Chapter 242 Unless, I've gone mad

As night falls, Guanlan Garden is brightly lit.

With the launch of Xie Group's latest new energy vehicle imminent, Xie Jinghuai has been leaving early and returning late for the past month, locking himself in his study upon returning home, seemingly tireless.

Tonight, he unusually came home early, and as soon as he entered the door, he heard his son's cheerful laughter coming from the living room.

"Hahaha! I won again! I won again!"

Xie Jinghuai stopped in his tracks, his heart skipping a beat.

He suddenly remembered that there was a time when such joyful laughter often came from the living room. Whenever he went in, he would see his wife, Jiang Shiyuan, playing with their son, either building Lego or playing with robot toys.

At that time, Tongtong was still young, and the robot toys were a bit too advanced for a child his age. However, because Tongtong was smarter than other children his age, he was very good at operating the robots.

The robot toy that Jiang Shiyuan gave to Tongtong was somewhat crudely designed and unremarkable in appearance, but it moved more nimbly than those robots on the market.

Of course, Xie Jinghuai never imagined that the robot Tongtong was playing with was made by Jiang Shiyuan himself.

In his mind, Jiang Shiyuan would always be that shallow housewife who only knew how to do housework and coax children.

Even though she is now the president of Yongheng Technology, he still feels from the bottom of his heart that she is unworthy of the position and is just a pretty face who was pushed into the position by Jiang Yongxiao to give some face to his deceased younger sister.

"Wow, Tongtong is amazing! Tongtong is the smartest child I've ever met." The next second, Lin Zhixin's gentle and smiling voice came.

Upon learning that Lin Zhixin had arrived, Xie Jinghuai snapped back to reality.

For some reason, he felt a slight pang of sadness in his heart, a sense of loss he couldn't quite put his finger on.

"Young Master, you're back? Why aren't you coming in?" Butler Ning happened to come over and saw him standing stiffly at the door, which puzzled him.

"Butler Ning, has the eldest young master returned?" came Madam Xie's voice from inside.

"Dad's home!"

Tongtong hadn't seen her father for many days. Upon hearing that he had returned, she immediately ran out and hugged Xie Jinghuai's long legs, exclaiming, "Dad, why did it take you so long to come back! I missed you so much!"

Xie Jinghuai couldn't bring himself to say something as mushy as "Daddy misses you too," but his eyes shone with love, and his voice was warm and deep:

"Have you been doing your homework obediently and eating properly at home lately?"

Xie Junheng nodded vigorously, "Yes! During the days you were away, Aunt Xinxin often came to see me, played with me, and ate with me! If it weren't for Aunt Xinxin by my side, I would have been so bored that I would have cried, and I would have felt like a child who was unwanted and unloved!"

"How could no one care about you? Don't overthink it."

Xie Jinghuai led his son into the living room, first glancing at Madam Xie with a faint expression, "Mom, what brings you here?"

Madam Xie's tone was somewhat displeased, "What, can't I, as your mother, come and visit your Guanlan Garden?"

Xie Jinghuai's brows furrowed with a hint of restlessness.

"I am Tongtong's grandmother, how could I not come and see my eldest grandson?"

Madam Xie curled her red lips into a cold sneer, "The child's father is always busy and never home, and the child's mother is no mother at all, making a fool of herself and causing trouble outside. If I don't keep a closer eye on Tongtong, how can the child have a happy childhood?"

"Mom, don't say these things in front of the children," Xie Jinghuai reminded her in a deep voice.

Madam Xie rolled her eyes and continued chanting: "Also, you really should thank Zhixin. Thanks to her, Tongtong has been happier these past few days. Otherwise, how can a child grow up in such a cold family environment and have a healthy mind?"

A gentle and kind girl like Zhixin, though she has never given birth, is a thousand times better than some women who give birth but do not raise children…

Xie Jinghuai's eyes were as cold as ice, and he interrupted in a deep voice: "Butler Ning, what are you standing there for? Go prepare dinner!"

Butler Ning sighed and turned to prepare the meal.

Seeing Xie Jinghuai's reaction, Lin Zhixin secretly tightened her grip on her skirt.

"Jinghuai, you're acting really strange these days."

Madam Xie looked at her son with surprise, "Have I said these things enough before? I've said even harsher things, and you've always turned a deaf ear. Why are you getting angry now?"

