DING YI hadn’t hung up the phone when he heard a muffled cry of pain coming from the kitchen. He dropped the phone and quickly walked towards the sound.

　　Su Manhua was standing at the sink, holding her hand under the running water.

　　“What happened?” Ding Yi asked and anxiously grabbed her hand.

　　Before she could answer, he saw a few drops of blood trickling from the side of her left index finger. Her hand, damp from the water, caused the blood to spread quickly, turning half her palm a bloody mess. The sight was alarming.

　　“I accidentally cut my finger,” she said, realizing that ever since she decided to pursue him, she had become particularly clumsy. She could even cut her finger while chopping vegetables.

　　Ding Yi pressed a finger to her wound and asked, “Do you have any band-aids at home?”

　　“Yes, in the drawer under the coffee table,” replied Su Manhua.

　　Ding Yi told her to keep pressure on the cut while he fetched the band-aids. He came back, carefully applied one to her finger, and then, seeing her hand covered in blood, went to the bathroom to get a wet towel to clean it.

　　As he meticulously wiped her hand, they stood close together. She stared at his rugged profile, her heart pounding wildly. His presence exuded a calming strength, and being so close to him, she found herself increasingly enamored with his mature, masculine charm. Her pale cheeks gradually turned rosy.

　　When he finished cleaning her hand, Ding Yi looked up and saw her flushed face, her eyes brimming with barely concealed affection. He secretly pleased and teased her quietly.

　　“Your face is turning red,” he said.

　　“I—I forgot to open the window. It’s a bit hot,” said Su Manhua. She quickly averted her gaze, trying to appear calm as she went to open the window. She then returned to the cutting board, intending to continue chopping vegetables.

　　God! She was never one to be swayed by looks, yet here she was, getting all flustered over a man’s face.

　　Amitabha! Buddha said that all forms are illusory. Form is emptiness!

　　Seeing her about to handle the knife again, Ding Yi quickly stopped her.

　　“Wait, I think we can eat out,” he said.

　　“But I’ve already bought the ingredients,” she protested, glancing at her still bleeding finger. The band-aid had quickly soaked through with blood. She finally sighed and compromised.

　　“Alright, let’s eat out,” she said.

　　People always said that the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach. She was confident in her cooking skills, but today, luck was not on her side.

　　Afterward, Ding Yi changed her band-aid twice more before the bleeding finally stopped.

　　After some discussion, they decided to dine at a well-known private kitchen restaurant. Ding Yi ordered a cake, and when it was brought into the private room, Su Manhua was pleasantly surprised by his thoughtfulness.

　　Though it was a fake birthday, with Ding Yi accompanying her, Su Manhua felt it was the happiest birthday she had ever celebrated. Normally, she rarely drank, but tonight she unknowingly had two glasses of wine.

　　The effects of the red wine were potent; she didn’t feel it while drinking, but by the time they finished their meal and were ready to leave, Su Manhua was so dizzy she couldn’t stand.

　　Ding Yi noticed she became more talkative after drinking, but he hadn’t expected her to get drunk. He arranged for a designated driver to take them home, and by the time they reached her apartment complex, Su Manhua had fallen asleep.

　　Dismissing the driver, he gently patted her rosy cheeks and said, “Manhua, wake up. We’re home.”

　　Without opening her eyes, Su Manhua shifted to find a more comfortable position and leaned against Ding Yi’s shoulder, falling back asleep.

　　Ding Yi couldn’t help but smile. She had been quite chatty in the private room, and he had been a bit worried, but it seemed she was a good drunk.

　　However, Ding Yi’s relief was premature. Realizing he couldn’t wake her, he had no choice but to carry her upstairs. He placed her on her bed and went to get a damp towel to wipe her face. As he wiped her face, she opened her eyes and smiled at him.

　　“Mr. Ding—” Su Manhua mumbled.

　　She was always a cheerful person, but Ding Yi had never seen her smile like this—so radiant, her eyes sparkling with joy.

　　“It’s me, now go back to sleep,” he said, feeling an unexpected tenderness at her uninhibited smile.

　　“I don’t want to,” she said, sitting up and looking around the bed. “I want to change into my pajamas. It’s uncomfortable like this.”

　　Seeing her swaying, Ding Yi reassured her and said, “What do you need? I’ll get it for you.”

