Chapter 85 You must endure!
Chen Yi received a call from Lin Yuxun early in the morning. He invited her to his place for dinner in the evening. Surprisingly, she was very happy. He didn't like people to come to his place. Chen Yi had been there twice to discuss business with him a year ago. After that, she was afraid of annoying him and would not come to his house without permission. She suggested taking two servants to cook, but he refused. He said he would cook himself and also said that he would invite Lin Yushan. Lin Yushan was surprised and concluded that he must have something to do and insisted on asking what it was. He said that he didn't have dinner with them last week for his birthday and this was to make up for it. Today is Friday. Zhong Chengbing just returned from a business trip. Before leaving work, he reported to Lin Yushan's office and said that he came back specially to spend the weekend with her. They were going to go home together after work. "You go home and rest and wait for me. I'll go to Lin Yuxun's place for dinner in the evening and then come back." Lin Yushan said. "Why are you going to his place? Is there something?" He walked around behind her office chair, put his hands on her shoulders and started to massage them. "I guess he wants to have dinner with mom, but doesn't want to go home and be scolded by dad, so he asked mom to go to his place. Mom is weak, so he asked me to go over and keep her company." "Don't you see what kind of health mom is? You're just messing around. He's used to being willful. You just indulge him too much." He moved his fingers to her temples on both sides and pressed gently. Lin Yushan closed her eyes and sighed, "He is just a stubborn person. He has been very tired recently. Mom is the one who worries the most about his treatment. Now he is stuck in his business and is being chased by Dad for performance every day. The pressure is very high." "I see," Zhong Chengbing smiled, "This kid can't stand it anymore and has started to take a strategic approach. He wants to ask Mom and sister for support." "I wish he would ask for help. He doesn't care about anyone's kindness and is on guard. It's all your fault," she pressed his hand and turned to look at him, "Now he is even on guard against me. I am so tired of being caught in the middle! You are his brother-in-law, can't you take the initiative to ease the situation? What's the point of arguing with him? I said it was Mom who begged him to come back. You see, he has no intention of doing anything now and he doesn't have the ability. He might quit in a few days. The overall situation will have to rely on the two of us in the future. You are broad-minded. Dad is watching! Don't make Mom unhappy. Mom wants unity and we should be more filial." "How did I argue with him?" Zhong Chengbing raised his voice. "He's a Lin, and he doesn't contribute to the family. I've been working tirelessly to protect you, a Lin, and my wife. We've been working hard for the past few years, while he's been free and easy out there. Now he's back and acting hostile. I did exactly what you wanted, and I told him to divert my resources to him. He didn't appreciate it and just turned his back on me! He doesn't treat me as his brother-in-law, but he treats the family business like his own son...
Chen Yi received a call from Lin Yuxun early in the morning, and he invited her to have dinner at his place in the evening.
Unexpectedly, she was extremely happy.
He didn't like people coming to his place. Chen Yi had been there twice a year ago to discuss things with him, but after that, she was afraid of annoying him, so she wouldn't come to his house without his permission.
She suggested bringing two servants to cook, but he refused. He said he would cook himself and also said he would invite Lin Yushan.
Lin Yushan was surprised and concluded that he must have something wrong and insisted on asking what it was. He said that he didn't have dinner with them last week because of his birthday, so he wanted to make up for it.
Today is Friday. Zhong Chengbing just returned from a business trip. Before leaving get off work, he reported to Lin Yushan's office and said that he had rushed back to spend the weekend with her and they were going to go home together after get off work.
"You go home and rest and wait for me. I'll go to Lin Yuxun's place for dinner in the evening and then come back." Lin Yushan said.
"Why are you going to his place? Is there something wrong?" He walked around to her office chair, put his hands on her shoulders and started kneading them.
"I guess he wanted to have dinner with Mom, but didn't want to go home and be scolded by Dad, so he asked Mom to go to his place. Mom is weak, so he asked me to go over and keep her company."
"Don't you see what kind of body I have? Why are you messing around with me? He's used to being willful. You guys are just indulging him too much." He moved his fingers to her temples on both sides and pressed gently.
Lin Yushan closed her eyes and sighed, "He's just stubborn. He's been pretty exhausted lately. Mom has been the one worrying the most about his treatment, and now he's stuck in his own mess, and Dad's hounding him every day for performance. It's really stressful."
"I see," Zhong Chengbing said with a smile, "This kid can't hold on any longer, so he's starting to take a strategic approach and seek support from his mom and sister."
"I wish he'd ask for help. He's not interested in anyone's kindness and is on guard. It's all your fault," she stopped his hand and turned to look at him. "Now he's even on guard against me. I'm so tired of being caught in the middle! You're his brother-in-law, can't you take the initiative to ease the situation? Why fight with him? I already said it was Mom who begged him to come back. Look, he has no intention of doing anything now, and he's not capable enough. He might quit in a few days. From now on, the overall situation will depend on the two of us. You're very tolerant, Dad is watching! And don't make Mom unhappy. Mom wants unity, and we should be more filial."
