Chapter 22 "Mom~"

Xu Lin arrived at the kindergarten at a little after four o'clock and had to wait a while.

Sitting in the passenger seat, his mind still in turmoil, he couldn't help but ask, "Old Li, what about General Manager Si and Manager Lin...?"

Driver Lao Li looked over: "What's wrong?"

"They...are a couple...?"

"Oh? You didn't know? I thought you did. Mr. Si and his wife have been married for several years."

"..."

You didn't say that either!!!

Kindergarten students started leaving, and Xu Lin composed himself and got out of the car to pick them up.

The little princess recognized him and took his hand as soon as they came out. She tilted her head up and asked softly, "Brother Xu Lin, where's my dad?"

Xu Lin looked down and finally began to doubt whether his brain was really filled with water.

The little princess's eyes are exactly the same as Manager Lin's, aren't they? How did he manage to make one mistake after another?

Xu Lin forced a smile. "Your father is at the company. Let's go find him."

"Um!"

Once in the car, the little girl sat in her high chair by herself, fastened her seatbelt, then made a forward-facing gesture and shouted energetically, "Grandpa Li, let's go!"

As the car started, Xu Lin turned his head and asked, "Xiao Tie."

"Hmm~"

What's your mother's name?

"My mom's name is Lin Ke," the little girl recited fluently, shaking her head. "My mom's phone number is 13XXXXX!"

Xu Lin's face turned ashen once again.

...

There are some rumors circulating about the company that haven't yet surfaced.

That day, two or three colleagues huddled together in the break room, looking at each other, none of them daring to speak.

But after a short while, someone couldn't help but lower their voice and ask, "Is it fake?"

"I don't know, but all the details together make it very suspicious."

First, during meetings, they occasionally noticed that General Manager Si would look at Manager Lin with a gentle gaze.

Secondly, General Manager Si went to the grasslands, and Manager Lin also went to the grasslands. Later, it was confirmed that General Manager Jiang did not go anywhere in Beicheng during the National Day holiday.

Furthermore, some people saw that during the period when Manager Lin's hand was injured, he always came to work in General Manager Si's car and would secretly get off at a distance.

Finally, a colleague saw Mr. Si's car drive into an ordinary residential area, where Manager Lin lived.

Finally, they inquired with Assistant Xu. Although Assistant Xu didn't say anything, his expression changed.

Lastly, when General Manager Jiang came to the company, she rarely went to see General Manager Si. However, when she came to the project department, she would look towards Manager Lin's position several times!

Therefore, it is clear that General Manager Si and Manager Lin are not innocent.

When the colleagues exchanged glances, they all gasped in shock.

Manager Lin happened to come to pour water, and the group immediately dispersed.

A girl who often worked with Jiang Chengyin glanced at the beautiful woman beside her with a complicated expression.

Manager Lin is indeed beautiful. Compared to President Jiang's bright and dignified appearance, Manager Lin has a gentler look and speaks and acts in a gentle manner. Not to mention men, women who have been in contact with her for a long time will be confused.

So even CEO Si couldn't resist the charms of this beautiful woman?

What a heartwarming scene it was when he brought his daughter to the company last time! Who would have thought he would be such a jerk in reality!

The girl sighed inwardly, "Sigh..."

Seeing her shake her head and sigh, Lin Ke asked, "What's wrong?"

"It's alright, it's alright." The girl quickly left the tea room.

Lin Ke was somewhat confused, or rather, her whole day at work was inexplicable; everyone seemed to be looking at her with strange eyes.

Your makeup isn't done well? But you can't see it in the mirror either.

Did I do something wrong? Did I say something wrong?

That's so strange.

Lin Ke finished filling the water bottle and returned to her seat. She said to the person opposite her, "Xiao Jiang, could you send me a copy of the documents we'll need for the meeting later? I'd like to take a look beforehand."

To my surprise, my colleague, with whom I usually have a good relationship, was unusually cold today. "I don't have the documents. Go find General Manager Shen."

Lin Ke slowly frowned.

She sat in her seat for a while, then got up and went to Shen Wan's office.

Shen Wan looked up when she heard the knocking, and her heart was filled with mixed feelings when she saw who it was.

