Jin Ye patted her hand reassuringly, urging the police officer to continue.
The officer shook his head. "No, it was a leader of a triad organization, known as Brother Gong. He orchestrated everything. Our investigation confirmed that these individuals were also lower-level members of this organization."
Su Ding frowned upon hearing this. "A triad organization, Brother Gong?"
She had never heard of these people before. They wouldn't have targeted her for no reason unless they were involved in illegal dealings with Shao Lin.
"Can Brother Gong be apprehended?" Su Ding asked.
The police officer sighed. "He's difficult to locate. Brother Gong had already absconded overseas before the incident. He's also implicated in transnational cases and is currently on the run."
Su Ding still found it hard to believe. "Have you found any connection to Shao Lin? It's impossible. When I went to the Jin family to ask her, I distinctly heard her mentioning the accident road, the initial route the vehicle took..."
The police officer listened quietly as she recounted the events of that day.
Su Ding clenched her fists, her expression indignant. "It must have been her!"
"Miss Su, please rest assured, if the case is indeed related to Shao Lin, we will find out. As for what you've mentioned, without evidence, it's difficult for us..."
Seeing the police officer's difficulty, Su Ding understood that her accusation without proof was useless.
Shao Lin always had an alibi. Even the perpetrator had clearly stated they were acting under Brother Gong's orders, and with Brother Gong's current whereabouts unknown, any connection to Shao Lin was impossible to investigate.
Jin Ye comforted Su Ding, patting her shoulder. "It's alright, the truth will come out eventually. Be careful during this period, both you and Xiao Rui."
Afterward, Jin Ye chatted with the police officer for a while longer before taking Su Ding out of the police station.
Su Ding remained visibly unhappy, her mind heavy.
Shao Lin had repeatedly tried to harm her, indicating she was desperate. All of Shao Corporation's shares were in her hands, and even Jin Ye was hers, so she naturally couldn't sit still.
Following this, Shao Lin certainly wouldn't stop.
"Don't overthink it. You need to rest well. Fortunately, Xiao Rui was found, wasn't she?" Jin Ye said softly, his arm around her shoulder.
"Alright," Su Ding conceded, sighing. She had no other recourse.
Just then, Jin Ye's phone rang. It was his mother.
After a conversation of less than three minutes, Jin Ye hung up, his expression immediately turning serious and troubled.
"What's wrong?" Su Ding asked, looking at him curiously.
Jin Ye hesitated for a few seconds before revealing the truth. "My mother wants you to go over."
"Me?" Su Ding pointed to herself in surprise. She still vividly remembered Jin Mother's look of disgust from last time. Why would she suddenly want her to visit?
"Yes, I've already informed the family about the marriage registration," Jin Ye said in a low voice.
"So soon?" Su Ding looked at Jin Ye in disbelief.
Jin Ye nodded. "I informed them about it the day we registered our marriage."
As he spoke, he reached out and brushed a few strands of hair from Su Ding's cheek. "Are you ready?"
Su Ding's expression became somewhat unnatural. "N-not yet."
She had a run-in with Jin Mother the last time in front of Jin Ye, and she figured going there wouldn't lead to anything good. Why invite trouble upon herself?
However, she was quite surprised that Jin Ye had informed his family so quickly.
The Jin family was wealthy and influential, and Jin Ye's marriage was a matter of great importance. Many women vied for the position of Madam Jin. Yet, Jin Ye seemed to have no reservations about this.
Furthermore, she had a daughter...
Su Ding felt genuinely touched by how much Jin Ye had done for her.
Jin Ye's eyes showed a flicker of disappointment at her response, but it was also within his expectations. Thus, he simply nodded. "Alright."
At that moment, Jin Ye's phone rang again.
Jin Ye was about to decline the call, but seeing it was his mother, he answered it instead.
His mother's voice came through the receiver again. "Xiao Ye, you can't indulge her. Since you're already married, you have to meet eventually. I must see her today."
Before Jin Ye could reply, she hung up.
It was clear that Jin Mother had guessed Su Ding would be reluctant to visit and had called specifically to emphasize that she had to go today.
Su Ding had also heard the conversation and, seeing Jin Ye's conflicted expression, felt a pang of sympathy.
"Then let's go," she said.
Su Ding took a deep breath, but still feigned lightness as she took Jin Ye's hand.
Jin Ye seemed somewhat surprised. This was the first time Su Ding had naturally taken his hand. His body stiffened for a few seconds.
"Okay," he managed to say after a long pause.
Upon arriving at the Jin residence, Jin Father and Jin Mother were seated on the sofa. Jin Father was drinking tea, while Jin Mother reclined on the sofa, pressing her temples with her hands, her face stern.
Seeing them enter, Jin Mother showed no pretense of politeness. She merely glanced at Su Ding coolly and said, "You're here."
Su Ding suppressed her displeasure and forced a gentle smile. "Hello, Uncle, Aunt."
"Not good," Jin Mother retorted directly, her gaze towards Su Ding filled with contempt. "Why weren't you this polite last time?"
Su Ding took a deep breath and smiled. "I apologize for my rudeness last time, Aunt."
She gave a slight bow to show her apology. Although inwardly displeased, she had to maintain appearances, as this was her mother-in-law in name.
"Heh, our Jin family cannot tolerate a woman like you," Jin Mother said with a cold laugh.
"Mother," Jin Ye interrupted Jin Mother with a cold expression. "If you called Su Ding here today only to say these things, then I will take her and leave right now."
Jin Mother's expression immediately changed.
Su Ding looked gratefully at the man beside her, a warmth surging in her heart, and the unpleasantness from Jin Mother's taunts gradually faded.
Before Jin Mother could respond, Jin Ye took Su Ding's hand and started to lead her towards the door.
"Xiao Ye."
Jin Mother called out to them just in time, compromising. "Alright, alright. You've got a wife and forgotten your mother. I won't make things difficult for her."
Seeing Jin Ye's continued stern expression, Jin Father finally spoke. "Sit down and let's talk."
Jin Ye usually did not like to go against his father's wishes. He glanced at Su Ding and, seeing that her emotions were relatively stable, pulled her to sit down.
Jin Mother's gaze fell upon their clasped hands, fueling her anger even more.
She scrutinized Su Ding with a look of disgust, unable to comprehend why her son would choose to be with this woman.
Although Lin Lin wasn't as beautiful as this woman, the difference wasn't significant.
Why would her son prefer a single mother with a child over the sensible and gentle Lin Lin?
Jin Mother, angered, took a sip of tea, cleared her throat, and began. "Since you've already registered your marriage, as parents, we can't say much. However, the way you've handled this matter is too hasty."
Neither Jin Ye nor Su Ding spoke, waiting for her to continue.
"I've called you here today to ask you to agree to two things," Jin Mother paused deliberately for a few seconds, observing their reactions.
They showed no particular expression, seemingly unbothered by her theatrics, which annoyed her.
"The first thing is, your marriage cannot be revealed to the outside world."
"No, I promised that I would make our relationship public," Jin Ye refused outright, without any room for hesitation.
"Xiao Ye! Are you trying to infuriate your mother?" Jin Mother finally lost her composure, pointing at her son indignantly. "Do you only care about this woman and not consider your mother's feelings?"