Chapter 68 Pampered

"Lin Yujing, have I spoiled you rotten? You took my card and went to a hotel with your boyfriend!"

After completing the examination with the nurse, Chen Jingshu, as usual, leaned against the headboard with his laptop to read the technical software documentation that Liu Hua had sent him.

"Guess who I saw at the hospital?" Chen Jinyi said eagerly as soon as she pushed the door open.

Chen Jingshu didn't even raise his head, clearly not very interested, only responding with a soft "hmm" to indicate that he had heard.

"Lin Yujing. I saw Jingjing."

The name was etched deep in his heart; Chen Jingshu's hand trembled slightly as it rested on the CNC machine. "Hmm..."

"You two broke up, and I've never heard you mention it." Chen Jinyi said with a smile, and with concern as an older sister.

"She said that?" Chen Jingshu sneered, then lowered his head and replied calmly, "It's not a big deal... there's no need for the whole world to know."

"It's just a little unexpected that you spoil me so much..."

"That depends on whether people like it or not."

Chen Jingshu was so angry that he didn't even realize the annoyance in his voice.

Chen Jinyi raised an eyebrow and continued, "But she probably has a new boyfriend now. He's a very handsome Chinese American. I found out he owns a Chinese restaurant in Ohio, and it's quite large. The two of them were sitting in the maternity ward, which scared me so much I thought she was pregnant."

Chen Jingshu listened in silence, but because his mind was too chaotic, he could only extract a few important pieces of information for him.

A bitter taste rose in his throat, his Adam's apple bobbing against the collar of his hospital gown, making his eyes sting. His gaze grew increasingly sinister, and he practically gritted his teeth. "Is that so? Quite something, getting pregnant out of wedlock..."

"No. She came to accompany her friend to give birth."

"It has nothing to do with me." Chen Jingshu tapped his cheek with his tongue, feigning indifference, and simply pushed the computer in front of Chen Jinyi. "These are technical documents sent by Liu Hua. Also, we haven't been able to recover the shares held by some of the board members."

"Why is your heart suddenly beating so fast?" Chen Jinyi glanced at the monitor tracking his heart as she took the computer. "Don't worry about the equity issue for now, I'll handle those. Your heart is the most important thing right now."

Chen Jingshu then felt a little breathless, clutching his heart, and cold sweat began to break out on his forehead.

"Lie down, I'll call the doctor."

Chen Jinyi walked quickly out of the ward, and only then did a single tear slide down Chen Jingshu's sore eyes.

The monitor readings became even more erratic. "Heartless, utterly heartless..."

-

Jiang Yingli's labor lasted from noon until evening before she finally gave birth to a boy.

When she was wheeled out of the delivery room, she had no strength left. She just held Lin Yujing's hand and said, "The baby's name is Jiang Chi."

Jiang Yingli and Jiang Yingzhi are too deeply bound by social norms and family feuds.

Since love was forbidden, she named her child "Chi," hoping he would be unrestrained and free-spirited.

Lin Yujing brought warm water to wipe Jiang Yingli's body, fed her medicine, and finally coaxed her to sleep.

Li Mu then went inside and urged her to rest as well.

Lin Yujing had been thinking about Chen Jinyi ever since she saw him that morning. She touched the tip of her nose and said, "I'm going to the bathroom. I'll go to sleep when I get back."

After leaving the ward, Lin Yujing went straight into the elevator and headed to the VIP floor where Chen Jingshu was staying.

Fortunately, there were nameplates for patients outside each ward. She tiptoed and looked through the small window to see Chen Jingshu sleeping.

Chen Jinyi was not in the room, and the corridor was deserted.

She gently pushed open the door and quietly went inside.

She left Yijing in July and didn't see Chen Jingshu again until December.

After not seeing each other for half a year, we suddenly felt like we were separated by billions of light-years.

He lay there quietly with his eyes closed, motionless.

His thin face was pale, and even when he was asleep, the frown lines between his brows did not smooth out at all, as if he was burdened with heavy worries.

The gray hairs at his temples and the dark circles under his eyes had also deepened.

Her eyes welled up with tears, and she couldn't help but reach out and stroke the white hair at his temples, as if she wanted to touch the sorrow in his furrowed brows.