The rumors of the past two days naturally reached her ears. She didn't believe them at first, but since she had been closer to President Si, she now felt that the rumors were not fabricated out of thin air after recalling President Si's various actions.

Shen Wan quite likes Lin Ke, so her emotions are even more difficult to discern at this moment.

After sending her the documents she requested, Shen Wan finally couldn't help but ask, "Manager Lin, you and General Manager Si...?"

Lin Ke was startled. "What's wrong?"

Since she had already spoken, Shen Wan went straight to the point: "Do you and President Si have a relationship?"

"You found out?"

But Lin Ke was puzzled. If everyone knew, why would they have this expression? Were they blaming her for hiding it?

Upon hearing this, Shen Wan deflated and waved her hand, saying, "It's alright, go out."

Lin Ke was even more confused. She returned to her seat and looked at Ma Chanchan, who was also probably having heard something. "Chanchan, tell me honestly, what exactly happened?"

Ma Chanchan was Lin Ke's personally trained apprentice, and their relationship was different from others. She firmly refused to believe that Lin Ke was that kind of person. Instead, she was a little worried and walked over to her, speaking in a low voice: "Sister Ke, there are rumors in the company that you are President Si's mistress. Is there some misunderstanding?"

Lin Ke's eyes widened: "?"

Ma Chanchan continued worriedly, "You'd better explain quickly, or this misunderstanding could be huge!"

After being speechless for a moment, Lin Ke found it funny and pointed at herself: "Am I the mistress?" Then she realized that it made sense. In the eyes of her colleagues, Si Yuming and Jiang Chengyin were a couple, so wouldn't she be the mistress?

She leaned closer and asked in a low, curious voice, "How did everyone find out I was the other woman?"

In a panic, Ma Chanchan stamped her foot: "Sister Ke, is this important?!"

"How can it not be important? How can I refute rumors if I don't understand the situation clearly?"

That seems to be true, so Ma Chanchan said, "Someone saw President Si dropping you off at work."

"Anything else?"

"Someone even saw you enter the same residential complex." Ma Chanchan became increasingly uncertain as she spoke. "Sister Ke, is it really true?"

"……real."

Ma Chanchan covered her mouth.

Oh my god.

Shen Wan came out of the office and said, "Go to the CEO's office for a meeting. The Moscow server has gone live, hurry up."

The project team members all stood up, and Lin Ke said, "I'll explain after the meeting."

Then I picked up my pen and notebook and went upstairs with them.

As soon as Lin Ke entered the elevator, a small circle of people automatically formed around her, avoiding her at all costs.

She didn't take it to heart. Anyway, the project would end in two days, and she probably wouldn't step into the entropy domain again. These exaggerated rumors wouldn't hurt her.

However, we should explain when the time is right, otherwise Si Xiaotie will be viewed with prejudice next time he comes.

Today's meeting was held in a small conference room in Si Yuming's office. When I went in, there were already quite a few people inside.

Everyone spoke in hushed tones, and even a vice president made a few shushing gestures to the newcomers.

The situation in Moscow is already online; they want things to be quiet.

Lin Ke sat down at the translator's table as usual, and when she looked up, she met Si Yuming's gaze.

She didn't dare look too long, otherwise who knows what would be said after she left the door.

Lin Ke calmly sat down, ready to begin her work.

"Manager Lin, come this way." A clear, cold voice suddenly rang out in the otherwise silent conference room.

Those inquisitive and gossipy gazes once again focused on her, mostly with disdain and a hint of disgust.

Some people looked at each other, shaking their heads to exchange expressions of disdain.

"Manager Lin?"

Lin Ke mentally tore this person to pieces, then slowly got up and walked behind him.

"Sit next to me."

"......"

Is he out of his mind? Doesn't he know what's going on outside?!

The man finally stopped acting up and said, "Alright, let's start the meeting."

The strange looks gradually faded away, and Lin Ke focused on her work.

Half an hour later, the door to the lounge next to the conference room suddenly opened, and everyone looked over.

Some people were stunned.

The little girl, who had just woken up from a nap after playing at kindergarten, came out rubbing her eyes. There were still faint red marks on the back of her hands from sleeping. Her two little braids, which her kindergarten teacher had styled beautifully, were twisted and turned.

