Xie Hongtian returned home rather late today.
As he hurried out of his car, worried about whether his wife at home had taken her medicine on time or had an episode, he saw the light on in the master bedroom.
Xie Hongtian put on the slippers the housekeeper offered and quickly washed his hands.
Xie Hongtian: "Why isn't Madam asleep yet? Has she taken her medicine? How is she today?"
Housekeeper: "She's taken her medicine. I don't know what's going on, but ever since Young Master came home, she's been chatting with him. She doesn't seem sleepy now."
Xie Hongtian: "Is Youlin upstairs?"
Housekeeper: "Yes, he is. Young Master has been with Madam."
Xie Hongtian finally felt relieved.
The housekeeper knocked on the door for Xie Hongtian. Madam was sitting on the bed, with Xie Youlin leaning by the bedside. The two seemed to be chatting happily while looking at a phone.
Madam Xie: "You're back."
Xie Youlin: "Dad."
Xie Hongtian: "Yes, what are you two chatting about so happily?"
Madam Xie: "What else could we be talking about but my precious son!"
Xie Youlin stood up and offered his chair to Xie Hongtian.
Madam Xie quickly handed the phone to Xie Hongtian, looking very proud.
Madam Xie: "Look, look, our son is so accomplished! There's even a reporter interviewing him!"
Xie Hongtian: "Is that so? Let me see."
Madam Xie opened the video of the reporter interviewing Xie Youlin's training school. Although Xie Hongtian was not entirely satisfied, seeing his wife's happy expression, he didn't want to dampen her spirits.
Xie Hongtian: "Not bad."
Madam Xie: "Not bad? This is an interview with our city's television station! They're praising our son as a young and promising principal!"
Xie Hongtian: "It's just a training institution."
Madam Xie: "I won't be happy if you say that. You're never satisfied with whatever my son does. Now that he's achieved something, why are you, as his father, still so serious?"
Xie Hongtian: "Alright, alright, I'll listen to you. I'll praise him!"
Xie Youlin: "Dad is right. I still have many shortcomings, and I'm far behind you, Dad."
Madam Xie: "Son, your father is just afraid you'll become arrogant. You know he loves you."
Xie Youlin smiled and nodded, but he knew in his heart that Xie Hongtian looked down on him in many ways. However, the more this was the case, the more he wanted to prove himself!
Madam Xie: "By the way, Hongtian, I have something to tell you. Son, you go back to your room and rest first."
Xie Hongtian was a little surprised. Madam Xie was speaking to him so clearly; could it be that nothing had happened?
After Xie Youlin left, Xie Hongtian began to scrutinize Madam Xie nervously.
Madam Xie: "Hongtian, our son wants to transform his training institution into an online and offline synchronized educational institution. I quite support his idea, and I've seen his achievements. While the momentum is high, can you help him?"
Xie Hongtian's head buzzed. No matter what Xie Youlin did with his educational institution, it had little to do with the Xie family. The Xie family didn't rely on Xie Youlin for support, and similarly, the Xie family wouldn't financially help outsiders.
Xie Hongtian: "Online is not that easy. Although it's popular, our group has been doing this for so long and understands these training institutions thoroughly. Does Xie Youlin have that capability?"
Madam Xie: "That's why, as his father, you should help him!"
Xie Hongtian: "How can I help? He refused to work at the group. Isn't it fine for him to be a regular white-collar worker?"
"Even if he has some achievements now, this is not success! After this wave of popularity fades, who will remember him and his training institution?"
Madam Xie: "Why are you so indifferent to your son?"
Xie Hongtian was stunned. He never thought of it as indifference. On the contrary, he felt he had done too much for Xie Youlin!
Xie Hongtian: "He eats my food, uses my things, spends my money, lives in my house, has so many servants attending to him, and they call him 'Young Master' all the time. Am I still indifferent to him? Haven't I been too good to him?"
Madam Xie: "He is your son! Isn't it natural for him to have all of this?"
Xie Hongtian: "He doesn't deserve it!"
This angry roar silenced Madam Xie. She stared at the red-faced Xie Hongtian with disbelief for several seconds.
Xie Hongtian also realized he had said too much, almost saying the wrong thing!
