Chapter 20 A Grudge from the Postpartum Period, Remembered for a Lifetime

"I haven't done anything immoral or heinous, nor have I committed murder or arson. I'm just asking those who are spreading rumors about me to apologize to me. In your opinion, is that wrong?"

Jiang Shiyuan calmly looked at the stern-faced Madam Xie and said, "Now that I've married into the Xie family, shouldn't I be able to assert my dignity and seek justice?"

Everyone stared in disbelief!

This is the first time in five years that the usually submissive "Jiang Naonao" has directly confronted her mother-in-law, a sight even rarer than a comet hitting the Earth!

Xie Jinghuai's gaze towards Jiang Shiyuan darkened.

Xie Yuexi's face flushed red as she stood up and angrily rebuked, "Jiang Shiyuan! Don't you know any manners? How could you talk to my mother like that?!"

"Xie Yuexi, sit down!"

The old lady's face turned cold. "Before you criticize others, take a look at yourself to see if you know any manners. How come you've lost all the poise of a noblewoman after getting married? Do you think my house is a marketplace?"

Xie Yuexi glared resentfully at Jiang Shiyuan's calm and collected face.

This only made her look more like a screeching, bristling chicken!

Madam Xie was already angry about the bracelet, and seeing Jiang Shiyuan walk right into her trap, she seized the opportunity to escalate the situation:

"Jing Huai is no ordinary person. He is the head of the Xie family and the helmsman of the Xie Group. When you married him, you should have known that being his wife would not be easy. You would have to be tolerant and patient!"

Your behavior now is utterly unbecoming of a daughter-in-law of the Xie family! You flapped your wings, damaging the group's reputation and dragging your own sister into it. Zhixin's health isn't good to begin with; being insulted like this will only worsen her condition!"

Lin Zhixin's face turned pale, and she gently comforted her from the side, "Madam Xie, I'm fine. I think my sister must have encountered some difficulties to do that."

I understand her, I don't blame her..."

Madam Xie looked at Lin Zhixin with an expression that said, "My child, you are so sensible." She liked her very much.

Xie Yuexi sneered, "Hmph, it seems we were deceived by Miss Jiang's appearance. In reality, she's much more cunning than a lotus root..."

"Alright, that's enough!" Xie Jinghuai's voice suddenly sharpened, and he slammed his large hand heavily on the table.

The Xie mother and daughter were startled.

Jiang Shiyuan averted her gaze, a wave of gloomy emotions silently spreading through her heart.

This was the most assertive thing Xie Jinghuai had said to her in the five years since they got married.

In the past, she might have been moved.

But now, she just feels that he is too fake and too hypocritical.

"According to you, I can only act like a coward, letting everyone in the company call me a slut and a mistress, turning me into a rat that can't see the light of day in the gutter, before you'll think I'm a daughter-in-law who handles things properly?"

Jiang Shiyuan slowly and gracefully stood up. "Is Mrs. Xie some kind of lowly thing? Why should I stand there and let people scold me? Your son is your precious darling. Who isn't their mother's most precious treasure?"

If you feel that Ms. Lin is better suited and more appropriate for this position, then I will give up my seat.

After saying that, she turned and left her seat.

Madam Xie's face turned pale with anger. "Mom, look at what she's saying! It's absolutely outrageous!"

The old lady ignored her and looked at Xie Jinghuai with concern. "Jinghuai, your wife is angry. Go and see her."

However, the man's face was ashen, and he remained motionless.

...

The family dinner ended unhappily.

Jiang Shiyuan originally wanted to go back after dinner, but the old lady couldn't bear to see her leave and insisted that the three of them stay at the old house tonight.

To put the old man at ease, Jiang Shiyuan had no choice but to stay.

As soon as he returned to his room, the maid came over and asked him to go see the old lady.

Inside the room, the old lady was reclining in a chaise lounge, and the maid was preparing to take her blood pressure.

"Let me do it." Jiang Shiyuan hurriedly stepped forward, sat on the small stool, and took the instrument.

The old lady waved her hand, and the servants left the room.

"Grandma, if you feel unwell anywhere recently, remember... to contact Jinghuai and the private doctor. Don't delay your treatment." Jiang Shiyuan's throat tightened, and a pang of sorrow rose in her heart.

In the past, no matter how busy she was, she would come to the old house every week to take care of her grandmother and make medicinal meals for her grandmother, rain or shine, for five years without fail.

But now, she has decided to divorce Xie Jinghuai. She will no longer concern herself with the Xie family's affairs and will gradually fade out of her grandmother's life.

Although she was very reluctant to part with it.

It was only because her grandmother was really good to her that she experienced the long-lost warmth of family affection with her grandmother after her mother passed away.