"How did I argue with him?" Zhong Chengbing raised his voice. "He's a Lin, and he doesn't contribute to the family. I've been working day and night to protect you, a Lin, and my wife. We've been working hard for the past few years, and he's been having a free time outside. Now he's back and he's hostile. I did exactly what you wanted, and I told him to divert my resources to him. He didn't appreciate it and just turned his back on me! It's one thing for him not to treat me as his brother-in-law, but he treats the family business like a joke!"
"Okay, okay," she stood up and touched his face, "I know you've been having a hard time. Don't bother with him."
"I'm not arguing with him! He's already like this now. If he really has real power in the future, won't he kick me out of Tongya? You said, I worked so hard for you and your father, but now I've become a dog of your Lin family?"
"You think too much. Dad knows what's going on. Everyone sees your dedication and abilities. No matter what, we as a family must stand together. Don't try to coexist peacefully with Jiang Zhiping all day. He's an outsider, taking over our family's things!"
"Do you think I'm stupid? Now she can't do anything with Dad. I'm using her, and she's using me too. When the time comes, I'll deal with her sooner or later."
Lin Yushan glanced at her watch and said, "I have to go."
"Shall I take you there?"
"You take a rest, the driver will take you there."
Since Lin Yuxun joined the company, the two often had such private discussions.
Lin Yushan always chose to escape from the discussion. Being caught between Zhong Chengbing and Lin Yuxun was really tiring.
Lin Yuxun had always been an outcast from the family, and she had initially accepted it with resignation, wanting to indulge his innate love of freedom while shouldering the responsibilities. Chen Yi had previously expressed her willingness to let him be and let her take the brunt of the situation. She didn't understand why Chen Yi had been so determined to persuade him to return a year ago. She had sought out Lin Yuxun on Chen Yi's behalf, but to no avail. Ultimately, it was Chen Yi herself who finally dealt with him. She had no idea how the situation would develop; she couldn't fathom anyone's intentions.
She had no strong desire for power, fame, or wealth. Having been instilled with responsibility by Lin Guanghui since childhood, she was accustomed to obedience, never disobeying, and felt a sense of responsibility for the family business. Now that Lin Yuxun had come in, she still believed that with his ability and condition, he could not support the Lin family business, and that she would ultimately have to rely on him.
However, this man who had held her hand for many years often complained about Lin Yuxun's "disrespect" to him, which made her gradually lose sight of Lin Yuxun. The two siblings did develop a gap, and she was unable to make a clear judgment.
But she trusted Zhong Chengbing. He had been there for her when she was lonely and helpless studying abroad, and he had been there for her when she returned home to shoulder the burden, sharing her burdens and relieving her stress. She felt she couldn't have fought Jiang Zhiping alone without Zhong Chengbing. If she ever inherited the family business, she wouldn't mind letting Zhong Chengbing take the helm.
Lin Yuxun didn't go to the company in the afternoon.
He thought about the significance of this meal every day during the three months he endured. The two women he wanted to protect had been cruelly summoned together by him to go through this together, and he had no idea how it would end.
He started drinking in the afternoon, and only when his nerves were numb did he focus on preparing dinner.
Chen Yi came very early, arriving at five o'clock.
The two Filipino maids and the driver sent her to the door and then went back to the car to wait.
"My son can cook, right?" She smiled kindly as she entered the room and hugged her son.
Lin Yuxun turned his head to avoid her face and took the bag and coat from her hands. "Are you feeling okay?"
"I'm fine!"
She followed her son into his space. It was a large, minimalist space. Aside from the master bedroom, two bathrooms, and the load-bearing walls, all the other walls had been gutted and rebuilt. The last time she'd been here, she'd joked with a smile, "One look at this room and you'd know your son was still single."
The last time I saw her, she was so casual and even a little messy. Today, the house is tidy, clean and comfortable. Chen Yi walked around, feeling inexplicably heavy in her heart.
His place is located on the Pazhou River, close to the drone company. Chen Yi stood in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling windows on the enclosed balcony, looking out at the CBD across the street. "It's pretty close to the company, so you don't have to move. It's too tiring."
"You go and rest, I haven't finished yet." He pointed to the kitchen.
"Let's do it together! Oh, I haven't shown off my cooking skills in years. This is a rare opportunity for you to recall the taste of mom's food." Chen Yi rolled up her sleeves and smiled.
He grabbed her wrist and said, "Mom, listen to me and go to rest. Next time you come over, let me do it this time."