In the past, Chen Jingshu was always very sleepy, and no matter how she caressed and stroked his cheek, he would sleep soundly.

But today, the moment she touched him, Chen Jingshu's eyelashes trembled, and he suddenly opened his eyes.

Before she could react, Lin Yujing's wrist was already gripped.

"Lin Yujing." His voice was calm, as if he had expected her to come see him. But the mockery in his eyes carried a hint of uncertainty.

Seeing her and grabbing her now, I finally felt a sliver of triumphant joy.

Lin Yujing was so frightened that she tried to break free of the restraints on her wrists, but the more she struggled, the stronger the grip became.

"Answer me, what are you doing here?"

Lin Yujing bit her lower lip and stammered, "I heard from Sister Jinyi that you're here taking care of your heart, so I came to see you."

After a cold laugh, her wrist was released. "You were so heartless before, never even looking back. Why bother now?"

Lin Yujing nodded, thinking that he must hate her terribly. "I'm sorry to have bothered you. I'll leave now."

"Lin Yujing!" he called out to her urgently, "I heard you have a new boyfriend?"

Lin Yujing felt a sudden pang in her heart, and tilted her head back slightly to keep her tears from falling. "You too, I heard you have a new girlfriend."

Chen Jingshu's brows furrowed even deeper, and he clutched his chest tightly, each word seeming to be squeezed out of his mouth, "You really have guts!"

She didn't have the courage, not even the courage to turn around and look at him.

He strode towards the door, saying, "Take good care of yourself, I'm leaving."

"Lin Yujing!" No matter how desperately the man called her name, Lin Yujing didn't stop. She closed the elevator door as if she were running away.

-

Back in Jiang Yingli's ward, Li Mu gestured to her that the baby had been brought in.

Lin Yujing took a deep breath and walked directly to the stroller.

Looking at the soft, delicate face that resembled Jiang Yingli's, her rapidly beating heart calmed down a bit.

Li Mu stood beside her by the stroller, remarking, "She looks just like Eden."

Lin Yujing nodded, but then felt that the baby's mouth looked more like her father, Jiang Yingzhi. It was a very thin lip shape, gently pursed, as if even the strongest emotions could be hidden in the space between her brows.

“What a beautiful baby,” she said.

He should be a very warm person, able to take his father's place and stay by Jiang Yingli's side.

Li Mu smiled, glanced at her, and said, "If you have a baby in the future, it will definitely be very beautiful. Because you are beautiful."

Lin Yujing's heart skipped a beat at the teasing words, but to avoid letting him see her unusual emotions, she raised her hand and patted him on the back, "Speak properly!"

"I'm serious. If I have a daughter, I can arrange a marriage between her and my little Chichi."

Lin Yujing shook her head, "I just want my daughter to be free and happy, and to be with the person she loves."

Li Mu raised his hand and put it on her shoulder, "If all parents in the world were like you, there wouldn't be so many lovers being separated."

"..."

-

Unbeknownst to those in the ward looking at little Jiang Chi, Chen Jingshu stood quietly outside the door, watching everything unfold.

Those unaware of their sisterly relationship would find this heartwarming scene both jarring and blinding.

He realized that he was the only one trapped in the same place, while that carefree girl had already started a new life and found a new boyfriend.

They stood together affectionately, watching the baby sleep with such tenderness and love.

They were also discussing how they would be parents when they had a baby.

This scene was exactly what he had been dreaming of.

Looking back, he once only wanted to give her the whole world he owned.

She was pampered and spoiled. Even after they broke up, she still pretends to be deeply in love because she doesn't want anyone to say anything bad about her.

But she already has a new boyfriend...

Chen Jingshu clenched his fists and turned away dejectedly.

His face was deathly pale, devoid of any emotion, quiet and sorrowful. He was like a lump of lifeless white ash, easily scattered by a gust of wind.

When a single tear slid down his cheek, it was a sign of his vulnerability and pride quietly crumbling.

But all those words can be summed up in three: "Heartless, heartless, heartless..."

-

Because Jiang Yingli suddenly gave birth, their original plan to stay in New York for two days was changed to a week.

