Chapter 432: Chapter 432 - 426: The Woman Who Forced Her Way Into the Car

The elderly man’s laughter is both relaxed and joyful; even at this late hour, he’s spirited and not in the least lacking compared to the young. He holds Mianmian, explaining the meaning of great-grandmother’s words, and leads her to sit on a bench in the main hall: "Usually no children come to visit grandma, so I don’t have candy ready, but there’s fruit. Do you eat bananas? Great-grandma will peel one for you!"

Shi Su doesn’t interrupt, all because watching Mrs. Jing happily coax Mianmian, her eyes only fixed on Mianmian, consistently smiling with delight.

Mianmian politely says, "Thank you, great-grandma. Although I really want to eat, mommy says not to eat too much at night. Can I save it for tomorrow morning?"

"Oh, look at me, I’m so happy I’ve lost track of time. It’s indeed uncomfortable to eat this late. Great-grandma will peel it for you tomorrow morning." Mrs. Jing sits cheerfully on the bench, inviting Mianmian to sit on her lap, smiling as she speaks: "Such a good child! How could that old fool bear not to bring her home to the Jing Family? Leaving her outside for so many years? Truly foolish!"

As she speaks, she lovingly strokes Mianmian’s small face, both fond and concerned, with laughter and tears in her eyes.

Shi Su seems to understand who Mrs. Jing is cursing, and her already tumultuous heart now feels close to upheaval.

What exactly has Jing Jihan told Mrs. Jing? How does she seem to know everything? From the first glance to now, she’s not at all surprised by Mianmian’s presence?

Standing beside her, Jing Jihan is joined by Shi Su, who draws closer, whispering behind his broad shoulder: "How did you brainwash Grandma Jing? Even if you plan to recognize Mianmian as your daughter, isn’t this going too far...?"

If Grandma finds out Mianmian isn’t biological, wouldn’t she be devastated?

How could someone like Jing Jihan, who’s never been muddled, suddenly act so confused? The elderly woman clearly treats her as a biological granddaughter!

The man subtly curls his lips, holding her hand tighter in his palm, leaning in to observe her tense, self-conscious yet tenderly conflicted emotions, whispering with equal softness: "How did you do it, making me always think you were so intelligent?"

Shi Su: "?"

Is Jing Jihan shamelessly using mocking skills on her?

"Is Mianmian sleepy? Should great-grandmother lull you to sleep?" Mrs. Jing cheerfully asks Mianmian: "Not sure if you’ll recognize the bed, or if you’ll be scared at night?"

Mianmian shakes her head: "Not sleepy."

Then, Mianmian blinks, saying, "Great-grandma, am I too chubby? Mommy says I’m a little chubby; will I hurt great-grandma’s legs?"

"Where are you chubby? You look just right! Your mom is teasing you!" Grandma Jing laughs, glancing at Shi Su: "If Mianmian wakes up without crying for mom, let her stay with me tonight. You and Jihan get some rest, leave the child to me."

Shi Su immediately replies, "Mianmian isn’t shy, but she wakes up to use the bathroom at night, which might disturb you."

"Oh, she’s already six years old; the most she’d do is call me to turn on the light, not cry like a baby. Even if she were a crying baby, wouldn’t it be my duty as a grandmother to help care for her? You’ve been raising her alone for so many years—a little freedom occasionally is what you need."

Mrs. Jing signals for the servant to come over, instructing them to guide the guests to their prepared guest rooms to rest early.

Seeing that Mianmian truly isn’t sleepy, and with Mrs. Jing being lively, unwilling to go to sleep early, still wanting to sit with Mianmian longer, Shi Su tries to remind Mianmian to behave herself, but before the words come out, she’s brought upstairs to the bedroom by Jing Jihan without objection.

It’s evident that Mrs. Jing lives alone here; the manor is elegantly quiet but not large, only a small white building with few bedrooms upstairs, likely a newly established residence since returning to the country, as many rooms are still vacant, not sure if planning a long stay or temporary lodging.

In the bedroom, Shi Su quickly averts her gaze from the man’s jawline beside her, quickly surveying the room; as long as there’s a bathroom and a bed, it’s enough.

Yet there’s only one bed in the bedroom; Mrs. Jing wouldn’t have prepared two rooms for them to stay, especially since she clearly sees Shi Su and Jing Jihan as a long-married couple, not considering beyond that.

The door closes outside, and Shi Su swiftly rushes to the window, opening it. The cold wind calms her somewhat unstable emotions, but only slightly.

Earlier, faced with Mrs. Jing, Shi Su couldn’t sort her thoughts; now she manages some quiet but finds doubts entangling more sensibilities.

Especially hearing the sound of the man taking off his coat and recalling the pair of cufflinks on his trench coat, her heart heats up even more.

Could Jing Jihan be someone she thought she understood well, yet truly didn’t fully comprehend?

The notion that Mianmian resembles him flits around in Shi Su’s mind, revisiting a night she refrained from recalling for seven years, a dark nightmare she wishes to selectively forget, not wanting to revisit any detail.

But now she can’t help but recall.

Her mind seems tangled up, trying to untangle those complex lines, as if one clear thread is guiding everything.

The night wind outside is cool; standing at the window, Shi Su’s focus falters, until warmth behind snaps her back, just as she intends to step away but sees the man’s reaching arm closing the window halfway. Her glance follows, as the other half of the window closes, his arm gently resting on the stone windowsill before her, not embracing but trapping her between him and the sill.

The previous cold wind contrasts the warmth behind, making Jing Jihan’s presence so impossible to ignore, always this intense when near.

Jing Jihan moves her chilled hand from the window’s near-zero degree wind, warming it up for her.

Shi Su, trapped in his embrace, finally says the doubt stuck in her throat: "Why does Grandma say Mianmian resembles you?"

The man’s faint laughter at her back presses her forward against the window, letting the profound amusement in his eyes show clearly: "She does."

Shi Su nearly bursts with inconceivable emotions: "??? Where? Why? How is it possible?!"

Holding her close, Jing Jihan doesn’t tease her further, speaking gently: "Indeed, how could it be possible? Maybe it was seven years ago when I stayed up late causing gastritis, overworking on urgent international meetings, overdosing on alcohol leading to a fever, then pulling over halfway on Binhai Road in a black Bentley, being suddenly ambushed by a frantic woman..."

Shi Su’s ears burn, turning abruptly in his embrace, staring back full of shock.

Gradually lowering his voice, the man continues: "Seven years ago, November. Binhai Road. Black Bentley."