She smelled alcohol on him and saw bloodshot eyes. She felt something was wrong with him when he entered the room. She concluded that he must have something to discuss tonight.
"Okay, just shout if you need help." She smiled.
She sat quietly on the sofa, watching him. He was preparing Western dishes at the open kitchen island. His movements seemed a little unfamiliar and clumsy, but not hurried. It just felt like he was heavy, like he was heavy all over.
People who watched it also felt heavy in their hearts.
Lin Yushan didn't arrive until 7 o'clock. He was almost done.
As soon as she walked in, she shouted with a smile, "Lin Yuxun, are you giving Mom and me special treatment? What's going on?"
After hanging up her bag and coat, she went into the bathroom to wash her hands. She went to the hall to be intimate with Chen Yi for a while, then wandered over to him and smelled the scent of black pepper. "It's not quite right to say that you're left to fend for yourself. You're okay at fending for yourself. If you can't fend for yourself, you can still cook."
Lin Yuxun couldn't face her teasing calmly, so he just kept doing his own thing.
There were seven or eight white plates already placed on the table. She took a look and they looked quite nicely arranged.
"Almost done." He garnished the fried scallops that had just been placed on the plate with yellow mustard.
He brought the leftover red wine from the afternoon to the table, saying he would drink it himself, and poured warm water for Chen Yi and Lin Yushan.
Chen Yi sat down at the table and carefully examined the dishes, her face showing surprise. Shrimp with confit cherry tomatoes, steak, pan-fried cod, smoked salmon, foie gras with caviar, ham and cheese salad, and mushroom cream pasta. He had prepared them all perfectly.
"I'm just learning and doing my best." He poured himself a drink.
Chen Yi was somewhat moved. "It's been so many years. I'm so happy today. You two are on my left and right, just the three of us... just like before..."
Seeing her laughing until tears came out, Lin Yushan reached out and held her hand.
She remembered when she was in elementary school, when the family business was still in its infancy. Chen Yi would be busy at work and at home, and for a long time, dinner would always be the three of them. They were a normal family during that time, with real, ordinary happiness, although Lin Guanghui was often absent. Later, after graduating from junior high school, she went abroad on her own. When she returned, it seemed she never felt a normal family atmosphere again. She also found her home oppressive.
"Come on, Lin Yuxun, let's toast to the dinner you carefully prepared!" She raised her glass.
Chen Yi was in high spirits. While eating, she talked about her childhood with her siblings. She lamented that if she could go back in time, she would rather go back to that time, saying that it was the happiest time in her life.
Lin Yushan also talked a lot. When she mentioned that before she went abroad, Lin Yuxun cried and refused to let her go, she laughed and said that he was attached to her when he was a child, but became a bad boy when he grew up.
He was the only one who kept silent, forcing a smile from time to time to match them.
After finishing her meal, Lin Yushan wiped her hands with a wet tissue. "Lin Yuxun, why aren't you talking? Are you in trouble? Tell me. Mom and I can help you. Tell me."
He finished his drink and finally looked up at her.
"Lin Yushan," he said in a deep voice, "I have something to tell you. It's about you."
Seeing him like this, the mother and daughter looked at each other and waited for him to continue.
He paused, "Regarding Zhong Chengbing, it's about his loyalty to you and his deception. I hope you can listen to me calmly."
Chen Yi's face twitched slightly, and she leaned back in her chair, calm as if she knew everything, waiting for him to continue.
Lin Yushan's face froze instantly. She glanced at Chen Yi, then her face darkened and she asked him, "What do you mean?"
Lin Yuxun wiped his face, stood up and went to the desk on the side of the hall, and took out an A4-sized file bag from the drawer.
He handed it to her, "Zhong Chengbing did something dirty behind your back."
She took it.
He stopped looking at her, turned around and walked to the sofa and sat down, leaning back, anxiously waiting.
She didn't open the bag immediately, but placed it on the table, obviously flustered.
After looking at Chen Yi who was calm with her eyes closed, she picked up the file bag again and took out the things inside.
She flipped through the photos quickly, her fingers shaking violently. They were all with women whose nationalities were unclear, and the background looked like an erotic place. It was obvious at a glance that it was from Japan, where he often went on business trips.
She shoved the photo back into the briefcase, so hastily that the seal tore. She stood up, yanking the briefcase over, glared fiercely at the person sitting on the sofa, and without a word, turned and started to leave.
"Xiao Shan!" Chen Yi called her.
She stood there with her back to Chen Yi, unable to hold back, biting her lips, unable to control the tears in her eyes.
"Come back and sit down, let mom tell you." Chen Yi's voice was tired and majestic.
Lin Yushan turned around abruptly, "Listen to you? What are you talking about? I'm going to kill him!"
She suddenly rushed to Lin Yuxun like crazy.