Xie Hongtian: "I mean..."
Madam Xie stared at Xie Hongtian, wanting to hear why he was so angry, but this gaze only made Xie Hongtian flustered.
Xie Hongtian: "I'm tired. You should rest early too. I'll sleep in the study."
Madam Xie: "Hongtian..."
Madam Xie wanted to call out to Xie Hongtian, but at this moment, Xie Hongtian only wanted to escape. He felt that any more words would be wrong, and it was better to stop there. Perhaps Madam Xie would forget about it after a good night's sleep.
***
The next morning, Xie Youlin was waiting in the dining room for Madam Xie and Xie Hongtian to have breakfast together.
For many years, no matter what happened the night before, the whole family had to sit together in the dining room for meals. This was the Xie family's motto.
When the aunt in the dining room had already placed everyone's breakfast on the table, Madam Xie came downstairs first. She looked well, seemingly unaffected by the argument the night before.
However, Xie Hongtian was not doing well. He had a makeshift sleep in the study and was clearly exhausted.
He walked to the dining table and glanced at the breakfast. The aunt was waiting for him to sit down before pouring him milk.
Finally, it was Xie Youlin who broke the silence.
Xie Youlin: "Dad, good morning."
Xie Hongtian looked up at his son, then at Madam Xie, who was already seated.
Xie Hongtian: "I have no appetite. I'm going to work."
Xie Youlin was about to follow when Madam Xie stopped him.
Madam Xie: "Let him go."
Xie Youlin: "But..."
Madam Xie: "Sit down."
Xie Youlin looked at Xie Hongtian's retreating back, feigning concern.
Xie Youlin: "What's wrong with Dad? Did I do something wrong?"
Madam Xie raised her hand and touched Xie Youlin's face.
Madam Xie: "No, don't mind him. Eat your breakfast."
Xie Youlin nodded, obediently putting on a show.
Madam Xie took a passbook out of her pocket and placed it in front of Xie Youlin.
Xie Youlin: "Mom, what is this?"
Madam Xie: "Mom supports your entrepreneurship. Let's make the education center a listed company! Let your dad see that you're no worse than him!"
Xie Youlin carefully opened the passbook. The number on it startled him.
Over nine million? Xie Youlin knew the Xie family was wealthy, but Madam Xie casually producing a passbook with over nine million yuan showed that the Xie family's fortune was indeed substantial!
Xie Youlin pushed it back.
Xie Youlin: "Mom, I can't accept this money. Going public requires a lot of capital, but I can borrow money or partner with others. I've already talked to a venture capital firm, and they will help me find a way."
Madam Xie: "Take it. I know you're proud, but this is Mom's intention. What parents don't support their children's ventures to some extent?"
"Besides, this is not much. This is just the pocket money your dad has given me over the years. I've been sick for so many years, and I haven't had anywhere to spend it."
Xie Youlin: "Then I really can't take it. This is all of Mom's savings."
Madam Xie: "Silly child, what belongs to the Xie family, doesn't it belong to you? One day, when your father and I are gone, won't all of this be left to you?"
Xie Youlin's heart was struck by Madam Xie's words!
Perhaps in this family, the only one who truly regarded him as a son was the ailing Madam Xie.
But Madam Xie was crazy or foolish; she had no idea that the son in front of her was not her biological son at all!
If she were to regain her sanity, this imposter son would have no place to stand!
Seeing Xie Youlin's hesitation, Madam Xie insisted on stuffing the passbook into his hand.
Madam Xie: "Mom isn't giving this to you for nothing. You have to make this nine million become ten million, twenty million, thirty million, even ninety million!"
Xie Youlin was so excited he couldn't speak. He choked slightly, his eyes suddenly reddening.
For so many years as a son in the Xie family, he had walked on thin ice, terrified of angering Xie Hongtian, and even more afraid of Madam Xie discovering his deception by accident.
Many times when Xie Hongtian had beaten, insulted, and threatened him, he had thought about running away, even considering extorting some money before leaving!
But now, as Madam Xie personally handed him over nine million yuan, he surprisingly felt a bit afraid to accept the money!
Xie Youlin: "I will. I must make the education center the most renowned online education brand in the country!"