After taking a few steps, a yawn with a milky smell slipped out, yawning without any regard for appearances, its mouth wide open.

Lin Ke was surprised. What was Si Xiaotie doing here?

The girl, still half asleep, glanced around and saw a lot of people... Oh, Mom's here too!

She ran over and then threw herself into her mother's arms, crying, "Mommy~"

The voice was soft and sticky, as if it still carried the warmth of the blankets.

The small conference room was completely silent, with only the sound of breathing rising and falling.

They looked at each other, all utterly shocked.

this?

this?

Mother?

Lin Ke felt a little embarrassed. She glanced at the composed man in a suit and tie beside her, who seemed to be detached from the situation, and had no choice but to pick up her daughter and gently reply, "Yes."

......

The message came through colleagues' real-time WeChat messages, and the Entropy Domain headquarters was in a state of chaos for a while.

Various small group messages kept coming in:

Who exactly spread the rumor about President Jiang being President Si's wife?

Who is it?!

【OMG! ! ! 】

I'm sorry, Manager Lin.

Me too, sob sob sob

[@Xu Lin, Assistant Xu, is this really true?]

[The baby is already calling you "Mommy," and you still don't believe it?]

Xu Lin: [Already slightly deceased, do not disturb.]

Meanwhile, in the office, a meeting was still in progress. Lin Ke coaxed the baby, "Baby, go back to the break room and play quietly. Mommy and Daddy still have a meeting."

Si Xiaotie obediently replied, "Mmm!" Then she ran around, smiled slightly at her uncle and aunt, and ran back to the lounge.

With the little guy gone, the small meeting room could finally breathe again.

Lin Ke was too embarrassed to make eye contact with everyone. Although she wanted to clear her name, she didn't expect it to happen in this way, nor did she expect it to happen so quickly.

The man at the far end of the table spoke calmly, "Continue."

The meeting ended in about ten minutes, and everyone packed up their notebooks and left, still in shock.

Shen Wan, still holding on, looked at Lin Ke and breathed a sigh of relief, "You really kept it a secret! I was worried... Thank goodness, but this is still so shocking! How come we didn't hear a thing!"

Who would have guessed that CEO Si's wife is actually Lin Ke!

Seeing that everyone had left, the little girl ran out and sweetly hugged her mother's leg. Lin Ke picked the girl up and let her greet everyone first. Si Xiaotie smiled brightly and said, "Hello, Auntie."

"Hello, baby." Shen Wan saw President Si's daughter up close this time and thought to herself, who said that she looked like President Jiang? This pretty little girl in front of her was clearly a combination of President Si and Lin Ke.

Si Yuming walked over, and Si Xiaotie reached out his arms again, wanting his father to hold him, before slipping out of his mother's arms.

"Shall we go back together?" the man asked, picking up his daughter.

"I still need to organize the materials, you guys go back first."

Si Yuming then went back to the break room, picked up his daughter's little schoolbag, and the two of them went home after get off work.

Shen Wan and Lin Ke also went downstairs together.

In the elevator, Si Yuming asked, "Aunt Chen isn't here. I'm going to buy groceries. What would you like to eat?"

Lin Ke: "Either is fine."

Si Xiaotie happily ordered food while sitting in his father's lap, "Daddy, I want to eat shrimp and chicks!"

Si Yuming laughed: "What's a chick?"

"It's a baby chick, a baby chick stewed with mushrooms."

"Okay, no problem."

The family of three chatted naturally. Si Xiaotie looked at his mother again and said excitedly in his little voice, "Mom, Teacher Bai taught us how to wash socks today. I learned it! From now on, Mom will give all her socks to Xiaotie!"

Lin Ke smiled and said, "No problem."

Finally reaching the 23rd floor, Lin Ke went ahead, unaware of Shen Wan's shocked expression, her mouth agape in disbelief, in the corner.

......

Back in the office, everyone felt a little embarrassed to see her again. Lin Ke explained a few words to her closer colleagues, but didn't say anything more.

She worked overtime to finish up the work ahead of schedule, and will hand over the rest to Ma Chanchan and Xi Yue starting tomorrow.

