After speaking, Zhai Yu stared directly at Song Ruannin.
The thought that he hadn’t been able to get Song Ruannin pregnant six years ago left a knot of frustration in Zhai Yu’s chest—neither rising nor settling.
Especially now, with Song Ruannin holding an adorable little girl in her arms who looked so much like her.
Damn it, why couldn’t this be his daughter?
“You’re insane,” Zhai Lingyin scolded him, then noticed the elegant woman beside them.
“Oh, you must be Ziyan’s mother! You look so young,” Zhai Lingyin said, holding Ji Yumo as she sat next to Ruan Ning.
After setting the child down, she took Song Ruannin’s hand and examined her face closely. “Your complexion and skin are amazing—you don’t look like you’ve had a child at all. Ziyan’s mom, how do you take care of yourself?”
Song Ruannin smiled awkwardly, unsure how to respond.
She hadn’t done much—mainly because she hadn’t given birth.
Zhai Yu’s sister was nothing like him in personality—extremely warm and enthusiastic, chatting with her about all sorts of things.
Zhai Yu sat nearby, occasionally teasing Song Ziyan’s little cheeks.
Song Ziyan remembered him—the man who had argued with her mom at their doorstep last time.
She was a bit afraid of this uncle, so she clung to Song Ruannin’s neck, burying her face in her mother’s arms and avoiding Zhai Yu’s gaze.
But the more Zhai Yu looked at the little girl, the more adorable she seemed.
If only he could take her away.
“Ruan Ning, feel free to bring Ziyan over to play at our house whenever you have time. I really like her,” Zhai Lingyin said, stroking Ji Yumo’s head.
“A while back, Ji Yumo was bullied by a boy in her class, and she told me it was Song Ziyan who stood up for her. I haven’t had a chance to thank you yet,” she added, taking Ruan Ning’s hand again.
Ruan Ning felt a bit overwhelmed. “No need to thank me—it’s what Ziyan should do.”
“By the way, our housekeeper makes the most delicious pies. Don’t rush off this afternoon—stay for dinner,” Zhai Lingyin said, her eyes lighting up. “Ji Yumo’s grandparents are coming too. I’ll introduce them to you.”
Ruan Ning quickly waved her hands, saying she had plans for the evening.
She didn’t want to spend so much time with Zhai Yu, let alone meet his biological parents.
Seeing her refusal, Zhai Lingyin didn’t press further.
Ruan Ning stayed until the afternoon.
Every second felt like sitting on pins and needles.
Because Zhai Yu acted as if nothing was wrong, sticking close to her the entire time.
Wherever she went, she’d turn around and see his cool, detached face.
As the sky gradually darkened, almost everyone in the villa had left.
Zhai Lingyin personally saw Ruan Ning off with Ji Yumo, reluctantly holding Song Ziyan’s little hand as she said to Ruan Ning, “Come visit us again when you have time.”
Ruan Ning nodded, offering a polite smile. “Definitely.”
Her gaze drifted to Zhai Yu, who had already changed his clothes and stood behind Zhai Lingyin.
Just as she was about to turn and leave, Zhai Lingyin noticed Zhai Yu too.
“Why are you still here? Didn’t you say you had work at the company?”
Zhai Yu replied coldly, “It’s not urgent anymore.”
“That works out perfectly. You can drive Ruan Ning and Ziyan home. I’d worry about the two of them going back alone,” she said, pushing Zhai Yu toward the door.
Just as Song Ruannin was about to shake her head and refuse, Zhai Yu had already passed her, whispering in her ear, “Let’s go.”
“Let him take you. It’s rare for him to be free,” Zhai Lingyin added.
Song Ruannin glanced at Zhai Lingyin’s smiling face, gave a soft “mm” in acknowledgment, and took her daughter’s hand as they got into Zhai Yu’s car.
The Cullinan glided smoothly along the road, the air inside the cabin serene and quiet.
