Xie Youlin had an extremely difficult day.
Even after returning home, he was deeply unsettled, perhaps more anxious than he had ever been.
When the household staff saw Xie Youlin return, even a soft greeting like "Young Master is back" sent a cold sweat down his back.
It was understandable, as his mind was consumed with how to bring up what Tong Li had said to Xie Hongtian.
He knew Xie Hongtian would surely fly into a rage and berate him, but he had to try. This was his only chance to save himself.
Xie Youlin: "Is my father back?"
Servant: "Not yet, Young Master."
Xie Youlin breathed a sigh of relief. He continued to ask, "And my mother?"
Servant: "Madam and Miss Shen are in the kitchen."
Xie Youlin froze. What Miss Shen? Shen Yuxuan? That fake girlfriend?
Xie Youlin hurried towards the kitchen. Even without seeing her face, just hearing that silly laughter was enough to confirm it was Shen Yuxuan!!!
Just as Xie Youlin was about to question her presence at their home, Mrs. Xie turned around. Xie Youlin immediately changed his expression.
Mrs. Xie: "My son is back. Look who's here."
Shen Yuxuan: "Youlin."
Xie Youlin: "You, why are you here?"
Mrs. Xie: "I asked her to come. I was bored at home and asked her to keep me company."
Xie Youlin: "Is that so? Does Dad know?"
Shen Yuxuan: "Uncle..."
Mrs. Xie patted Shen Yuxuan's hand, deliberately stopping her from answering.
Mrs. Xie: "Miss Shen is here to keep me company. Do I need to report to your father?"
Seeing Shen Yuxuan's distressed look, Xie Youlin guessed they hadn't told Xie Hongtian!
Since her last hospitalization, Mrs. Xie's behavior had been increasingly normal!
Her memory had also improved significantly. What she used to forget within a night, she now remembered clearly. It didn't seem like someone who had been taking epilepsy medication long-term.
Xie Youlin: "Since I'm back, can Miss Shen leave now?"
Shen Yuxuan immediately put down the dough she was holding, but Mrs. Xie stopped her again.
Mrs. Xie: "Youlin! How rude of you! Miss Shen has been with me all day. Wouldn't it be nice to have her stay for dinner?"
Shen Yuxuan looked at Mrs. Xie, then at Xie Youlin. But Xie Youlin's gaze was a clear warning for her to leave.
Shen Yuxuan: "Auntie, I won't be staying. It's getting late, I should head back."
Xie Youlin: "Then I'll take you."
Mrs. Xie: "Don't you dare leave!"
Mrs. Xie seemed somewhat angry, offended by her son's rude behavior towards a guest.
Her shout also startled Xie Youlin.
Everyone nervously looked at Mrs. Xie, including the servants in the kitchen, who feared her emotions might trigger an epileptic episode.
Mrs. Xie: "Xiaoxuan, don't listen to my son. You're staying for dinner at my house!"
Shen Yuxuan was caught between a rock and a hard place, unsure how to handle the situation. At this moment, Xie Youlin finally relented.
Xie Youlin: "Since my mother wants you to stay for dinner, why don't you proactively help her prepare it?"
Shen Yuxuan: "Ah? Oh, alright, Auntie, I'll do it."
Mrs. Xie finally smiled. She patted Shen Yuxuan's hand and continued, "What kind of host would let a guest cook? Don't listen to my son! You two go wait outside. I'll call you when dinner is ready."
Mrs. Xie intentionally sent Xie Youlin and Shen Yuxuan away, which coincidentally gave Xie Youlin an opportunity to clarify things.
Xie Youlin: "Didn't I tell you before that no matter what my mother says, you can refuse? This is not part of your duties as my fake girlfriend!"
Shen Yuxuan: "I know, but I really feel sorry for Mrs. Xie..."
Xie Youlin: "What did you say!"
Shen Yuxuan realized she had spoken out of turn. She had agreed to stay with Mrs. Xie because of something she overheard at the hospital.
She now knew that Xie Youlin was also an actor hired by Xie Hongtian, and the whole family was deceiving Mrs. Xie. This was too cruel...
Shen Yuxuan: "No, I mean, she's so lonely..."
At this moment, Xie Hongtian returned.
As soon as he got out of the car, Xie Hongtian yelled Xie Youlin's name, unaware that there were guests at home.
Xie Hongtian: "Xie Youlin, you'd better..."
Xie Hongtian noticed Shen Yuxuan's presence. He stopped short, his gaze filled with surprise as he looked first at the girl, then at Xie Youlin.
Xie Hongtian: "What are you doing at my house?"
Just then, Mrs. Xie came out with a platter. She had heard Xie Hongtian's shouting.
Mrs. Xie: "You truly are father and son. I asked her to come, alright? Is there anything else you want to ask?"