Jiang Yingli was quite frightened when he learned that Chen Jingshu and Chen Jinyi were in the same hospital as them. "They don't know that I'm the one giving birth!"

Lin Yujing shook her head and took out the hat and scarf she had just bought from the mall. "It's winter in America now, so if you're all bundled up, it'll look like you're in confinement after childbirth, and no one will suspect anything."

Jiang Yingli immediately put the hat on her head, "For the first time, I don't envy American pregnant women who can drink iced Americano right after giving birth. I also want to thank my two good sisters for being by my side."

"I really don't plan to tell Jiang... After all, he's the child's father." Li Mu sat by the hospital bed, peeling fruit for Jiang Yingli.

The young lady gave a wry smile. "Tell him, and then listen to his accusations?"

Based on Jiang Yingli's understanding of Jiang Yingzhi, he would only calmly get angry and scold her for always acting like a child and doing things without considering the consequences.

“I didn’t plan to let him know before, and I certainly don’t now.” Jiang Yingli grabbed Li Mu’s hand. “You are the baby’s nominal father! You can’t refuse to acknowledge your own son, or I will immediately withdraw my investment and make your restaurant go bankrupt in the next minute.”

Li Mu nodded repeatedly, "Yes, Your Highness!"

Lin Yujing smiled and said, "Miss, I should help you downstairs for a walk."

Jiang Yingli gave birth to her baby naturally, and the doctor advised her to move around more.

"I'm in pain, I don't want to get out of bed."

"That won't do either!"

Lin Yujing forcibly led Jiang Yingli down to the garden, where the two walked hand in hand along the path.

After walking for about half an hour, Jiang Yingli sat down with the help of a chair. "I'm going to rest for a while. It really hurts."

Just then, Lin Yujing's phone rang. It was Qi Woxue calling, and she walked to an open space to answer it.

"Happy birthday in advance, sweetheart. Are you on winter break? I'm getting married next week, and I've already prepared your bridesmaid dress."

Holding the phone, Lin Yujing said apologetically, "Senior sister, I wish you a happy marriage. I guess I'll have to break my promise and not come back to China."

Qi Woxue sighed, indicating that she understood, "It's okay. I know you're all very busy at the end of the year. I heard that one of your paintings has been recommended for competition again. I wish Jingjing success in advance."

Lin Yujing: "Thank you, senior sister. I hope you and your brother-in-law Liu Hua will be happy."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Yujing chuckled.

I am genuinely happy for Qi Woxue and Liu Hua. After going through so many ups and downs, they are finally going to be a couple.

But why does her heart feel so empty?

Then, as she turned around, Lin Yujing saw Chen Jingshu standing behind her.

She didn't know what Chen Jingshu had heard, but after their eyes met, Chen Jingshu simply walked forward calmly and brushed past her.

Like the most complete strangers on the street, they drifted by without even touching each other's clothes.

Lin Yujing sniffed, trying to suppress the stinging sensation in her nose.

After that, she accompanied Jiang Yingli downstairs for a walk and never encountered Chen Jingshu again.

Lin Yujing secretly went to the VIP floor again on the day Jiang Yingli was discharged from the hospital, only to be told by the nurse that Chen Jingshu had been discharged and returned to China long ago.

-

Leaving New York and returning to Ohio, winter has deepened.

Life was still the same as before. Apart from drawing and completing her schoolwork, she would play with Jiang Chi baby every day.

One day, perhaps because of the overwhelming warmth, she suddenly remembered the last time they broke up, when Chen Jingshu lost control and told her to have a child.

Have a child and keep her by your side.

At the time, she shamelessly declared that neither children nor marriage could keep her.

But when she actually held the soft, tender child, the crystallization of two lovers' blood, she felt her heart crumble at the slightest blow from some unknown emotion.

Before she knew it, Lin Yujing's eyes were filled with tears. Little Jiang Chi blinked his big, bright eyes and suddenly felt wronged. He pouted and started to cry.

-

The annual winter solstice is also Lin Yujing's birthday.

She didn't tell Jiang Yingli and Li Mu, and she didn't want to go to celebrate her birthday.

After all, in the past twenty-odd years, the only two birthdays she celebrated were both spent with Chen Jingshu.

