122: Chapter 123 An Unexpected Answer

Director Mother followed her gaze, then thoughtfully looked at her daughter's shining eyes, her lips curling up slightly. "This young man is quite remarkable."

"Of course he is!" Su Xiaoxiao blurted out, the pride in her tone impossible to hide. "He is..." Midway through her sentence, she suddenly realized something and quickly bit her lip.

"He is what?" Director Mother asked gently, but her gaze was exceptionally sharp.

The tips of Su Xiaoxiao's ears flushed red. "N-nothing... I just think he's really amazing..."

Director Mother didn't press further. She simply took the apple Su Xiaoxiao had peeled and took a slow bite. "I heard this beauty serum has miraculous effects. It must be quite expensive, right?"

"It's ten thousand yuan a bottle!" Su Xiaoxiao immediately chimed in, her eyes lighting up again. "But it's really super effective! The before-and-after pictures online look like they got a whole new face!" She gestured excitedly. "One blogger used it and ten years of acne scars completely disappeared!"

Director Mother looked at her with a smile. "You seem to know a lot about it."

"Ah? I..." Su Xiaoxiao only now realized she had been too excited, and her voice immediately dropped. "It's just... that's what all the videos online say..."

"Xiaoxiao," Director Mother suddenly put down the apple and took her daughter's hand. "Tell me the truth. Is this Mr. Jiang... the 'boss' who paid for my medical bills?"

Su Xiaoxiao jerked her head up, meeting her mother's all-seeing gaze. Her heart pounded like a drum.

She opened her mouth to deny it, but wilted under her mother's gentle yet firm gaze.

"...Yes," she admitted softly, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her shirt.

Keeping her head down, her voice was as quiet as a mosquito's buzz. "He... he is the Mr. Jiang who helped us..."

After saying this, she nervously stole a glance at her mother's reaction, terrified of seeing disappointment or anger.

But Director Mother only gave a soft hum and turned her gaze out the window.

This silence made Su Xiaoxiao feel worse than any scolding could.

She hurriedly explained, "Mom, it's not what you think! Mr. Jiang is a really good person. He didn't just give us money; he also arranged for the best doctors and hospital room..."

The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted it—didn't this basically admit that their relationship was out of the ordinary?

Director Mother looked back and suddenly asked, "How old is he?"

"Twenty-six or seven, I think..." Su Xiaoxiao answered subconsciously, then realized she had exposed even more information, making her face turn even redder.

"Is he married?"

Su Xiaoxiao bit her lower lip. "Probably... not..."

"Probably?"

"He... he has a few girls around him..." Su Xiaoxiao's voice grew softer and softer. "But he shouldn't be married..."

After saying this, she wished she could find a hole to crawl into. Wasn't this equivalent to admitting she knew Jiang Jing had other women?

Director Mother let out a deep sigh. This sigh felt like a blunt knife slowly carving away at Su Xiaoxiao's heart.

"Mom..." Her eyes welled with tears. "I..."

"Xiaoxiao," Director Mother interrupted, her voice surprisingly calm. "Do you know what I worry about the most?"

Su Xiaoxiao shook her head, tears welling in her eyes.

"I worry that you sold yourself for my sake." Director Mother reached out and gently caressed her daughter's cheek. "Three million... that's an amount of money ordinary people couldn't save up in years."

Su Xiaoxiao's tears finally broke through the floodgates.

She threw herself into her mother's arms, sobbing like a child. "No... I... I really like him... He treats me very well..."

Director Mother gently patted her back, just as she used to lull her to sleep when she was a child. "Silly girl, Mom just doesn't want you to suffer any grievances."

"I'm not suffering!" Su Xiaoxiao raised her head, her teary eyes filled with determination. "Even though Mr. Jiang is a playboy, he never forces anyone. And..."

Her voice suddenly dropped. "For a girl with my background, I'm already very lucky to have met him..."

Director Mother's gaze instantly turned complex.

She cupped her daughter's face and said earnestly, "Xiaoxiao, remember this: you deserve to be treated well more than anyone else. What's wrong with growing up in an orphanage? You are kind, strong, and beautiful. You deserve the best love in the world."

Su Xiaoxiao was stunned. She hadn't expected her mother to say this and didn't know how to respond for a moment.

"However," Director Mother suddenly changed the subject, "since you say you like him, I won't say much more. Only..."

She raised a finger. "First, protect yourself. Second, you are not allowed to do that livestreaming job anymore. Third, bring him to see me."

Su Xiaoxiao's eyes widened. "Ah?!"

"What?" Director Mother showed a long-lost playful smile. "I have to see what kind of man has captivated my daughter so much, don't I?"

Su Xiaoxiao broke into a smile through her tears and threw herself forward to hug her mother tightly. "Mom! You scared me to death! I thought you were going to scold me..."

"What's the use of scolding you?" Director Mother sighed softly. "You've grown up and have your own choices. Mom only wants you to be happy."

Just as they were speaking, the ward door was gently knocked.

The nurse wheeled in the medicine cart. Seeing the mother and daughter hugging each other with red eyes, she smiled understandingly. "Bed 28, it's time for your medicine. Oh, by the way," she turned to Su Xiaoxiao, "there's a package for you at the front desk."

Su Xiaoxiao was taken aback, then quickly wiped her tears and ran out.

A few minutes later, she returned carrying an exquisite gift box, her face filled with disbelief.

"It's... it's the 'huanyan' beauty serum..." She opened the packaging with trembling hands, revealing two bottles of light blue liquid inside. "Right now, secondhand ones are being sold for tens of thousands, and it's still incredibly hard to get one."

Director Mother raised an eyebrow. "It seems this Mr. Jiang really does care about you."

Holding the two bottles of beauty serum, Su Xiaoxiao suddenly remembered something and asked eagerly, "Mom! Do you want to use it too?"

Director Mother smiled and shook her head. "At my age, using such expensive things is a waste. Keep it for yourself."

"No way!" Su Xiaoxiao had already unscrewed the cap. "This is really effective for the skin. I want Mom to look younger and more beautiful!"

Brooking no argument, she began applying it to her mother's face, her movements gentle and meticulous.

Director Mother helplessly let her have her way, but her gaze was incredibly soft.

"PS: Everyone, I'm thinking of adding some celebrities. What do you all think?"