Chapter 192: Chapter 189: Hurled from the Restaurant Entrance
Jin Jumo’s eyelids twitched as she stared at Xu Ruyao, who had somehow put Xixi down and was standing in front of her, her delicate face momentarily stiff.
"Xiao Xiao, you’ve suffered these past few years." Xu Ruyao looked at her with affection, and as she spoke, her grip on Jin Jumo’s hand tightened.
Jin Jumo’s eyelashes fluttered lightly as she looked at Xu Ruyao, whose face was filled with concern, unsure of what to say.
"You know, Jingyao is just unbelievable. Such a big matter, and he kept it from the family so well that now the kids are four years old before telling us. It really scared me and his father. If it weren’t for the kids, I would’ve considered cutting off the mother-son relationship with him.
Jingyao has really gotten worse, nowhere near as obedient as he was when he was a child. If he had told me earlier that Xixi and Hanhan were his flesh and blood, I wouldn’t have done so many foolish things over the years..."
Xu Ruyao paused, looking at Jin Jumo with regret, "Jingyao is nearly thirty-three, almost thirty-four, and he never mentions marriage, not even a word about a girlfriend in front of us. His father and I are very anxious, so I’ve arranged quite a few blind dates for him over the years, and sent quite a few people to his company under various pretexts."
Perhaps fearing Jin Jumo’s resentment, Xu Ruyao explained, "But Xiao Xiao, our Jingyao is just like his father, very stubborn. Once he decides on someone, it’s set in stone, and he won’t change, no matter what. So, for all those people, Jingyao didn’t care at all and was just humoring me. If you blame anyone, blame me for my reckless arrangements."
"Auntie, don’t say that." Jin Jumo said softly, "I understand why you did it."
Seeing Jin Jumo so considerate, Xu Ruyao genuinely liked her, but felt increasingly uneasy, holding her hand as she said, "Some of the women rejected by Jingyao have said a lot of idle gossip to me, saying that Jingyao is entangled with a married woman, who even has two little ’burdens’. Oh, I’m so weak-minded, and without verifying, I thought you really were..."
Jin Jumo lowered her eyelashes, remaining silent.
Xu Ruyao carefully watched her, and seeing her not speak, assumed she had some grievances against her.
After all, those two little ’burdens’ are her "grandchildren"; and in her place, one would also feel chilled.
Xu Ruyao’s guilt deepened, feeling some anxiety, "Xiao Xiao, please don’t blame Auntie. Auntie didn’t know Xixi and Hanhan were Jingyao’s children at the time, so no matter how unpleasant those women were, Auntie didn’t speak up for you, and even allowed them to make things difficult for you. Xiao Xiao, Auntie really feels sorry, sorry for Xixi and Hanhan."
Jin Jumo stared at Xu Ruyao’s anxious face, her chest contracting severely, she pressed her lips, "Auntie, actually Xixi and Hanhan aren’t..."
Just as Jin Jumo was about to finish her sentence, a commotion of footsteps came pouring from the direction of the restaurant entrance.
With the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the guests nearby, who had changed their expressions suddenly; Jin Jumo furrowed her brow and turned her head towards the restaurant entrance.
At the entrance, along both sides of the long red carpet, were two rows of muscle-bound men wearing no expressions, in the middle of winter, clad only in black thin sweaters.
They all had their hands behind their backs, wearing black sunglasses, lips pressed in a manner that seemed ready to "go on a rampage."
"My goodness, who are these people?" Xu Ruyao’s voice full of suspicion sounded beside her.
Jin Jumo glanced at her, frowning, "Could they be the bodyguards Jingyao hired?"
"...I don’t think so, these people seem to be here to cause trouble!" Xu Ruyao’s expression tensed up, and she turned her head to look at Ying Yunheng behind her, whose face was solemn and slightly puzzled, asking earnestly, "Where’s Jingyao?"
Ying Yunheng’s gaze passed Xu Ruyao, looking behind her.
Xu Ruyao turned her head and saw Ying Jingyao and Ruan Chen walking towards them.
"Jingyao, what’s going on?" Xu Ruyao stepped forward anxiously to ask Ying Jingyao.
Ying Jingyao’s expression was stern, his lips coldly pressed together, he comfortingly squeezed Xu Ruyao’s hand, "It’s nothing."
Xu Ruyao wanted to say more, but Ying Jingyao already walked past her to Jin Jumo.
Jin Jumo looked at his serious face, whispered, "What’s the matter?"
Ying Jingyao’s eyes deepened, lightly shaking his head.
Meanwhile, a small wave of exclamations echoed from inside the hall.
Jin Jumo’s brow twitched, just about to look over when a hand suddenly grasped hers, tightening.
Jin Jumo’s breath hitched, she looked at him suspiciously.
Ying Jingyao’s Adam’s apple moved slightly, his gaze on Jin Jumo carried a depth of intensity, "Xiao Xiao, will you stand by my side?"
"..."
Jin Jumo was slightly taken aback, bewildered, "Jingyao, you..."
"Will you?" Ying Jingyao tightened his grip on her hand.
Jin Jumo felt her five fingers were painfully squeezed by him.
Watching his tense jaw, Jin Jumo could even anticipate that his body was as tightly strung as his demeanor.
Breathing softly, Jin Jumo stared at him, saying, "Yes."
Ying Jingyao suddenly smiled, that smile was like a breezy spring day, delightful and refreshing.
Jin Jumo’s eyes flickered, suddenly feeling a cold shadowy gaze directed at her.
