Chapter 4 Love and Not Love: A Clear Divide

The hospital director walked in with a broad smile, bypassing Jiang Shiyuan and heading straight for Xie Jinghuai and Lin Zhixin:

"Mrs. Xie, please don't worry too much. I personally led a consultation with the experts from our hospital, and we have determined that there is nothing seriously wrong. He will be able to be discharged after a little more rest."

Realizing she had mistaken someone for someone else, Lin Zhixin blushed but didn't explain immediately.

The man behind him remained indifferent, about to speak, when Jiang Shiyuan preemptively spoke:

"Doctor, I am Xie Junheng's mother."

She didn't consider herself Mrs. Xie, because in her heart, she had no connection with this cold-hearted man anymore.

The atmosphere was so awkward it was unsettling.

The dean stared dumbfounded at Jiang Shiyuan, dressed in simple sportswear, then glanced at Lin Zhixin, who was dressed in designer brands. His mind went blank for a moment, and he quickly apologized.

"I'm so sorry, Mrs. Xie! Your son is alright, please don't worry!"

Lin Zhixin lowered her eyelashes and pursed her lips.

A hint of resentment.

"What exactly caused Tongtong's asthma?" Jiang Shiyuan asked seriously.

Doctor: "The young master has weak lung function and congenital asthma. His daily diet requires extra attention; nuts and seafood can trigger severe asthma. Thankfully, he received timely treatment, otherwise it would have been very dangerous!"

Xie Jinghuai looked at his son's pale face with suspicion:

“Tongtong is very careful about his daily diet. He is never allowed to eat nuts or seafood. Even his school teachers have warned him. How could he possibly eat something he shouldn’t?”

As he spoke, the man's resentful gaze turned coldly toward Jiang Shiyuan.

"It's easy to investigate."

Jiang Shiyuan's sharp, knife-like gaze shifted to Lin Zhixin's harmless little face. "In the entire Xie family, not a single person is unaware that Tongtong has asthma, and not a single person dares to give Tongtong snacks or unclean things."

Today, by checking who Tongtong came into contact with before going to school, we can find out the cause of his allergy.

Lin Zhixin was not mentioned in any of the sentences.

Every sentence is directed at her!

Lin Zhixin hugged Tongtong tightly, but her heart was pounding like a drum.

"Tongtong, what did you eat? Who fed you?" Jiang Shiyuan looked at her son seriously.

From the moment Tongtong was born, he was the rightful heir to the Xie family.

Despite needing strict upbringing, Xie Jinghuai was often absent from his role as a father due to his busy official duties. Madam Xie also spoiled her grandson rotten, and everyone in the Xie family treated Tongtong like an emperor.

They spoiled Tongtong so much at such a young age that he became arrogant and unruly, a veritable devil child.

Jiang Shiyuan, who poured all her heart and soul into caring for her son and acted as both father and mother, was seen by her son as a meddlesome and nagging nuisance.

"Tongtong, what exactly happened?" Xie Jinghuai's handsome face darkened.

Tongtong's dark eyes darted around, and she bit her lip tightly.

He couldn't confess because his aunt, Xinxin, bought him pistachio-flavored ice cream on his way to school.

In that case, Aunt Xinxin will be scolded by her father.

Aunt Xinxin is so good to him, he doesn't want her to get scolded by his father!

"Yes, it's Old Chen!"

Tongtong spoke quickly, her face flushed, "I asked him to buy the ice cream. I just wanted to eat ice cream. I didn't know there were nuts in it!"

Lin Zhixin continued to gently stroke the boy's small hand, without saying a word.

Xie Jinghuai's brows furrowed deeply. "Old Chen?"

Old Chen has been driving for the Xie family for twenty years. He is honest and law-abiding. He and Butler Ning know the Xie family members best. How could he act so unruly?

Jiang Shiyuan stared at Tongtong in disbelief, a deep, lingering pain welling up inside her.

In a short time, the face of the son she had raised with such hardship gradually became unfamiliar.

From a young age, she taught him to be an open, honest, and trustworthy person. No matter what happens, he must never lie.

This is the first time Tongtong has ever lied since she can remember.

It turned out that it was all to protect Lin Zhixin.

"Uncle Chen!" Jiang Shiyuan called out, her eyes slightly red.

"Yes, young mistress!"

Old Chen, who had been waiting outside, entered the ward and bowed respectfully to Xie Jinghuai, saying, "Young Master."

Zhuo was startled suddenly.

Xie Jinghuai looked at Jiang Shiyuan in surprise, "Why did you bring Old Chen here?"

Ignoring the man's sour face, Jiang Shiyuan said gently, "Old Chen, the young master said that the pistachio ice cream he ate on his way to school this morning was bought for him by you. Is that true?"