Xie Jinghuai's handsome face was gloomy, suppressing a certain undercurrent of emotion that even he himself was unaware of:

“The past is the past. No matter what, Jiang Shiyuan is Tongtong’s mother and my wife. You shouldn’t be criticizing her like this in front of the child and in front of me.”

Lin Zhixin gritted her teeth, secretly resenting the situation, and her smile became slightly distorted.

"Grandma is right. If it weren't for Aunt Xinxin visiting me often, I think I would be no different from Fu Yansi, that child without a mother. Luckily, I have Aunt Xinxin!"

Remembering how everyone at school mistook his mother for Fu Yansi's mother, he said with a sour tone, "Hmph, Mom is probably eating fried chicken with that idiot Fu Yansi right now. In her heart, I'm not as important as Fu Yansi."

I think she should be Fu Yansi's mother!

Xie Jinghuai's handsome face was tense. "Shut up! Don't say things like that again!"

Xie Junheng pouted indignantly.

"Brother Jinghuai, don't be angry, don't blame Tongtong."

Lin Zhixin hurried to the child's side and gently embraced him, as if she were radiating maternal love. "What bad thoughts could a child have? He just misses his mother."

"Brother Jinghuai, please call your sister later. No matter what, she should come back and see Tongtong."

Xie Jinghuai frowned and remained silent.

Xie Junheng muttered softly, though he also missed his mother a little, his mouth followed his father's stubbornness:

"Hmph! If she doesn't want to come back, so be it. Who cares? Let her never come back if she dares."

Today, for some reason, ever since he saw his mother on the school TV, all he could think about all day was her beautiful, unprecedented appearance.

In the past, he saw his mother every day, but she never wore makeup or pretty clothes like Aunt Xinxin. Over time, he grew tired of seeing her, let alone his father.

But now that Mommy is gone, she seems like a completely different person. Seeing her radiant appearance on TV today, he almost didn't recognize her, and a wave of sadness washed over him.

How did Mommy suddenly become so outstanding?

Is that woman really his mother?

At dinner time, Lin Zhixin sat with her child, but she didn't eat much herself, as she was busy taking care of the child.

Xie Jinghuai, noticing this, asked gently, "Zhixin, are you feeling better? Why aren't you resting at home?"

Lin Zhixin smiled gently and said, "I'm much better. I missed Tongtong and was worried about her, so I came to see the child."

Madam Xie nodded with satisfaction, "Zhixin is really thoughtful. Apart from not being born from your womb, you look like the child's birth mother in every way, and you even love the child more than a biological mother."

Lin Zhixin's cheeks flushed. "No, I'm still far from that level."

Xie Jinghuai took a sip of water, soothing his throat which had been dry after a long day. "Zhixin, you work at the company during the day, so you should get some rest at night. After all, the new car is about to be launched, and both of us will be very busy soon. You need to take good care of your health and prepare for the work ahead."

"Yes, for the Xie family, I will."

"Oh, right, Dad, I saw Mommy on TV yesterday."

Xie Junheng finally couldn't hold back and asked his father, "When did Mommy become a CEO? She can't do anything, she's so stupid, how could she become a CEO?"

"What? Jiang Shiyuan became the CEO? When did this happen?" Madam Xie was utterly astonished!

Lin Zhixin said softly, "Aunt Xie, my sister is now the president of Yongheng Technology Company. She also attended the Aofeng Technology Conference yesterday."

"Eternal Technology? Ha, that's the crappy little company her mother founded. No wonder."

Madam Xie looked at her with disdain, completely dismissive. "Fine, without Jing Huai's support, she can only find work in that small, run-down company. The president title is probably just an empty name, all show and no substance, just for Jing Huai's benefit. She puts on a haughty and arrogant front, but in reality, she just wants to be like Zhi Xin, dreaming of achieving something so that Jing Huai will look up to her."

Unfortunately, she lacks education and has an empty mind; no matter how much she tries to scheme, she's just imitating others poorly!

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhixin was quite pleased, and her appetite returned.

Xie Junheng blinked his bright, dark eyes. "Daddy, Mommy can be a CEO, so why can't you give Aunt Xinxin a higher position? Aunt Xinxin is clearly so much more capable than Mommy!"

Lin Zhixin observed the man's expression and said gently, "Tongtong, I don't care about any position. As long as I can help your father, that's enough. I really don't care about the level of my position."

Xie Junheng persisted, "Dad, you must give Aunt Xinxin a higher position! Otherwise, Mom will look down on her!"