That day, she received a financial news report from China on her phone: "[Major News for Huaren Group: Huaren Group Board of Directors Proposes Rotating Chairman System, Triggering Top Management Turmoil]"

For Lin Yujing, this was actually the best gift—a message from him from afar.

The financial reporter wrote:

Recently, Mr. Chen Jingshu, a member of the board of directors of Huaren Group, proposed a rotating chairmanship system, which has caused turmoil among senior executives within the group.

Mr. Chen Jingshu believes that this proposal aims to promote internal power balance and democratization of decision-making, and to help improve decision-making efficiency and flexibility, while avoiding excessive concentration of power and overly conservative perspectives.

However, some senior managers expressed concern that this move could lead to internal power struggles and affect the company's stable development.

Currently, the board of directors of Huaren Group is conducting in-depth discussions on the proposal and has not yet made a final decision. Some analysts point out that the implementation of a rotating chairmanship system could have a profound impact on Huaren Group's internal management and strategic development, therefore it requires careful consideration.

Huaren has always been a leading comprehensive enterprise in China, with its business scope covering multiple fields.

Chen Jingshu's proposal of a rotating chairmanship system undoubtedly changes the future development path of Huaren and reverses the situation where the Chen family monopolizes power.

Lin Yujing doesn't understand business, but she has a premonition that this winter is destined to be anything but a peaceful one.

Lin Yujing closed her phone, packed her bag, and went out to a nearby bookstore to look up literature.

It was a shop run by a Chinese businessman, and because of the winter solstice, the dessert section had an extra limited-edition dumpling set meal.

They also launched a Winter Solstice event, allowing participants to send a postcard to the future.

Lin Yujing, holding the book, found it somewhat amusing.

She recalled that when she was an undergraduate, the bookstore near the school gate first held such an event, which attracted a lot of people.

But she never did it, because she felt there was nothing to look forward to in the future.

But today, she walked over there unusually.

Pick out one from a pile of postcards, with a background full of starry night sky, and write in white marker:

[A-Shu: Late winter with no snow, dawn lost, I'm with you from afar. —Jingjing]

"Young lady, write down your postal code and address, and we can mail it for you," the shopkeeper said, noticing she hadn't taken the envelope.

Lin Yujing shook her head, "I won't send it."

The shop owner chuckled and scratched his head. "There are others who, like you, don't send their packages out. Do you want to store them at the shop? We guarantee they won't get lost."

Lin Yujing nodded, "Okay!"

She left her name and handed it to the boss.

-

Lin Yujing's premonitions were always very accurate. On the eve of the Lunar New Year, news suddenly broke in China that Chen Rongqing had abused his power for personal gain and used his position to profit the Huaren Group.

It caused quite a stir in the city.

The massive Huaren Group remained silent, trembling with fear.

She was worried about Chen Jingshu and Chen Jinyi, but after searching the entire internet, she couldn't find any news or updates about them.

Jiang Yingli, who was playing with his son behind her, comforted her after seeing this, saying, "Actually, not seeing any news about them is the best news. Usually, if it's directly announced, it means it's a done deal."

"I don't understand the business situation, so I'm still a little worried." Lin Yujing reached out and gently held Jiang Chibao's hand. But her furrowed brows betrayed her deep unease.

After all, she doesn't even have the right to call Chen Jingshu back to say hello.

"If you don't believe others, why don't you believe me?" Jiang Yingli scoffed and gave her an example: "There are many scandals in the aristocratic families of the capital. The reason why the Jiang family almost collapsed was because the affair between me and Jiang Yingzhi was a true story that was exposed."

Lin Yujing's heart skipped a beat, and she looked at her, "Xiao Li, I'm sorry for reminding you of sad things."

"There's nothing to be sad about. It was my own doing. I don't regret it." Jiang Yingli tucked the stray hairs that had fallen across her forehead behind her ear and comforted her, saying, "Huaren will have emergency response measures. Moreover, their legal team and public relations department are exceptionally strong."

Lin Yujing nodded, letting out a long sigh.

"I just don't understand, you two clearly loved each other so much and had the courage to be together, why didn't you end up together?"