　　“Pajamas, in the wardrobe, the pink ones,” Su Manhua replied. Ding Yi opened the wardrobe and hesitated before picking up the pink silk pajamas and handing them to her.

　　“Here you’re, I’ll step outside,” he said. His fingers seemed to retain the silky feel of the fabric, and his mind was already picturing her undressing. He shook his head with a wry smile, realizing he would have to exercise a lot of self-control tonight.

　　He should have left immediately, but her foot was still injured, and now she was drunk. He was worried she might stumble and hurt herself.

　　After about ten minutes, Ding Yi knocked on her bedroom door and asked, “Manhua, are you done?”

　　No response. He then knocked again. “I’m coming in,” he said, opening the door slightly, but she wasn’t on the bed.

　　He pushed the door open and saw her sitting at the desk, playing with the box he had given her.

　　She had opened the box and was now admiring the beautiful lacquered wooden comb inside. She took it out and gently brushed her long, loose hair.

　　When she saw him enter, she handed the comb to him and asked, “Could you help me comb my hair?”

　　“Are you sure?” he asked. Did she understand the significance of him giving her a comb? Ding Yi sighed, seeing her clueless expression. She probably didn’t.

　　She is good at studying, but she doesn’t care about worldly things. This may be related to her frequent exposure to Buddhist scriptures and practice of yoga.

　　She nodded, so Ding Yi didn’t hesitate to help her comb her hair. Her hair was thick and soft, with a slight curl, and felt smooth to the touch—clearly untouched by harsh chemicals.

　　“I like the gift you gave me,” she said. She liked both the comb and the doll.

　　“I know,” he replied, thinking she probably liked more than just the gifts.

　　“And I like you even more!” she added.

　　Ding Yi froze, surprised she said it so openly. It seemed she was quite drunk. And he wondered if she would remember any of this the next day.

　　While Ding Yi was momentarily lost in thought, Su Manhua wobbled to her feet.

　　Her pajamas were a summer style, not quite a camisole but with a low enough neckline to be enticing. She was slim, and the pale skin of her neck and part of her shoulder peeked out from under her hair, creating an alluring sight.

　　Earlier, she had been facing away from him, so he hadn’t noticed. Now, facing him, her flushed cheeks and slightly sexy pajamas ignited a fire in his usually calm eyes.

　　He should have left immediately!

　　At this moment, Su Manhua beckoned him with a finger and said, “Come here, I have a secret to tell you.”

　　Ding Yi sighed and bent down to listen.

　　“I’m a liar and I lied to you. Hehe... today is not my birthday—” she whispered in his ear.

　　Ding Yi couldn’t focus on her words; her breath on his neck was driving him to distraction. As she finished speaking, she suddenly leaned into his arms, hugging his waist.

　　However, the worst part was that she wasn’t wearing a bra! He was not a saint! How could he ignore the softness pressing against his chest?

　　The reaction was swift and intense. Facing the woman he liked, Ding Yi struggled to maintain control.

　　“Mr. Ding, I love you so much!” Su Manhua said. She didn’t know when she would see him again after he returned to Linghai.

　　In fact, Su Manhua had deliberately drunk to gather the courage to confess her feelings. She had no idea she would drink so much and lose her rationality. Now, she just instinctively wanted to be close to Ding Yi, determined to confess her love.

　　Ding Yi grabbed her hands around his waist, and as he tried to step back, she clung to him even tighter.

　　He smiled wryly. Holding her in his arms without giving in was a sweet torment.

　　“Mr. Ding, do you love me?” she asked, sensing he was trying to pull away. She tightened her grip on his waist, feeling something uncomfortable pressing against her lower abdomen. She wanted to remove it.

　　Ding Yi caught her mischievous hand, lifting her delicate chin with one hand and kissed her. The kiss was fierce and demanding, reflecting how hard he had been holding back.

　　Su Manhua blinked, her mind a hazy blur, not quite comprehending what was happening. Her body, however, responded instinctively.

　　Inexperienced, she only knew she wanted more but didn’t know how to respond. She clung to his neck, helplessly letting him take the lead.

　　Her innocent eyes stared straight into his, making him feel guilty. When he realized she didn’t even know how to breathe properly and her face was turning red, he reluctantly let go.