"What do you want to do? Why did you take pictures of these things!... You want to destroy everything for me, right? What on earth do you want! Lin Yuxun... What on earth do you want! Tell me!..." She lost control and yelled at him.
"What do I want?" Lin Yuxun also stood up excitedly, feeling sorry for her and angry at her obsession. "What does he want from being with you? He's acting in front of you every day, can't you see it at all? I can see it! I see it clearly! These are just part of it. There are some things I don't want to tell you." He paused and controlled his emotions. "What do I want? You are my sister, I want you to wake up! I want you to live with dignity. I can't stand seeing you being controlled by a scumbag! I can't be blind!"
She smiled bitterly and nodded, "I can see... you really want to fight for it! How did you become like this? You didn't want it anymore, and now you're using such disgusting means to fight for it? You're just like him, neither of you is a good person! Lin Yuxun, I'm telling you, I won't let Zhong Chengbing go, he must die! I want him to die horribly! But don't even think about achieving your goal!"
She believed that his motive was only to gain power and he had no regard for her feelings or her life or death.
"Why are you filming these for me to see? Do you care about my feelings? You're unscrupulous!"
"If I don't show you, will you believe what I say? Without these things, he will just continue to act, saying that I am trying to sow discord between you and that I want to steal your things, right? Lin Yushan, think about it yourself! Think about it calmly..."
"I can't calm down! Am I just a tool in your fight?..."
"Enough!" Chen Yi shouted sternly.
She frowned in pain, opened her eyes, slowly stood up, came over to hold Lin Yushan's shoulders, and held her in her arms, "Calm down, don't go, Mom will talk to you..." Her body was obviously very tired and weak, but her tone was calm and powerful.
Lin Yushan sat back down under her comfort, her intense emotions subsided, and she fell into silence and confusion.
"You don't know the real reason why I forced Xiaoxun to come back to the company. I have long seen that Zhong Chengbing is not a trustworthy person, he is a problematic person. Even Xiaoxun can see it, Xiaoshan, you really can't see through him. Even if mom feels something is wrong, how can I convince you to let this person leave? Empty words are not enough." Chen Yi said slowly.
She sighed and continued, "Don't doubt Xiaoxun's intentions. He just wants to protect you as his sister. If he wanted these things, he would have returned long ago. Where would there be room for Zhong Chengbing? It was me who forced him back, willing to die with my eyes wide open." She glanced at Lin Yuxun, whose face was covered with her palm. "I asked him to come back for only one reason: to give you someone to rely on. You can't carry such a heavy burden alone. He should shoulder the responsibility of the Lin family with you. No one else can be relied on. You siblings should trust and support each other."
She felt dizzy for a moment and closed her eyes to relax. Lin Yushan nervously supported her. She waved her hand away, "It's okay."
She looked at her daughter with burning eyes. "You are alone, being manipulated by Zhong Chengbing, and listening to your father in everything. You can't be yourself. Xiaoshan, betrayal is not scary, but not being able to be yourself is scary. If Xiaoxun doesn't come back, the Lin family's property will eventually fall into the hands of someone with a different surname, either Jiang or Zhong. Then your mother will die with regrets. If you don't face it now, the future you will face will be even more cruel, and that will be the real destruction. You have to be calm now, you have to endure it."
When she is at home, nothing escapes her eyes.
"How can I bear it?" Lin Yushan smiled bitterly.
"Let mom tell you how I have endured all my life."
Lin Yuxun couldn't stand it anymore and suddenly stood up and stood in front of the glass window to look out. He was not completely unaware of how she endured it. It was precisely because he was unwilling to accept her forbearance that he compromised.
"I attend every year's group annual meeting. For the group photo, I stand on your father's side," Chen Yi said calmly. "I have to put up with the woman standing on his other side. I have to smile at all the employees. I want everyone to see that our Lin family is successful and happy. I put up with that one before, and in recent years, I've had Jiang Zhiping. Do you think I don't know what her relationship is with your father?"
She lowered her head and turned the jade bead in her hand, "I have been enduring since I was young, enduring for you two siblings, and I have endured until now. The family business was built by him and I, and it can only belong to you two. I want to see with my own eyes that the people standing on the other side of him are replaced by you!" Chen Yi choked.
"Mom... stop talking..." Lin Yushan hugged her.
"You must endure. Now is not the time to expose him. Besides this matter, I'm afraid there are a lot of accounts to be settled. You have more important things to do. You must remain calm. You are not Zhong Chengbing's tool, nor are you Lin Guanghui's tool. You are my daughter, Lin Yuxun's sister, and you are yourself!" She held her hand. "I hope you two will think carefully about what is going to happen next, think through all aspects, and then act. You share a common destiny and should face it together."
Lin Yushan burst into tears.
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