Xie Hongtian: "Why?"
Mrs. Xie: "You father and son are out working all day, and the doctor won't let me leave the house. I was too bored at home and wanted someone to talk to. Besides, Xiaoxuan is my son's girlfriend. What's wrong with her coming to keep me company?"
Seeing Mrs. Xie's determined stance on keeping Shen Yuxuan, Xie Hongtian didn't say anything further. He lowered his voice, wanting to speak to Xie Youlin privately.
Mrs. Xie reached out and stopped Xie Hongtian.
Mrs. Xie: "Talk about what? Can't you see I'm serving dinner? Dinner is almost ready. Are you going to make me and our guest wait while you talk? Anything can be discussed after dinner!"
Mrs. Xie's attitude was somewhat stern. It not only startled Xie Youlin but also shocked Xie Hongtian. He hadn't seen such a resolute Mrs. Xie in a long time.
Despite this, when everyone was seated, the atmosphere at the dining table remained somber, and Xie Youlin, in particular, never smiled.
The awkward Shen Yuxuan didn't know how to respond, but thankfully, Mrs. Xie initiated a conversation.
While the two women chatted happily, the two men at the table were so subdued, they seemed eager to finish eating and leave.
Xie Hongtian suddenly put down his chopsticks and declared, "I'm done," before leaving the dining room.
Xie Youlin, preoccupied and having barely eaten, also put down his chopsticks.
Mrs. Xie: "Why are you eating so little?"
Xie Youlin: "I'm not very hungry. Mom, I'll go check on Dad."
Before Mrs. Xie could say anything, Xie Youlin got up and followed.
When they reached the study, Xie Youlin gently closed the door.
Xie Youlin: "Dad..."
Xie Hongtian snatched a book from the table and threw it at Xie Youlin. Xie Youlin didn't dodge. He knew why Xie Hongtian was angry but dared not disobey.
Xie Hongtian: "Aren't you confident about your education center? The entire internet is now condemning you for running a heartless enterprise! False advertising, hiring unqualified teachers without credentials? You are unbelievably audacious!"
Xie Youlin: "Dad, I know I was wrong..."
Xie Hongtian: "Don't call me Dad. I could never have a scoundrel son like you!"
Xie Youlin: "Please, help me. If I can't maintain the stock price, I'll lose everything..."
Xie Hongtian: "What do you mean?"
Xie Youlin, trembling, explained the agreement he signed with Huaming Capital. Xie Hongtian grew even angrier!
He slammed the table with force and yelled at Xie Youlin's face!
Xie Youlin: "I really have no other choice. I didn't want this..."
Xie Youlin: "Dad, help me. Just this once, and I promise to listen to you about everything from now on..."
Xie Hongtian: "What you're doing is illegal! How can I help you! You're too opportunistic. You're not cut out for business!"
Xie Youlin could only plead repeatedly, but Xie Hongtian's stance was firm. He not only refused to provide funds to help Xie Youlin maintain the stock price but also insisted that Xie Youlin's education center have no connection whatsoever to the Xie family's conglomerate.
Xie Hongtian: "Give up on that idea. I wouldn't bat an eye even if you lost everything. You don't deserve anything from my Xie family!"
Xie Hongtian roared at Xie Youlin to get out. However, after only a few shouts, Xie Hongtian felt a sharp pain in his chest!
His one hand remained in the air, while the other clutched his chest with difficulty. The argument with Xie Youlin had triggered a heart attack.
Xie Hongtian tried to steady himself by reaching for the table, but after only a few steps, he collapsed to the floor.
Xie Youlin was terrified. He rushed over, calling out anxiously.
Xie Youlin: "Dad! Dad, are you alright!!!"
Xie Hongtian raised a finger, pointing to a drawer on the table where he kept his emergency heart medication.
Xie Hongtian: "Medicine, medicine..."
Xie Youlin immediately ran to the drawer, fumbling for the medicine bottle. As he held the bottle and looked at Xie Hongtian, who was on the verge of death on the floor, he hesitated!
Xie Hongtian was so unsympathetic. He wouldn't care about this son's life or death. Even after being his son for so many years, Xie Hongtian had always treated Xie Youlin as an outsider!
For some reason, a dark thought guided Xie Youlin, as if it were a clear path!
It was to let Xie Hongtian die!!!
The Xie family's assets would surely be divided among his heirs. Then, not only could he save his current education center, but the entire Xie family conglomerate would also become his!!!
Xie Youlin nervously watched Xie Hongtian, his hand tightly gripping the medicine bottle.
As he saw Xie Hongtian on the brink of death, he felt a flicker of guilt. But that guilt was not enough to compensate for the years of humiliation he had endured!
He wanted to watch the old man die!!!