Ding—
The doorbell of the Xie family's house rang.
Mrs. Xie, who was in the living room, also heard the doorbell. The family's nanny went to open the door. It seemed like she heard a conversation, and Mrs. Xie, out of curiosity, followed her.
A woman in work clothes stood at the doorway, peering into the house.
Mrs. Xie: "What is it?"
Nanny: "Madam, this is the owner of the nearby dry cleaner. She brought a suit, saying it's for the young master."
Mrs. Xie walked over and took a look. It was indeed the young master's suit.
Woman: "Hello, I'm the owner of the dry cleaner. A customer asked me to clean this suit several months ago. But a long time has passed and no one has come to pick it up. I thought the customer might have forgotten, so I brought it over."
Mrs. Xie: "Yes, it belongs to my son. Thank you."
The woman handed the suit to Mrs. Xie.
Woman: "Oh, right, one of the buttons on this suit is missing. Our shop really doesn't have this kind of special button. I thought I should let you know."
Only then did Mrs. Xie carefully look at the spot where the button was missing on the suit. She glanced at the other buttons and instantly felt a sense of familiarity.
Mrs. Xie, carrying the suit, quickly walked into the bedroom.
She threw the suit on the bed and started rummaging through cabinets and drawers.
Mrs. Xie: "Where did it go!!! I distinctly remember bringing it back!!!"
Mrs. Xie searched through every drawer in the room but still couldn't find the button.
She sat on the edge of the bed, feeling anxious. She remembered finding a button by Xie Hongtian's bedside and it looked the same as the ones on Xie Youlin's suit!
Suddenly, an idea struck Mrs. Xie. She rushed to the wardrobe and looked through the clothes one by one, finally finding the suit she had worn to the hospital that day!
Mrs. Xie nervously reached into the jacket pocket and felt something. Indeed, she found it...
As Mrs. Xie tremblingly pulled out the identical button, she could hardly believe it. Xie Youlin had actually been to the hospital on the day Xie Hongtian passed away!!!
Mrs. Xie had always harbored a doubt: how could Xie Hongtian, a vegetative patient, suddenly pass away...
The doctor had clearly said he was only unconscious and his condition was stable. How could he have died?!
It seemed her suspicions were not unfounded...
What if, what if Xie Youlin had killed Xie Hongtian...
No, it's impossible!!!
Xie Youlin was their son. He wouldn't do anything so unfilial!
It must be a misunderstanding! She must have thought too much...
Mrs. Xie slumped to the floor, on the verge of a breakdown. She kept muttering, "It's not Xie Youlin, it's not Xie Youlin," as if trying to convince herself.
Suddenly, Mrs. Xie's bedroom door was knocked on, jolting her back from the brink of madness.
Nanny: "Madam, the young master is back."
Mrs. Xie quickly pocketed the button and hastily shoved the suit into the wardrobe.
Just as she was closing the door, Xie Youlin walked in.
Xie Youlin held a bouquet of baby's breath. It had been a long time since Xie Youlin had brought flowers to Mrs. Xie.
Xie Youlin: "Mom, what's wrong? You don't look well."
Mrs. Xie: "My son is back. It's nothing. Mom was just tidying up and might be a bit tired."
Xie Youlin glanced at the somewhat messy room. It seemed Mrs. Xie wasn't tidying up but rather searching for something.
To divert Xie Youlin's attention, Mrs. Xie immediately stepped forward and took the bouquet from him.
Mrs. Xie: "How beautiful."
Xie Youlin: "Mom, I'm so sorry I haven't been able to accompany you to Dad's grave recently. The company has been too busy..."
As soon as Xie Youlin mentioned Xie Hongtian, Mrs. Xie felt a chill run down her spine.
Xie Youlin's sensitivity immediately picked up on Mrs. Xie's unease.
Mrs. Xie: "It's alright. You've suddenly taken over your dad's group, and there's indeed a lot to learn. It's good this way, you'll adapt sooner, and your dad... your dad can rest in peace..."
Xie Youlin immediately hugged Mrs. Xie.
Xie Youlin: "Mom, thank you."
Mrs. Xie gently patted Xie Youlin's back.
Xie Youlin: "Mom, I have something to tell you."
Mrs. Xie appeared affectionate, but deep down, she felt a sense of fear towards her son. She even imagined a brutal son stabbing a knife into her heart.
