The richest man's parents were kidnapped, and his adorable son captivated the entire family.

Xie Yumin turned and left with Mengmeng in her arms, her steps hurried, as if she couldn't bear to stay even a second longer.

As Gu Yinshen watched her retreating figure, a complex mix of emotions welled up within him—guilt and helplessness.

There was also a hint of reluctance that even he himself was unwilling to admit.

"Uncle, why did you make Auntie angry?"

Mengmeng tilted her little face up, and her innocent words were like a sharp blade, piercing straight into Gu Yinshen's heart.

He opened his mouth, but didn't know how to answer. In the end, he just patted Mengmeng's head and smiled bitterly.

The air in the villa seemed to have solidified, so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

After settling Mengmeng in the room, Xie Yumin gently closed the door and was about to go treat her wounds when Gu Yinshen stopped her in the corridor.

"Step aside."

Her face was cold, and her eyes were full of resistance.

"This is my home, you'd better listen to me."

"I'll take you to the hospital; we need to check your condition."

Gu Yinshen's tone left no room for argument as he reached out to check the wound on her forehead...

But Xie Yumin slapped him away.

"I don't need your fake kindness."

Xie Yumin took a step back. "I don't want to get involved in your and Ruolan's affairs anymore."

"If it weren't for Mengmeng's accident, do you think I would have the nerve to come here again?"

"Xie Yumin, don't be willful!"

Gu Yinshen suddenly raised his voice, "Do you think I want to argue with you? If it weren't for Mengmeng today, I..."

"For Mengmeng?"

Xie Yumin scoffed, "Gu Yinshen, you keep saying you're doing this for Mengmeng, but what have you actually done for her?"

“I understand you’re busy with work, but don’t you always bring up the fact that Mengmeng is your child?”

"I'll just ask you one question: where were you when she needed her father's love the most?"

Gu Yinshen's face turned deathly pale instantly. Xie Yumin's words were like sharp knives, each one piercing his heart.

He paused for a moment, then said softly, "I know I haven't done enough, but I will change."

"Change? You make it sound so easy."

Xie Yumin turned to leave, saying, "Let's talk about it when you've really changed."

Just then, a rapid cell phone ring broke the deadlock.

Gu Yinshen took out his phone, his expression instantly turning serious. He answered the call, and after listening for a few minutes, a hint of panic flashed in his eyes.

"What's wrong?" Xie Yumin asked involuntarily. Despite her resentment, she couldn't help but worry when she saw Gu Yinshen's expression.

Gu Yinshen hung up the phone, took a deep breath and said, "There's an emergency at the company, I have to go back immediately."

He paused, then said, "You stay here and wait for me to come back."

"Why should I listen to you?"

Xie Yumin said coldly.

“If you don’t listen to me, then don’t come here again, and I won’t let Mengmeng see you again.”

Gu Yinshen's voice was deep and firm, "Since you thought I wasn't a good person from the start, then I might as well be the bad guy this time!"

"You care about Mengmeng, right? I know I can't persuade you, but don't blame me for using this method to blackmail you."

Xie Yumin gritted her teeth but ultimately did not refute.

Gu Yin gave her a deep look, then turned and strode away.

As she watched his figure disappear into the night, Xie Yumin's emotions surged.

She didn't know how she was feeling at that moment.

Xie Yumin stood there stunned for a long time, until the sound of car engines outside the villa completely disappeared, before dragging her heavy steps toward the bathroom.

Hot water washed away her exhaustion and injuries, and the wound on her forehead throbbed with pain from the water.

She bit her lip, trying to hold back her noise, afraid of disturbing Mengmeng in the next room.

After quickly treating her wounds, she came out wrapped in a bath towel. She saw herself in the mirror looking disheveled, covered in bruises.

The bloody welt on his waist, caused by the rope, was particularly shocking.

She touched it gently, gasped in pain, and her eyes welled up with tears.

"Auntie, what's wrong?"

A childish voice suddenly came from behind. Xie Yumin hurriedly turned around and saw Mengmeng rubbing her eyes, wearing pink bear pajamas, standing at the door with her eyes full of worry.

"Mengmeng, why aren't you asleep so late?"

Xie Yumin forced a smile, trying to hide her wounds, but Mengmeng had already run over.

"Auntie, are you hurt? Does it hurt a lot?"

Mengmeng tilted her little face up and carefully reached out to touch the wound on her waist, her eyes filled with tears.

Xie Yumin's heart tightened, and she squatted down to hug Mengmeng.

"It doesn't hurt, Auntie doesn't hurt. Be good, Mengmeng, don't cry."

But Mengmeng cried even harder in her arms.

"It's all my fault. If I hadn't gone to see you in private, Auntie wouldn't have gotten hurt."

Mengmeng sobbed, "Auntie, please don't blame Mengmeng, okay?"

Xie Yumin felt a pang of sadness. She gently patted Mengmeng's back, unsure of how to respond.

She knew that Mengmeng both loved and resented Gu Yinshen; although the child was young, she understood everything.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the villa.

Xie Yumin looked up warily and saw Ruolan walking in wearing a silk nightgown and slippers.

Her makeup was exquisite, showing no trace of her previous panic. When her eyes swept over Xie Yumin's wounds, a hint of smugness flashed across her face.

"Sister Yumian, why aren't you asleep yet, it's so late?"

Ruolan's voice was sickeningly sweet, "I heard you're injured. Do you need me to call a doctor?"

Xie Yumin hugged Mengmeng tightly and said coldly, "Don't bother yourself, my affairs are none of your business."

Ruolan wasn't annoyed. She walked to the sofa, sat down, and elegantly crossed her legs: "Sister Yumian, why are you so wary of me? I'm just worried about you and Mengmeng."

"Besides, Yin Shen cares about you so much. If something happens to you, he will be heartbroken."

"care?"

Xie Yumin sneered, "All he cares about is his own face and the so-called Gu family bloodline."

"Ruolan, stop pretending in front of me. I won't let this go so easily."

Mengmeng suddenly lifted her head from Xie Yumin's arms and shouted at Ruolan, "You're a bad person! You're the one who had Auntie taken away! I hate you!"

Ruolan's face instantly turned ugly, a fierce glint flashed in her eyes, but she quickly returned to her aggrieved expression.

"Mengmeng, how could you say that to your aunt? Your aunt is innocent..."

"enough!"

Xie Yumin stood up and stood protectively in front of Mengmeng. "Ruolan, I'm warning you, if you dare to touch a single hair on Mengmeng's head again, I'll fight you to the death!"

Ruolan snorted coldly and stood up: "Xie Yumin, don't be too smug. How long do you think you can stay by Yinshen's side?"

After saying that, she walked away, swaying her hips in her high heels.

Xie Yumin felt a tightness in her heart as she watched Ruolan's retreating figure.

She knew that the dispute was far from over.

Mengmeng tugged at her sleeve and whispered, "Auntie, I'm scared..."

Xie Yumin squatted down and hugged Mengmeng tightly: "Don't be afraid, Auntie is here, no one can hurt you."