Chapter 5: Eldest Son, Di Zeran
Di Zeran kept looking at the little hand tightly clasped in his.
It was truly warm, the hugs, the smiles, and the scent, he liked them all.
He almost really wanted to go with the pretty auntie.
But he wasn't the auntie's son, and daddy would be looking for him.
Looking at the elevator that hadn't arrived yet, his expression was conflicted.
"Mommy, will we be in any danger?"
The son was bound to ask further questions.
Cheng Ruowei's eyes flickered evasively, not knowing how to explain the existence of her ex-husband.
"Mommy offended the owner of this hotel, he is a bad guy, so we need to run fast."
Hearing this, Di Zeran narrowed his eyes and pondered.
This is daddy's hotel, could it be that the pretty auntie has been bullied by daddy?
"Son, the elevator is here, let's go."
Cheng Ruowei started to walk with Di Zeran in tow.
Suddenly, Di Zeran paused, summoning the courage to say, "This elevator is likely to encounter bad guys, let's take the one in the back, mommy you go first, I still have to…"
He couldn't think of a reason to temporally separate from her on the spot.
If the pretty auntie mistook him for her son, then her real son must be nearby.
"Ok, you're so smart, son."
Cheng Ruowei's steps were hurried.
Switching to a different elevator, Di Zeran had the hotel's highest access privileges and opened the VIP elevator.
Seeing her son not coming in, Cheng Ruowei took the initiative to ask, "Son, do you still need to deal with the hotel's surveillance footage? Mommy will wait for you here."
"Mommy go first, it's dangerous here, don't worry, I will be back soon."
Di Zeran stood outside the elevator, smiling and waving his hand.
Even if it was just a brief few minutes together, this warmth was something he had never felt before.
"Ok, sweetie, be careful, see you in a bit."
Cheng Ruowei trusted her son's abilities to act and didn't give it much thought before leaving the place.
Until the elevator door slowly closed.
Di Zeran suddenly covered the area around his heart and took a deep breath, feeling very sad.
The elevator descended.
Suddenly, it stopped at the 10th floor.
Cheng Ruowei was a bit worried, hesitating whether she could press the alarm for help when the elevator suddenly ascended again, reaching the 20th floor.
Then, the elevator doors opened, and this time Cheng Yuheng burst in.
"Mommy, I've been discovered, we have to evacuate right now."
Cheng Yuheng could control the hotel's elevator system, as well as locate mommy's mobile phone.
"Over there, hurry, chase him!"
Not far away, the hotel's security personnel were in pursuit of the young master.
The situation was extremely urgent.
Cheng Ruowei didn't have time to notice the discrepancy in her son's clothing; any brief slip-ups were glossed over.
Thus, mother and son fled in perfect unison.
As they left the elevator, Cheng Yuheng activated the prearranged destruction program, erasing all of tonight's surveillance footage from the hotel.
The charitable gala.
Di Jinye held a glass of whisky in his hand, growing impatient as he checked the time.
Due to his sudden appearance, he had been detained by the event organizers for social niceties, but his mind was on his unruly ex-wife.
At that moment, a Di Family bodyguard approached with a grave expression and whispered, "Young Di, the young master came to the hotel to see you, he hasn't been found yet. The hotel's security system has been hacked, both access and surveillance are compromised."
Upon hearing this, Di Jinye narrowed his eyes and finished his socializing with a distant smile.
Afterward, he strode away from the banquet hall toward the VIP elevator.
At the same time.
Cheng Jiajia sat on the couch swinging her little legs, her round eyes observantly scanning every passerby.
"Why haven't brother and mommy come back yet?"
Her gaze unintentionally swept over and caught sight of Di Jinye passing by, she widened her eyes and exclaimed, "Wow, that uncle is so handsome, my new daddy has to be as good-looking as that uncle."
When she got bored, she seriously considered the important task of finding a boyfriend for mommy.