"Ah Yuan, did you have a fight with that brat Jing Huai?" the old lady asked with concern.

Jiang Shiyuan replied calmly, "It's nothing, Grandma."

The old lady sighed, "You can fool others, but you can't fool your grandmother. Where's your wedding ring? Why didn't you wear it tonight?"

Jiang Shiyuan froze, her ring finger, bearing a faint white mark, curled slightly.

"I was in a rush when I came and forgot to wear it."

"For five whole years, you treasured that diamond ring like the most precious thing. How could you forget to wear it?"

The old lady's anger surged, and her blood pressure instantly rose. "Is it because of that girl surnamed Lin? Has she been pestering Jinghuai again?"

"You wait, Grandma will definitely help you get revenge!"

Jiang Shiyuan grasped the old lady's trembling arm and quickly comforted her, "Grandma, no, don't overthink it."

“Ah Yuan, I really don’t understand. Five years have passed, we’ve shared a bed, and you’ve had another child for him.”

The old lady was both indignant and helpless, and said anxiously, "Why can't you warm Jinghuai's heart?!"

Jiang Shiyuan pursed her lips.

In fact, even a stone or a piece of iron can be warmed up by heating it.

He loves someone else, and that heart can never be warmed.

"Ah Yuan, if you suffer any injustice in the future, you must tell Grandma, and Grandma will stand up for you!" The old lady held Jiang Shiyuan's slender white hand tightly.

Jiang Shiyuan smiled and said, "I understand, Grandma."

...

After leaving the old lady's room, Jiang Shiyuan walked towards her own room.

Suddenly, she vaguely heard a woman sobbing, and couldn't help but tiptoe closer.

"Brother Jinghuai... I'm sorry for causing you trouble..."

On the stair landing, in the dim light, Lin Zhixin stood before the tall and imposing Xie Jinghuai, tears streaming down her face.

It looked as if it would shatter at the slightest touch.

Jiang Shiyuan's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly hid behind the wall.

"It's none of your business, stop crying."

Xie Jinghuai took out a clean and tidy handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her, his voice deep and resonant, "I've already asked the public relations department to control the online comments. Before dawn tomorrow, no more negative news about you will appear online."

"Brother Jinghuai... thank you." Lin Zhixin, with tears in her eyes, raised her face and looked deeply into the man's eyes.

Their eyes met, reluctant to part.

Jiang Shiyuan's trembling back pressed against the cold wall, memories flooding back, almost engulfing her.

Not long after giving birth to Tongtong, she developed severe postpartum depression and often cried for no apparent reason.

"Why are you crying? Don't you think it's being melodramatic by making a fuss over nothing?"

She could never forget Xie Jinghuai's indifference and resentment towards her when she was emotionally broken down.

A grudge from the postpartum period can last a lifetime.

Even though she loved this man very much back then.

"Brother Jinghuai, I've thought about it... I think I'd better not go to work at Xie's."

Lin Zhixin's eyes were red. "With my current reputation, I'm afraid I'll cause you trouble..."

The man looked at her, his gaze deep. "It's alright, I'll handle it. You can go back to your post as usual."

Jiang Shiyuan lowered her eyes and smiled.

With the video exposed, she is now at the center of public attention.

Xie Jinghuai completely ignored her meaning and instead offered Lin Zhixin meticulous comfort.

He truly loved her and protected her very closely.

"Heh, I used to see this kind of scene all the time before you married into the Xie family."

Jiang Shiyuan's eyes darkened, and she turned around.

"No woman can replace Zhixin in my brother's heart."

Xie Yuexi appeared behind her without her noticing, her eyes full of contempt and disdain. "Jiang Shiyuan, I actually admire you quite a bit. You've managed to stay by my brother's side for so long without getting a divorce."

Should I say my brother is too charming, or that you have no self-respect and are too shameless?

Jiang Shiyuan's lips curved slightly, her beautiful eyes sparkling. "Miss Xie, are you so concerned about my marital status because of disharmony in our married life, or because your brother-in-law is overjoyed at the birth of your child?"

Xie Yuexi's eyes turned red with anger, "You—!"

She and her husband are bound by mutual interests; they're a facade couple with no real affection for each other.

Not long ago, she personally dealt with one of her husband's mistresses, causing her to abort the woman's eight-month-old fetus.

Because of this, the couple is still in a cold war.

Jiang Shiyuan was undoubtedly stabbing her in the lungs!

Just as Jiang Shiyuan was about to leave, Xie Yuexi gritted her teeth and gave a sinister sneer:

"We've known each other for a while now, and considering how devoted you are to my brother, I might as well tell you something."