After giving her instructions, Ma Chanchan, with her back ramrod straight, patted her chest and said, "Don't worry, boss lady, I'll definitely complete the mission perfectly!"

Lin Ke tapped her on the forehead, "Don't shout nonsense."

"What's wrong with shouting like that?" Ma Chanchan deliberately raised her voice. "She's the boss's wife, our little princess's mother~"

"Alright, I'm leaving now. Good luck to you guys."

"Go ahead, Sister Ke, see you on TV."

Lin Ke smiled, said goodbye to Shen Wan, and left the Entropy Domain Building with her luggage.

When she arrived home, Si Yuming had already prepared dinner, and Lin Ke washed her hands and sat down at the table.

She wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she felt that this person's cooking skills had improved dramatically recently. The chicken stew with mushrooms in front of her was very flavorful, even better than what she had eaten at restaurants before.

The little girl ate with great relish, her mouth covered in sauce.

After finishing his meal, Si Xiaotie really wanted to get to work. He first ran very eagerly to the entrance hall to find the socks that the family of three had worn that day, and then, pinching his nose, ran to the bathroom.

"Mommy, I want a small washbasin."

"Mom, where's the laundry detergent?"

"Mom, please get me some water."

"Mom, how much laundry detergent should I use?"

"Mom, is this how you wash it?!"

Lin Ke looked at the little figure sitting on the small stool in the bathroom, "seriously" washing socks, and felt happy. "Yes, that's right."

She didn't interfere, letting the little girl enjoy her time washing socks by herself, and then taught her how to hang them to dry.

After hanging them up to dry, Si Xiaotie looked at her yellow dinosaur socks sandwiched between her parents' socks on the balcony, proudly put her hands on her hips and turned around: "Dad, aren't I great!"

Si Yuming agreed, "Great."

"hey-hey."

Lin Ke stared blankly at the three pairs of socks lined up side by side. She turned around and met the eyes of the man in the living room. After a few moments, she lowered her eyes and spoke to her daughter, "Mommy is going to read a book. Xiao Tie will go to bed with Daddy after his bath."

"Mmm~"

It was already midnight when I got back to the master bedroom. Most of the lights were off, but the person in bed was still awake.

She went over, turned off the last light, and went to bed.

Si Yuming pulled her over, and Lin Ke shifted her position with her back to him to find a comfortable spot.

When did you find out?

Lin Ke opened her eyes. "What do you know? You and Jiang Chengyin are a couple?"

The man was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "I'm sorry, I didn't know about this."

"It's okay, it's not important."

How could it not be important? She had been listening to these rumors for two whole months.

Si Yuming originally wanted to wait until she finished her exams, but now it's a good thing to keep her from seeing them.

He hesitated for a moment, then slowly said, "Jiang Chengyin and I are just ordinary friends."

"Her grandfather and my grandfather were good friends. Uncle Jiang helped me a lot when my parents passed away. The relationship between the Si family and the Jiang family isn't something that can be easily severed..."

Lin Ke really didn't want to discuss these things with him. After so many years of marriage, she had a basic understanding of whether he would cheat on her, and she also understood that they were just friends now. But when she heard this, she couldn't help but interrupt: "So if it weren't for me, you would have gotten married, right?"

The man did not hesitate and answered clearly: "No, neither of our elders has any intention of a marriage alliance. I know my sister may have some ulterior motives, but I have never considered it and have clearly told her and Jiang Chengyin that I refuse."

Lin Ke was somewhat surprised to hear this answer. For so long, she had preconceived notions about their relationship before marriage, and this relationship had become an invisible thorn in her heart, sometimes big and sometimes small.

When she was older, she minded that they had spent several years together, whether they were already in a relationship but were forced to break up, or they were in an ambiguous relationship but couldn't be together with regret. No matter which one it was, she couldn't accept it.

But now, a single word can melt away a thorn, even though that thorn has become very small.

Lin Ke pursed her lips and laughed at her own childish behavior.

She said softly, "I understand."

“I can’t promise you that you’ll cut off all contact with her, but these rumors will never come out again. Lin Ke, I may not have done many things very well, but please believe me on this matter.”

"good."

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Author's note: Here I am! I didn't send out any red envelopes yesterday, so I'm sending them out today~