Right after the handsome uncle left, mommy and brother ran out from the other side.
Cheng Jiajia received a significant look from her mother and immediately stood up; the mother and her two children met outside the hotel.
After escaping the danger, they took a taxi directly back to the apartment.
Cheng Ruowei hugged the two children and praised them with a smile, "My treasures were so amazing, mommy thanks you."
She looked back with a sigh of relief, grateful that she could elude the relentless pursuit of her demon ex-husband.
Di Family Hotel, 27th floor.
The hotel manager, stiff as a board, reported, "Young Master Di, the hotel's security system has been restored, but the deleted surveillance footage can't be recovered."
"Heh, she ran away again."
Di Jinye wasn't angry; instead, he chuckled while looking at the open door, wondering how many more surprises his ex-wife had up her sleeve.
Quite interesting.
The more she tried to run away, the more he wanted to bring her back; she shouldn't provoke his possessiveness.
"Young Master Di, the young master is in the room."
The Di family bodyguard stood at the door, not even daring to breathe heavily.
Suddenly, Di Jinye's smile faded slightly as he walked in with an unhurried stride.
Di Zeran lifted his little head, standing in front of his daddy, looking like he was at a loss for what to do after making a mistake.
"Daddy."
"Do you know what you did wrong?"
Di Zeran clenched his lips and said nothing; he wanted his daddy's care, not blame.
As expected, Di Jinye was very dissatisfied with Di Zeran's attitude of admitting his mistake.
"Back to the Di Family."
Nightfall, Di Family mansion living room.
Di Zeran's misbehavior tonight had alarmed the Di Family matriarch.
At this moment, Di Jinye sat on the sofa drinking, with a distance between him and the properly seated Di Zeran that was anything but intimate.
"What happened? Zeran caused trouble at the hotel? Why didn't the bodyguards stop him?"
The Di Family matriarch, dignified and elegant, had a frown on her stern face.
There was surveillance everywhere in the Di Family.
After returning home, Di Jinye had to put on an act.
Feeling the pressure, Di Zeran still hung his little head low, saying nothing.
"Didn't know to call someone? Is this how the Di Family taught you?"
Di Jinye spoke with a severe tone.
"Mom, Zeran has been spoiled rotten; he lacks even the most basic manners. If you can't handle him, I'll send him overseas."
Being sent overseas could free him from the surveillance and control of the Di Family.
Di Jinye was deliberately probing.
At that statement, Di Zeran immediately shook his head in fear and choked out, "Daddy, I don't want to go overseas."
The Di Family matriarch sharply sensed Di Jinye's lack of any affection for his son.
Since he hadn't indulged and spoiled the child, she could find no reason to blame him; on the contrary, she had to appear benevolent.
"Zeran is still young, teach him gradually. He is your child; don't always talk about sending him overseas."
"Teaching also depends on whether he's willing to listen."
Di Jinye played his hand by appearing detached; the colder his demeanor, the more he could protect the child.
"Madam, sir, Miss Bai is here."
At that moment, Bai Qiyun hurried in, her high heels clicking on the floor.
Clad in a designer dress complemented by expensive jewelry and exquisite makeup, it was clear she was trying hard to impress.
"Zeran, what did you do to make daddy angry? Have you apologized?"
When Bai Qiyun drew near, Di Zeran frowned at a whiff of her perfume.
"Mommy."
He called out the title reluctantly.
But the mommy in his heart wasn't like her; he dared not anger his daddy again, not wanting to be sent away.
Bai Qiyun feigned tenderness as she hugged Di Zeran, awkwardly playing the role of his mother.
"Young Master Di, don't be angry. Zeran is young and naive; whatever it is, I will teach him slowly."
She felt no affection for Di Zeran; even her acting lacked sincerity.
Five years ago, when she appeared in the Di Family holding Di Zeran, she replaced the identity of the woman who had slept with Di Jinye that night, becoming Zeran's fake mommy by default.