Xie Youlin: "I want to establish a charitable foundation in my father's name."
Mrs. Xie's fantasy was shattered, and she stared at her son's face.
Mrs. Xie: "Why?"
Xie Youlin: "Because my father always taught me that what you learn, you should teach others; what you possess, you should share. That was his original intention when he founded the Xie family group."
Mrs. Xie nodded numbly. After being his wife for most of her life, he truly wasn't a good person. His rise to fortune was bloody...
Xie Hongtian's first fortune was not acquired honestly; it was stolen.
He started with a small printing press. To secure the printing contract for the local newspaper, he accumulated savings and then expanded, establishing a larger factory. He undercut prices relentlessly, forcing his competitors out of business.
However, it must be said that Xie Hongtian was visionary. He seemed to foresee the future and recognized that print media would decline. Thus, he reformed into a diversified cultural company, establishing a media company and an internet company.
But reform required sacrifice, like cutting off a piece of flesh from one's body.
Those older employees with specialized skills, who had worked their entire lives and deserved to enjoy their retirement, were cruelly abandoned by him. During the wave of layoffs, how many breadwinners who couldn't support their families were lost...
Xie Hongtian was that kind of person. He paid no attention to the well-being of others; his sole focus was on his own profit...
Xie Youlin: "Establishing a charitable foundation will also benefit us. This way, future expenses can be covered by the foundation, and the group can also enjoy tax exemption policies."
Xie Youlin was hiding something. A charitable foundation had a golden facade, but its interior was as filthy as a sewer!
To outsiders, Xie Youlin was donating Xie Hongtian's inheritance to the foundation, but in reality, he was still in control!
He could freely dispose of those assets through the foundation as he pleased, as long as the foundation could prove they were for charitable purposes!
After all, inheriting Xie Hongtian's estate, he would likely face a hefty inheritance tax. After deducting those taxes, there would be little left of the inheritance!
By using the foundation, he could exploit this loophole! Gain both fame and fortune, killing two birds with one stone!
Truly worthy of being the wealthy class's favorite method of handling their assets!!!
Mrs. Xie: "I don't understand these things. As long as you want to do it, Mom will support you."
Xie Youlin: "Thank you, Mom."
As Xie Youlin was about to leave the room, he turned back.
Xie Youlin: "Mom, are you free tomorrow?"
Mrs. Xie became uneasy.
Mrs. Xie: "I should be. What is it?"
Xie Youlin: "You need to come to the group with me to sign. After all, it's Dad's inheritance, and you have a share in it."
Mrs. Xie: "Okay."
After closing the door, Xie Youlin felt that Mrs. Xie seemed a bit abnormal. Even when he hugged her, she instinctively recoiled. She never used to do that.
Xie Youlin went downstairs and happened to encounter the nanny who was bringing bird's nest soup to Mrs. Xie.
Nanny: "Young Master."
Xie Youlin: "Did Madam go out today?"
Nanny: "No, Madam stayed home all day."
Xie Youlin: "Then, did anyone visit her?"
Nanny: "No. Oh, right, this evening, the dry cleaner owner came to deliver your suit. Madam received it for you. It seems a button was missing."
Xie Youlin: "Alright, I understand."
Xie Youlin immediately returned to his room. He opened the wardrobe and confirmed that Mrs. Xie had not put the suit in there.
Xie Youlin was puzzled. Why didn't she bring the suit up? Did she know a button was missing and wanted to get it fixed?
When Xie Youlin arrived at Mrs. Xie's door again, he knocked.
Mrs. Xie cautiously opened the door.
Xie Youlin: "Mom, have you seen my Armani suit? The dark blue one with vertical pinstripes?"
Mrs. Xie: "No, no, I haven't seen it..."
Xie Youlin smiled.
Xie Youlin: "Okay, then I must have left it in my office."
Mrs. Xie quickly closed the door. Xie Youlin chuckled coldly at the closed door.
Indeed, he had found the reason for Mrs. Xie's strange behavior!
Xie Youlin walked a few steps, then turned back and looked at the door with a sinister smile. He no longer had to pretend to be a filial son!
He had originally intended to continue taking care of Mrs. Xie, as the senile Mrs. Xie had treated him quite well. But since Mrs. Xie now knew he had killed Xie Hongtian, to be safe, it was best to send her on her way sooner rather than later!