　　“Please, let me hold you for a while,” he said, needing time to calm down.

　　Su Manhua panted slightly, but she remained persistent and asked again, “Do you love me?”

　　“Do you know what it means when a man gives you a comb?” he asked, chuckling. “It means he’s thinking of you, longing for you, and wants to grow old with you.”

　　The person in his arms remained silent for a long time, leaning motionless against his chest. He looked down and saw she had fallen asleep. He gently placed her on the bed and covered her with a light blanket.

　　“Good night,” he whispered.

　　Because he had to bring Yangyang with him, Ding Yi canceled his original ticket and bought a new one for an 11 a.m. flight. The next morning, after picking up Yangyang from his mother’s place, he made his way to Hedong University to see his biological mother that he wasn’t sure how to face.

　　Ding Yi’s feelings towards her were complex. At nine years old, he had memories of her care and affection, the warmth she brought to their home. But he also remembered her selfishness and the cold-hearted abandonment of him and his father.

　　After breaking the hypnosis, Ding Yi finally understood why someone as strong as Huo Yanjhih would choose suicide. His biological mother, Ru Mong, was the final straw.

　　Huo Yanjhih had been aware that someone was framing him, exploiting his unfamiliarity with the new environment and lack of financial knowledge. They wanted to pin the blame on him. But he had no evidence to prove his innocence.

　　He knew that if the charge of colluding with outsiders for fraudulent loans was confirmed, losing his job would be the least of his worries. The special nature of the loans and the large amounts involved meant he was likely to face prison time.

　　Despite this, Huo Yanjhih held onto a glimmer of hope. He knew that even if he ended up in jail, his wife Ru Mong still had a stable job and could support their son without relying on him.

　　However, Ru Mong couldn’t accept this reality. As a low-level bank clerk, she faced endless gossip and rumors. Even before anything was officially decided, there were already widespread rumors about the bank planning to sue Huo Yanjhih. Desperate to secure a future for herself and their son, she took a risky gamble.

　　She started shifting funds into her own savings account, exploiting loopholes in the bank's internal controls. Amazingly, none of her colleagues noticed her actions.

　　Once everything was in place, she requested two days off from her supervisor. Confident in her plan, she knew Huo Yanjhih well enough to predict he wouldn’t flee with her, preferring to face the accusations alone.

　　That night, she took her son to see Huo Yanjhih. When he learned of her plan, he was furious and refused to let her take Ding Yi. But Ru Mong, determined and with no other choice, abandoned her husband and son, fleeing with the funds she had accumulated.

　　Ru Mong was certain Huo Yanjhih wouldn’t report her. She calculated that by the time her absence was noticed, she would have withdrawn the money and vanished.

　　Huo Yanjhih, however, was driven to despair. Ru Mong’s actions not only doomed them to ruin and imprisonment but also condemned their son to a life of stigma. He couldn’t bear the thought of his son suffering, and in his darkest moment, he chose to end his life, sparing his son from accompanying him.

　　Ru Mong’s plans unraveled quickly. Huo Yanjhih’s suicide was an unforeseen disaster. She was soon caught by the police before she could even leave the province.

　　Recalling these events, Ding Yi wished he never had to see Ru Mong again. Yet now, faced with her, he couldn’t ignore her existence. Moreover, he wanted to hear about his father’s past, hoping to uncover some useful information.

　　After days of calm reflection, the recent events at the party meeting had pointed to two suspicious individuals. Before leaving, Ding Yi decided to meet Ru Mong to see if she could provide any clues.

　　When Ru Mong saw him, her eyes quickly filled with tears. She wiped her eyes, awkwardly invited him into the dorm supervisor’s office, and busied herself making tea and serving fruit.

　　Ding Yi didn’t say much, but with Yangyang there, the atmosphere wasn’t too tense. He casually asked Ru Mong a few questions and, seeing the time, prepared to leave. Ru Mong called out to him and asked, “Yi, are you investigating your father’s case?”

　　Ding Yi nodded, taking Yangyang’s hand and stepping out of the office.

　　Ru Mong followed a few steps, calling after him, “You must be careful!”

　　However, Ding Yi walked away without looking back. Throughout the entire encounter, he never once addressed her as “Mother.”