"Perhaps, love is not the only option in life. We also have responsibilities and vulnerabilities."

Because her weakness is Chen Jingshu, she is destined to lose to Chen Rongqing's argument.

"If Chen Jingshu succeeds and really leads Huaren through transformation, so that they won't be bound by their families in the future, will you regret it?"

"No. His success proves that I did the right thing."

Jiang Yingli stood up. "As a fire sign, I really can't stand people who love but don't express it."

"Miss, I envy you. You always do things so freely."

But Jiang Yingli still sighed, "Aren't you going to Los Angeles to receive an award tomorrow? Hurry up and pack your bags and go to sleep."

Lin Yujing's latest painting has won another award. The award ceremony will be held in Los Angeles, and the organizers have provided her with airfare for tomorrow afternoon.

"good!"

"Will there be any interviews this time, that I can watch live on TV?"

Lin Yujing nodded, tidying up her computer as she stood up. "The staff told me that there was one, and they even gave me an interview transcript, asking me to prepare my answers in advance."

Jiang Yingli happily carried his son back to his room, saying, "I look forward to seeing you."

The following afternoon, Li Mu took her to the airport and then went back to work.

Half an hour before boarding, an airport announcement came that a sudden downpour had hit Los Angeles and the flight would be delayed.

Lin Yujing waited in the departure lounge until evening before boarding the plane.

As a result, when they landed and disembarked, Los Angeles was hit by another downpour.

When she arrived at the hotel provided by the organizer, the front desk staff informed her that she had missed the check-in time and that the original room had already been sold.

Lin Yujing was exhausted from her journey and had no energy left. Like a robot, she asked, "Are there any rooms available?"

The staff member's expression immediately changed, and they smiled and said to her, "For an extra $200, you can stay in a double room with unlimited hot water!"

Lin Yujing sighed, wanting nothing more than to lie down on the bed as soon as possible. "OK, then you can say it."

Just as Lin Yujing was about to take out cash, the staff member said again, "Madam, you need to swipe your card."

She realized that they must have taken advantage of the heavy rain to rip off customers by raising prices at the last minute.

Thinking of this, she felt even more exhausted, but she really didn't have the energy to argue anymore, so she had no choice but to compromise, "Okay, okay."

Lin Yujing is leaving for the awards ceremony at five o'clock tomorrow morning. It's already ten o'clock at night. She took out her bank card from her wallet and handed it over, saying, "Please hurry up, I'm very tired."

"Have a pleasant stay." The staff member, having completed the extra income, happily handed her the room key and bank card together.

Lin Yujing accepted the card expressionlessly, dragged her suitcase and her body, soaked from the downpour, into the elevator.

I can't wait to take a hot shower and then get some beauty sleep.

To her surprise, her phone rang as soon as she opened the hotel room door.

After she answered the call, there was no sound from the other end for a long time.

Lin Yujing had no choice but to speak first, asking, "Hello, who is this?"

The next moment, a cold voice came from the receiver, "Lin Yujing, have I spoiled you rotten? You took my card and went to a hotel with your boyfriend!"

She looked puzzled and quickly looked down at the two cards in her hand.

One was a hotel room key, but the other wasn't his own card; it was Chen Jingshu's supplementary card!

Now, even without seeing Chen Jingshu's face, she could imagine his furious and sinister expression.

She forgot that she had opened a new bank account in the United States, and the color of it was very similar to Chen Jingshu's card.

There had been near misses before, but she was too tired today to notice.

"I'm sorry, I just took the wrong card..." she apologized immediately.

But clearly, the two people are concerned about completely different issues.

Lin Yujing was worried that she had used Chen Jingshu's card, which made him very unhappy.

But Chen Jingshu was clearly asking about her and her boyfriend going to a hotel.

Chen Jingshu's cold laughter came through the phone receiver again, "I thought you wanted me to have some involvement too."

A note from the author:

Chen Jingshu: The software I should have had Liu Hua develop was a lie detector. Who knows? My wife lies to me so much that I have to wait for the instrument to answer every single question.

-

Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 19:26:18 on October 27, 2023 and 22:00:41 on October 28, 2023!

Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: Little Monster (10 bottles); Zha Zha Meng (1 bottle);

Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!