But Song Zhengchu patted the back of her hand and said in a low voice, "Go find a place to eat with Zhou Yun. Don't worry too much about me. I've woken up now, but there's a big problem. You're pregnant and can't skip meals. Perfect timing, I can talk to Jian Shen."

Even if Ye Xinning was stupid, she could tell that her father wanted her to go out and avoid the situation, probably because there was something he couldn't say to Ji Jianshen in front of her.

"Okay, then I'll eat out. Dad, call me if you need anything."

"Go eat without worry. After you finish eating, rest for a while. I'm all set here, so don't worry."

Seeing this, Ye Xinning gave Ji Jian a few instructions before turning around and going out to eat with Zhou Yun.

In the ward, after Ye Xinning left, Song Zhengchu's gaze was fixed on Ji Jianshen.

He acted like a particularly considerate junior, asking Ji Jianshen, "Last night, because of my car accident, you must have spent a lot of time worrying about Ningning, right?"

Ji Jianshen's voice was low and deep, "Since Uncle Song is in trouble, it is only right that I do this."

"Really?" Song Zhengchu smiled. "I saw how concerned you were about Ningning's eating habits. Thank you for being there for her during this time, giving her warmth and confidence."

Thanks……

What was originally such a warm sentence, but now that it came out of Song Zhengchu's mouth, it gave Ji Jianshen a different feeling.

He remained silent, offering a thank you—this was Song Zhengchu's way of distancing himself.

Ji Jianshen remained silent. Song Zhengchu smiled and then said, "I know you're a sensible person, Jianshen. We should have laid everything out on the table."

"Uncle Song, please speak, I'm listening."

"You've been getting a lot closer to Ningning lately. What made you change?"

Ji Jianshen changed the position of his hands, which were hanging by his sides. He clasped his hands together, thinking of the past.

Over the years, he could count the number of times he had seen Ye Xinning on one hand. Most of the time, he would secretly visit her alone, especially after he learned that she had married Shen Lin, he saw her even less often.

The reason is quite simple.

At that time, he felt that he could let her go, it would only be for a year or two. Moreover, all he cared about was whether she was doing well. She was so happy to marry Shen Lin, which fulfilled her wish.

He retreated to the position of a good friend, not wanting her to be involved in his dark affairs; that was the only thing he could do.

But later, seeing her marriage with Shen Lin go through many ups and downs, seeing her be let down by Shen Lin, seeing her so sad and heartbroken, his heart ached as if it were being pricked by needles every day.

A thought began to grow wildly in his mind: since Shen Lin couldn't take good care of her or make her happy, could he boldly take this step and give it a try?

If, after all these events, Ye Xinning can accept what he did for revenge, if Ye Xinning can accept him, then he must be a thousand times, a hundred times, better to her than Shen Lin was.

Once such a thought takes hold, it becomes impossible to control.

So after arriving in France, he tried to see her more often. Every time they met, he felt uneasy, especially after she learned about his background, when this unease intensified.

Will she think I'm being calculating?

Do you feel like you have no compassion at all, and that you would treat your own family like this in order to get revenge?

He was very worried, and it was this worry that made him realize once again that he could never let go of her in this lifetime.

This concern will always follow him.

If I can't be with Ye Xinning...

He will regret it for the rest of his life.

More regrettable than ever before.

Therefore, he no longer hid his feelings, nor suppressed his desire to be good to her.

Now, Song Zhengchu has seen all these changes.

Ji Jianshen remained silent for a long time, until Song Zhengchu spoke again, "Jianshen, you should know that your identity with Shen Lin and your relationship with Mu Mingwei make me feel that Ningning and you are not suitable."

Not suitable?

Ji Jian lowered his eyes, a faint smile on his face. "Why can Uncle Song accept Shen Lin, but not me?"

Song Zhengchu said with a serious expression, "Your situation is different from Shen Lin's."

"What Uncle Song said is different. He said that the fact that Xin Ning met Shen Lin first and fell in love with Shen Lin first meant that I was not suitable for him compared to Shen Lin."

"You know that's not what I meant. If we're talking about meeting, the first time I met you was back in Northern Europe."

Yes, he was the first to meet Ye Xinning, but later, it was Shen Lin who ended up with Ye Xinning.

Ji Jianshen looked into the distance. "I understand what Uncle Song means. My childhood was bad. I lived in hatred. I came from the shadows. How can I bring warmth to Xinning?"

“It’s good that you understand this, Jian Shen. I know your feelings for Ningning, but I hope she has a peaceful and smooth life, and I hope she can be happy. But if she is with you, she will have to endure your pain and your suffering. How can two cold people warm each other?”

Ji Jianshen looked down at his fingers. "What about Shen Lin? Uncle Song, do you think Shen Lin is someone who can bring warmth to Xinning?"

Song Zhengchu was slightly taken aback. "Jian Shen, we've come full circle. We're talking about your attitude now, not what will become of Ningning and Shen Lin in the end."

Ji Jianshen lowered his head, looking at his fingers. After a long while, he spoke, his tone still indifferent, but with more certainty than before.

“I know Uncle Song is saying all this out of concern for Xin Ning, but I want to follow my heart and give it a try. No matter what the outcome is, at least I won’t regret it. As for the issues Uncle Song is concerned about, please rest assured, she is the person I cherish most. How could I bear to let the person I cherish most accept the darkness that I have experienced as well as I have?”

"you mean?"

"Uncle Song, please rest assured that I will not do anything until my matter is resolved."

Upon hearing Ji Jianshen's words, Song Zhengchu's expression softened slightly.

"Since you already know the situation, I won't say any more. Let me tell you about my car accident."

Song Zhengchu spoke up, shifting the topic to the current matter.

"Does Uncle Song have any useful information?"

"There are really only a few people who are so eager to take my life."

Ji Jianshen looked at Song Zhengchu.

Song Zhengchu met his gaze and continued, "I went to see Song Xiang, and Song Xiang gave me a stack of photos. The photos were some old pictures of Mu Mingwei when she was young. What's noteworthy is not Mu Mingwei, but the man in the photos."

Ji Jianshen's eyes flickered, and he spoke in a low voice.

"What is Uncle Song's suspicion?"

"If nothing unexpected happens, the person in the photo is the real reason why Mu Mingwei killed your father and lost you."