Xie Jinghuai lowered his eyes, remained silent for a long while, and then spoke without revealing his emotions:

"Once the new car is released, Zhixin, I will promote you."

Even if he intended to promote Lin Zhixin, he had to follow procedures and gain the respect of the masses. The initial hiring of her, and her direct appointment as director of the R&D department, had already caused disharmony within the company. Promoting her beyond the usual ranks would likely be difficult to justify.

Once the new car is launched, Lin Zhixin will have delivered her report card, and when that happens, no one will complain when she is promoted.

Apart from Lin Zhixin, he seems to have never worried about any other woman in his life.

Because Lin Zhixin saved his life, he kept this matter in mind at all times, always afraid that he would neglect his benefactor.

“Brother Jinghuai, as I said, I don’t care about how high a position is, and I have never envied my sister for being a CEO.”

Lin Zhixin looked at the man with tenderness in her eyes, "As long as I can work by your side, I'll be content, really."

...

After dinner, Mrs. Xie tactfully left Guanlan Garden, giving the two young people some alone time.

Qin Zhao was driving, and Madam Xie, sitting in the back seat, had a gloomy expression. Suddenly, she spoke:

"That little bitch Jiang Shiyuan actually went to become the president of Yongheng Technology. What is she up to?"

Qin Zhao didn't take it seriously. "Eternal Technology is almost bankrupt. Even if she's the chairman there, it's just a title and has no real meaning."

"I hope so. I don't want that little bitch to have an easier time."

Madam Xie gave a cold laugh and closed her eyes contentedly. "However, it's a good thing that she's messing around with that lousy company. This way, she and Jinghuai will only grow further apart, and Jinghuai and Zhixin will have more and more time together."

On the other side, Lin Zhixin carried a bowl of ginseng soup she had personally prepared to the study to find Xie Jinghuai.

Xie Jinghuai was reviewing documents. Not wanting to disturb him, she quietly walked to the table and put down the soup bowl. Suddenly, the man raised his hand and overturned the entire bowl.

"Ah!" Lin Zhixin cried out in pain as her hand was burned!

Seeing this, Xie Jinghuai frowned, immediately stood up, and took her scalded hand in his large palm:

"How are you? Does it hurt a lot?"

"No, it's nothing..."

Lin Zhixin's eyes welled up with tears as she looked at the messy desk, her eyes reddening with guilt. "But, Brother Jinghuai, your files..."

Xie Jinghuai felt uncomfortable seeing the documents soaked, but he suppressed his emotions and said, "It's okay, your hand is more important. I'll have Butler Ning go and find you some ointment."

Also, please try not to come into my study at night while I'm working. If you need anything, you can contact Butler Ning directly.

Lin Zhixin was slightly taken aback, then pursed her lips in a cryptic manner.

Previously, Xie Jinghuai's study was never guarded against her.

But now, they're actually starting to make her follow the rules.

"It's all my fault, Brother Jinghuai. I... I won't bother you anymore." Lin Zhixin's eyes were red, and she couldn't express her grievances.

Xie Jinghuai sighed, "I didn't mean anything by it. Never mind, let's just keep things the same from now on."

After the maid came in and cleaned up, she brought over some ginseng soup.

Xie Jinghuai lost interest in reading the documents and simply sat on the sofa to drink some soup.

"Brother Jinghuai, there's something... I don't know if I should say it." Lin Zhixin sat obediently beside the man.

"What's up?"

"Last night, at Ao Feng's banquet, although we left early, some rumors still reached my ears..."

Lin Zhixin pursed her lips and whispered, "Someone saw my sister and Mr. Fu from the Fu Group leaving the banquet hall, hugging and embracing, and then they didn't show up again all night."

Xie Jinghuai's phoenix eyes were deep and cold, like a deep pool frozen for thousands of years, calm on the surface but with turbulent undercurrents.

“Brother Jinghuai, my sister is openly interacting with other men like this. First, she will suffer and get hurt. Second… if your marriage becomes public in the future, it will probably cause quite a stir. Then, Brother Jinghuai, you…”

"To make our relationship public and let the whole world know that my wife, Xie Jinghuai's wife, is a shameless, promiscuous, and disgraceful woman?"

With a thud, Xie Jinghuai slammed the soup bowl onto the coffee table, the scalding soup overflowing. "Unless, I've gone mad."