Chapter 183 When you don't love someone, even breathing is wrong.

After Lin Zhixin got off work, she returned home. Liu Nianrou had gone to a dinner party for high-society ladies in Beijing and hadn't returned yet. Only Lin Chengchou was sitting in the living room watching TV.

"dad!"

Lin Zhixin ran over happily like a young girl, threw herself into Lin Chengchou's arms and said coquettishly, "You're finally back from your business trip! Your daughter missed you so much!"

"Oh my, you're so big now, and you're still acting like a baby with your dad. Daddy misses Xinxin too." Lin Chengchou affectionately stroked Lin Zhixin's head, his eyes full of fatherly love.

He's completely swayed by that mother and daughter.

Back then, Liu Nianrou had the same coquettish demeanor and soft body that bewitched him, turning him into a hopeless romantic, leading him to abandon his wife and daughters and plunge headlong into the tender embrace of his lover.

Ah Yuan is just like her mother—rebellious by nature and overly stubborn, never learning to be obedient or ingratiating. He can never find that sense of male satisfaction in them.

Men need women's admiration.

But A-Yuan's mother was too outstanding—talented, radiant, and from a scholarly family. The feeling of being ignored and suppressed in every way made him feel as if someone was choking him whenever he was with A-Yuan's mother, making it hard to breathe.

Later, by chance, he had the opportunity to attend the housewarming banquet of a major client's Chinese-style mansion, where he met Liu Nianrou, who had been hired to sing at the mansion.

The woman was skilled in social interaction, charming and coquettish, and quickly won him over. The two secretly pledged their lives to each other and indulged in passionate lovemaking.

Not long after, Liu Nianrou, Lin's mistress, became pregnant with Lin Zhixin. She was frail, and Lin Chengchou spared no expense, spending over a million yuan just to ensure his "beautiful wife's" pregnancy. Luxury cars, designer bags, gold and silver jewelry were showered upon this woman.

But Jiang Shiyuan's mother, his first wife, never owned even an ordinary diamond ring. The wedding ring she wore all year round was just a simple platinum band.

Over time, Lin Chengchou perceived his wife's frugality and indifference to worldly affairs as nothing more than stinginess and boredom.

Sure enough, when she doesn't love someone, even breathing feels wrong.

"Dad, did you bring me any gifts from your business trip?" Lin Zhixin blinked her eyes expectantly.

Lin Chengchou smiled and said, "Of course, I've already had the servants put them in your room. There are more than a dozen gifts, all of which I personally picked out for you in my spare time. You can open them slowly when you get back to your room."

"Thank you, Dad!" Lin Zhixin gave him a kiss on the cheek.

When they were little, her room and Jiang Shiyuan's room faced south and north, respectively. Her room was always sunny, cleaned by maids, and constantly filled with delicious food, fun toys, and luxury goods.

But Jiang Shiyuan's door was gloomy and deserted. Ever since Liu Nianrou and her daughter entered the Lin family, she, the rightful heiress of the Lin family, had been dead.

Lin Chengchou gave all his love to the mother and daughter. Jiang Shiyuan was nothing more than a piece of trash in the family, who didn't know where to throw her away.

After chatting for a while, Lin Zhixin finally got to the point:

"Dad, you told me last time that you suspected Jiang Yongxiao of having some kind of shady dealings behind the scenes. What exactly were they?"

Because she had heard the news from her father, Lin Zhixin deliberately added a compensation clause to Xie Jinghuai and Jiang Yongxiao's contract. This was undoubtedly a huge trap for Yongheng.

"smuggling."

A dark glint flashed in Lin Chengchou's eyes. "Due to insufficient funds, some important parts used in the products of Jiang Yongxiao's company were smuggled from overseas through illegal channels."

Lin Zhixin was thrilled. "So that's how it is! Do you have any evidence?!"

There aren't many people in the capital who have this kind of connection; a little inquiry will yield the results.

Lin Chengchou couldn't help but ask curiously, "Xinxin, why are you asking this?"

“Dad, recently Jiang Yongxiao sold two medical patents of Yongheng Technology to Brother Jinghuai for 30 million. I knew that old guy was up to no good behind the scenes, so I wanted to get more information so that Brother Jinghuai could be on guard and minimize the losses.”

"Medical patents..." Lin Chengchou's eyes darkened as he fell into deep thought.

"Those two things Aunt Jiang had are now outdated and have no market anymore."

Lin Chengchou said with a hint of regret, "However, your Aunt Jiang's research results back then were also trendsetting and extremely popular."

"Dad, do you always feel that Aunt Jiang is the one who is most worthy of you?"

Lin Zhixin pouted angrily, "That's true. Aunt Jiang is highly educated and comes from a good family. What man wouldn't love her? If she hadn't been seriously ill, why would you have let my mother bring me into the Lin family?"

“Xinxin, don’t underestimate yourself. In my heart, you and your mother are the most important people, always have been.”

Lin Chengchou chuckled and affectionately stroked the top of her head. "You, you even get jealous of the dead. Aren't you bored?"

"Hmph, that's true. The person is dead, so it doesn't matter anymore."

“Xinxin, I understand what you mean. You want to fight for the best interests of Jinghuai and take this opportunity to develop your relationship. That’s understandable and appropriate.”

Lin Chengchou changed the subject and earnestly advised, "But Xinxin, even if you help Jinghuai, you must be the woman behind him. Remember not to be aggressive or domineering. Men all hope that the women beside them can be low-key and not too sharp."

Lin Zhixin: "You mean..."

"Just tell this news to Jinghuai. He is the president of Xie's Group. He has the means and the qualifications to handle this matter. It's much better than you doing it yourself."

Lin Chengchou lowered his voice slightly, "Moreover, Yongheng involves your sister. If you get involved, it will make it seem like you're plotting against your sister. In the end, it will be very undignified. Jinghuai will inevitably have some doubts."

Indeed, experience is the best teacher!

Lin Zhixin suddenly realized, her eyes darkening. "Dad, I understand what you mean."

*

Since being rejected by Fu Chenzhou, Jiang Shiyuan has been looking for ways to raise funds.

However, she had virtually no connections in the Beijing business world. If she could take on a few car design projects under the Nora name, it might solve her immediate financial crisis.

However, such a cycle is too slow; eternity cannot wait.

It wasn't until that afternoon, when Ye Yu called to invite her to dinner at Yue Man Xi Lou that evening, that she finally mustered the energy to go on time.

Coincidentally, she also had some questions for her mentor regarding company succession.

"As expected, your uncle won't budge."

Ye Yu took a sip of tea, a cold smile playing on his lips. "Tell me, which emperor could bear the decentralization of power? The taste of power is too alluring, isn't it?"

Jiang Shiyuan smiled wryly, "That's true, how can I allow others to sleep peacefully beside my bed?"

Ye Yu looked at her with concern, "A-Yuan, didn't Ms. Jiang leave you a will or anything before she passed away? You are her only daughter, and in principle, the eternal right of inheritance should be in your hands."