So quiet that Ruan Ning could only hear the steady breathing of her sleeping daughter in her arms.
“Song Ruannin.” Zhai Yu’s voice was low.
Ruan Ning looked up, her expression questioning as she met his gaze.
Zhai Yu glanced at her, then turned away. “Nothing. We’re almost there. Get ready.”
Ruan Ning nodded. “Okay.”
After getting out of the car, Ruan Ning headed toward the residential complex, with Zhai Yu following closely behind.
“Should I walk you up?” Zhai Yu asked.
Ruan Ning replied, “No need to trouble yourself.”
Before she could finish, Zhai Yu stepped forward, took the child from her arms, and strode ahead.
Song Ruannin sighed and went to lead the way. They took the elevator up to her apartment door, where Ruan Ning fished out her keys to unlock it.
The complex was neither new nor old, with five units per floor, each of modest size.
Before the door opened, Ruan Ning turned around. “Thank you. I’ll take the child now.”
Zhai Yu raised an eyebrow, looking displeased. “Someone sees you home, and you don’t even invite them in for a glass of water? How polite of you, Miss Song.”
Ruan Ning withdrew her hand, turned to open the door, and Zhai Yu followed her inside.
As soon as they entered, Ruan Ning went to the kitchen and pressed the heating button on the water dispenser. “It’ll take a while to heat up. Please wait.”
Zhai Yu gave a soft hum of acknowledgment and placed Song Ziyan on the bed in the room.
He sat on the living room sofa, glancing around.
Last time he visited, he hadn’t paid much attention. Now, looking carefully, he realized there was no trace of a man’s presence in this apartment.
No men’s shoes in the shoe rack, no photos of a man on the tables, and from this angle, no wedding photo by the bed.
Had Song Ruannin really gotten married?
Or perhaps her relationship with her husband wasn’t as good as she claimed.
Then again, a man who was always away—what did it matter if he had a beautiful wife and a lovely daughter at home?
If he never came back, something was definitely off.
Ruan Ning stood in the kitchen, every second the water took to boil feeling like an eternity.
Finally, when the green light lit up, she hurriedly poured a glass of water and handed it to Zhai Yu.
The water was warm, but Zhai Yu drank it slowly, taking a full twenty minutes to finish it.
When it was time to leave, Ruan Ning walked him to the door.
Zhai Yu turned and looked down at her. “Song Ruannin, tell me the truth. Are you really on good terms with your husband?”
Ruan Ning averted her gaze. “Yes, very good.”
Seeing her evasive demeanor, the weight in Zhai Yu’s heart suddenly lifted.
He had guessed right—Song Ruannin and her husband weren’t close.
He suddenly chuckled, though Ruan Ning had no idea what he found amusing.
“It’s getting late. You should head back. It’s not safe to be out too late,” she said softly.
Knock, knock, knock—the door was rapped sharply.
Both of them stood right by the door, hearing it clearly.
A man’s voice came from outside.
“Little Sister Ruan Ning, are you home? I saw your lights on. My toilet’s broken again—can I borrow yours?”
Zhai Yu frowned and was about to open the door when Ruan Ning grabbed his hand and shook her head.
Ignoring her, Zhai Yu pressed the handle, and the door swung open with a snap.
Outside stood a bald man with a beer belly, reeking of alcohol.
When Ruan Ning first moved in, the neighboring unit had been empty. This man had moved in just half a month ago.
On his very first day, he had used the excuse of a broken toilet to borrow Ruan Ning’s bathroom.
She opened the door once, and as soon as the man stepped inside, his eyes darted around. He didn’t use the bathroom but instead kept asking about her family situation.
Later, the man came knocking every day, but Ruan Ning never opened the door again.
The man looked up and saw a tall, fair-skinned, handsome guy.
His voice trembled: “You… you’re her husband?”
“Yes.” Zhai Yu’s voice was as cold as ice, his gaze dark and menacing. “What do you want by knocking on the door?”