Since Xie Hongtian was hospitalized due to illness, Xie Youlin finally felt a sense of ease and freedom he had never experienced before in his life.
He no longer had to abide by those suffocating rules to play the part of the good son of the Xie family!!!
That evening, Xie Youlin was thoroughly drunk. He had tried to save the education center by seeking help from many wealthy friends, but none of them were willing to lend him a hand at this critical juncture.
As soon as he pushed open the gate of the Xie residence, Xie Youlin leaned against a tree by the entrance and threw up. The nanny walked over and offered him a towel.
Xie Youlin: "Where's my mother?"
Nanny: "Madam is asleep."
Xie Youlin: "I'll go see my mother."
Xie Youlin staggered towards Mrs. Xie's room, and with a loud bang, he roughly pushed the door open.
Xie Youlin: "Mom, are you asleep?"
Mrs. Xie was lying on her side. Xie Youlin couldn't see her face, but she remained motionless, appearing to be fast asleep.
Xie Youlin: "My mother is asleep..."
The nanny walked over, intending to help Xie Youlin, but he dodged her.
Xie Youlin: "No need, I have a few words to say to my mother."
Nanny: "Young master, it's very late. Madam is asleep. You can talk tomorrow. You should rest too."
Ignoring the nanny's obstruction, Xie Youlin managed to reach Mrs. Xie's bedside by taking three backward steps, and then collapsed onto the floor, reeking of alcohol.
Xie Youlin: "Mom, in this family, only you treat me the best..."
Xie Youlin: "I know the Xie family... that old man Xie Hongtian looks down on me. He always scolds me, and he often hits me..."
Xie Youlin: "He even... threatened me... threatened my parents... I'm sorry, I can't say..."
The drunken Xie Youlin almost let slip that Xie Hongtian had threatened his biological parents, but fortunately, he reacted in time.
Xie Youlin: "Mom, I'll tell you one thing. I, Xie Youlin, will become a very successful man! As long as I'm here, the education center will be here! Don't worry, I'll make Xie Hongtian understand that I am the best son!"
After his impassioned speech, Xie Youlin suddenly collapsed and fell into a deep sleep. The nanny called for others, and together they carried Xie Youlin out.
After everyone had left Mrs. Xie's room, she slowly turned over. She gazed in the direction of the door for a long time, her eyes filled with guilt.
***
The next morning, Mrs. Xie, accompanied by the nanny, entered Xie Youlin's room. At this time, Xie Youlin was also getting ready to get up.
Xie Youlin held his head, the morning after a hangover just as unbearable.
Xie Youlin: "Mom, why are you here?"
Mrs. Xie picked up the bowl handed to her by the nanny and blew on it.
Mrs. Xie: "You, don't work yourself so hard. Drinking so much, no wonder your head hurts in the morning!"
When Mrs. Xie felt the soup was no longer too hot, she personally fed it to Xie Youlin.
Mrs. Xie: "Hangover soup. I asked Auntie to make it for you. You're young, but you can't wear out your body like this."
Xie Youlin smiled and said, "Only Mom dotes on me."
Mrs. Xie: "How is the company doing recently?"
Xie Youlin: "Pretty good..."
Mrs. Xie: "Son, I know you're having a tough time right now..."
"Your father is in a coma. If he were awake, and you could persuade him, the Xie family's group could become your support..."
"But now that he's unconscious, no one is making decisions, leaving you isolated and helpless..."
Xie Youlin: "It will get better..."
Mrs. Xie: "It's just that I'm more worried about your father now. He's getting old. He was actually planning to step down a long time ago. I've advised him many times to hand over the Xie family business to you to manage..."
Xie Youlin listened silently. He seemed to have found a glimmer of hope. If Xie Hongtian were willing to give up his position, wouldn't everything be resolved and settled?
Xie Youlin: "Mom, how is my dad... in the hospital?"
Mrs. Xie: "Same as before. The doctor says there's little hope."
As she spoke, Mrs. Xie's eyes welled up with tears.
Xie Youlin quickly hugged Mrs. Xie. Although he said Xie Hongtian would definitely wake up, he felt in his heart that he had to do something to overcome this difficulty.
***
Xie Youlin drove to the hospital to visit Xie Hongtian. On the way, he received a call from Tong Li.
—Xie Youlin on the phone—
Tong Li: "Mr. Xie, I need to remind you that you have one week to rectify the plummeting stock prices. Otherwise, you will have to compensate me with double the investment capital."
Xie Youlin made a sharp lane change and braked abruptly on the roadside.
Xie Youlin: "What? What compensation? What do you mean?"
Tong Li: "Mr. Xie, did you not read our contract carefully?"
"According to the contract, our Huaming Capital invested in your education center's IPO. Your responsibility is to ensure steady growth of the stock price in the first year."
Xie Youlin: "Yes, it's only been less than a month. Isn't our agreement for a year?"
Tong Li: "In addition to this agreement, you are also obligated to ensure that the stock price does not fall below the issuance price in the first month. If, by the end of the first month, the stock price has not returned to the issuance price, it will be considered your breach of contract."
Xie Youlin was completely dumbfounded. He felt he had been tricked. It wasn't that he hadn't noticed such a clause, but no one expected them to encounter public scrutiny right after the IPO!!!
Xie Youlin: "Can you give me a little more time? Online education should be very good. There are just some minor issues now, and I will resolve them."
Tong Li: "Mr. Xie, do you really think we're a charity? We invested in you because we thought you could make us money, but currently, you're just a penny stock. My employees need to earn a living too, alright?"
Xie Youlin: "In less than a week, how can I possibly pull the stock price back up!"
Tong Li: "Use the Xie family's group. As long as you can get the Xie family's support, we can continue to cooperate."
Xie Youlin: "But my father..."
Xie Youlin hit the steering wheel. Under Tong Li's relentless pressure, Xie Youlin truly felt cornered...
Xie Youlin: "Alright, I'll do it as soon as possible."
After hanging up the phone, Xie Youlin leaned back in his chair and pondered for a long time. Countless memories of Xie Hongtian flooded his mind.