Old Chen hurriedly waved his hands, "Oh, young mistress, how could I dare to give the young master anything to eat without your permission? The ice cream is actually..."

"It's...it's me!" Lin Zhixin's voice trembled, and she finally couldn't hold on any longer.

Xie Jinghuai stared in astonishment at the woman's beautiful face, which was on the verge of tears.

Tongtong grabbed Lin Zhixin's hand, extremely worried, "Aunt Xinxin, it's none of your business!"

"Brother Jinghuai, it's all my fault..."

Lin Zhixin's small nose turned red, and tears streamed down her face. "I saw Tongtong staring longingly at the ice cream on the roadside, and I felt so sorry for him that I took the liberty of buying it for him."

I didn't know Tongtong was allergic to nuts... Brother Jinghuai, Tongtong... It's all my fault, I'm so sorry..."

Xie Jinghuai was silent for a moment, then sighed softly and said gently:

"Never mind, you don't understand Tongtong's situation, and it wasn't intentional. Just be more careful next time."

Lin Zhixin, her eyes brimming with tears, raised her fair face, "Brother Jinghuai..."

Tongtong immediately perked up, "Great! I knew Daddy wouldn't be angry. Daddy loves Aunt Xinxin the most!"

Xie Jinghuai showed no emotion and remained silent.

Even if what her son said was true, Jiang Shiyuan had already silently accepted this cruel truth.

However, at this moment, she still felt a chill rise in her chest and her blood run cold.

She remembered a time when she went into the study to bring Xie Jinghuai coffee.

Afraid of disturbing his approval of documents, she even took off her shoes and walked barefoot over to place the coffee on the table.

Unexpectedly, Xie Jinghuai was irritable because of the project, and with a sweep of his hand, he spilled coffee all over the table.

"Who told you to do all this unnecessary work? Get out!"

He was clearly careless, yet he vented all his anger on her.

That night, she washed the coffee cup and silently shed tears for a long time.

Now, Xie Jinghuai is gentle, patient, and magnanimous when facing Lin Zhixin.

Even though this woman in front of him almost killed his son!

Love and not love are clearly distinct!

Jiang Shiyuan turned around resolutely and left quickly.

Staying here for even a second longer would be a desecration of my own eyes.

"Brother Jinghuai, my sister seems unhappy. I'll go check on her." Lin Zhixin quickly wiped away her tears, got up, and followed her out.

...

Jiang Shiyuan hadn't walked far when she suddenly felt pain in her knees and her body felt weak, so she stopped.

"elder sister."

Lin Zhixin called out to her with a half-smile, "Sister, why are you walking so fast? It's like you and Jinghuai and his wife have a really bad falling out."

Clearly, they were trying to trick her into revealing information.

"Lin Zhixin, you feel very proud, don't you?"

Jiang Shiyuan stared directly at her, her almond-shaped eyes cold as ice, "You're guiding a five-year-old child to lie for you, while your mind is entirely focused on someone else's husband and child."

Those who know you know you're a top student who graduated from the Computer Science Department of an Ivy League university; those who don't might think you came from some socialite training program...

pheasant.

However, Jiang Shiyuan was a well-educated person, and she didn't want to have a public argument with Lin Zhixin like a shrew.

She is an upright, civilized, and decent person.

I could never be like Lin Zhixin and her daughter, shamelessly stealing from others and acting as if it were perfectly justified.

Lin Zhixin clenched her fists and curled her red lips into a smile:

"Sister, why are you being so aggressive? Tongtong's lying is because you, as his mother, lacked communication with him and failed to raise him properly. What does it have to do with me?"

There's a saying... "Early exposure influences deep within." Children are like blank canvases; how you shape them determines how they become. Sister, you really should be more careful with your words and actions.

"Ha, Miss Lin's belly is as empty as a freshly emptied chamber pot. She's never even been married, yet she's already teaching me how to be a mother."

Jiang Shiyuan laughed instead of getting angry, completely unlike her clumsy and tongue-tied self before, "You haven't even had children yet, but you already smell like a father. Aren't you afraid your Jinghuai brother will dislike you?"

Lin Zhixin's lips twitched, and she took a deep breath.

Jiang Shiyuan was feeling unwell and didn't want to waste her breath arguing with her, so she turned to leave.

However, Lin Zhixin, who had been wronged, was unwilling to accept it and grabbed her arm.

Jiang Shiyuan groaned softly, beads of cold sweat forming on her smooth forehead. The spot Lin Zhixin was grasping was exactly where she had been injured while trying to save the chip, and it was still wrapped in gauze.

"Let go!" Jiang Shiyuan clenched his teeth and shook her off.

"ah--!"

Lin Zhixin exclaimed in surprise, her delicate body leaning back.

However, he did not fall to the ground.

Because Xie Jinghuai had arrived at some point, he opened his strong arms and held her firmly in his embrace.