was because of that "scum and mistress."

Her fierce expression didn't annoy Jiang Ji; instead, it drew a low chuckle from him. He leaned in close, took her hand, and kissed it lightly, saying, "Is that so? Let me rub it for you. There, better now?"

As he spoke, he leaned down, intending to kiss the tip of her nose. Shen Suining’s eyes widened in horror as she tried to back away.

What was he doing? Who "rubs" a nose like that?

However, Jiang Ji anticipated her move. His large hand clamped firmly onto her waist, pulling her flush against him. He kissed her nose, satisfied, and began to laugh.

Shen Suining glared at him, frustrated—how could this man be so shameless? To make matters worse, Jiang Ji intentionally twisted her meaning.

"Is that not enough, Sui-Sui?" he asked deliberately. "I wouldn't mind giving you a French kiss right here."

As he leaned in again, aiming for her lips, Shen Suining panicked and covered her mouth with her hands. He might be shameless, but she still had her dignity! They were in a kindergarten! How could he dare?

***

Watching Shen Suining’s terrified expression, which reminded him of a little rabbit, Jiang Ji chuckled softly. "Fine, we’ll continue this when we get home."

Shen Suining glared at him, unable to continue the conversation. Looking away, she realized that Wei Jianqi had vanished, and Jiang Yinuo was nowhere to be seen.

A wave of worry washed over her. As she searched for the boy, she asked Jiang Ji, "Where is Yinuo?"

Her genuine concern touched Jiang Ji’s heart. Even if she still refused to believe Jiang Yinuo was her son, her instinct to care for him remained. Such is the bond of blood.

When she didn't get an immediate answer, she looked back at Jiang Ji. Seeing him staring at her in a daze, her brow furrowed. *This man is far too careless with his own son!*

Just as she was about to ask again, she saw Jiang Yinuo running out from one of the teaching buildings.

"Mommy!"

Jiang Yinuo rushed over and wrapped his arms around her legs. Shen Suining bent down, scooped him up, and asked softly, "Where did you go, Yinuo?"

"Director Grandpa took me to the restroom," the boy replied obediently.

Only then did Shen Suining feel at ease, and she reached out to straighten his hair.

Wei Jianqi walked over at that moment, tentatively asking, "Mrs. Jiang, have you given it any further thought?"

He had to get Jiang Yinuo enrolled in their kindergarten; he couldn't afford any mistakes. Under Wei Jianqi’s intense gaze, Shen Suining felt incredibly uncomfortable. She instinctively looked toward Jiang Ji for help, but he only looked at her with gentle eyes, as if leaving the decision entirely to her.

Helpless, she turned back to Wei Jianqi. "Director Wei, I think I’d like to discuss it more carefully with... with my husband when we get home. I’ll give you an answer in a few days."