Her spine tingled, Jin Jumo’s complexion changed repeatedly, her Taohua (peach blossom) eyes swept over restlessly, turning her head towards that gaze.
The sight of a sharp silhouette made Jin Jumo’s eyes tremble slightly, her hand at her side clenched tightly as she stared at him.
Ying Jingyao noticed the change in Jin Jumo, his eyes narrowed deeply, he quietly pulled Jin Jumo behind him.
Jin Jumo’s eyelashes subtly trembled, she glanced at Ying Jingyao and gradually lowered her thick eyelashes.
"Isn’t that President Rong Mochen of the Rong Group?" A voice from the crowd whispered.
"Is it him? Could it be that he’s invited to today’s birthday banquet as well?"
"President Rong and Chairman Ying have had business dealings before, so it’s not surprising to invite him."
"No wonder he’s the president of the Rong Group, the scale is truly grand."
"..."
Ying Jingyao heard these comments, but his face showed no change.
Instead, Ying Yunheng and Xu Ruyao exchanged an inexplicable glance.
Ying Yunheng walked to Ying Jingyao’s side and quietly asked, "Jingyao, did you invite President Rong?"
Ying Jingyao squinted his eyes but said nothing.
Seeing this, Ying Yunheng’s eyelid twitched, realizing that the situation was probably more complicated than his mere attendance at the birthday banquet!
Jin Jumo lowered her fists to her side when a soft little hand held them.
Jin Jumo’s eyes flickered, and she looked down.
Xixi looked up with her little face, her big, bright eyes staring at her, and her rosy little face immediately broke into a big smile when she looked at her.
Jin Jumo released her hand and gently squeezed her soft little hand in her palm.
"Sister-in-law, you said you and our Boss Rong just had a minor disagreement, but it’s not enough reason to take the two kids and leave home, is it?"
Gu Yan’s playful voice echoed in the quiet banquet hall, like a sudden clap of thunder, instantly drawing astonishment from the crowd.
The "Boss Rong" mentioned by Gu Yan is undoubtedly Rong Mochen.
But that call of "sister-in-law"...
Few people brought children to attend the birthday banquet. It was noisy and lively, and bringing children could easily lead to mishaps if not properly cared for.
And today, only two brought children to the birthday banquet.
One was Jin Jumo, and the other was Jian Liangtong, who had early on hid in a corner upon arrival.
The crowd naturally wouldn’t associate Gu Yan’s "sister-in-law" with Jin Jumo, given Ying Yunheng and Xu Ruyao’s attitude towards Jin Jumo and the two children suggested that the kids were Ying Jingyao’s, so Gu Yan’s "sister-in-law" was definitely not referring to Jin Jumo.
That left only Jian Liangtong as a suspicious person.
Jian Liangtong, hiding in the corner, was eventually discovered by everyone, and for a moment, she became the object of everyone’s focus, exposed to their gazes.
Jian Liangtong felt extremely uncomfortable, especially when the eyes of Gu Yan and others landed on her.
Jian Liangtong’s forehead was covered in tiny beads of sweat, her palm holding Jian Chenghao’s small hand was damp, and beads of sweat even slid from her hand.
Jian Chenghao’s little hand was soaked with sweat from Jian Liangtong’s palm.
With a tense little face, Jian Chenghao looked at Jian Liangtong worriedly, "Mom."
Jian Liangtong’s expression froze, and she even started trembling.
Jian Chenghao hurriedly rubbed Jian Liangtong’s violently trembling hand with his other hand, "Mom, the medicine, the medicine?"
Everyone noticed Jian Liangtong’s abnormality, faces filled with shock, yet they dared not act rashly.
Jin Jumo’s breath became tight, she suddenly pulled free from Ying Jingyao’s hand, lifted her skirt hem, and ran towards Jian Liangtong.
However, just midway, her waist was suddenly grasped from behind with such force that she felt her intestines tighten!
A loud buzzing exploded in Jin Jumo’s ears, imprinting Jian Liangtong’s pale face in front of her eyes, her mind in disarray. She moved her hands to pry away the arms clamped around her waist like iron shackles, hoarsely shouting, "Let me go, let me go now!"
"Aunt, aunt..." Jian Chenghao’s eyes reddened, pleading with Jin Jumo for help.
Jin Jumo felt a pang of pain in her heart, "Hao Hao..."
"Mom..."
Jian Chenghao’s tender and fearful voice pierced Jin Jumo’s heart like needles, losing her senses, Jin Jumo’s eyes turned blood-red, she swiftly turned around, raising her hand.
Smack—
A crisp sound, causing the hearts of almost everyone present to tremble!
The pace of Ying Jingyao, rushing forward, came to a halt, and his usually calm eyes flickered with astonishment.
Gu Yan and the others gasped, their faces turning a bit pale, looking at a person who had taken a slap.
Rong Mochen’s face, already cold and stern, became even more chilling and sinister, his gaze a pair of poisoned sharp swords piercing Jin Jumo violently.
With this cold and stern demeanor, even if Jin Jumo were to be swallowed alive by him the next moment, no one present would find it surprising!
Xixi and Hanhan stood dumbfounded on the spot, as Ying Yunheng covered their eyes with his large hands when Jin Jumo’s slap fell, so they didn’t know what happened.
Seeing the sinister and unpredictable expression of Rong Mochen, Xu Ruyao, fearing he might harm Jin Jumo in his fit of rage, couldn’t care less about many things and hurried towards Jin Jumo and Rong Mochen.